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Tuesday, 23 July 2013

Top ten Tuesday (#9)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish, where the writers, like me, are particularly fond of lists. 

This week's topic is...top 10 words/topics that make me not pick up a book.







1. Misery lit
This makes me sound horrible, but I have no interest in reading about the terrible things people in real life went through in their childhood.

2. Horror
I don't like being scared, so I avoid horror. I've read one horror in my time - Stephen King's Misery - and that was because it was required reading for university, and it terrified me.

3. Zombies
I love dystopian fiction, but zombies don't hold much interest. I tried Gena Showalter's Alice in Zombieland recently to see if that could change my mind, and it didn't.

4. Erotica
I love romance, and I'm a big fan of people like Nora Roberts, but I can think of nothing worse to read than 50 Shades of Grey and its ilk.

5. "The next ..."
I don't mind recommendations of the "if you like this, you might like this" sort, but books should stand on their own merits, so I don't like being told something is the next whatever. Chances are it's not.

6. Angels/fallen angels
Okay, I can't categorically say I don't like this category, since I can't recall having read too many books in the genre, but it doesn't appeal hugely. I have Fallen on my bookshelf, but it's so far down my TBR list I won't get to it for years, it seems like.

7. Magic/wizardry
I'm fine with the Harry Potter series being the only books I'm willing to like in this genre in the near future.

8. Beat literature
I've tried reading Jack Kerouac and the like, and just can't get into this style.

9. Aliens
I don't mind sci-fi, but I'm just not interested in aliens, or aliens that come to take over the planet, even though I'll watch that kind of stuff (Roswell, Battlestar Galactica, anyone?).

10. Lurid covers
Not a word or subject, but I dislike covers that make my eyes hurt. Get a proper designer!

What's on your no list?

18 comments:

  1. No one seems to like zombie lit. Not surprising to me.

    Beat literature annoys me. Get a job, people. Stop drinking and driving around and stay away from loose women and you'll find purpose.

    Here's my Top Ten list.

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    1. There's just nothing about zombie literature that is appealing.

      Haha, love your comments about beat literature.

      Sarah

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  2. Wasn't Roswell a great show?! You should try Jennifer Armentrout's Lux series. It's aliens, but not weird aliens. Y'know?

    TTT @ Krista's Dust Jacket

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    Replies
    1. I loved Roswell. Well, the first series, the second went a bit haywire!

      Thanks for the recommendation, I'll have to check that series out, and thanks for dropping by.

      Sarah

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  3. Erotica also made my list this week. Its sudden popularity this past year and the premise of those titles are just O_O

    I totally agree re: #5, it leaves me a bit wary about those titles and usually the books don't match what those little "the next..." blurbs anyhow! lol

    My TTT

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I thought when 50 Shades came out that I wanted to read it, and then I quickly realised I didn't, but perhaps that had something to do with the bad writing and not the genre!

      Sarah

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  4. Haha, Zombies, Erotica and Angels all made my list. I just cant do it! Great list :)

    Amanda @ i solemnly swear

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    1. I don't know what it is about zombies, I'll happily read about vampires and other "monsters" but zombies just don't appeal.

      Sarah

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  5. I should have put zombies on my list as well. Not a fan, I seriously don't see the appeal at all. :L
    Happy reading!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They're just kind of blah, apart from Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which is funny.

      Sarah

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  6. Definitely no to angels and zombies. I also agree with misery. I don't like reading about unhappy things. For the most part I pick up books about happy things. The words "the next..." bothers me, too. And I would think it would bother the author. Don't you want your book to be considered original? Great list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't mind unhappy stories, but I get the feeling nowadays misery lit is just about cashing in on your bad experiences, and I really don't like that aspect of it, so I won't read them. Plus, usually I want to be taken to another world with my reading, and that world isn't one where I want to be depressed.

      Sarah

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  7. Yes, books with "the next..." attached to it is really annoying. It immediately raises up my expectations and when I do not get what I want, I end up being disappointed AND mad.
    Great list & thanks for stopping by my TTT! (:

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    1. Expectations are the worst, I find it's the rare book that lives up to them.

      Sarah

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  8. Aliens ugh. I attempted it but it just wasn't for me. I also hate 'the next...'. I don't want to read the next whatever, please give me something original! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There must surely be good books about aliens out there, I just haven't come across them yet. Although Krista in the comments above has recommended a series I'll be checking out.

      Sarah

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  9. Huh, I never realized Misery lit was a thing, I generally avoid those sort of books too since they would just make me depressed :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indeed it is, I think the book that really started it all was Dave Pelzer's A Child Called It.

      Sarah

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