It's time for Whatcha Thinking Thursday, hosted by me! Here's how it works. Each Thursday I'll simply blog about something book related that's weighing on my mind. Feel free to comment away if you agree or disagree (just keep it clean, okay?), or if you want to post to your site either on the same topic or about whatever it is you're thinking about go right ahead. I just ask that you link back to here. Also, make sure you let me know in the comments if you've participated so we can find you!
This week I'm thinking about genre's, and specifically how it can be easy to get stuck in one genre and forget the rest. For me I've been on a major YA run lately- I'd say that since I read Twilight almost 2 years ago I've read almost exclusively YA, and within that catagory, almost everything has been of the paranormal ilk. There have been a few other book stuck in there, but by and large, what I'm interested in is YA. Thinking back I realize that I've always been like this- obsessive about a genre. I went through a phase where all I read were those books that delt with the dawn of man (in the sci-fi realm though) like Clan of the Cave Bear, a Arthurian phase and a historical-fiction phase. I even went through a phase where I read everything Mark Twain wrote- everything. Now, it's the YA phase of my life.
Recently I had to make a list of my top five favorite books and it went something like this: Huckelberry Finn, Hunger Games trilogy, Clan of the Cave Bear Series, Mists of Avalon and the Berrybender Narratives. In other words, Mark Twain, YA, Dawn of Man Sci-fi, Aurthurian and Historical Fiction. I wasn't thinking of genre's when I made my list, I was just thinking of the five books that I had a lasting attachment to, books that I read over and over until the point that they fell apart, books that I recommend when I get the chance. Now, a week or so later, when I am thinking about genre's I'm struck by the fact that each of those phases in my reading life had a lasting impression on me.
How about you? Do you get stuck in a genre and read that exclusively or do you share the love? Looking back are the genre's that stuck with you more then others or do multiple genre's hold a space in your heart? Sound off below!
If I didn't review books outside of my personal reading habits for my blog, I would probably be sticking with my typical genres of horror, suspense, scifi, romance and mysteries. But I make myself read other things and have found that I like more than I typically gravitate to. Right now, I'm reading a lot of YA.
ReplyDeleteI actually wouldn't count YA as a genre. Paranormal would be a genre, but not age—it's something I've been thinking about lately. There are a lot of genres within YA, like mystery and horror and romance etc., so personally I don't think YA is a genre.
ReplyDeleteThat said, YA is pretty much all I'm reading now too.
I piggybacked on your thoughts about genre - I can't read just one!
ReplyDeleteSee all my thoughts at Between the Covers
Tahleen- that is an excellent point. Traditionally YA is considered a genre, but more recently, with the influx of so many unique books coming out that are marketed to that age group (but coveted by so many more) there really are sub-genre's within the catagory.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kate! When you say traditionally, what do you mean?
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking from my HS library point of view- even the Barnes and Nobles- has a Young Adult section with no real seperation between contemporary, paranormal, etc. They might have a special display highlighting one of the genres but for the main shelving, the Young Adult is all together.
ReplyDeleteI still don't think I agree that YA is considered a genre—to me, that would be like called "children's" a genre. Mystery, fantasy/sci-fi, realistic fiction, horror, historical fiction, those are what genres are to me. I wouldn't go by what bookstores categorize by. "Horror" isn't a section in the store I work at, so would you then not count it as a genre?
ReplyDeleteI do get stuck in a certain genre for a period of time, but then I try to add in other genres here and there for a change up. Still though, my favorites are fantasy, and historical fiction so I will mostly reads those type of books.
ReplyDeleteI, like Tahleen, don't view YA as a genre because it really is an age group with many different genres within. The sections within a library or bookstore is really about age groupings in regards to children literature.... picture books, middle-grade, YA...and then they start to go into genre groupings for adult books. Make sense to me as I don't think most people shop or borrow children (teenage and younger) books by genre but more so by age.
I participated this week.
Here is my Whatcha Thinking Thursday post.
Great meme! I tend to stick to the same genres but will switch it up here and there. I find that after a while the books become too predictable and I need to refresh my thoughts. No time to participate this week but maybe next Thursday!
ReplyDeleteCarmel @ Rabid Reads
Found you on the blog hop,but wanted to comment on this post. I have to mix up my genres. I read mostly YA, but throw in an adult read once in a while. I get bored if I read the same genre two or three books in a row. I find that I like the 2nd or 3rd book less than the first, because I can't give those books a fair shot.
ReplyDelete