Lois & Clark Forums Forums General Discussion Fun with Polls What types of novel do you enjoy?

What's your preference? Romance novels? Action and adventure? Sci-Fi?

This poll is a companion to the thread I started in Fanfic Related here.

Hmmm... Well, my obvious choices are romance and the classics. But with some of the other categories, I'm not sure. I love Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and a couple of other fantasy-type series; but I didn't select that category because, with those exceptions, I'm not interested in fantasy novels. It's not that I don't know what they're like or have never tried them. My husband is an avid fantasy reader, but the books leave me cold.

Then there's comedy. I do, and have, enjoyed many humorous books, but there are plenty of so-called 'comedy classics' or supposedly laugh-out-loud authors who also leave me cold. But then, I've always known that I have a weird sense of humour. British comedy 'classics' such as Fawlty Towers and Absolutely Fabulous make me turn off the TV in under a minute. Scenes in Lois and Clark which have most FoLCs rolling in the aisles have done nothing for me. I'm just weird that way.

I selected 'other', Yvonne, because I do occasionally read and enjoy political novels. I don't call them thrillers because they aren't all like that - Michael Dobbs' House of Cards trilogy was definitely intrigue, but Jeffrey Archer's UK and US political novels, while they try to be, are less so. (And, ashamed though I am to admit it, I do actually like some of Jeffrey Archer's work!). And I like other types of book; there's an author called Caro Fraser whose novels are set in a barristers' chambers, and I've read almost all of her books. They're not about court cases, although of course the courts figure in the books; they're about a set of people, but it's very hard to ascribe a 'genre' to them.

But the genre I read most frequently is romance. And, to relate this to your original question, Yvonne, that is no doubt why most of the stories I write are 'getting-together'. It's not that I'm not interested in Lois and Clark as a married couple; I just enjoy the thrill of the courtship, the gradually getting closer, learning to trust, the hiccups along the way, that first kiss... and all the way to declarations of love.

Yeah, I'm just a soppy romantic!


Wendy

I imagine that my reading tastes reflect in my writing style - like Wendy, I tend to write mostly "getting-together" stories. I love the idea of the first moments of a relationship, when man and woman first discover their attraction for each other and sometimes fight it, when heart and mind battle between reason and passion. I love writing about the first meaningful look, the first kiss, the first declaration of love. And yes, I'm a soppy romantic, too. And whether it's the consequence or the cause, most of the books I read (barring teaching theory, but that's not for fun :rolleyes: ) are romance novels, though weirdly enough I prefer Regency Romance, and Lois and Clark isn't Regency at all.

I also mentioned in the poll that I like to read the occasional comedy (mostly French stuff there). I used to read a lot of murder mysteries (when I was a teenager, I adored novels by Agatha Christie), and a great deal of classics: though most of these were for school, I still keep very fond memories of La Princesse de Clèves, Le Rouge et le Noir and Le Père Goriot - yes, French classics. I don't read as many these days - mostly I'm lacking free time, and so when I have time to read I go for fanfic or romance novels.

Kaethel

I voted for romance (which is always good, but I get it mostly here), comedy (like the Princess Diaries series, or like Louise Rennison's works), and thrillers (and here I can't bring an example because I never read them in English).

Lois and Clark fanfiction does have action and thrills in their A plots (and sometimes B plots), so that's always great. And I have to say that fanfic is taking up a lot of my read.

Julie

I love Dreiser and Steinbeck (I knew East of Eden was a classic long before Oprah discovered it) and think Agatha Christie's Poirot is a genius, but enjoy a good mushy Catherine Coulter from time to time. After reading all the Jane Austens I was primed to become addicted to fanfic and nfic.

The stuff I like to read now is the stuff I've been reading forever. I break down into three main categories. I like hard Science Fiction as in the works of Asimov, David Brin, O.S. Card, Bova, etc.
I have read a LOT of heroic fantasy, sometimes called Sword and Sorcery. The authors I've read under this banner are too numerous to mention, but Zelasny, M.Z. Bradley, Moorcock, Robert Jordon, and even a little known fellow named Tolkein are some of the names that have graced my bookshelves.

The other genre that I read a lot of (particularly in my high school days) is the spy/adventure novels typified by the works of Alistar McLean.

I consider myself a bit of a romantic, but you couldn't pay me to read a typical romance novel. The reason I can 'get into' Lois and Clark fanfiction is because I have an interest in the characters over and above the romance. If they were just Mary and Fred stories I'd have no interest in them.

