It’s been a while since I last visited Booking Through Thursday; but Deb’s question this week, combined with rainy autumn weather outside, kind of tickles my “reading craze”…
What’s your favorite genre that other people might not read? I mean, mysteries, romances, real-crime … these are all fairly widespread categories. But real readers don’t usually limit themselves to just the “big” genres … so what’s your favorite little-known type of book? Books on dogs? Knitting books? Stories about the space race? Mathematical theory?
I have to confess that just lately I’ve been sticking mostly to the “fairly widespread” genres (mystery/ crime/ romance); particularly those using the rather popular kind of multi-layered storytelling weaving in historical facts and speculation as background.
But I suppose that if someone who did not already know me well happened to take a closer peek at the bookshelves in my study, they might be a little intrigued by the mix of Christian theology; Celtic & Norse & Greek/Latin/Egyptian mythology; alchemy, mysticism and symbolism; classic English novels (mostly Penguin paperbacks); and various children’s books and fantasy. Basically I blame C.S. Lewis…
mystery/ crime/ romance is what i read and always have, as a child fairy tales and a Bible, those are the only books ever read not in the mystery/ crime/ romance... i have never read a dog book or animal book, no history books, no true stories... fiction is my choice .. i don't even read magazines.. unless i am trapped waiting in a doctor office and forgot my kindle or in the past book...
ReplyDeleteI do agree that trapped in a waiting room one might find oneself reading things one normally wouldn't! :)
DeleteC.S. Lewis was awesome. My favorite genre is Spanish magic realism.
ReplyDeleteI have to confess I did not even know that Spanish magic realism was a genre... :) I've read Zafon's The Shadow of the Wind - I guess that would fit?
DeleteI read some of Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain books many years ago... and then decided I should read the Mabinogion!
ReplyDeleteThat's a series I don't think I've heard of - thanks for the tip. I still have not read more than snippets here and there from the Mabinogion... but I have it in two printed versions!
DeleteMy favourite is social history. I just enjoy knowing how real people remember places and events that are familiar to me. Historical societies sometimes publish these. Others are sold in bookstores. Some are well written but frequently the last chapter is a shocker. For me these books create a network that includes people, times, and places all wrapped up in attitudes and limitations.
ReplyDeleteI think most of what I've read that has to do with social history has been in the form of fiction, even if somtimes also biographies or auto-biographies.
DeleteI like biographies, especially of British people. Recently I read Sisters about the Mitford family, and a 1,000 page book about Henry VIII and his wives. I bought a book to read soon by Lady Alvina about the woman who lived in Highclere Castle (where Downton Abbey is filmed). Also true stories of people who move abroad and set up a life and a home there.
ReplyDeleteI agree biographies can be very interesting. When trying to remember, I think most of those I've read were probably about authors though.
DeleteIt's definitely books about human space flight - preferably about the time of the space race, but also newer ones. And biographies. Also, I have books about the earth after people, i.e. what would our planet be like if the human species were to disappear.
ReplyDeleteI think I can guarantee, Meike, that "the earth after people" is one genre I've never yet read - or even come across at all. (I have read some classic science fiction, but they do usually still have at least one or two humans in them...)
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