A Good Thriller discussion

What type of book do you NOT read.

I do not like Fantasy, vampires, werewolves...

Do not like Harry Potter type books.

Me either Sean, to all the above. I also don't care for science fiction.

I like any genre; it's only the writing style that would put me off reading any particular book.

I'm sure Janet loves the idea of fantasy, but she's resisting ;~)

Hum, this is a hard one...Fantasy as in today's sexy vampire, hunky werewolves and shapeshifters that I have no clue what to think about, nope, they are not for me. Vampires like Wilson F. Paul's Midnight Mass, well that's a different story.
Terry Brooks Shannara Trilogy I loved but after he added more to the series it got old, again not for me. Than you have Fantasy like Stephen King/Peter Straub The Talisman (yes, I feel that that was more fantasy then thriller), well come on, look who wrote it!
Although I think the books I am currently reading are considered fantasy or Urban legend maybe (??) I am only reading then because the author writes in another series that I liked so I though I would give it a try. I like the books but it is not something I want a steady diet of.
Science Fiction is a definite NO.
Wow, did I actually answer anything in this long rant??

I loved Harry Potter, but except for that I have a very hard time related to vampires.

Pure Romance/sex.

I dont like fantasy sagas where I can't pronounce the names of the characters. I also don't like spy/cold war thrillers. I do like some sci-fi as long as I dont need a degree in nuclear physics to understand the plot.

In that case, Elaine, you might like The Martian. Great book, even if you don't like sci-fi.

I keep seeing that one cropping up all over the place. I must give it a try!

I don't enjoy science fiction or fantasy, I am sure there are great authors in these genres but I just don't seem to be able to get into them.

Science fiction

Science Fiction. Fantasy. Horror. I can't buy into the premise they're based on - a sentient, evil car for example (Steven King's Christine).

Thrillers where an evil genius plans to take over the world (many James Bond books) also aren't believable in my book. Nor are books about vampires or werewolves.

Mainstream and literary novels I've tried have bored me to death. So they're off my list, too.

I haven't read YA yet.

Michael wrote: "I haven't read YA yet."

I haven't read YA only for the obvious reason...I feel that they are not geared towards someone my age. The writing could be spectacular but if the book is aimed specifically at a younger audience I won't enjoy it :-)

I read most genres. Not particularly a fan of anything overtly religious. Don't read military non-fiction much. Started trying to read more of the "Classics" - but have found them to be mostly boring.

Jo Ann wrote: "Michael wrote: "I haven't read YA yet."

I haven't read YA only for the obvious reason...I feel that they are not geared towards someone my age. The writing could be spectacular but if the book is..."

YA is always aimed at a younger audience, just suitable for one. I'm not a big fan of the genre as a whole but have read some really great stories.

I'm learning to expand. I won't do romantic sex books anymore I think too much of my time to waste on something with no plot. YA Im iffy on. But then every YA I have read Hunger games and Divergent series, I read on line that more late 20-30s read (course I have that age beat). sci fi I use to like Robin Cook ok can't say never. I dont care for historical. Dont like horror that is just out for shock factor. I said I would never read Vampire then I got one to review in a buddy read. I told author up front my feelings but that I would. she was a Goodreads author from England, Georgiana Derwent The Cavaliers series that I actually enjoyed!

I don't really like sci-fi, fantasy ( tried hard to read Harry Potter ( couldn't get into it); Tolkien ( the same). I don't like sappy romance, but I do like novels that ingeniously combine romance as a side note. I don't care for graphic sex scenes; I do like some of Anne Rice's creations, however.

I just can't read Fantasy! I probably won't read it even if my life depends on it! I never even tried me hands on it. The movies were enough to make me stick to my decision. Another genre is maybe Self-Help and Spiritual. Makes me feel like I'm some depressed, suicidal psychopath who needs immediate help!!

I don't read self-help.

I dont read hardcore science fiction, unless it has a little mystery or a unique plot. Still pretty rare though.

Me neither! I mistook one for Cognitive Psychology a few months back and haven't been able to finish it even until now! And probably won't.

Skye wrote: "I don't read self-help."

I need too much "self-help" to bother reading it. I'd probably make a bad decision selecting. :)

I'm not keen on dystopian and I hate erotic.

