When you read for pleasure, what do you reach for?

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   bravewarriorposted 11 years ago

   When you read for pleasure, what do you reach for?
   
   In trying to discover my niche outside of SEO and HP writing, I am reaching out to my beloved HP community.  My question is this:  when you read for pleasure and are not supporting hubbers, what is it you like to read?  Techy stuff?  How-to's? Funny?  Informative?  Fiction?  Life lessons?  Politics?  or (what I'm leaning towards) the lighter/brighter side of life?  Please feel free to be honest and add the category you are drawn towards.

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   dahoglundposted 11 years ago

   My reading is rather eclectic but I like mystery novels. My speical preference is for what I call clerical mysteries, where the protagonist is a clergy person of some sort. I guess I feel religion and mysteries are closely related-good vs evil and all that.

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      bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      In today's age and even before, that's often the case.  Remember The Thornbirds?

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   xstaticposted 11 years ago

   I read a lot poetry (Billy Collins, Stephen Dunn, Dorianne Laux among others) and really like John LeCarre novels too.

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      bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I write poetry and have published a book of my compilations.  Now I'm moving onto stage 2 of my dream and am trying to determine the most lucrative avenue that feeds my creativity at the same time.  Thanx so much for your comment!

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   Lisa HWposted 11 years ago

   Away from HubPages I go for non-fiction, particularly reference and/or textbooks.  Like a lot of people, I have limited available time to read, so I like to make productive use of it.
   
   On HubPages, since there's obviously no textbooks or reference books, I tend to gravitate toward Hubs that present the writer's ideas/opinions on things.  I suppose that ties in with my thinking that reading time should involve some form of "learning" in that it allows the readers to learn/read the viewpoints/ideas of others.  I also like to learn more about some experiences/situations (positive or negative - doesn't matter) in life that I, personally, have had.
   
   Don't go by my preferences, though.  We're all on an Internet where "everyone" says that "nobody" wants to read the ideas/opinions of writers who "aren't already famous".

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      bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Lisa, would you read a weekly feature in the newpaper that was fun and highlighted the bright side of life?  That's what I'm thinking about.  I'm just so tired of reading about the corruption and destruction in this world.

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      Lisa HWposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Sure I would if I enjoyed the person's writing style in general.   (I've got quite the collection of "pure fluff" with my own writing.  There's something to be said for "fluff" sometimes.     )

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      Lady Wordsmithposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with you, about having little time so wanting it to be productive. However, I read fiction in my spare minutes, which I see as a productive use of my time, learning about different writing styles that I might want to emulate or avoid.

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   Diana Leeposted 11 years ago

   I like to read biographies about famous people and I like fiction directed toward the old days before the world spun out of control with high tech gadgets. Action packed western drama is another favorite of mine.

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      bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'll take that into account.  Thank you, Diana!

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   Pennypinesposted 11 years ago

   If you want to get to sleep, the best sleeping pill in the world is a trashy novel. I fall asleep quickly and effectively the trashier the missive. 
   If you want enlightenment read a good biography.  However that keeps me awake because I don't want to put it down especially if the subject is a particularly interesting person. 
   So it depends entirely upon your mood at the time.

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      bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Pennypines, I like this comment.  Trashy for beddy by time.  Classic!

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      WalterPoonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Ooophhhs, the question is: "When you read for pleasure, what do you reach for?"
      
      Reading for pleasure.... errrrrrrrrrr, maybe I will reach out for my joystick, LOL.

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   Paul Kuehnposted 11 years ago

   In reading for pleasure, I like sports, history, travel, and romance fiction.  I recently read the classics of the Bronte sisters and loved them all.

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   lburmasterposted 11 years ago

   Novels, in hope that they become pocket friends. Characters that seem so real I can turn to them when feeling down. But for educational purposes I usually turn to Boundless.com or purchase a textbook/self-help book from Amazon.com. Boundless is similar to a college textbook, yet not as descriptive and is missing some information. Still you get the basics and it's free. Amazon has tons of books for just a penny and shipping.

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      bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Iburmaster, I enjoy novels also.  Textbooks not so much.

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   duffsmomposted 11 years ago

   When I read for pleasure, I want something light and predictable.  Maybe a light weight romance, or even a young adult book - which i enjoy because they tend to be easy to predict, and don't have graphic sexual scenes.

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      bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanx, duffsmom.  Much appreciated!

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    btrbellposted 11 years ago

    I prefer fiction. I am in a book club and read whatever the month's book is and when I have time, I read whatever sounds good to me. I am currently reading a book for my club, an Oprah's book selection and another book that one of my friends just published. Unfortunately, I am not doing any of them justice as I there aren't enough hours in the day!

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       bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Randi, I prefer fiction also.  What sort of articles do you read in the paper or in magazines?