The biggest problem I have is that I can't read as much as I used to. First, my reading online has taken time away from reading books. And second, I used to read in bed alot, but now I find that I fall asleep too easily (must be getting old ).

Tank (who has had six new novels sitting on his nightstand for over two years and has only finished two of them)

I couldn't hold myself from replying to this. Steinbeck makes me cringe. I had to read 'Of Mice and Men' and 'The Pearl' for school assignments, and I find his books too malancholic and angsty(that is not to say no one can enjoy them, of course).
My mother is a pure Agatha Christie addict- I used to even bring her books from my school library .

Julie

Another OSC fan, eh, Tank? Drop by the Hatrack forum sometimes -- fun place.

I mostly enjoy two main genres.

The first is SF Fantasy. Favourites on my shelves in this genre include C J Cherryh's Morgaine Chronicles, Robin Hobb/Megan Lindholm, Robert Jordan, David Eddings, Patricia Keneally's Keltiad novels (now there's a series which oozes romance among the SF-F - Aeron and Gwydion's reunion after all their separate trials still makes my throat seize up, after many readings), Guy Gavriel Kay, Raymond Feist & Janny Wurts Empire series....to name just a few.

I used to enjoy humourous novels when I was much younger - Hitch-Hiker, Piers Anthony - but don't find they interest me so much these days. I have, however, become a huge fan of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels in the last couple of years.

The second genre is US psychological thrillers typified by the likes of Jeffrey Deaver, Michael Connolly, John Connolly, Jonathan Kellerman, Richard North Patterson, etc.

LabRat (thinking it's been too long since she read the Keltiad...)

Julie, will you try his 'Cannery Row' and the sequel 'Sweet Thursday'? I laughed out loud. There's no angst in those stories - promise.

Reading has always been a hobby of mine since I was little. I love reading literature, war in particular non-fiction stuff about war. Currently I'm reading Thoreau's Walden and I like it as for romance novels I have never in my life been interested in them (although I watched Lois and Clark my reason for liking it is totally not for the romance or to look at Dean Cain it was an entirely different reason besides I was like 9 when the show started go figure).

As for novels that I do like, Pride and Prejudice was always a favourite of mine because I really the kind of person Elizabeth is especially in a world dominated by men. War and Peace is good as is stuff be Plato.

Well, I suppose there must be something about the way you guys write a good L&C romance because otherwise, I absolutely hate reading romance novels. Meanwhile, I stick to my suspense novels: Grisham, Christie, etc, and my most recent book from my aunt...a James Patterson.


JD

Well I goofed up the poll because I didn't see that I could choose more than one option so selected "other". So I will explain here.

When I was young, I was a voracious reader of romance novels, then kind of dropped off because I think I caught a bad batch of poorly written too-formulaic stories. I have several authors that I still love and whom I can reread over and over again, though, and as I've started writing in that genre, I've kind of rediscovered the whole romance world.

By far in any genre of writing, I prefer stories that are relationship centric and involve a lot of romance and angst. B-Plot in general to me are best when furthering character development, so other than Grishom, there are few b-plot books that I've loved.

Being in a book club opened my eyes to a lot of current fiction that I might not have otherwise read, and I discovered writers like John Irving, Barbra Kingsolver, and many others.

Like Wendy, I loved the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter books but I've never explored the world of Sci-fi/Fantasy. But since I did really enjoy these books (and have loved movies like the Matrix and Star Wars) I think I may give SF/F a try. LabRat - I may start with some of those you listed as particular favorites - do you have any ones you'd suggest for "beginners"?

In all, I love to read. I have a stack of books two feet high sitting next to my bed waiting to be read, but somehow stuff like fanfic just keeps distracting me <g>.

Lynn

I know you were asking Labby, Lynn, but I hope you won't mind if I interject a few suggestions.

"Starter" books for SF: Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game (and its sequels); Octavia Butler's Dawn; Ben Bova's Mars; Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle's Lucifer's Hammer; any collection of Ray Bradbury's shorts, especially I Sing the Body Electric!

For fantasy: Anne McCaffrey's Dragonflight, Diane Duane's So You Want to Be a Wizard, Orson Scott Card's Enchantment, Terry Brooks' Magic Kingdom for Sale -- SOLD!, Robert Asprin's Another Fine Myth.

There are many more, but these are off the top of my head (and a peek at my bookshelf ). Enjoy!

