I’ve mentioned in other blog posts that I grew up reading science fiction and fantasy. My parents read fairy tales to me at bedtime and various fantastical books by Dr Seuss. As I grew older and more desirous of reading material, people kept handing me fantasy/sci-fi books or recommending them. The elementary school librarian recommended Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time. I then had to read the whole Time Quintet.
But around the house, a cache of science fiction books by C.S. Lewis and Isaac Asimov could be found. Also, my dad had a set of Star Trek novels by James Bliss that I read. And yes, when I was a kid, I read many books written for the adult market. Some I probably shouldn’t have. . . .
But I digress. Every year for Christmas, I would receive a Stephen King novel (okay, I guess that’s not much of a digression), so I guess you could say I dabbled in horror at times. But once I discovered Tolkien’s The Hobbit, it was like discovering a family member I hadn’t known before. Of course, I had to read the Lord of the Rings trilogy, because y’know, I had to. And that led to many, many other fantasy books by authors like Lois McMaster Bujold, Juliet Marillier, Charles Yallowitz, N. K. Jemisin, Ursula Le Guin (may she rest in peace 😭), and—one of my absolute favorites—Sir Terry Pratchett (photo below; may he rest in peace 😭).
What genre of books do you turn to again and again? While you consider that, I will reveal the winners of the $25 Amazon gift cards, who, thanks to the random number generator, happen to be Jill and Jennie!
Thank you to all who commented! The holiday giveaways will continue next week. (P.S. If the photos look wonky, it’s because I’m having trouble with the WordPress editor.)
Some book covers from Goodreads. Others by L. Marie. Terry Pratchett photo from Wikipedia.
El Space--The Blog of L. Marie 
Thanks for the shootout. I was all comics, fantasy, and sci-fi when younger. Haven’t changed much except comics are now manga. I don’t know why I went that way. My dad reads history novels and my mom reads mysteries. Must have been friend influences.
You’re welcome! 😀
My mom read nonfiction an a few novels. But she was never a big novel reader.
I forgot to mention that my dad read the comics and got my brothers and I interested in comics and later in animation.
I never got into nonfiction. My parents keep trying to get me to read it especially politics. I just don’t have it on me to cross that line.
Don’t blame you! My parents also love political commentary. I would rather read less stressful books.
Especially these days. The news provides me with more than enough sadness. Don’t need fiction joining in the fun.
Very true!
Crime fiction was my youthful escape, starting with Enid Blyton, then Holmes and Watson, and then Agatha Christie, plus loads and loads of books randomly picked from my older sister’s groaning shelves! I adored The Hobbit and LOTR, but didn’t really diverge much into fantasy ever, although I read quite a lot of sci-fi in my late teens and twenties. But crime is still my go-to genre.
Mysteries also were a favorite, though I didn’t really mention them. I’ve pretty much read all of the Agatha Christie books the library here offered. And all of the Sherlock Holmes novels. I was introduced to books by Ngaio Marsh and P.D. James when I was an adult.
While in college, I read a lot of true crime stories. Now, working for the police department, I need my happy endings. Wow! I had to click on “Jill” to make sure it was me. Thank you so much, L. Marie! After dealing with a hot water tank issue all day yesterday, this was a wonderful surprise. Congratulations to Jennie, too! xo
Can’t blame you about that, Jill! I remember the horrendous court cases I had to listen to. This is why reading a tragedy is very difficult for me, though I’ve read my share!
Will get the card sent to you!
My genre of choice is memoir simply because I write in that genre and because I’ve immersed myself in them in the years leading up to the release of Mennonite Daughter. I’ve also enjoyed historical fiction.
Now, I’m part of a reading/writing group in which the authors are mostly fantasy, Sci-Fi, and thriller, so I’m indulging in those as well. Great question, L. Marie!
Wonderful, Marian! Do you vote on a book to read? Or are you critiquing each other’s manuscript?
Neither . . . we listen to each other’s writing, usually short pieces generated from prompts. Suggestions are usually positive and brief. Sometimes we have members present: last year I did a Powerpoint about how I created my memoir. Last month someone illustrated how to write limericks. Fun!
Sorry this is belated . . . better late than never, I guess. Have a very Merry Christmas and the happiest of New Years, L. Marie!
Happy New Year to you too, Marian! Will get the book sent!
Okay, it was sent!
Like you’ve mentioned, I was definitely reading books I ‘shouldn’t have been’. I think we’ve spoke before, on my posts and one of your interviews, about the concerns of my primary school teacher about my reading material. I loved horror-James Herbert was the first author I read as an author, and he led me to Stephen King. These days my my tastes have opened up, preferences are much more eclectic, but I do return now and again to that first love. Especially of the older, gothic variety.