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       btrbellposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I pretty much like "self-help" types. Or, something current like the the kidnapping of those three girls. You?

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       bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I like human interest or useful tips for the home and garden.

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    WalterPoonposted 11 years ago

    I hardly have time to read for pleasure. Apart from my own websites, I joined HubPages last month and find myself presently torn between one and the other. Still, I try to find time to catch up with local politics and Facebook friends. Apart from that, I browse the web to research on articles I am writing. As you can see from my hubs, my interests are very varied, so it is hard to pinpoint what I read. It could be anything from SEO to how to make social networks work for me, or anything that helps me write a better hub or article. But "funny" is out. My sense of satisfaction comes from creating a well-written hub or article.

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       bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Walter, I understand.  I'm much in the same boat as you.  Thanx for taking the time to offer your feedback.

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    Sunshine625posted 11 years ago

    I like to read the daily newspaper. Biographies. Mysteries and thrillers. When I only have time to a quick read I enjoy the tweets on Twitter. I follow many media outlets and celebrity gossip is one of my guilty pleasures:)

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       bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Linda, do you read any of the feature writers in the Sentinel?

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       Sunshine625posted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Yes...Scott Maxwell is my favorite. His Facebook updates are a hoot!

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       bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I read him too and used to read Beth Kassab, but I haven't seen anything from her in a while.  I'm thinking of approaching the Orlando Sentinel but don't know what niche to present.  That's why I'm asking the question.

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       Sunshine625posted 11 years agoin reply to this

       The three times my articles/stories were in the Sentinel was via the Editorial/Opinion/Insight pages. They requested and I delivered. I got lucky!

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       bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Linda, can you shoot me an email?  I'd like to talk more about this.

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       Sunshine625posted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Best answer! Woohoo! Thanks Shauna!

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       bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       You're welcome, Linda.  Thank you!

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13. 75

    JimTxMillerposted 11 years ago

    Well, BW, I tend to reach for non-fiction history, preferably something published within the past ten years. My current bedside book, for example, is Daniel Walker Howe's "What Hath God Wrought" on the period 1815--1848 in the U.S., between the end of the War of 1812 and the end of the Mexican-American War.
    For pure, unvarnished escapism, however, I will go for Stephen King's latest.

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       bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Jim, I'm a fan of King's also.  My favorite author in that genre is Dean Koontz.  Thanx for your feedback.

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    FlourishAnywayposted 11 years ago

    Health and psychology, plus investing (but that gets dry).  Almost never fiction because it always seems so predictable.  Absolutely never politics.  Meh.  Too contentious.

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       bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I agree with you on the politics.  I hate politics and I'm fed up with all the political crap flying around!

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    Jordan Hakeposted 11 years ago

    I like a good fantasy, like the Lord of the Rings, The Prydain Chronicles, or Narnia.
    Mostly LOTR.

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       bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Thanx, Jordan.  I think that's a little out of my league as a writer, but we should never underestimate our abilities, right?

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    Anna Havenposted 11 years ago

    My pleasure reading is always Paranormal/Fantasy fiction. I love these kind of novels and I find myself completely engrossed.
    Through reading them, I love finding myself in a fully described different world which has been so skillfully created.
    This is the path I ultimately would like my writing to take.
    Good question

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       bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I think you're well on your way, Anna!

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       WalterPoonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Anna, paranormal fascinates me even more, after I read Tom Hellert's hub, My Out of Body Experience", as well as "PART I WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DIE.. or at least when I did" a few hours ago. I had an OBE once, and will be writing about it soon.

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       Anna Havenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       WalterPoon thanks for the suggestions, I will check them out.

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    Lady Wordsmithposted 11 years ago

    I read mostly fiction in my spare time, and mostly fantasy. I tried to avoid it for quite a long time, imagining that it wasn't worthy literature and that, if I wanted to be well-read, I should read modern literary works and the classics. However, I decided that life is too short to worry about what literature snobs think of my reading habits, and I read fantasy again now, am drawn to it instinctively. I also tried to stay away from writing fantasy, for the same reasons as stated above - I thought that it was beneath the proper aspirations of an author, and tried to write something more high-brow and high-fallutin'! It didn't suit me, so I've gone back to my fantasy writing also. Sometimes, I just think that there's no point in trying to change oneself, when oneself does not want to change. If it ain't broke, don't fix it - isn't that what 'they' say?
    
    Having said that, if the mood takes me, I'll read about road cycling, or popular science, astrophysics and atheism.  They're my favourite non-fiction topics, and I have something pertaining to each of those topics on my bedside table, for when I'm feeling clever.

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       bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Lady, you need to follow your passion.  Writers are avid readers and that often leads to a passion for writing.  You need to speak you passion to readers in order to be read.  Additiionally,you need to wirite your passion in order to be heard.

