What is your favourite genre?

Kementarri

Kementarri

Legacy Member
So there are a ton of different categories of novels out there, and I am just curious as to what your favourite genre is to read? I find that different genres bring different personalities, and different tastes to light. Furthermore, different genres offer different types of values, such as pure entertainment, educational tools, escapism, and inspirational.

My favourite would definitely have to be the following:
  • Adult Fiction/Teen Fiction (by far my favourite!)
  • Fantasy (Some amazing works here)
  • Dystopian (So interesting to contemplate)
  • Philosophy (Need I mention any more?)
So what's yours?
 
I've really gotten into classic horror lately, though admittedly I haven't read too many books in the genre. I really enjoyed Dracula and Frankenstein despite how different they are to the contemporary versions of each story. I also generally enjoy Victorian-era literature, but I'm not a fan of Jane Austen. I may just be reading her books the wrong way, but I was bored to death by Emma and Northanger Abbey. I liked the movie version of Pride and Prejudice, but I haven't actually read the book.

I really like reading autobiographies, now that I think about it. Craig Ferguson's book, American on Purpose, is one of the most interesting and hilarious ones I've read so far.
 
Joker99352 said:
I've really gotten into classic horror lately, though admittedly I haven't read too many books in the genre. I really enjoyed Dracula and Frankenstein despite how different they are to the contemporary versions of each story. I also generally enjoy Victorian-era literature, but I'm not a fan of Jane Austen. I may just be reading her books the wrong way, but I was bored to death by Emma and Northanger Abbey. I liked the movie version of Pride and Prejudice, but I haven't actually read the book.

I really like reading autobiographies, now that I think about it. Craig Ferguson's book, American on Purpose, is one of the most interesting and hilarious ones I've read so far.
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I haven't read anything in the classic horror genre, but that's mainly because I am not into the horror genre at all. Never mind, scratch that, I have read Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. I did enjoy it if I remember correctly, and actually had an interesting time picking it apart for my grade eleven English class. However, I have not read Dracula, although I think I might look into it, simply because it is a classic within the genre.

I have read a lot of Victorian Era novels, but that's mainly due to my Victorian Literature course that I took last year for part of my undergraduate degree. May I suggest the following:
  • The Mill on the Floss - George Eliot
  • Idylls of the King - Alfred Lord Tennyson
  • North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell
  • Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
  • Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austin
I know you said you didn't like Jane Austin because you were bored to death by her, but I would really suggest reading Pride and Prejudice, just because it is her most recognized novel. In my opinion it isn't as boring as Northanger Abbey (it was extremely boring). Out of the list above, I would really recommend North and South, and Oliver Twist, as they have the most action in them by far.

However, if you are into poetry and history/myth then please get yourself a copy of Idylls of the King, and read the following poems out of it:
  • "The Coming of Arthur"
  • "Lancelot and Elaine"
  • "The Holy Grail"
  • "Guinevere"
  • "The Passing of Arthur"
Out of the ones I listed above I would highlyrecommend, "Lancelot and Elaine," and "The Passing of Arthur," as they are absolutely amazing in both message, and detail (imagery wise).

I haven't really read any autobiographies, as I don't usually pick that genre up, but since you like them and are into Victorian Era Literature, The Mill on the Floss is a semi-autobiography (I found it slightly boring though).

Thanks for the response!
 
I started with fiction (Dan Brown) and got hooked onto suspense thrillers. But as I read a lot of them I turned to non-fiction. Malcom Gladwell's "Tipping Point" was the start. I liked his "Outliers" too. I am slowly drifting towards non-fiction now.
 
I wouldn't necessarily say I'm into Victorian Literature, but I'm much more accustomed to it now than I was a few years ago. I do appreciate the recommendations, though, especially if they are as good as you say. I've wanted to read Oliver Twist anyway, so I'm adding that to my list.

Is "The Passing of Arthur" related to Le Morte D'Arthur? I remember reading that (or at least part of it) for my Medieval Literature class, but I can't for the life of me remember much about it. I generally find works with death as a theme to be interesting, as long as it isn't overly explicit.