Very sad about many of you putting off "genre" fiction because of different reasons. A book has to be believable? Ugh. I'd hate a life where all I read was believable fiction. Also, when it comes to romance, science fiction, horror, mystery, etc, they come in so many flavors, you shouldn't ever write them off.

I agree; good and bad in all genres. Also a lot of speculative fiction actually relates to real life issues, in many ways they are extensive allegories.

L.E. wrote: "Skye wrote: "I don't read self-help."

I need too much "self-help" to bother reading it. I'd probably make a bad decision selecting. :)

I'm not keen on dystopian and I hate erotic."
I think some people earn money by writing self-help books and many are not experts and people are all different. It's a bit of exploitation.

It's not about relativity. You don't believe in Fiction either! I just think it's way too absurd and even though a lot of people read it as a light read and a means to "escapism", I find it rather heavy. Moreover, I think it is the fact that it is so superfluous that people don't like it.

I think we should read whatever makes us feel comfortable; we have so many 'to do's' in life that pleasure reading should be for pleasure.

Amen, Skye! I just don't think you should write off a book because you don't do science fiction, etc. One of the reasons I love all these book groups is I get exposed to books I'd probably never pick up on my own.

Also, they shouldn't always make us comfortable. Some books I've read made me incredibly UNcomfortable, but I was glad I read them.

Kirsten wrote: "Very sad about many of you putting off "genre" fiction because of different reasons. A book has to be believable? Ugh. I'd hate a life where all I read was believable fiction. Also, when it comes t..."

So totally aligned with this thinking. I haven't provide a response because I've tried something in just about every genre and have discovered at least one book that worked for me, even in some I didn't think I'd like. I stayed away from YA for the longest time because it never occurred to me that any of the stories would connect. Thank goodness for friends who understand my reading taste and were able to recommend some excellent titles my way.

My bottom line...I keep an open mind when it comes to books, in ANY genre:)

Kirsten wrote: "Amen, Skye! I just don't think you should write off a book because you don't do science fiction, etc. One of the reasons I love all these book groups is I get exposed to books I'd probably never pi..."
I quite agree with you; I have my own likes and dislikes from actually experimenting. And you also make perfect sense with your statement of 'comfort' zones. Sometimes I am comfortable with material that is uncomfortable for others.

I feel that what we read for pleasure is a personal choice. There are some genres that I will never actively explore because they simply do not interest me. I believe it is a good thing that we all have our personal preferences, otherwise there would be many books collecting dust.

Yes as mentioned here quite a bit, do not like Science Fiction, history, young adult!

Lots of great threads and comments

I think of myself as a really broad reader in both fiction and nonfiction, but answering this makes me see I do have some no-go areas. I don't read anything with vampires, werewolves etc. although I like the more mystical kind of paranormal-- more along the lines of magical realism. And I don't read erotica. For my tastes, sex scenes have to be part of a plot, part of a relationship, not the main reason for the book's existence. I also don't read religious books, though I do enjoy spiritual books(to me there's a difference.) I don't read fantasy or science fiction. I love non-fiction works on science, though. My reasons for not liking certain genres have to do with experience reading--or attempting to read--them. I have no idea why anyone would think a vampire is sexy. Some things simply don't resonate with my idea of an enjoyable read, even if they are good books.

its hard to say never. Over the years my tastes have changed from one extreme to another. Thats why its hard to limit yourself. a good author also goes a long way in any type of book.

Amber and Lavada: yes, to both; I do understand how you feel.

Not keen on anything remotely religious although that said, By The Rivers of Babylon he'd religious connotations but was good. While I love fiction, it has to be factually correct or my mind simply won't accept it without tearing the story apart. Fantasy, maybe, erotica I find you read one you've pretty much read them all. Political thrillers can be good if not too heavy, a horror is always good if centred on "the things we don't talk about". I'll try most genres but I have to be captivated with the first chapter of its a no go.

You bring up a good point, Ian, I do veer away things labelled as "Christian fiction". But, that being said, I've read and enjoyed cozy mysteries that were supposedly Christian fiction.

I'm one of those people that will read erotica and will read paranormal romances. But that's me. I just feel we shouldn't just say "I'll NEVER..."

