Over at JMC’s blog she asks: what won’t you read?
First thing that springs to mind is: Bestiality. Not the fantasy/paranormal kind where the hero shifts between human/wolf form. That’s nothing to me. A talented author will have you read something that you thought you’d never read or enjoy. Have you had that happen yet? I have several times over. So, never say never. I’d like to think myself a daring reader. Willing to read almost anything. Almost. I ask you: There had to be that one book that on it’s face you’d never have read in a million years unless it had good word of mouth or sounded interesting to you.
avidbookreader (inactive) 
I won’t do horror….and I mean the Stephen King kind of horror. I tried to read them, but I just don’t see the point. Other than that, I think I’m pretty much open to anything, within reason. Case in point, I never thought I’d like paranormal, but a friend introduced me to the Dark Hunter series (Sherrilyn Kenyon) and I was quickly addicted.
Da Vinci Code………. just because i do the reserves at my library and i am so so sick of people asking for the book. I did see the movie but i won’t read the book. I have plenty of other books i want/need to read. LOL
I’m sure there are many others but I can’t remember them at the moment.
Devonna – I’ve been hesitant about starting Kenyon. What do you like about her books? How is the characterization? Chemistry?
Hi Beth, I recently read The Da Vinci Code and would give it a B+ but the content as it was entertaining but the voice/style of writing was awful. I don’t blame you for not wanting to read it. I think everybody knows the plot and the ‘big secret.’
I wont read inspirationals, but that’s because I’m well on my way to becoming a true aetheist. Religion always makes me think about the effed up things that have been allowed to happen in the name of God.
Oh yeah, sister-brother-mother-daughter-father sex is pretty much out too. That’s just wrong in more ways than I can say.
Inspirationals aren’t at the top of my list either but I wouldn’t mind reading one if it was good.
And the sister-brother-mother-daughter -father sex is right up there with beastiality.
Anything involving the degredation, torture, misuse, neglect, or abuse of animals (bestiality would definitely be covered in this, but not the symbolic besitality in, like, werewolf stories).
As for the Da Vinci Code, anyone read that article in Vanity Fair a couple of months ago on the writer who sued Dan Brown for plagiarism? The guy has one extremely well-known expert who says that he has never seen such an obvious and extensive case of plagiarism. Oh, what a fascinating story, moreso, I think, than the book itself, which I haven’t read. Saw the movie, though, and wished it hadn’t been dumbed down so much. I was beaten over the head with the central “messages” so often I felt downright concussed when I left the theater.
I don’t really read romance novels, but I will read some. No harlequins, though. I draw the line there. And like someone else on here, not big into horror.
I agree, Robin — anything that condones or makes light of animal cruelty is automatically off my list, and I won’t read any of the author’s other books, either.
I’m not a big fan of secret baby or sex with the boss stories, but if it was otherwise an exceptional book, I might overlook the presence of a plotline that usually annoys me.
Hey Robin, I heard about that plagerism case and that Brown won it. I was surprised actually that he did win the case as much of the book has him info dumping and using alot of those well thumbed resources. His writing voice/writing style is awful. After four books he is one of the most successful authors, so he had a good defense team. Also, I didn’t see the movie – heard it wasn’t nearly as good as the book. I liked the book actually but I guess most people hate it because some people think it’s non-fiction and add Brown’s remarks to that saying that he wouldn’t change a word if it was labeled as non-fiction. But the TV shows I’ve seen that try to discover the real secrets about The Da Vinci Code is contradictory. Much of what Brown has written has been exaggerated but they did find a couple of people to corroborate his claims against Opus Dei.
I’m not a big fan of secret baby stuff either Lynne but Kathleen Eagle has written one that I loved that had a secret baby in it called What the Heart knows, but the plot didn’t center around the secret baby issue there were other things in the story that moved the plot along as well.
Violence really doesn’t bother me as I do read Karin Slaughter who is one the most explicit crime novelists writing today. Violence against children turns my stomach but it doesn’t deter me if it’s a good read. Remember this is fiction after all and a lot of what I read I probably couldn’t watch on TV. Weird I know.
