What is your favorite genre?

[binzer]

I'm curious about what most people here read, so it's poll time! I probably forgot some genres, and since I'm a jerk all non-fiction gets lumped together.

Edit: Btw, you can vote for more than one, but try not to go too crazy :P

[HarryT]

I wonder how many other people share my tastes for both Jerry Pournelle and Jane Austen?

[montsnmags]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I wonder how many other people share my tastes for both Jerry Pournelle and Jane Austen?

[shyly raises hand]

Cheers,
Marc

[tompe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I wonder how many other people share my tastes for both Jerry Pournelle and Jane Austen?

I read science fiction (but not Jerry Pournelle) and Jane Austen (and Georgette Heyer). But I consider Austen and Heyer to be two different genres so I could not choose a genre for them in the poll. I also read Wodehouse which I consider a seperate genre. The other genre I read a lot of is mystery/crime.

[binzer]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I wonder how many other people share my tastes for both Jerry Pournelle and Jane Austen?

I loooooove Jane Austen, but I've never tried Pournelle. I like Austen so much in fact that I'm going to try Pournelle, solely based on the fact that you like both!

[Dave Berk]

I voted Non-fiction since I dream of the day I will have a collection of math and physics ebooks and a device capable of displaying them. Of course I also love Terry Pratchett, and comics...

[binzer]

Originally Posted by Dave Berk

I voted Non-fiction since I dream of the day I will have a collection of math and physics ebooks and a device capable of displaying them. Of course I also love Terry Pratchett, and comics...

I'm a nerd, and I like math, but I can't imagine many things I'd rather less read than a math text book. I think that if they made a device that was suited for text books it would need to include some sort of electric shock device to wake me when I fell asleep.

Don't worry though, since you like Pratchett and comics we can still be friends. What's your favorite comic?

[Dave Berk]

Originally Posted by binzer

I'm a nerd, and I like math, but I can't imagine many things I'd rather less read than a math text book. I think that if they made a device that was suited for text books it would need to include some sort of electric shock device to wake me when I fell asleep.

There are many interesting math books, not necessarily textbooks. I'd recommend What Is Mathematics, among others. Also, once you're past the required essential reading (which I'm not ) math gets much more heavy on theory and less on exercises , always a plus for me. And the theory is fascinating.

I think all the movies showing people with interest in math to be weird lookings geeks with no girlfriends do the subject an injustice and scared kids from becoming interested in it. Mind you, it's still not as bad as the computer nerd stereotype.

Originally Posted by binzer

Don't worry though, since you like Pratchett and comics we can still be friends. What's your favorite comic?

I thought of saying The Sandman or some other (not bad) famous comics, but wht the heck: my first ever comics as a kid (- Peanuts doesn't count) - is Tintin, and I still find myself sometimes rereading it. Also, the old Superman serials.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by tompe

I read science fiction (but not Jerry Pournelle) and Jane Austen (and Georgette Heyer). But I consider Austen and Heyer to be two different genres so I could not choose a genre for them in the poll. I also read Wodehouse which I consider a seperate genre. The other genre I read a lot of is mystery/crime.

It sounds as though we have very similar tastes in books!

[rhadin]

I chose science fiction (but really meant fantasy -- still need to get myself going this morning) as I assumed that the poll was asking for my favorite genre for e-books. When it comes to reading on my Sony, I read sci-fi/fantasy and some of the old classics that I have meant to read but never got to (like Thus Spake Zarathustra). But I really have 2 collections: e-books and p-books (hardcover only) and in p-books my favorite genres are history and biography.

I don't know how others approach reading, but I generally divide my pleasure reading day among 3 books (and spend my work day editing books, so most of my day is bookbound). I use the Sony and read scifi/fantasy on it while I exercise on my treadmill (about 90 minutes a day). In the evenings, after dinner while my wife paints (if any of you are interested in original art, I invite you to check out her website: http://www.carolynedlund.com), I sit in my library and read a nonfiction hardcover book (currently The Colony about the leper colony in Hawaii), generally for a couple of hours. Finally, at bedtime I tackle the third book (currently Discovering God, which is an exploration of the concept of God -- poly- and monotheistic conceptions -- throughout the ages and various religions), which is also nonfiction hardcover, for an hour or so.

My biggest problem is that I am a book lover and buyer -- I spend a small fortune every year on books and have an enormous backlog of books to read (approximately 350 books purchased but not yet read). And when I find an author I like, I tend to search for copies of earlier works that are no longer available but are collectible. When I retire, I will have enough reading material to keep me occupied for years.

[spirits]

Nice topic. I read Non-fictions. I read books that challenges my way of living. Surprisingly, there isn't too much vote on non-fiction readers.

[Cthulhu]

Hear Hear.

Have mentioned this elsewhere, but most of what passes for "non-fiction" in the ebook world is charlatanous self-help tripe, rather than good science writing or history.

On my Reader, the bulk of my files are sci-fi, since so many authors of that genre are so eager to embrace the new medium and delivery system.

Not to nit-pick, but there should be a third (?) sub-set of fiction in my mind: comedic fiction. The work of C. Moore, T. Pratchett, J. Fforde,and a few others do not deserve to be sullied by the term "humour," as for me at least, that conjures notions of Dave Barry and his ilk waxing funny about how life is difficult and boy! are people different!

[Laine]

Sorry - won't happen.

I retired 3 years ago with a To Read pile and it's only got MUCH BIGGER!
You'll have more time to find yet more books you want to read!
Laine, Cabramatta, Australia

Rhadin said:

My biggest problem is that I am a book lover and buyer -- I spend a small fortune every year on books and have an enormous backlog of books to read (approximately 350 books purchased but not yet read). And when I find an author I like, I tend to search for copies of earlier works that are no longer available but are collectible. When I retire, I will have enough reading material to keep me occupied for years.[/QUOTE]

[badgoodDeb]

How about a multi-pick poll? Then we could pick several categories, and the results would still show where our interests fall!

[RobbieClarken]

I mostly read non-fiction ebooks on physics, economics and politics. I like fiction (Terry Pratchett, Alexander McCall Smith, Tolkien, Ian Fleming) but I listen to these as audiobooks. I like reading but I move around a lot so I enjoy being able to listen to books while in transit. I might read more once I get my Sony Reader though... we'll see.

Originally Posted by Cthulhu

Have mentioned this elsewhere, but most of what passes for "non-fiction" in the ebook world is charlatanous self-help tripe, rather than good science writing or history.

Alas this is probably true for legal ebooks. But there are thousands of really good science ebooks being shared (aka pirated) which I can never find in local bookshops. Sure I could order them off Amazon but that comes with a high shipping cost and at least a week's wait for delivery.