I like the idea of fantasy, and my novel (a single page so far that's in need of another edit) is fantasy, but I have trouble reading it because I have an urge to create my own world rather than read about another. I voted general fiction, because I think that's where you start to get away from uniform genre and see some amazing works. Now Stephen King and other top horror writers are amazing, but a lot of writers build off of their genre's precedent and lose a lot of individuality.
I really should read more Fantasy/Sci-fi, but it's one of those things where 80% of it is crappy self-indulgent trite written by someone off in their own world. I like books more connected to reality, about people and the human condition, so I picked Crime/Thriller. (That's not to say there isn't speculative fiction like that, it's just it tends to be more about the imaginary world than the real people inhabiting it...)
Crime and Thriller, but not because of the blood and guts (though it helps). I prefer it when the protagonist has to struggle within himself on his journey to overcome adversity. I like it when it's personal.
I enjoy general fiction the most. I like the occasional crime novel and Stephen King. After the Da Vinci Code came out I became attracted to novels with a religious background such as The Footprints of God by Greg Isles.
I will read anything but romance. I tend to read mostly stuff that falls outside of "genre" definitions as a general rule anyway. Some of my favorite writers are those that are usually thought of as being unclassifiable--Alain Robbe-Grillet, James Joyce, Albert Camus. (Yes, I KNOW that these guys had styles named after them, but not genres.) If I like an author, regardless of his/her style, I will read everything I can get my hands on by that writer. I recently went through a phase like that with Jack Vance. A couple of years ago it was Doris Lessing. I'm still working on the modern horror writer Thomas Ligotti. If you like horror fiction, CHECK THIS GUY OUT, he's AWESOME. yours in Chaos, Scarlett
I just discovered I like some westerns. I read Louis L'amor--pardon me if the name is spelled incorrectly, I'm tired--and now have to read a couple more of his books, and maybe other writers after that. Anyone have any suggestions? Also, does "furry" or "anthropomorphic" literature count as a genre?
Only when it's science fiction =D. Okay, so Marines of Autumn was pretty good, but it wasn't exactly "fiction". Armageddon Reef was a good sci-fi, military-epic story.
Fantasy. I love the escapism. Especially love serials like the Belgariad and Pern series. I like loosing myself in another world. Heck, I wish there was such a thing as the Neverending Story!!
In this world of anything but peace and love, what else could i read than the lovable genre of romance? Seriously, people, i can't let any other world occupy my spare reading sessions than the world of romance.
I voted general fiction, specifically of the classic variety. With the exception of Harry Potter and one Stephen King novel, I think the most "recent" book I've ever read (of my own volition) was Atlas Shrugged from '57. I don't know, the whole idea of using description, flashbacks, complex symbolism, and almost mundane characters/events to portray a theme seems to be looked down upon in today's society, but I've always thought that those aspects were the most interesting parts of a story. Maybe I'm just old-fashioned.
I'm into romance and suspense fiction. The plot for suspense intrigues me while romance always gives me the chills when I'm in love.
I don't have a favorite genre...I will read pretty much anything, especially the classics. I love reading romance, because I'm a hopeless romantic, and these books at least give me some hope that I won't be alone for the rest of my life. Fantasy is another genre I like, but I surprisingly haven't read that much. I like reading because it takes you to another world where you can escape the mundane things of everyday life.
My Favourite Genre I enjoy reading fantasy, where it takes me away to other times, realms and dementions. I haven't travelled far in this lifetime, so it's a treat for me to read about other destinations and inhabitants. I love conflict and surprise endings. My own fantasy novel, yet to be published, The Calling, does just that. I feel fortunate that I am able to dream my chapters. Time wise it can become lengthy, waiting to dream the next chapter, but well worth the wait. Ameasha
Humor is my absolute favorite simply because I laugh even at the stupidest stuff, although I can't say that I haven't read a book from each genre that I didn't like(excluding western).
I have long been a fan of Science Fiction, so that wins out for me. When I was younger I read a lot of fantasy though, third place i guess would have to be crime thriller.
I voted "other". Over the past few years, what I mostly enjoy reading is autobiographies and biographies of people in northern Canada and people who are doing something unsual with their lives (overwintering in their sailboat in the Arctic, raising orphaned bear cubs in Kamtchatka etc). I've also been reading non-scientific books about different animal species that I'm interested in. And (we live very isolated) I have discovered the wealth of info and entertainment to be gleaned from reference books. And 30% of the time, I still read a good old novel
Perhaps in a survey of this type it would be useful to include 2-3 broad age bands? (To apply this demographically according to known population statistics). I must confess I find it incredible that Sci-Fi is so popular--I won't be so sweeping as to say I can't stand it, since there's well-written work I can appreciate in this (and most other genres)--but really? I thought Romance was still the biggest seller?
This is going to be influenced by several factors. First, I've heard it said that the majority of people who join random blogs are male. It's not a large majority, but still - and a lot of romance readers are female. Also, while I know some people who read romance a lot, I also know a lot of writers, and very few of my writing friends read romance most. A lot of them are fantasy or sci-fi readers, or are the really voracious sort who read biography, history, historical fiction, science magazines, science fiction, fantasy, horror, romance, classic novels. . .
I expected fantasy to be the most popular, so I'm not surprised to see this. Fantasy is definitely very popular with writers, although it is difficult to classify. I like books with science fiction and fantastical elements, though I'm not a fan of the genre archetypes like spaceships and aliens for sci-fi, or sword and sorcery for fantasy. I mean, if a story isn't entirely true to reality as we know it, it could be classified as either. When asked, I usually go with "Adventure" as my favourite genre.
I've always enjoyed crime/thriller books from authors like John Grisham, John Saul, Dean Koontz, and Stephen King. I can read some adventure, and Fantasy books... but some just don't fit my taste I think. Here lately I've been reading a lot of biographies, especially ones about musicians. When I was a kid I use to read a lot of biographies, but switched to fiction in my teens, and back to biographies now in my late 20's. Usually if I find the person interesting enough I will read every biography I can find on them. All in all though, I love to read. I visit my local library so much, I've pretty much remembered what authors/genres are in what row, I'm suprised they haven't offered me a job yet.
