The One With The Question on Reading Habits . . .
March 24, 2005 | Filed under: Uncategorized
So I really enjoyed hearing what everyone was reading. The wide diversity was interesting. What I’d love to know is, for those diehard romance readers like me, do you stick with mostly mainstream romance? Or do you enjoy category (Harlequin) too? And do you co-mingle with other genres, like mystery and SF? For myself, I love mostly big single title romances, but I always love comedy, mystery, suspense mingled in. And I often read outside of romance entirely. I guess I want it all … Just wondering what you want.
Posted by Jill @ 6:27 am | Make a Comment
Mary says:
I’m like you in that way–I want it all!
Posted on March 24th, 2005 at 6:30 amGwen says:
I read across the board but I always come back to romance. My faves are Sandra Brown and Nora Roberts. I’ve never read the Harlequins.
Posted on March 24th, 2005 at 6:34 amCarrie says:
I read anything at the supermarket on the Top Ten racks. Loved Stephen King, love Nora Roberts. Love Dan Brown. Okay so I love books.
I like romance in those stories, but not so much the ones that are all romance. I want a big story.
Posted on March 24th, 2005 at 6:36 amMelissa says:
Ummm..definitely a co-mingler.OK, MINDS OUT OF THE GUTTER! I want it all! Give it to me…
Posted on March 24th, 2005 at 6:41 amNicole says:
I read mostly romance, but lots of other stuff. Clive Cussler is still a favorite. I also love to read SF/F. I’m impatiently waiting til I find time to begin Rachel Caine’s first book. Though I’m trying to read more "literary" stuff, though honestly it gets dull. (Is that a rule, it can only be called literary fiction if it’s dull? Or barely understandable with lots of barely recognizable metaphors?) And dang it, it’s not literary, but I STILL haven’t read The DaVinci Code. Mostly because people won’t stop buying it so I can’t get it in hardback.
Posted on March 24th, 2005 at 7:02 amJill says:
I don’t do too well with the "literary" stuff. I guess I don’t want to be left devastated at the end of my entertainment, whether it be a book or movie …
Posted on March 24th, 2005 at 7:18 amBJ Deese says:
I like both single title and category. I also enjoy stuff outside of romance. Dean Koontz and John Saul are also fav authors for me.
Posted on March 24th, 2005 at 7:27 amJill says:
BJ I LOVE Dean Koontz. I’m still waiting for him to do another book to go with Seize The Night and Fear Nothing. And Watchers is one of my all time fave books ever.
Posted on March 24th, 2005 at 7:29 amJoely says:
I read a lot of fantasy on top of romance, like Robert Jordan, George Martin, Jacqueline Carey, Anne Bishop. I’ve also read nearly everything Laurell K. Hamilton has written.
I liked the increasing romantic elements mixed in with fantasy, so that’s what I attempted to do with my first work. Unfortunately, I think that ms sits too heavily on the romance side, and epic fantasy romance (in a made up world) is a hard sell. Cross-genre stuff is my favorite right now as I try and figure out a good balance of fantasy and romance in my own work.
Posted on March 24th, 2005 at 7:41 amPat says:
I am strictly a romance type of gal and rom. suspense. I prefer the reg sized books as opposed to harlequin/sil intim moments. Like a beefier story. My fav authors are Catherine Anderson, Susan Andersen, Brockmann, Susan Mallery and Maureen Child who now write the thicker books. Dont get me started. I have lots of favs. :laugh:
Posted on March 24th, 2005 at 7:44 amkim h says:
I love mostly contempory romance, I used to read historical, but once you read contemp, I can’t go back. I love harlequin too and paperbooks mostly.I love romantic suspense too. I love Rachel gibson, susan andersen and vicki thompson and blaze and tempation books!! That means you JIll. Thanks again for the books!!!
Posted on March 24th, 2005 at 8:26 amJill says:
Has anyone tried Harlan Coban? Alison Kent gave me one of his books recently and wow. LOVED him.
Posted on March 24th, 2005 at 8:57 amDanni says:
I prefer series romance. I don’t much like Nora, although I DO love Dan Brown, and that entire contingent. I cut my reading teeth on Ludlum, b/c my dad felt sweet valley high was frivolous. I want my romance to be totally HEA, and fast coming. The beefier single titles are for school breaks when the courseload has lessened. I’ve got so much going on that I adore being able to start and finish a satisfying story in and hour or two max.
Posted on March 24th, 2005 at 9:14 amJudy says:
My reading varies too. I like single titles but will pick up a HQ for a quick read. I read romance, suspense, romantic suspense, etc. Is just depends on what I am in the mood to read
Posted on March 24th, 2005 at 9:49 amSasha says:
I read across the board too. But almost everythign has to ahev at least an element of romance in it. I’d say 85% romance and erotica (ST, Catgeory, and eBooks) and 15% Thriller and mysteries.
