Comments on: Booking Through Thursday-Reading Down the Years

By: Two Weekly Geeks: Scavenger Hunt and Challenges « A Striped Armchair

Two Weekly Geeks: Scavenger Hunt and Challenges « A Striped Armchair — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:58:44 +0000

[...] biography Ravenous Reader: My mouth waters when I pick up a new biography or memoir, particulary if the subject is one of my [...]

By: qugrainne

qugrainne — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 00:27:31 +0000

I see to have come full circle. My first “reading by myself” books were mysteries (I was lucky enough to have a mom who read to me every night before I could read by myself). I went through all kinds of phases after that. There was a time when I read all biographies. After I graduated from college I was reading all 19th Century stuff – Victor Hugo, Charles Dickens, Mary Shelley, Alexandre Dumas, Stendahl. I LOVED Charles Dickens. Science fiction, historical fiction, chick lit, and now, again, mostly mysteries. I don’t read a lot of non-fiction unless it is for a specific project or class.
In reference to your previous post, I haven’t read March, but I have read Years of Wonder – A Novel of the Plague, and People of the Book. Both wonderful: Brooks is incredible!

By: seachanges

seachanges — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 17:47:20 +0000

My taste has not changed that much either, although I have included the short stories and poetry into my reading stacks. I think I read differently as an aspiring writer, taking myself seriously, and enjoy reading about writing, about learning the technique. This means that I am even more impressed by the achievements of a good novel or short story. And what is ‘good’? Anything that makes me think about the human condition, about different lives and countries and cultures, and…. etc. etc.

By: litlove

litlove — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 08:06:21 +0000

I’m the same as you – my tastes haven’t really changed either. I’ve been lucky enough to broaden my reading and come across far more novels that I like, but essentially a beautiful, thought-provoking, complex novel is my thing.

By: fiona

fiona — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 20:35:06 +0000

I used to be a novel gal. I still enjoy them from time to time, but the short story is perhaps my favorite genre, in a dead heat with both poetry and essay. Do you have favorite short stories? favorite short story authors? Have you read any good collections recently? Sorry for so many questions. (Short-story lovers are harder to find in blogland than novel fans.)

By: Ann Darnton

Ann Darnton — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:34:22 +0000

I’ve read my way through many different genres over the years but fundamentally my basic need remains the same – a rattling good plot. I like well drawn characters, but that will never compensate for a poor plot.

By: Jeanie

Jeanie — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:19:40 +0000

I’m a bit more adventurous now — far more willing to try something at I know nothing about. But it could still run the gamut of subjects. In the past couple of years I’ve taken on an Edward Rutherford historical novel — Sarum, London — Ireland is on the way. I love how the characters travel through the generations.

I’m big on biography and as my interests and tastes expand, so do my selections. So, I suppose that’s changing — sort of!

I’m a mystery fan, too, and I find that I really appreciate more complex characters and stories. I am also blessed (?) with short-term mystery memory, so I can reread a good one a year or two later, and often forget whodunit! Mysteries are my summer books!

By: Literate Housewife

Literate Housewife — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 01:45:02 +0000

Since you mention the psychological angle and short stories, you might be interested in the collection I’m reading right now. It’s called Down the Sunless Sea by Mathias B. Freeze. I don’t think any of the stories could be more than 10 small pages long. Some of them are really more character studies than stories, but they’re all about people, mainly men, who have some psychological issue. I’ll probably be posting my review tomorrow or Saturday.

By: gautami tripathy

gautami tripathy — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 01:09:30 +0000

Mine has changed. I do try new genres, new authors all the time. I only put my feet down for paranormal erotic fiction.

Now I also read a lot of modern poets. Previously I was only stuck to the Roberts…..Browning, Burns and Frost!