Margaret Atwood's Alias Grace is one of my favorite contemporary novels because it reads so much like a Victorian novel. It may just be because of my background in Victorian literature in general, but I found it a lot easier to read. It obviously isn't really a Victorian novel in the technical sense--but if you didn't know it was written in the 1990s, you would probably never know.
 
Definitely Suspense Thrillers! There is nothing in my opinion out there that can top them lol. Other than that, I love biographical novels. I found that recently since I have been really into the tv series Game of Thrones that I have gained a whole new interest in Fantasy. I want to get my hands on a copy of the book by George R.R. Martin that Game of Thrones was based on ASAP.
 
Joker99352 said:
I wouldn't necessarily say I'm into Victorian Literature, but I'm much more accustomed to it now than I was a few years ago. I do appreciate the recommendations, though, especially if they are as good as you say. I've wanted to read Oliver Twist anyway, so I'm adding that to my list.

Is "The Passing of Arthur" related to Le Morte D'Arthur? I remember reading that (or at least part of it) for my Medieval Literature class, but I can't for the life of me remember much about it. I generally find works with death as a theme to be interesting, as long as it isn't overly explicit.

Margaret Atwood's Alias Grace is one of my favorite contemporary novels because it reads so much like a Victorian novel. It may just be because of my background in Victorian literature in general, but I found it a lot easier to read. It obviously isn't really a Victorian novel in the technical sense--but if you didn't know it was written in the 1990s, you would probably never know.
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Well definitely start out with Oliver Twist then, it's a pretty fascinating read. As far as Le Morte D'Arthur, which is done by Thomas Malory, it is not related to Tennyson's, "The Passing of Arthur," although there might be great similarities. That's something that I would have to look into more.

I will have to take a look at Alias Grace, I have read a couple of Margaret Atwood's novels but not that one yet.
 
I've heard good things about The Handmaiden's Tale, but I've never read it. I've heard that Margaret Atwood herself is very witty and intelligent, which is something I really admire. I was pleasantly surprised by Alias Grace because I had never heard of it before (or if I had, I didn't remember). A lot of her personality comes across in her writing, so I'm sure her other novels are quite good as well.

I've read A Tale of Two Cities on more than one occasion, and I sort of read Great Expectations at one point. I think Dickens' works are better when they're read later on, since I read A Tale of Two Cities when I was in 9th grade (I was about 14), and didn't really 'get' it. When I re-read it in college, there was a lot more to take from it. Plus, it was a lot easier to read (and more enjoyable, at that).
 
Joker99352 said:
I've heard good things about The Handmaiden's Tale, but I've never read it. I've heard that Margaret Atwood herself is very witty and intelligent, which is something I really admire. I was pleasantly surprised by Alias Grace because I had never heard of it before (or if I had, I didn't remember). A lot of her personality comes across in her writing, so I'm sure her other novels are quite good as well.

I've read A Tale of Two Cities on more than one occasion, and I sort of read Great Expectations at one point. I think Dickens' works are better when they're read later on, since I read A Tale of Two Cities when I was in 9th grade (I was about 14), and didn't really 'get' it. When I re-read it in college, there was a lot more to take from it. Plus, it was a lot easier to read (and more enjoyable, at that).
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Yes Margaret Atwood was indeed quite intelligent and witty, and I find that it does come out in her writing. As for The Handmaiden's Tale, I found it to be quite an interesting read to say nonetheless as it looks into the themes of women in subjugation and the various means by which they gain agency within their dystopian society. Overall, I am a huge fan of the genre of dystopia, so I would definitely recommend it.

I have Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities on my bookshelf, but have not gotten around to reading it yet. But I do have the complete works of Charles Dickens in one volume and have read often out of that. I would agree that reading it at a young age would probably make it difficult to understand (or rather have most of it go over your head), as most of Dickens work is this way. I have so many novels to get to, and this happens to be one of them on the list.
 
My favorite genre is fantasy. My favorite author being Neil Gaiman. I like the kind of fantasy where there is a world alongside ours but hidden. Neil was pretty good with those kinds of novels. There is Neverwhere and American Gods to name a few.
 
