14 January 2011

Why read fiction? Any kind of fiction?

Book Blogger Hop


This week's question on the blog hop, sponsored by Crazy for Books (click on above image to see her blog), is why do you read the genre that you do?

I'm a fiction girl, from way back.  Yes, I read narrative nonfiction, maybe up to a dozen per year, but fiction is my heart's desire.  Primarily contemporary literary fiction, but I also love the classics and I round out my reading each year with a dozen or so YA novels and I also try to include some more popular or commercial fiction in my reading, too.  Part of this is because I'm a bookseller and thus must read some books for work that I wouldn't ordinarily pick up on my own.  And if I'm being honest, part of this is because I'm trying to purge myself of book snobbery.  And another part is because I don't think one can be a well-rounded reader reading within just one genre.

A character in the Shadowlands film (the one based on the life of C. S. Lewis) once said that we read to know we're not alone, and I think that sums up more succinctly than anything else the "why" part of this week's hop.

6 comments:

  1. I'm trying to break out and read some new genres. I agree with you about being a well-rounded reader.

    Here's my hop

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  2. I'm returning the favor of stopping by to check out your blog. I'm now a follower as well. I like your opinions and I look forward to reading more. =)

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  3. Thanks for stopping by my blog and becoming a follower:)

    I agree with your opinion on reading mayn genres.

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  4. I so enjoy keeping up with your reading.

    Right now I have a stack of Newbery winners that I'm reading; Konigsburg, Lowry, and more. I am in the middle of writing a YA (which is a big deviation from my normal work) and I am loving every second of the experience. I have not had trouble getting my non-fiction published, but I know that novels are another thing.

    I hope that you'll drop by my prior post, which is all about books in my life (especially old ones). I've received so many comments on that posting and it warms my heart.

    Oh, in my kitchen post you (of all people) probably noticed that my sweet kitchen bay tree is named Eudora.

    Fond wishes for a great weekend,

    Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

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  5. Thanks for stopping by, I'm now following. Hope you're having (had) a great weekend!

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  6. Reading and writing may be about not being alone. When engaged in either fully, I feel totally connected to the greater world. I also feel that connection when blogging, facebooking and emailing - all forms of reading and writing. Thanks Emily for coming by my blogs and making comments. I appreciate your support!

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Please, sir, may I have some more? (Comments, that is!)