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    abt79posted 11 years ago

    When i read for pleasure, I like to reach for a book. I do not always grab the book when i try to reach for it.

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    1. 83

       bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Funny!  Are you making fun of my choice of words?

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       abt79posted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Possibly....

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       bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Feel free to expound.  I'm open to criticism, although it appears you are not a viable member, judging by your hubscore.  Are you here to criticize and attack those who take this site and our craft seriously?

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       abt79posted 11 years agoin reply to this

       No, i simply thought it was funny to joke about it.
       I am not trying to negatively criticize you, but maybe you should have been more specific in your question.

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       bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       The others seem to know exactly what I was asking.  Writers are dull if they are completely literate all of the time.  Do you not use colloquialisms when you speak or write?

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       Lady Wordsmithposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Woah, chill yer beans, bravewarrior. It seemed to me as though abt79 was just making a joke. I don't think any ill will was meant. Your words were more attacking, bravewarrior, when you got personal about a hubscore.

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       bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Lady Wordsmith, you critique is well taken.  That's the problem with email and such.  Without hearing inflections, assumptions are made.  I apologize to you abt79 about your hubscore.  Just another reason our hubscores shouldn't be made public.

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    Aadom23posted 11 years ago

    I read all types of books, nonfiction, african american literature, poetry  and more.

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       bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       That's about how I write, Aadom.  I'm all over the place!

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    Andelionposted 11 years ago

    Nirvana:)!!!!That is the first thing that came up to my mind but that is what basically happens to me when doing the reading for pleasure

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       bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I'm not sure what you mean.  I don't read Nirvana.

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    MysticMoonlightposted 11 years ago

    I like to read history, mythology and information about old or ancient cultures and civilizations. I also enjoy fiction for its "escape" that it provides...the Game of Thrones books are my current infatuation

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       bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Interesting, MysticMoonlight.  Thanx for the comment.

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    Dan Barfieldposted 11 years ago

    Off the wall fiction - short stories that make you look at things you take for granted in an entirely new light. Neil Gaimon is my favorite author of the moment for tales that achieve this.

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       bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Thanx for your response, Dan.  I'm not familiar with Neil Gaimon.  I'll have to look into him.

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    MCF-AStAr4Everposted 11 years ago

    Lately, when reading for pleasure, I usually opt for fiction or stories about the lighter/brighter side of life. I also read a lot of poetry for pleasure.
    All reading is a pleasure for me, so it was difficult to decide on a category!

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       bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       That is odd you say that, MCF.  I like fiction, too.  What's odd is that I have decided to write about the lighter/brighter side of life.  How did you manage to get inside my head?

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       MCF-AStAr4Everposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       It's magic!---- Best of luck writing about the lighter/brighter side of life!

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    KayRoseRedposted 11 years ago

    I read a lot of fantasy books. I like to read them to explore what the is going on in the author's head, to see what is going peeking around in their imagination. Also to explore a new world. A world that can only be see through small black printed words.(sorry if that sounded goofy:))

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       bravewarriorposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       It didn't sound goofy at all.  You read creative works and leave creative comments, too!

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    gmwilliamsposted 10 years ago

    
    
    I love to read all of Dr. Wayner Dyer's books.  My favorites are Gifts from Eykis, Inspiration, You See When You Believe It.  I also read the book Secrets and Magic.  I love reading history and psychological books.  I have read the Last Battle by Cornelius Ryan.   I also love the Insight Travel Guides series; these books are so informative.  My favorite is the American South and Mexico.
    
    I devour Dr. Russell Burton books on the devil.  I have all of his books dealing with the subject, my favorite one is Prince of Darkness and Mephistofeles.  I have so many books to read for pleasure.  Legions, legions, and LEGIONS.  I have read Dr. Neumann's book The Great Mother, a psychological treatise of the mother psychotype in the human consciousness from the good mother to the devouring mother. 
    
    I also have a collection of books pertaining to World War II-the European theatre, the Jewish Holocaust, and the aftermath of World War II in Europe.  I have a collection of books on Eastern European Jewry and the Eastern European Jewish diaspora in America.  I have books on fashion.   So many, many books I LOVE books!

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       Mklow1posted 10 years agoin reply to this

       I love books too, so please tell me that is a pic of your library! If it isn't, just lie and say it is!

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       bravewarriorposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       You have quite a vast repertoire!

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    Mklow1posted 10 years ago

    This is a great question! I usually read the classics because I can't justify reading anything new until I get through the old stuff first. Then I will rotate to a history or biography from maybe Edmund Morris or David McCullough. Then maybe a science book by Steven Hawkins or such, and then something non-fiction by Bill Bryson. My favorite of anything, though, is outdoors. Jack O'Connor, Field and Stream Collection, Tales From Grey, but most of all books from the Peter Capstick Library. I can sit and read one of those for hours!

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