Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday (Top Topics that Turn Me Away) & Teaser Tuesday (Haven by Celia Breslin)


Today's Top Ten Tuesday is:

Top Ten Topics or Words That Make Me Not Want to Pick Up a Book

I actually had a hard time coming up with this list because I've never really thought about it before.  But there are definitely types of books that I lean toward and types of books that I avoid.  So, in no particular order, here is a list of topics/words/genres that just don't do it for me:
  1. Non-fiction - The only type of non-fiction that I really read are Christian books (and usually those are because I'm in a Bible study or something, not because I just decided to pick up a non-fiction book). Occasionally, I will read a non-fiction book about a specific topic that I want to learn about (like photography or something), but I almost never see a random non-fiction book and think, "Oooh!  I want to read that!"
  2. Erotica - I don't mind sex in my books, but when it crosses over to erotica, I start to feel a little uncomfortable.  My level of discomfort especially seems to go up when certain words are used (words that I just consider too naughty for me - I'm certainly not going to mention them here, so you'll just have to use your imagination) or certain acts are described in detail.  So, I'll generally avoid any book that is marketed as an erotic romance.
  3. War - Generally, books about real-world war do not interest me.  If there is a war in a dystopian or paranormal novel, I usually don't mind, but if the book seems to center on war (meaning that element outshines the other aspects of the book), I usually won't pick it up.
  4. Historical Fiction - I've actually read a few historical fiction books that were really good, but for some reason the genre itself still just doesn't really appeal to me.  I won't usually pick up a historical fiction book unless something about it really catches my eye.
  5. Politics - Politics in a book just bore me to death.  That doesn't mean that I don't like to read about issues that might spark political debate, but I don't like to read about actual politics.  In my mind, there is no such thing as a political thriller.  I mean, how can politics be thrilling?!
  6. Sports - Just not interested.  I don't watch sports in real life and I don't want to read about them (unless they are a small element of an otherwise non-sport-related book).
  7. Southern Charm - I'm not generally a fan of books that profess to have Southern charm.  I usually don't find it charming.  I guess as a native Chicagoan (okay, suburbanite, but still), I just don't get the Deep South.  This includes books about Cowboys or books with a Western theme too.
  8. Preachy Christian Books - I'm a Christian.  And not just a "go to church on Sunday and forget about God for the rest of the week" kind of Christian.  And, the thing is, I really want to want to read Christian fiction.  My problem is that most of the Christian fiction I've read is so darn preachy and cheesy!  I know about God - I want others to know about God.  But I think that a lot of these books just make Christianity sound so fake and unappealing.  Ugh!
  9. Cheaters - I have a hard time getting on board with a romance where one of the people in the couple is cheating on a spouse or significant other.  
  10. Chick-lit - Okay, I've got to say that I don't even really know what Chick-lit is.  It seems like generic, lighthearted women's fiction where the main character gossips with her girlfriends and chases after a boy and doesn't do much else.  All I know is that books in this category generally don't appeal to me.
Okay, well, that's it.  So, have you read any books in any of these categories that you just LOVED and that I really shouldn't miss out on?  Or have you read a non-preachy Christian fiction book that I need to get my hands on right now?  I want to know!




Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

~Grab your current read
~Open to a random page
~Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on the page
~BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! ( make sure that what you share doesn't give away to much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
~Share the title & author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!
- Then go on over to Should be Reading and share your teaser in her comments section!

My teaser today is from an NA book I'm reading for a blog tour (review to be posted next week).


by Celia Breslin
"Have you ever done that binding thing before?"
"No." ...
"Is it supposed to hurt like that?  When our power exploded all over us, it was like being attacked by a giant sewing machine in a furnace inside a tornado. Or something." I frowned at my lame description of the massive cosmic event we'd experienced.

Page 216

Comments (23)

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I'm not an erotica reader at all. When I saw this topic, that was the very first thing that came to mind for my list!
My recent post Top Ten Tuesday: Words/Topics that Make Me NOT Choose a Book
1 reply · active 607 weeks ago
Seems to be a common answer for this TTT. Erotica is one of those things that most people either really like or really don't.
Non fiction is on my list too. Politics puts me off too. Great list.
My recent post Destroy Me
I agree with all your points. I never read non-fiction and chicklits, really don't like those books.

