April 14, 2010 | By: Tracy

Why Did You Choose That?

I don't know why, but when I got home from watching the O's snatch defeat from the jaws of victory yet again last night (seriously, 1-7. Not good. Not good at all) I started going through my To Be Read pile.

It currently sits somewhere in the low thirties range. I will say this, it is an eclectic hodge-podge of paranormal romance, historical fiction (I may, or may not, be mildly obsessed with The Tudors), young adult -- heck, I even have a sci-fi in there and that's a genre I typically don't care for much.

I'm proud of this diversity, because there was a point where if you weren't Stephen King, Anne Rice or Dean Koontz I had no intention of reading you -- granted I was much younger then, but still. How very narrow minded. Bad Tracy!!

So then I started wondering how I grew out of that and became so cultured. (For the record, I don't really think I'm all that cultured, but it makes me sound more sophisticated so I roll with it) I will admit that, in the beginning at least, I never had any intention to expand.

But sometimes we stumble upon the good stuff. Here's a couple I found in the past year -- completely by accident.


I'll be honest and admit that until recently I'd never been all that into straight romance. (And I mean that in a, if it didn't involve a fantasy element like vampires I'm not interested, sort of way) I had the stereotypes of the old historical romances -- ones where cheesy phrases like "throbbing love muscle" could be found -- stuck in my head. Then I picked up Jami Alden's Unleashed, which is a romantic suspense -- and the third book in a series.

I'll admit, the only reason I picked this book off the shelf in the first place was because I thought "Hot dayum, he is a cutie!". Yeah, I'm boy crazy, tell me something I don't know. So it was a book cover that got me, but I'm so glad it did, because when I was finished with Unleashed, I worked my way backwards through the series & now I *heart* romantic suspense!



The day I found my new favorite author I was in the store looking for a book by another author. They didn't have it in stock, but the crafty young associate led me over to the YA section & talked me into checking out the "Vampire Academy" series. Richelle Mead was having a book signing later that week and, of course, they were pimping her work.

Well, I'm glad they did, because not only did I adore the VA series - much grittier and plot based than Twilight - but it led me to Richelle's adult works as well. She has a paranormal romance series about a heroine who's a succubus. Great stuff!!

So, as much as I'm always on the look out for new & interesting things. It seems that some of my favorite things found ME, rather than the other way around.

What about you all? What makes you pick up a new book or branch in a new direction? Or do you find yourself unable to enjoy a book outside of your "zone"?

11 witty remarks:

JE said...

I normally don't pick up something new unless someone recommends it, and it's HARDLY ever outside of my romance genre. Sub-genre unimportant, really.

Glad you decided to pick up a real romance *giggles*

~JD

Tracy said...

It took me a while, Justine, but I got there with the romance thing. Jami Alden helped a lot because her Taggart brothers are HOT! If you haven't read her already consider her recommended. :o)

Jessica Bell said...

I'm not too sure how I do it. Hmm, I guess I'm always picking up female authors. The only male authors I've ever read are Truman Capote, Nick Hornby, Milan Kundera and Peter Carey. Seriously that's IT. And you've just made me realise how stupid that is ... hmmm

Shannon said...

I usually go with other people's suggestions. I've been really BAD about reading lately, though. Between all of my jobs, the blog, the book and well...life - I don't seem to have as much time as I should on paper. (Heh...on paper..)

Roxy said...

Great post. I'm a first page reader. I skip the back of the book and go directly to #1. If it sounds compelling, I'll buy it.

Shannon O'Donnell said...

I love to vary what kind of books I read. I'll usually switch gears based on recs from friends or just the urge for a new "flavor". :-)

Shelley Sly said...

Ooh that first cover looks very nice... ;)

I'll actually read any genre, as long as it's interesting. Sadly, I'm not really that much into historical fiction -- but even that could change. I read literary fiction, YA, women's fic, romance, chick lit, general commercial fiction... as long as it's appealing to me, I'll read it.

Re: What part of MD am I in -- I currently live in Frederick County, but we're moving to Anne Arundel County in June. Where are you? I'd love to meet up sometime!

Shelley Sly said...

P.S. My email is reddshell (at) gmail (dot) com if you ever want to email about potential plans. :)

LARCHMONT said...

It's so hard to go in a new direction. I don't think I've ever really done it--except after I heard about Memoirs of a Geisha, it made me want to read Asian-set historical drama, and now it's almost all I read. But before that, I'd only read "classics"--it took me a while to de-periodize myself.

Anonymous said...

I would like to exchange links with your site thelosttwin.blogspot.com
Is this possible?

Anonymous said...

ha, I am going to experiment my thought, your post get me some good ideas, it's really amazing, thanks.

- Murk

Post a Comment