What Genre of Fiction do you read most often?

[crich70]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Actually, I mean it would be hard for me to choose between a poke in the eye and SF/fantasy!

Though, to be serious, I do occasionally enjoy fairy tale retellings, and I suppose that's fantasy. And I do like Twilight Zone-type stories, which I suppose are SF. But I generally run screaming from anything set in the future or on another planet, or involving space creatures or fantastic beasts or magic. Just ... no.

Ah ok. Sorry for the misunderstanding Catlady.

[chookie2]

It would be interesting to know what books started us all on the roads we took in reading genre. I know at an early age I soaked up Enid Blyton's Faraway Tree series and CS Lewis & others, then began on Tarzan and my Father's Thorne Smith's and Sci Fi books. I am sure they bent my direction and love of books. I am talking 60 plus years ago here.LOL
I did read Romance in my teens/ early twenties but migrated back to meatier fiction fairly quickly. The Fantasy I read now I prefer to have more action less romance and a good storyline with some humor. I really enjoyed the humor in the Bartimaeus series by Jonathon Stroud. - Fantasy I guess. That was real Laugh Out Loud reading for me.

[Luffy]

Originally Posted by chookie2

I know at an early age I soaked up Enid Blyton's Faraway Tree series and CS Lewis & others, then began on Tarzan and my Father's Thorne Smith's and Sci Fi books.

I'm a big fan of Enid Blyton's books! I really envy you chookie2, you probably have the pristine version of the Faraway Tree trilogy (I know there's a 4th book, but it's an obscure and thin book that no one has read).

I'm sad to say that these days The Faraway Tree has been censored and meddled with. Fanny's name has been changed. Dame Slap makes the naughty kids stand in the corner instead of slapping them, Dick is called Rick I think. And there are a few other changes.

The Faraway Tree is the masterpiece of Enid Blyton, and if some day I'll get off my backside and write some fan fiction, it will be about these magical books.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by chookie2

It would be interesting to know what books started us all on the roads we took in reading genre. I know at an early age I soaked up Enid Blyton's Faraway Tree series and CS Lewis & others, then began on Tarzan and my Father's Thorne Smith's and Sci Fi books. I am sure they bent my direction and love of books. I am talking 60 plus years ago here.LOL
I did read Romance in my teens/ early twenties but migrated back to meatier fiction fairly quickly. The Fantasy I read now I prefer to have more action less romance and a good storyline with some humor. I really enjoyed the humor in the Bartimaeus series by Jonathon Stroud. - Fantasy I guess. That was real Laugh Out Loud reading for me.

I have to give the blame/credit (depending on how your look at it) to my mother for my love of reading. She gave me my 1st library card at age 3 and I dove right into the works of Dr. Seuss and from there (via the public library) into what I guess would be classic books (like those here at MR) and contemporary writers like Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke & Agatha Christie (all of whom were still living when I was a young kid).

[crich70]

Originally Posted by Luffy

I'm a big fan of Enid Blyton's books! I really envy you chookie2, you probably have the pristine version of the Faraway Tree trilogy (I know there's a 4th book, but it's an obscure and thin book that no one has read).

I'm sad to say that these days The Faraway Tree has been censored and meddled with. Fanny's name has been changed. Dame Slap makes the naughty kids stand in the corner instead of slapping them, Dick is called Rick I think. And there are a few other changes.

The Faraway Tree is the masterpiece of Enid Blyton, and if some day I'll get off my backside and write some fan fiction, it will be about these magical books.

I've heard of her though it was via a (Harry Potter) fan fiction that I 1st heard her name. Harry ends up staying with Marge Dursley who happens to have a collection of Enid Blyton's books in her book case. The Story is Harsh Reality by Duochanfan over at fanfiction.net if anyone is interested.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by chookie2

It would be interesting to know what books started us all on the roads we took in reading genre.

Not a book: television! I started reading suspense/thrillers/mysteries because of such programs as Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Twilight Zone, Thriller--I loved the surprises and the misdirection and the twisted endings.

[cromag]

I would have been very young, reading the Classics Illustrated comic book versions of H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds and The Time Machine.

[chookie2]

Oh yes HG Wells was an early favorite of mine too. As was John Wyndham's Triffids.
Yes Luffy I read the old Faraway Tree books to my granchildren and the giggles over Fanny and Dick were endless and distracting.LOL How dare they change them!!! Political correctness be damned I say.