Storyletter Thoughts: What do you enjoy reading most?
storyletter.substack.com
I’m going to try something new today, I’d like to open up a discussion about what you enjoy reading; whether it’s a specific genre, a certain writing style, your favorite authors, or various story lengths. I’d also like to get to know each of you and talk about our shared love of fiction. I’m very interested in hearing your thoughts! ~ WM
I think historical fiction is my favorite genre, though it’s been a while since I read it. I love it when I can learn about history through story, even knowing all the details aren’t so much correct as could have been. Some of my favorite books of all time are “A Suitable Boy”, “Sor Juana and the Breath of Heaven”, and “The Killer Angels”.
Sometimes non-fiction can bridge this gap (like “Wild Swans” did) and really present a good story without being too “factual”.
When I was growing up I wasn’t privy to many books nor did I get to go to the movies a lot. I played outside and had many chores. But when I began reading I found mystery and romance my favorites. I never like sci-fi until I was introduced to it through my sons because I watched them play with their exotic toy figures and their minds explode in their fantasy world. I then began going to the movies with them to watch their genre’s and began to appreciate sci-fi more. I’m very critical when I read or watch movies. When I’m reading I like the story to progress and not drag on and on with fillers. Same with movies, and I always find myself trying to figure out where it’s going ahead of time and I really love twists that totally blow my mind that I never saw coming. Where the crawdads sing was a great book with twists. Girl on a train was hard to read but I soon found its rhythm and the movie was right on. Silent patient is good, and I loved every breath by Nicholas sparks. I love LOVE but …..I am so enjoying the Crocodillian by Winston malone, that I can’t wait to read what happens next. I so wish I could write ✍️..but I keep reading instead. Thanks for this platform it’s very nice 👍🏻
If I'm being absolutely honest, reading has always been difficult for me. I've read very few books mainly bcuz I read really slow so it takes a long time and sometimes I have to reread things to keep it in my head or else I'll miss a major plot point.
I think it's mainly bcuz I grew up watching movies instead of reading books. My dad has always been an avid (should say addicted) movie goer who would take my brother and I to the theater practically every week.
That's where I actually developed my style of writing and discovered I enjoy the SF genre and more speculative fiction. Since then I've tried to model my writing in a more cinematic manner.
Specifically focusing on dialogue mixing with setting. I find my biggest strength is dialogue, so my focus is on how the characters visualize their surroundings.
I like really weird stories where the author is trying to convey a truly alien world like in Perdido Street Station and Made in Abyss. It's hard to do because everyone's so genre savvy these days. I mainly read manga and listen to fantasy and sci fi novel audiobooks and YouTube lore videos in hopes of finding interesting stuff like that.
Short answer: Pretty much anything 😄 but queer and offbeat sf is my fave of faves. Long answer will arrive shortly. Just didn't want to forget to post something.
Thank you for responding and YES I may someday try my hand at writing ✍️. I do admire your creative style and ideas. I also like your poems and like I said earlier, I always try to figure things out to a fault I think 🤔 instead of enjoying the ride.
Fantasy and science fiction are what I enjoy the most. As a former middle school classroom teacher, I still have an affinity for middle school-level fantasy and science fiction and some other middle school level stories as well.
I don’t read stories that feel the need to throw in unnecessary sex scenes or so shocking things just because they can. A story can have romance without going blue.
I’ve always found that kind of writing distasteful. Lord of the Rings had one kiss in the entire book, and it’s still better than any other epic fantasy book in existence.
I also enjoy straight up adventure stories and some thrillers (although they need to follow the no-smut rule as well).
I love a good history book (especially American history and war books) but I rarely get to read them.
Watching The Batman (which is awesome and NOT woke) recently reminded me that I also love a good mystery but haven’t read a good one in ages.
Last of all, I have a three year old so I love all kinds of great and classic children’s stories.
Sorry that was way too much information it was just hard to choose!
I think historical fiction is my favorite genre, though it’s been a while since I read it. I love it when I can learn about history through story, even knowing all the details aren’t so much correct as could have been. Some of my favorite books of all time are “A Suitable Boy”, “Sor Juana and the Breath of Heaven”, and “The Killer Angels”.
Sometimes non-fiction can bridge this gap (like “Wild Swans” did) and really present a good story without being too “factual”.
When I was growing up I wasn’t privy to many books nor did I get to go to the movies a lot. I played outside and had many chores. But when I began reading I found mystery and romance my favorites. I never like sci-fi until I was introduced to it through my sons because I watched them play with their exotic toy figures and their minds explode in their fantasy world. I then began going to the movies with them to watch their genre’s and began to appreciate sci-fi more. I’m very critical when I read or watch movies. When I’m reading I like the story to progress and not drag on and on with fillers. Same with movies, and I always find myself trying to figure out where it’s going ahead of time and I really love twists that totally blow my mind that I never saw coming. Where the crawdads sing was a great book with twists. Girl on a train was hard to read but I soon found its rhythm and the movie was right on. Silent patient is good, and I loved every breath by Nicholas sparks. I love LOVE but …..I am so enjoying the Crocodillian by Winston malone, that I can’t wait to read what happens next. I so wish I could write ✍️..but I keep reading instead. Thanks for this platform it’s very nice 👍🏻
If I'm being absolutely honest, reading has always been difficult for me. I've read very few books mainly bcuz I read really slow so it takes a long time and sometimes I have to reread things to keep it in my head or else I'll miss a major plot point.
I think it's mainly bcuz I grew up watching movies instead of reading books. My dad has always been an avid (should say addicted) movie goer who would take my brother and I to the theater practically every week.
That's where I actually developed my style of writing and discovered I enjoy the SF genre and more speculative fiction. Since then I've tried to model my writing in a more cinematic manner.
Specifically focusing on dialogue mixing with setting. I find my biggest strength is dialogue, so my focus is on how the characters visualize their surroundings.
I like really weird stories where the author is trying to convey a truly alien world like in Perdido Street Station and Made in Abyss. It's hard to do because everyone's so genre savvy these days. I mainly read manga and listen to fantasy and sci fi novel audiobooks and YouTube lore videos in hopes of finding interesting stuff like that.
Short answer: Pretty much anything 😄 but queer and offbeat sf is my fave of faves. Long answer will arrive shortly. Just didn't want to forget to post something.
Thank you for responding and YES I may someday try my hand at writing ✍️. I do admire your creative style and ideas. I also like your poems and like I said earlier, I always try to figure things out to a fault I think 🤔 instead of enjoying the ride.
Fantasy and science fiction are what I enjoy the most. As a former middle school classroom teacher, I still have an affinity for middle school-level fantasy and science fiction and some other middle school level stories as well.
I don’t read stories that feel the need to throw in unnecessary sex scenes or so shocking things just because they can. A story can have romance without going blue.
I’ve always found that kind of writing distasteful. Lord of the Rings had one kiss in the entire book, and it’s still better than any other epic fantasy book in existence.
I also enjoy straight up adventure stories and some thrillers (although they need to follow the no-smut rule as well).
I love a good history book (especially American history and war books) but I rarely get to read them.
Watching The Batman (which is awesome and NOT woke) recently reminded me that I also love a good mystery but haven’t read a good one in ages.
Last of all, I have a three year old so I love all kinds of great and classic children’s stories.
Sorry that was way too much information it was just hard to choose!