Horror – never really read them. I did read Dean Koontz and enjoyed his work but I wouldn’t classify him as “horror” but some of his books are “horror” but he almost always has a strong romance in them. Always. Well, the few that I read did like Whispers and Lightning. I loved Lightning – a great time travel story.
The Miles Vorkosigan books were like that for me. I never thought that there would be a science fiction book that I could gush over. (Really, laser guns and aliens do nothing for me.) But I picked one up on jmc’s rec and now I’m hooked.
I liked the book actually but I guess most people hate it because some people think it’s non-fiction and add Brown’s remarks to that saying that he wouldn’t change a word if it was labeled as non-fiction. But the TV shows I’ve seen that try to discover the real secrets about The Da Vinci Code is contradictory. Much of what Brown has written has been exaggerated but they did find a couple of people to corroborate his claims against Opus Dei.
I have no religious opposition to the book whatsoever, but if I read it, I will read a used copy, since I have become skeptical of its originality after reading about the plagiarism case. Personally, I think tons of stuff has been taken out of and revised in the Bible over the years, and even still, much of the stuff that is there has been translated way past the meanings of the original Aramaic, Sanskrit, or Hebrew. But boy do I understand why the Catholic church opposed Brown’s claims and the making of the movie. Now, if you want to see *real* political pressure, check out Al Gore’s new movie, “An Inconvenient Truth” or track the ongoing saga of the FDA confirmation hearings and Barr Pharmaceutical’s Plan B over-the-counter application. Talk about hot (bad pun intended)!
Hi Robin, I agree with you on the translations of the Bible. I remember having this discussion with a friend about revisions and translations of the Bible in that perception and interpetation is different for everybody. Anyway, I’ll have to check out the Gore doc. Checking Netflix to see if they have it now. Thanks! I’m a big fan of documentaries and independent media stuff that’s not too heavily bent.
What I like about the Dark Hunter books (Kenyon) is that she’s great at chemistry. The first book I read of the series was Seize the Night, which I think was the 5th in the series…..and had to run out to every UBS and retail store in town so I could buy them up. I had hard time finding any of her stuff in the UBS…I think I was lucky to find 2. The rest I had to pay full price for…..luckily, Borders had a sale at the time and some of the books I got were “free”. Kenyon is great at building characters, and really develops a history on them so the reader really gets to know them…and if you like steamy scenes, Ms. Kenyon is great at those too. Out of the entire Dark Hunter series, I think there’s maybe 2 that I wasn’t completely enthralled with.
Thanks Devonna, I think I’ll have to make time to read her books, too. I just bought books today as well Le sigh. I need a vacation!
Hmm, I cannot say that there is a “type” of book I will never read. I have read inspirationals and, while they aren’t my favorite and I won’t buy them, I have read them. I have read Stephen King “horror” but won’t anymore – I need my sleep. Read Da Vinci code before it was all the hype and it was okay, but preferred Angels & Demons and don’t really like his voice either so I don’t read him anymore.
I will never read another Harry Potter book. This is a personal preference and has a great deal to do with the commercialization of the series and her inability to get a book out on time anymore.
I know! If I know the story has anything to do with pedophilia, I won’t read it. I have accidently bought books where the villain is a pedophile and I know will be punished in the end, but it so icks me out that I usually give the book away or donate it or in some cases throw it away. And finally, I have pretty much given up on self-help books. I rarely get past the third chapter so what is the point?
But mostly I read pretty much anything: Science fiction, Fantasy, Biographies, Autobiographies, Histories, Romance, Westerns, Military stuff, Poetry, Young Adults, Chic Lit, Childrens, Popular Fiction, Mysteries, pretty much anything. I do have to like the first book I read by any given author or I won’t read another.
Hi Maria – I mostly read mystery and the violence in them sometimes can be over the top and it doesn’t seem to bother me for some reason. I don’t seek out books that feature violence against children but if it’s a good read – I’m gonna read it. I can say that most of the books I’ve read lately hasn’t had that.
Books I don’t like is where the villian has a POV. Why is that even necessary unless your creating a complex character. I prefer most of the violence off stage no matter how gruesome. Karin Slaughter had only one book that I can remember that featured the villians POV during a crime against another person. It was pretty bad. Fortunately, she’s dropped that POV for her next books.
Bottom line for me: if it’s a good story, I’m going to read it.