CrackDSkye said:
My favorite genre is fantasy. My favorite author being Neil Gaiman. I like the kind of fantasy where there is a world alongside ours but hidden. Neil was pretty good with those kinds of novels. There is Neverwhere and American Gods to name a few.
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I absolutely love fantasy that utilizes primary and secondary worlds with thresholds that connect them. I took a course on Children's Literature that had one of the units looking at the use of secondary worlds that parallel the primary world. I really thought this was one of the best units within the course and got really interested in it. So I might just have to check out some of Neil Gaiman's work and see if I can get myself a copy.

@ shylock I have read a good share of Dan Brown's suspense novels, but always found his writing to be lack lustre. With this said, I did really enjoy Digital Fortress, but I would only read Dan Brown again if I really didn't have anything else to escape to.

@ Zeniquez I have all of the Game of Thrones novels, as I was gifted the series last Christmas. I unfortunately just haven't gotten into them yet. They are on my reading list though and am looking forward to reading them!
 
I love the Game of Thrones tv series. I don't want to read the books because I don't want to be spoiled. But from what I've heard, George R.R. Martin did a good job with them.
 
A Tale of Two Cities is sort of the essential Dickens novel, if you ask me. I may not be a Dickens expert since I haven't read all his works, but most people seem to echo that sentiment. I appreciate any writer who can blend several different genres into one, which is why I don't necessarily have a single favorite.
 
A Tale of Two Cities is definitely an essential Dickens novel, and a classic in my mind when we think about the entirety of his works. It is one that a lot of people do indeed echo, and I find that it should be read more often, in more homes.
 
I like historical fiction a lot, but I'm kind of in a rut with it. I can't find anything good! It seems like it's all historical romance, which I'm not so much into. I did find a kids' book on the Donner party, though, I might read that, just because the idea of a kids' book on the Donner party is funny to me :D
 
I have so many genres of books that I like. I adore mystery, horror, fantasy, and dystopian (when done right).

CrackDSkye said:
My favorite genre is fantasy. My favorite author being Neil Gaiman. I like the kind of fantasy where there is a world alongside ours but hidden. Neil was pretty good with those kinds of novels. There is Neverwhere and American Gods to name a few.
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Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite authors. I'm currently working my way through his most recent novel, and it's amazing. I definitely recommend it.
 
I'd like to read Neil Gaiman's newest book, but I just haven't gotten around to buying it yet. I sped through American Gods, after buying it essentially on a whim. I really love it when books (or authors in general) live up to the hype and exceed my expectations.
 
I'm a big sucker for the 20th century dystopia thing; Anmial Farm, We, Farenheit 451, Brave New World, Cat's Cradle. But I also really like the late 19th century European romanticism meets 'what the fuck were w thinking with romanticism?' genre, like Flaubert, Dostoevsky, Conrad. They're like what anti-folk does to folk and Comedy Central cartoons do to...every other cartoon. Enlightenment and renaissance novels and drama are great,but with a few exceptions (Shakespeare, Goethe, etc) , they tend to be more admirable for their historical relevance and formativeness. Oddly enough though, I think if you go far enough back to around late antiquity, eschatology, and greek philosophy and you get this awesome weirdly modernesque vibe back in the writing.
 
I really love the old English novels like Jane Eyre from Charlotte Bronte. I had to read that during my school years and I really love the portrayal of a young girl that is so disadvantaged in life and finds true love. I guess I can relate to the young girl role who fights to rise above her disadvantaged surroundings.
 
My favorite genres are Contemporary and Romance. I'm very picky when it comes to books. I only read Young Adult Contemporary and Romance fiction, which are mostly written by my favorite authors. Here are some books I really like:

Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen
The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott
Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen
Bloom by Elizabeth Scott

Sarah Dessen and Elizabeth Scott are my favorite authors who write Young Adult Contemporary and Romance novels. They both share similar writing styles, however, Elizabeth Scott's writing seems to be easier to read.
 
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