My TTT http://evelinesbooks.blogspot.nl/2013/07/top-ten-...
My recent post Top Ten Tuesday #8
1 reply · active 607 weeks ago
Oooh! I just went and checked out your list and REALLY loved it - I kept thinkng, "Oh, I should have thought of that!"
This list could have been my list! Seriously, we think a lot alike when it comes to these things.

Thanks for visiting my TTT!

Jess @ Such A Novel Idea

My recent post Book Tour — Promise Me This by Sarah Ashley Jones
1 reply · active 607 weeks ago
Yes, our lists are very similar!! Except I still have a soft spot for Vampires, werewolves and fairies. :-)
Jessica@a GREAT read's avatar

Jessica@a GREAT read · 607 weeks ago

Nice tease! Good list too! can agree with most of that as well! For some reason genres in particular didn't cross my mind, although yeah, I can say no to non-fiction, anything political and then some! Oh well!

Here's my Tuesday Post

Have a GREAT day!

Old Follower :)
1 reply · active 607 weeks ago
Yes - I had an easier time coming up with genres that I don't like that topics or words that bother me.
Nice list! I totally should've put politics on my list, too. As for sports, I only have problem with american football, I'm so not a fan, so I definitely don't enjoy books with it, I've tried, but no. And yeah, I tend not to read non-fiction, too, as well as your other picks, I'm so not a fan, except for historical fiction, which I love, although I don't read it as much as I'd like to.
My recent post Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Words/Topics That Will Make Me NOT Pick Up A Book!
1 reply · active 607 weeks ago
Yes, politics turn me off. It doesn't matter if it's real-world politics or fantasy world politics - if the book gets too detailed into the political side of things, I start to yawn.
I pretty much agree with you on all topics, and to be honest, I'm not quite sure what Chick-lit is either! Haha.
1 reply · active 607 weeks ago
Yes, Chick-lit just seems like a genre that gets pinned to anything with a female protagonist and no real plot. :0
I am not a fan of non-fiction either!
Hi Nicole!
Thanks for the Tuesday Teaser mention. My HAVEN vampires appreciate the attention. :-)
From your list, I rarely read sports or political fiction. I like historical fiction if it has a paranormal element.
Look forward to visiting with you here in August during the book tour!
Cheers,
Celia
My recent post Rayne Hall’s 10 Tricks For Realistic Fight Scenes
1 reply · active 607 weeks ago
Thanks for stopping by! I'm glad that I'm in your vampire's good graces - I do NOT want to be on their bad side! I really enjoyed Haven (don't want to spoil my review for next week, though, so I won't say more than that).
I agree with you about historical novels with a paranormal element - makes all the difference!
Hehe!! Great tease! That is a great description of a cosmic event!!! Great top 10 btw, a lot of them we have in common.

Here's My Tease!!
Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace
My recent post Review ~ With All My Soul by Rachel Vincent
I love historical fiction, so I'd recommend The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. I usually stay away from most of the other types of books on your list though!

- Kritika @ Snowflakes and Spider Silk
My recent post WATCHMEN.
1 reply · active 607 weeks ago
The Book Thief has actually been on my TBR list for awhile and I've heard great things about it. I have heard of Code Name Verity, but can't place it - I'll have to go check it out on Goodreads.
You have several on there that I completely agree with. Southern Charm? This one made me laugh! I am so with you there!
1 reply · active 607 weeks ago
Glad I'm not the only one who isn't charmed by Southern hospitality. :-)
New follower, saw your blog on book blogs.
Enjoyed your list, its great to see peoples varied interests. I agree with erotica, preachy christian and politics. I would have to add Sci Fi and vampires to my list. Check out my blog at http://katloveofbooks.blogspot.com - its really new I need followers! Thanks.
I totally agree with your list! I saw and kept thinking it could have been my list xD Really don't like non-fiction or war books, and that southern charm, is not charming at all, and the preachy books are a total turn off too.
My recent post [ARC] Review: Ignite by Erica Crouch

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