Lynn, if you're looking for action, angst, adventure, intrigue, dasteredly villians, shining heroes, betrayal, friendship, sacrifice, heaps of romance and all that and more in a fantasy setting <g>, I'd definitely recommend starting with The Keltiad.

In particular, the basic trilogy which deals with fiesty Queen of the Kelts, Aeron, is the one to start with. That's The Silver Branch, The Copper Crown and The Throne of Scone. Now, just to be awkward <g> The Copper Crown was actually first written and should be first read imo, although it's actually the second of the trilogy. Then TToS and finally, TSB. TSB is a prequel filling in the early history of Aeron and her cohorts, but reading it as two/three/one instead was the order I first read them in - where we meet Aeron just as the real action starts - and I do think they read best that way, filling in her background and the background of her friends later.

These really do have to rank as my ultimate favourite fantasy novels for wonderful characters, plot which has you on the edge of your seat, a breath-taking epic romance that's the equal of Lois and Clark's, and the most gorgeous lyrical writing style.

Guy Gavriel Kaye's Tigana and A Song For Arbonne are especial favourites and standalone novels, which follow one of the staples of SF-F - a band of disparate heroes on a quest.

I'd recommend Megan Lindholm's Windsingers series - Harpy's Gate, The Windsingers, Limbreth Gate and Luck Of The Wheels. And the books she's recently begun writing under the new name of Robin Hobb: The Liveship Traders and Farseer (Assassin) trilogies.

David Eddings' Belgariad and Mallorean series are fantasy classics and well worth a read. I personally wasn't as enthralled with the other books he wrote, but adored those.

And Robert Jorden...sigh...well, much as I'd love to recommend him, I have a hard time doing so these days. IMO the early books in his Wheel of Time series just cannot be beaten. Wonderful heroes and heroines and the most complex plot I've ever read, with a cast of thousands. <g> But increasingly, the books have been disappointing, with many fans feeling that he's been drawing it out more than he should and each new book becomes leaner with the now three-times repeated excuse that it 'sets up' the next, rather than advances anything in itself. An excuse which frankly irks me mightily. <g> So, I'd hesitate to get you into reading those and then be disappointed later. But, OTOH...maybe you'd like them all. Certainly, the first seven books are masterpieces imo.

If you like something a little rawer, more Arthurian perhaps, two of Marion Zimmer Bradley's novels have pride of place on my book shelves and are well-thumbed. The Arthurian take, The Mists of Avalon and The Firebrand, which deals with Helen and the siege of Troy. MZB writes both novels from the perspective of the female characters involved and with a fresh approach which is entertaining.

The Empire books I mentioned in my previous post deal with the young heroine of an alien culture based very much on the feudal Japanese - with strict adherence to complex rules of social interactment, honor, loss of face, which mean that she's constantly battling to stay alive beset by enemy families and having to overcome them with her wits and cunning when her father and brother are killed leaving her alone to oversee her family honor and estates. Not easy when it's traditionally the male role. It's an intriguing series with engaging characters. And a romance subplot for good measure.

Oh, and certainly Anne McCaffrey's Dragon books are a lot of fun. Although I did lose interest in the later novels, when she switched from the medieval fantasy culture to a more technological based culure. But I still have a real soft spot for The White Dragon which makes me cry. <G> And the partnership and bond between the dragons and their riders was a real draw for a reader who's a sucker for fantasy creatures. One of the best depictions of dragons in fantasy novels I've yet to read.

You're sorry you asked now, aren't you? Well, think as how I seem to have taken care of practically every book on the shelves behind me and given you enough to try out in a century, I think I'll shut up now.

Hope this helps and that you enjoy whatever you try. You should be able to find synopsis of plot on most of these online, but if you want any more details to narrow down the list, just email.


LabRat

I mostly like SF/Fantasy, Romance, and "young adult", which can really fit under any catagory.

Under the SF/Fantasy authors, I have Piers Anthony (Xanth series, Apprentice Adept series, Incarnations of Immortality series, and the one that is more history than fantasy, the Geoddesy series), Robert Jordan (tho he needs to finish the series!), Robert Goodkind (Sword of Truth series), and RA Salvatore (Hubby got me into the Drizzt novels).

Romance, I don't go much for authors, prefering to just grab what sounds like fun from the shelves. I have all of Harlequin's Love and Laughter series, and now I look for the Duets novels. I have most of Jude Deveraux's novels, but she's getting more into mystical romance, which isn't what I'm looking for.

