Whenever I teach basic writing workshops, one of my top suggestions is:
EVERY WRITER SHOULD READ…WIDELY
So…
- What do you read?
- Why do you read what you do; what draws you to that genre / author?
- What’s the most recent book you’ve read and what made it good / bad / great?
- What’s your favorite book / author from the past year or two?
- What reading format(s) do you prefer and why?
I’ll answer from my perspective and you can chime in too. It’s always fun to compare, consider and learn…
I read all the time.
I’m what you might call a chain-reader, a story addict.
- I read mostly fiction because I’m a story person, but I also read non-fiction to learn more about my craft and especially, these days, about indie publishing. I especially like cozy mysteries and historical novels, but I’m also a sucker for the occasional romance read, as long as there’s more to it than the romance. I read genre fiction as opposed to literary fiction because it makes more sense to me. Some of my reasons for reading are:
– to be entertained
– to lose myself in another world
– to learn about people and places
Genre fiction does this for me.
- I think I read mysteries for the game: trying to figure out what will happen and why people do the things they do. The cozy part is because I don’t like to read much violence. I appreciate historical novels because that’s what I write, mostly, and I love to imagine and learn how people lived in various times and places.
- I am currently reading a book called The Woods at Barlow Bend, by Jodie Cain Smith.
It’s quite good for the following reasons:
– the storyline is unpredictable
– the point of view character is a fourteen year old girl who doesn’t understand her world
– tension is heightened when her father is accused of murdering her mother
This is neither a historical nor cozy, but I downloaded it for free from Bookbub (there’s a great site for readers) and it has me hooked.
NOTE: If you decide to read this book, I’d love to talk to you about the ending.
- One of my favorite authors in the past few years is Kate Morton.
I love her long stories that peel away secrets and meanings like the layers of an onion. They deal with many issues, about how people respond and react to life’s events, about bad decisions and redemption…or not. The stories are all-consuming, and the mood of the piece runs all the way through each book.
I also love the quiet stories of Botswana told by Alexander McCall Smith through the eyes of Mma Ramotswe, proprietor of The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. 
They are simple and calming.
- I prefer print books when I’m sitting comfortably on the couch with good lighting, but if I’m awake at night, or at the hairdressers’, I always have stories on my iPhone. I also listen to audiobooks while I’m doing housework or cooking, and these are often Anne Perry’s Victorian mysteries.
What about you? What do you like to read?
Reblogged this on The intangible world of the literary mind.
Do you really have the same website header and setup, or is that how it copied?
That’s too funny. We both have the same theme. I didn’t even see it because I was using my phone.
I am also a chain reader. Otherwise known as a book addict. I usually have three or more books going at the same time.
My favorite genre is fantasy, and I prefer Young Adult fantasy because it doesn’t have sex and swearing, but I’ve come to enjoy the epic fantasy of Brandon Sanderson, as well. I read romances, too, but I’m like you, there has to be more to it than that. Usually I like romantic suspense because it doesn’t have the gut-wrenching tension and violence of a thriller but does give my heart a reason to race.
I read on my tablet on the treadmill or vacation and on my phone while waiting for appointments somewhere, but I do love to hold a paper book in my hand when I’m in my “reading station” (either the recliner or the chaise lounge portion of our sectional).
I read non-fiction to improve my craft and as research for my Bible study books (currently only one is published). Because I have such a range of writing pursuits, I’ve found creating an author brand and building an audience to be a major migraine.
I think I need to add that book you read to my TBR list. It sounds like something I might enjoy. After all, I read fiction mostly to be entertained but also to see “what’s out there” in the world of my “competition” (although there isn’t really such a thing with millions of books to choose from).
Yay! Another chain reader. What a lovely addiction.
You know, I had never read much fantasy until a friend of mine started writing it (Marcia Laycock wrote The Ambassadors), and I got caught up in it. Can be so engaging when done well. I also really enjoyed Patrick W Carr’s A Cast of Stones. Three books.
I have trouble reading while on the treadmill, so I usually end up either listening to an audio book or podcast or audio Bible reading.
Yeah, if you do read The Woods at Barlow Bend, let me know what you think.
Enjoy your reading.
Patrick Carr’s trilogy was good although I was a little disappointed in the ending. But I’m a tough sell on a good ending. Which is probably why I struggle so much writing my own.
I’ll let you know if/when I read The Woods.
What do you read?
I’m a bit eclectic. My preference is thriller/horror.
Why do you read what you do; what draws you to that genre / author?
Life has a certain amount of darkness to it, don’t you think? I grew up a fan of shows like Tales from the Dark Side and any old horror flick I could sneak downstairs to watch after everyone was in bed.
What’s the most recent book you’ve read and what made it good / bad / great?
Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay. It wasn’t a bad book. The story takes you along two separate stories, the story of Sarah, a young girl and victim of Nazi Germany’s occupation of France, and the woman researching the girl’s past. The stories are woven to follow through together, learning a little bit more in each, until the conclusion.
What’s your favorite book / author from the past year or two?
Me. Haha, of course I have to say that. I’ve always been a fan of King and Koontz, although I haven’t had to time to read as much as I would like. I bought Sarah’s Key a few years ago and finally now read it.
What reading format(s) do you prefer and why?
I’m a little set in my ways, but not so much I can’t change with the times. I’ve always had a preference for the printed book. But I can’t deny the benefit of an ebook. Besides the price difference of the books, I can cram a lot of books in there without taking up half a room, and I don’t loose my page when I drop it or fall asleep reading.
Hey, thanks for sharing. I read Sarah’s Key a few years ago and thought it was well-written. At the very least, it left an indelible impression on me. I agree that although print books are more personable, ebooks are so convenient, inexpensive and you can download them immediately. I’ll take whatever format I can get. Sometimes takes me a while to get to them though.
Keep reading and enjoy!
I’m all about reading romances with a HEA ending. And that’s what I write too, even when I try not to.
I know. I have to fight against myself, the peacemaker, to add conflict to my stories.