I know what you mean, Andy. I’m very eclectic as well. It really depends on the year! One year I had to reread all of Jane Austen’s books; another year, had to reread Dickens’s books.
Congrats to both Jill and Jennie!
May I answer your question a bit obliquely? I read the sequels to ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ during my workstudy job in college in the Education Library! Mostly during my nightshifts! I hadn’t a clue that she had even written more than that one fantastic adventure! It was at that time I also discovered Adams’, “A Watership Down”!
Anyway…I do like Madeline L’Engle as a fiction writer, but even more so as a nonfic writer! During the early childhood years of raising of my kids, I discovered her “A Circle of Quiet” and kept my eyes and ears open for anything that had her name on it!
I hope you have a great weekend, L.Marie.
Thank you, Laura! Same to you!
Yes, Madeleine L’Engle is very encouraging in her nonfiction. I have a book of her short nonfiction pieces.
I can’t help thinking of Elisabeth Elliot now.
Congrats to J&J!
I enjoy legal thrillers and “fun” (i.e., not gruesome) murder mysteries (like Agatha Christie, not SAW). I enjoyed Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, and love A Christmas Carol ~ but don’t generally gravitate toward fantasy or Sci Fi.
Nancy, I also enjoy cozy mysteries, which is why I was glad to discover Ngaio Marsh! I’m not much for Saw. 😄
I loved fairy tales when I was a kid. Then I moved on to adventure stories. In my 20s, I read a lot of serious non-fiction. I still pepper non-fiction into my book list. Recent examples: The Great Influenza and Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World. But my genres of choice are all fiction: mystery, literary, and historical fiction.
Good ones, Nicki!
Did you ever read Guns, Germs and Steel?
I read a wide variety. As a child, I read the town library’s copy of Harriet the Spy almost to pieces, but I loved The Hobbit, which our fifth grade teacher read aloud after lunch recess, and the Lord of the RIngs, which she read us in sixth grade (we were so few, we had two grades to a teacher).
I discovered C.S. Lewis in college, thanks to a friend, and started reading Larry Niven thanks to the man who is now my husband. I liked Larry Niven’s early stuff because he focused on characters, which is what I like. And then, when my daughter was in middle school, we discovered the genius that was Sir Terry Pratchett (GNU). I now like N.K. Jemisin, but mostly I read contemporary YA….and John Scalzi. (Red Shirts is brilliant!)
I also read Larry Niven back in the day! 😄 Glad you brought him up.
I need to read Red Shirts. I keep hearing about it, mostly from his blog.
I read mostly nonfiction as a child, especially history and biography. I was one of those kids who read every history of WW2 that I could get my hands on. I also liked those hour-by-hour accounts like A Night to Remember (the sinking of the Titanic) and The Day Lincoln Was Shot.
I haven’t read either of those, but they both sound good, Lyn!
You have been growing, Lynda, with fairytales, and more and more sciences fiction, You are accustomed with this kind of literary . You live in good balance with this kind of books. . This make you imaginary growing and you are well like that .
Personally I read the books about Harry Potter Yes! 🙂
. I liked them but ususally I read some books by Tracy Chevalier , an american writer living in London at this time. Her books are translated in French.
I read many books of sciences in the past and I like also the history books
And we have two newspapers per day !! 🙂
Love ❤
Michel .
When I was growing up, my family used to read two newspapers each day. I miss those newspapers.
Will you read Tracy’s new novel, A Single Thread?
Love to you and Janine. ❤️
No I did not read the latest book of Tracy but two others come in my mind ” Strange creatures ” and “the young girl at the pearl” I quote with my memeory and did not check !
Lynda , I precise le title in English of the two books of Tracy Chevalier I read :
-Girl with a earl earing
-Remarkable creatures.
I like she makes us live to the times of her stories like if we were there.
The translations in French are excellent
Love ❤
Michel
Good to know!
Her latest book sounds very intriguing.
How fun and how interesting to read your post and all the comments. I’ve always loved history and fiction. As a young reader, I devoured Lois Lenski’s rural series and Laura Ingalls Wilder and Louisa May Alcott, then, one summer, my mother opened her hope chest and I noticed a virtual library of books inside. They weren’t hers, but were my father’s. My father’s books in my mother’s hope chest – always makes me giggle. Anyways, I asked him if could read them, he said yes (as long as I kept my hands clean:) ) and off I went, starting with Jane Eyre. I still have that book. While i enjoy fiction, I still enjoy history – and anything my 10 year old granddaughter suggests.
Wow! What a treasure trove of books, Penny! So glad you were able to read them. Glad your granddaughter suggests books to you! What is she reading now?
She’d just finished the last of the Harry Potter books when we zoomed last week. I’m looking forward to some FaceTime with just her. Those conversations are always a delight.
Oh wow. So glad she had that journey to read about. Has she seen the movies?