Young Adult is probably the biggest section on my shelves. Anywhere from Louisa May Alcott to Lucy Maud Montgomery and Carolyn Keene, along with other random authors. There are still quite a few books I want to get, like older copies of The Little Colonel series, and Nobody's Boy, Nobody's Girl, and The Little Sister by Malot (I do have a french primer of Nobody's Boy, but it's nowhere near the full story). One of these days, I'm going to hit the antique stores to find them. I'm not a snob, I just like the lithographs.

I do confess, I also have a lot of movie tie-in novels. I like reading the character introspection that you don't get on the screen.

Hmm, what novels do I like? What a tricky question. I chose "other" because no option could describe me, except maybe "I don't like to read anything except fanfic".

To quote one of my professors, "Reading? Yeah right. I'd rather watch the movie." That's what my MS advisor said when he saw my background on my laptop of the scene from Anne of Green Gables, the Sequel with Anne and Gil kissing on the bridge.

I guess I am one of the few people here that really doesn't read much other than fanfic. I absolutely LOVE the Anne of Green Gables books (but really only up until Anne of the Island -- I don't really like the ones where they moved from Avonlea -- I loved the Avonlea characters, not the ones in Glenn St. Mary!). After my friends made me watch the first Harry Potter movie, I went to the second voluntarily, and that actually convinced me to read the books -- if for no other reason than to see what these missing parts they were complaining about were.

Other than that, looking at my bookshelf, all of the other books that are mine are textbooks. My roommate loves to read and she has a shelf full of pleasure reading books -- but I've never really looked at them.

Like Karen, when I was younger I always read movie tie in books (and TV tie in books ... hmm wonder how I got started on fanfic) for the same reason. I wanted to see what the characters were thinking, not just what they were doing.

So I guess in the reading department, I have a lot in common with my MS advisor. I'd rather watch the movie first to see if I'd like the book. Then I'll think about expending the energy to read. And I absolutely NEED to read the last chapter of the book before I read the rest of the book to make sure it has an ending I am happy with before I invest any emotional energy into the book. Then I might decide to start reading. However, I have an insanely short attention span, so there is a chance, since I already know the ending, a few chapters in I will get bored of the book and forget about it forever, but know how it ends so I am not disappointed.

Like I said, I am a real wierdo.

- Laura

For all that a movie can provide a pleasurable entertainment experience, I've only seen one movie that was actually better than the book.

A book has the advantage of being able to more fully develop characters and 'get into their head'. A movie (like a TV show) can only show you the external. It's an old truism, but holds none the less. No one can visualize the characters and actions from a book better than you can yourself.

I personally have about a 100 hard cover novels, and 400 to 500 paperbacks strewn about on various bookshelves around the house. My friend who owns a comic book/game store keeps wanting me to sell them to him. Even though the likelyhood of my ever reading many of them again is nil, I still refuse. THEY ARE MINE!

Tank (who actually has to look into some way to find space for more bookshelves)

LOL! I echo everything you said in you last post, Tank, but especially this. My collection isn't quite as large as yours (give me time, give me time <G>) but I feel the same way about it. Even though there are plenty of books I'm probably not going to read again, I NEED them. I can't imagine giving them up. (Though I have to admit the thought crosses my mind each time I move and have to lug them with me.)

As for books vs. tv/movies there isn't even any contest for me. I LOVE reading and am only mildly amused by movies/television. Whenever I do see a movie I like, my first thought is usually, "I wonder if that was based on a book...." More often than not, it is, and then I wind up absolutely loving the novel.

Annie

I was agreeing until the last part. I agree the first three books are the best, but how can you say that??? You didn't like Captain Jim, and Miss Cornelia, and Leslie, and Mashal Elliot, and all the rest? I don't like "Anne's House of Dreams" as much as I do the first ones but the characters are interesting, fun, and capturing. I mean, of course Cornelia was no Rachel Lynde, but still. I have to say I am also one of those people who appreciate the books much more than the movies, and I am completely furious at the way they changed order of events in the movie and even changed and mutated the sequal. What would LM Montgomery have said if she were still alive?

AnnieM and Tank, I wish I could have a copy of every book I love, but what happened to libraries? It is a slight disadvantage given the time limit, and the fact you have to give the book back, but I thought people stopped collecting books. I wish I could collect my favourite books and have them all on my shelves... I only have the ones I absolutely can't live without because I reread them at least once every year (the first 3 of the Anne of Green Gables series, plus Anne's House of Dreams -skip the 4th one because it is boring to tears- in a Hebrew translation. Had it sent straight from Israel ) and some others.

Julie