Icecream Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 OK, we have had our problem with threads and our predictability thread and lot's of others that touch the subject of disliking books. This is your place to say "what books/authors/genres/etc do you consciously steer clear of when browsing for new books? I skip over crime because, even though I have never read any adult crime, I assume it to be predictable. Is this something I am missing out on? Also I always move on when I see sci/fi, even though there is sci/fi I have enjoyed a lot on tv or in film. Why? I steer clear of John Grisham's because I have read three of his books and am bored with the same style even though I enjoyed all the books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 I avoid Virginia Andrews and anyone who is reputed to be anything like her, as having read several of her books as a teenager, I now no longer need to read any more of her tripe, because it's all identical (even though she's dead and it's now written by a ghost writer - quite fitting, really!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maclsj Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 Barbara Cartland and anything that looks like a romance novel. I don't think I'll ever be converted to those! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 I avoid Catherine Cookson books, I just don't find them that interesting x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angerball Posted June 14, 2007 Share Posted June 14, 2007 I avoid romance, fantasy and westerns. I know I won't enjoy them, so I don't bother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KW Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 SciFi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrathofkublakhan Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 I avoid ... stepping in dog poo. However, when I'm browsing in a book store, I don't even wander into non-fiction or biographies unless looking for a specific book. In the fiction sections, I head straight for the fantasy/sci fi, then over to the mysteries, then I'll drift through the novels, romance and young adult areas. I've listened to a few audio books, but wouldn't buy one unless going on a long trip - which I should've done today since I drove from Los Angeles to San Francisco today and am typing on my little laptop in a motel room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrathofkublakhan Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 <snip>(even though she's dead and it's now written by a ghost writer - quite fitting, really!).</snip> "I hate her, she's dead AND her ghost writer!" that's pretty funny, kell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiona Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 I avoit chicklit as I find it trivial shallow stupid stuff. Women's lit is okay, but I'm not overly keen on the genre. I avoid most high fantasy involving magic and too much made-up crap. There was only one Tolkien. The others are shoddy. Avoid books with pink front covers as I am very self conscious and don't want to be mistaken as a girly girly. Avoid horror like the plague as I don't see the point, avoid crime books - I like crima dramas though. Have bought myself an Agatha Christie to get into... Piorot. (however it is spelt) Also avoid sci-fi because meh, never really interested in it. Will avoid Ernest Hemmingway in the future, how he has been labelled a literary genius I don't know. I am reading (and will finish if it kills me, which it probably will...) because he can't write for toffees. Also seems like a complete arsehole. Avoid all books with insipid womensy covers. I don't care if it is a good book, why trivialise it by putting a handbag on it? No thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sofia Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 harlequin romances:roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 However, when I'm browsing in a book store, I don't even wander into non-fiction or biographies unless looking for a specific book. Me neither - it has to be a biog/autobiog of someone I'm really, really interested in for me to pick it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oblomov Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 I avoid any book with extreme violence, cruelty to animals and human depravity in any shape or form. Also, I have to be really honest and say that I don't feel comfortable with homosexuality and avoid any book (or movie) with it as the principal theme. I apologise if this offends anyone, but I am merely stating my view as asked and not moralising in the least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 The only thing I really seem to aviod are autobiographies. Other than that I am open to anything, after all, variety is the spice of life is it not!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleLijah Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 I avoid Maeve Binchy...just can't seem to get into her books. Never read any sci-fi books either but maybe with some recommendations from this site I will try different styles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polka Dot Rock Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 Generally, any book where the author's name is at least twice the size of the title! So John Grisham is definitely out then. I don't look at crime, thrillers or horror. It's just that there are so many books that I do want to read, I don't really want to make time for books I have no interest in. I hope that doesn't sound snobbish, because it isn't meant to be! But if someone recommended anything, I wouldn't dismiss it out of hand. I don't read a lot of sci-fi/fantasy either, even though - like Emma also said - I enjoy it on TV and film. Weird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nici Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 I avoid romance and anything "girly". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carm Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 i avoid dean koontz and john saul because they're awfully repetitive in plotlines Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyanddandy Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 SciFi, thrillers, horror, spy books, political books, fantasy, Danielle Steele rubbish, Geoffrey Archer books on principal, books with the kind of print or print layout I don't like. Not much left then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 I avoid Catherine Cookson books, I just don't find them that interesting x My staple diet in my teens, but I haven't read one of hers for about 25 years! Generally, any book where the author's name is at least twice the size of the title! So John Grisham is definitely out then. I saw a book today which I thought was Stephen King, but when I got closer it said Foreword by Stephen King in humungous letters in pink (I think) right across the middle of the cover, and the author's name (who I can't even remember) in smaller letters at the top! Geoffrey Archer books on principal What principle? I avoid Sci-Fi - it just doesn't appeal, and anything like Mills and Boon novels. When my children were young I read only chick-lit, but now I avoid that too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polka Dot Rock Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 Me neither - it has to be a biog/autobiog of someone I'm really, really interested in for me to pick it up. Ditto! I forgot about auto/biographies - these are most definitely the genre I avoid. The only ones I like are graphic novel-style ones! The dominant trend for auto/biographies is one that really annoys me - especially with so many being ghostwritten! And I would never read any of the so-called 'misery-lit' books that are so popular right now... And people think some of my favourite books are depressing! I saw a book today which I thought was Stephen King, but when I got closer it said Foreword by Stephen King in humungous letters in pink (I think) right across the middle of the cover, and the author's name (who I can't even remember) in smaller letters at the top! That's exactly what I'm talking about! How blimmin' cheeky is that? (Nothing against Stephen King, btw: it's just how silly the ginormous 'LOOK! HERE'S A FAMOUS WRITER!!' typeface looks. And can be used to manipulate readers, as Bagpuss demonstrates) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sofia Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 anything written by Danielle Steele... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudyB Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 Mills and Boon - oh those cheesey covers and titles! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icecream Posted June 15, 2007 Author Share Posted June 15, 2007 I avoid biographies like the plague. I'm not sure why. I think I assume them to be boring and can't be bothered with nosying into people's lives, but I think there must be some interesting unintrusive ones out there somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyanddandy Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 What principle? quote] I can't believe I wrote principal! I don't want to add to his millions. He thought he was so far above the law that he could not be found out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger53 Posted June 16, 2007 Share Posted June 16, 2007 I avoid anything with a romantic cover picture. Also sci fi, though I read an Isaac Asimov book years ago that was very good. Something about robots turning on the human masters? I suppose they are all about that sort of thing? I love biographies. I think Geoffrey Archer has some excellent story lines, but just a pity someone didn't actually write the books. A bit like Tom Cruise movies, good but a pity someone else wasn't in them.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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