Reading Across Genres III
So, what do I read now that I'm out of school? Everything but the classics. Oh, and I don't read nonfiction. (I sometimes flip through my husband's history books, but I only look at the pictures so that doesn't count.) Isn't that awful?!? Now that I'm out of school, I want to read for FUN.
I continue to read lots of SF. I'm still not a huge fantasy fan, though; I loved the LOTR movies, but decided after reading 100 pages of the first novel that I'd really rather poke out my eyes with sharp sticks than read another word (I had a similar reaction to The Hobbit years before the first LOTR movie came out). I have enjoyed George R. R. Martin's fantasy series Song of Ice and Fire, but that's written more like historical fiction and has very little fantasy.
I got away from historical fiction as a teenager because 1) I had burned out after a major Taylor Caldwell glom and 2) I decided not to read anything with lots of sex/romance (which made celibacy during dating lots easier). Since I lifted the romance ban a year ago, I've been exploring different kinds of romance, including historical, but haven't really read a lot of straight historical fiction.
My favorite kind of plot in historical romances is the arranged marriage. I like it because it allows the h/h to fall in love gradually and in the context of commitment. This type of story doesn't rely as heavily on the I Just Met You I Have To Have You Right Now mentality (which I find hard to believe). It also ensures the h/h aren't having premarital sex ('cause they're already hitched!) and offers a certain amount of social and financial protection for the woman in the event of a pregnancy, a huge consideration for women in the past as well as now.
Overall, though, my favorite kind of romance has to be romantic suspense. It's so exciting! My first romance after lifting the ban was by Suzanne Brockmann, but I am venturing out with other authors as well. I like to read about cops and bodyguards and FBI types, although I am not averse to firemen or military men. :)
I also like to read about tough women and have really enjoyed some of the Silhouette Bombshell books.
I continue to read lots of SF. I'm still not a huge fantasy fan, though; I loved the LOTR movies, but decided after reading 100 pages of the first novel that I'd really rather poke out my eyes with sharp sticks than read another word (I had a similar reaction to The Hobbit years before the first LOTR movie came out). I have enjoyed George R. R. Martin's fantasy series Song of Ice and Fire, but that's written more like historical fiction and has very little fantasy.
I got away from historical fiction as a teenager because 1) I had burned out after a major Taylor Caldwell glom and 2) I decided not to read anything with lots of sex/romance (which made celibacy during dating lots easier). Since I lifted the romance ban a year ago, I've been exploring different kinds of romance, including historical, but haven't really read a lot of straight historical fiction.
My favorite kind of plot in historical romances is the arranged marriage. I like it because it allows the h/h to fall in love gradually and in the context of commitment. This type of story doesn't rely as heavily on the I Just Met You I Have To Have You Right Now mentality (which I find hard to believe). It also ensures the h/h aren't having premarital sex ('cause they're already hitched!) and offers a certain amount of social and financial protection for the woman in the event of a pregnancy, a huge consideration for women in the past as well as now.
Overall, though, my favorite kind of romance has to be romantic suspense. It's so exciting! My first romance after lifting the ban was by Suzanne Brockmann, but I am venturing out with other authors as well. I like to read about cops and bodyguards and FBI types, although I am not averse to firemen or military men. :)
I also like to read about tough women and have really enjoyed some of the Silhouette Bombshell books.
posted by JJ at 3:31 PM