Yes, never is a very long time. At this time, I won't read science fiction. I have read some good paranormal fiction though.

I find I am quite comfortable with eroticas. Although, yes, I do not like a book that only had sex and no story. I personally prefer a classic in any genre (specially!). For example Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. It was one of the best reads I had this year. Though I wouldn't classify it as an erotica. That's putting it down, I feel. It did have some explicit scenes and yes, it's all the things you've heard- offending, traumatizing, at time even disgusting- but nonetheless it has become one of my favorites.
And so far as my experiment with Fantasy goes- I've read the entire Twilight series and also a little bit of Hunger Games (I loved the HG movies but could not get past the first chapter of the book!)
Also I agree. Reading is for pleasure but sometimes we must get out of our comfort zones and experiment a little before writing something off completely! But then again, there are always some writers who make us want to reconsider our preferences. We just need to find those right ones.

I tend to say, I read almost everything, but now I realize that I actually don't;-)
I avoid horror, dystopian, erotica...
Books labled 'Christian fiction' are also not much of a draw for me.
I don't read much non-fiction either. I often see a non-fiction book and think it looks interesting, but then I abandon it for a mystery or fiction novel instead.

I used to enjoy quest-fantasy, but have to admit that in recent years I have become a little bored of people with no vowels in their names trudging back n forth across bleak landscapes... so of course, one of my favourite non-thriller writers, Richard Morgan, would naturally switch from writing hard sci-fi to fantasy!
So I am enduring his Steel Remains series. Which is at least spiced up with some fairly explicit material...

My folks let me read whatever I wanted so long as my reading had a lot of variety. As a result, there are few genres that I won't read. While I might read and a romance book such as Pride and Prejudice but I'm not likely to pick up a bodice ripper. I also am not likely to read anything classified as Christian fiction. I don't have a problem with Christianity but I fond such books are often judgmental and overly sanitized.

I don't read a lot of literature type books..things we were required to read in school. Not too much Science fiction. Not Christian literature.
Getting away from reading serial killer or really gory books, definitely not into horror. After reading many serial killer type books it started to get old. Especially waking up with nightmares from it!

I don't read very much non-fiction. I never read Christian literature or romance. That's not for me. Anything else is fair game.

Pat wrote: "I don't read very much non-fiction."

What a shame! Granted, a lot of nonfiction is pretty dry but there are a lot of really great nonfiction books out there. If you like authors such as Gail Tsukiyama and Laurie Halse Anderson, whose books are based on actual events, you might enjoy The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America, Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World's Worst Dog or Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption.

Tom wrote: "PLaurie Halse Andersonat wrote: "I don't read very much non-fiction."

What a shame! Granted, a lot of nonfiction is pretty dry but there are a lot of really great nonfiction books o..."

Thanks for the suggestions. I do like the authors you listed of Gail Tsukiyama and Laurie Halse Anderson. I've heard of the books but have not considered them. I guess that's my loss and maybe need to adjust. I've read "In the Garden of Beasts" by Erik Larson (on Hitler's rise in Germany) and "The Hot Zone" by Douglas Preston (about ebola - ugh!) Both are excellent.

Pat wrote: " I've read "In the Garden of Beasts" by Erik Larson (on Hitler's rise in Germany) and "The Hot Zone" by Douglas Preston (about ebola - ugh!) Both are excellent. "

I almost suggested The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virus. Anything Erik Larson writes goes straight on my TBR list but "In the Garden of Beasts" wasn't my favorite. I really liked Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History, though.

Another one that I really enjoyed was Doris Kearns Goodwin's Wait Till Next Year. Although she is best known for her presidential biographies, this one is a memoir that talks about growing up in Brooklyn in the 1950s and a relationship with her father that centered around their mutual love of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Liking baseball isn't necessary to enjoy this book but it would probably help.

Thanks Tom I've added Wait Till Next Year to my TBR. I'm a sucker for Baselball stories.

I'll add to the NF suggestions. Boring title-excellent story!

Perri wrote: "I'll add 'The Boys in the Boat' to the NF suggestions. Boring title-excellent story! "

I've glanced at that one. You're right about the title. I thought it was a lifeboat story.