Posted on March 24th, 2005 at 11:24 amWhat I read When usually depends on how much of a deadline I’m on with whatever I’m working on.
Sela says:
I read across the board, too, although the vast majority is romance. Historicals (although I ODd on Regencies for a while and had to back off), contemporary, paranormal, futuristic, fantasy. I read some category (love SIMs) but mostly ST and anthologies.
Posted on March 24th, 2005 at 11:34 amI also read straight SF/F, lots of children’s books, and the occasional biography. I’ve got Dorothy Parker in my TBR pile.
Jordan says:
I read all over the place in romance. I’d say my favorites are paranormal and historical. I do have a few favorite contemporary authors like Fiona Brand, Susan Andersen, Cherry Adair, and Michele Albert. I read a few category books, but not many. I tend to stick with the Intrigues. I love a little mystery or suspense in my reading. I’ve recently started reading outside the romance genre. I picked up a few Koontz, because I’ve never read anything by him. I also grabbed Kelley Armstrong and Walt Becker.
Posted on March 24th, 2005 at 12:13 pmDonnaM says:
There are so many favorites & auto buys! I love Temptation & have subscribed for years, so sad it is ending. I also read Blaze & some of the other series. Nora Roberts is a must along with Jill Shalvis, Leslie Kelly, Suzanne Brockmann (both of her Seals series), Elizabeth Lowell, Debbie Macomber, Jayne Ann Krentz, Merline Lovelace, Barbara Delinsky, Catherine Anderson (new on my list). I do read others but this gives you an idea!
Posted on March 24th, 2005 at 12:43 pmJill says:
Yeah I have a lot of auto-buys too, which is why my to be read pile is like four shelves. it’s getting ridiculous, and I need to get more picky, but I can’t seem to help myself. I comfort myself with it’s a cheaper addiction than drugs.
Posted on March 24th, 2005 at 12:46 pmSue says:
I love Jill’s books and I love to read Barbara Delinskys I love Kristin Hannah, Carly Phillips
Posted on March 24th, 2005 at 1:30 pmLori Foster,Jennifer Apodaca
need I say more I just love to read
use to spend money on smokes now it all goes on books don’t smoke any more
JIll says:
I used to read a lot of Delinsky and Anderson and Kristin Hannah and Sandra Brown. LOVED them. Recently I read Krentz’s Truth or Dare and remembered why I love her. Oh and I just went on a Janet Evanovich glom and had the BEST time reading her Plum series.
Also, loved Aliso Kent’s SG-5 series.
Posted on March 24th, 2005 at 1:34 pmJennifer says:
I read everything. I must admit, I am new to reading romance. I just never tried it until about two years ago. Literary, sci-fi, mystery, horror, and now romance. I’m even newer to category but I’m reading them now to see what’s out there.
Posted on March 24th, 2005 at 2:15 pmElizabeth says:
I read mostly romance. The category lines that I buy often are the Temptations, Blazes and Intimate Moments. I have also read historicals for a long time. I’ve just recently started the single title contemporaries. The only thing I can’t seem to get into are the vampire/werewolf/paranormal books. I don’t know why, since it seems everyone raves about them. I guess it’s just not that believable to me.
Posted on March 24th, 2005 at 8:50 pmJill says:
Jennifer, how exciting to be new to romance. There’s so much great stuff out there to catch up on!
Elizabeth, I’ve never been too much of a paranormal person myself but I’m finding myself changing my mind lately …
Posted on March 24th, 2005 at 10:33 pmSuzanne says:
I read all genres. I love to read, period. I read everything! But the number one thing I read is always romance.
Posted on March 25th, 2005 at 4:32 amLarissa says:
I read everything except mysteries. But I mostly stick with ST romance, fantasy, and historical fiction.
Posted on March 25th, 2005 at 7:27 amSilma says:
I’m a "single title" kinda gal. I prefer Paranormals and Fantasies. I used to like Historicals, but I got tired of them after a few years.
Posted on March 25th, 2005 at 5:16 pmC. J. Ramirez says:
I enjoy reading a wide variety of romance and mystery novels. My favorite romance series are from the Blaze series.
Posted on March 25th, 2005 at 9:18 pmAs for mysteries, I’ll take a legal thriller featuring Barbara Parker, Lisa Scottoline, Perri O’Shaugnessy or Robert K. Tannenbaum.
Take care and God Bless.
Sara says:
Lately I’ve been reading all romance and haven’t been reading other genres like I used to.
When I was in the mood to read other genres, I like reading Terry Pratchett, other fantasy/sci-fi books. Biographies or just anything that catches my eye.
With romance I enjoy reading single titles and some Harlequins. Anything that catches my interest. Romantic suspense and contemporary are my favorites, but I love a good historical now and then.
I’ve been reading less and less Harl/Sil the last couple of years. I have tons of series books in my tbr that I have yet to read! I pretty much only buy my auto buy authors now in Harl/Sil lines.
Posted on March 28th, 2005 at 3:59 pm