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Sandi Shilhanek | Not My Typical Reading Choices
March 1, 2009
This week I somewhat succumbed to peer pressure. I
have decided to request two books from the library that are outside my typical
reading choices. Since I’m not sure I will enjoy the books I’ve selected I’ve
also decided to do them on audio, as I tend to use my audio selections for
those books I deem outside my comfort zone. Now, I’m sure you’re interested in knowing what books I’ve
requested. I’m going to listen to Water For Elephants by Sara Greun and The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry. Have you
read either of these?   Is there a book that you’ve heard a lot about and
thought I
would never read it, but finally the hype has you so intrigued that you decide
to find a copy either in print, electronic, or audio, and read it for yourself?
What is it about the hype you’ve heard that makes you reach for the book? After
you’ve read that book outside your comfort zone do you find yourself more
willing to read more by the author, or is one enough?
Happy reading and listening to all, I look forward to your comments. Until next week... Sandi
DFW Tea Readers
Readers 'n
'ritas...celebrating literary obsessions
Comments
23 comments posted.
Re: Sandi Shilhanek | Not My Typical Reading Choices
Sandi, I look forward to hearing what you thought of these. I doubt I'd pick up either one especially if I was paying full price. When I step outside my comfort zone it's usually non-fiction.
(Ilene Pedersen 11:32am March 1, 2009)
I read Water for Elephants. I thought it was good.
The one that got me was The Twlight series by Stephanie Meyer. I tried read the first book in paperback and even tried reading The Host her adult book and realized she is not for me
(Cheryl Koch 11:54am March 1, 2009)
I know there have been a couple but for the life of me I cannot remember the titles! I do have Water for Elephants, but just can't seem to bring myself to read it. I also have Twilight and haven't read it yet but I know I'll like it as it is right up my genre alley :)
(Michelle K 12:18pm March 1, 2009)
I do the same thing with audiobooks. I'll try a book on audio that I wouldn't necessarily read in print format.
(Michelle K 12:21pm March 1, 2009)
I don't often read out of my comfort zone. If I do I usually try to get it from the library.
(Joyce Mandle 12:34pm March 1, 2009)
Like you I've decided that audio is the way to go for those books I'll never read but I just started doing audio so I have read a few over the years LOL I read ONE THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS and thought it was great too but haven't picked up THE KITE RUNNER yet I have it in TBR. I don't read anything to improve myself though - talk about not in my comfort zone LOL
(Barbs Ferris 1:18pm March 1, 2009)
Humm I try not to but, since I've been reading Erotica at the "pressure" of a friend.LOL
I've found some great authors and books.
WendyK
(Wilma Keel 1:22pm March 1, 2009)
The Black Dagger Brotherhood. I don't normally read paranormal, but I kept hearing so much about Dark Lover that I finally had to give it a try. I'm glad I did, but I still don't read any other paranormal.
(Janet Lewis 2:43pm March 1, 2009)
My Book Club selected Water for
Elephants for February. I absolutely did
not want to read it. However, why am I in
the club if I don't read the books? So I
read it. It read like TV, but I liked it.
(Lindsay Thorp 3:06pm March 1, 2009)
Mine is the same as Cheryl's. Twilight. I read it thanks to all my friends raving about it. I still don't understand what all the hype is about. Just not my thing.
(Lillie Applegarth 3:22pm March 1, 2009)
I am not normally swayed by hype. I do read recommended books after reading informative reviews, blogs or excerpts. I don't normally listen to audio books other than short stories.
Ray
(Ray Getzinger 3:31pm March 1, 2009)
I heard sooo much rave over The Other Boleyn Girl I decided to read it though it's not my usual thing. Didn't care for it at all. OTOH, I read Poison Study, a fantasy book and I'd never liked that genre, and was amazed and couldn't put it down. Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn't.
janetlee
(Janet Beckley 3:54pm March 1, 2009)
I guess for me it was the Twilight series. It wasn't really out of my comfort too much. I guess what made me try this series was I saw the Twilight movie. Now between my Mother and I we are getting the whole series.
(Maggie Roso 5:02pm March 1, 2009)
Hi Sandi,
Normally I don't read out of my comfort zone but once in awhile something moves me to trying a book I keep hearing "it is so good". I guess it is curiosity about what everyone is talking about. One of those books was The House of Sand and Fog, an Oprah book group pick. My daughter read it, liked it and passed it on to me. I did read the whole book. I felt it was very depressing, since then I've never read another Oprah book club pick! I don't like books that leave me unhappy. Sadness in a book is okay as long as it ends with a HEA!! I read or watch movies to be entertained, I don't want to be depressed!! Another book that got lots of "good" notice was Snow Falling On Cedars (I think I got that right), I was only able to read a few pages of it before deciding not to go any further. I will stick to my HEA, romance, romantic suspense & the occasional autobiography or memoir!!
Great subject as always. Thanks.
Donna M
(Donna McClure 6:56pm March 1, 2009)
Hey Sandi,
Its funny how most of us only read certain genres and never seem to stray much. I am no different. Probably the last thing I read do to hype was the Brotherhood series, which are great reads. I like paranormal reads in the human form, i.e. esp, visions, etc. Hadn't really read the vampire/werewolf/shiftchangersetc. I've read others in that form since, but not tons.
Will be interested in what you think of the books. Hoping, for your sake, that you find them mostly enjoyable. I used audios to try new authors all the time. Of course, basically in genres I normally read. Maybe someday . . . .
(Amanda Reeder-erdly 8:30pm March 1, 2009)
I'll read just about anything - once.
Did try two S & M and dominance
stories (I won the book). Not my style
at all. I put Water For Elephants on
the shelf of our library this past
month. Haven't read it yet. Enjoy the
paranormal genre, historicals,
fantasy,and much more.
(Patricia Barraclough 8:51pm March 1, 2009)
I see that several of us will read out of our genre if we get enough recommendations. I also see that many of us like to use audio for that out of
comfort read. I guess it's because when we have time to sit and read we don't want to waste those precious minutes on a book we might not
enjoy. However, audios can be listened to on tedious drives, running errands, and doing chores around the house.
If and when I get these audios actually listened to I shall come back and report.
Janet, I want you to know that I too was not wanting to read Dark Lover, but I was going on a vacation, and so i decided to take it with me. I was
totally enthralled, and was shocked. I did read the second in the series, and wasn't excited about it, and just haven't yet found the motivation to
read the third.
Thank you to all for the comments!
(Sandi Shilhanek 8:55pm March 1, 2009)
I usually don't change my mind about not reading a book because of the hype, but if I find thru e-mails or blogs an author I've never heard of before, I will often give a new (or new to me) author a try. If they are good, I'll read everything they've written.
(Kelli Jo Calvert 11:29am March 2, 2009)
my first love isn't paranormal and a book in the Nocture line at Harlequin didn't really live a great impression. But I tried Vivi Anna's Valorian Chronicles because I seen a lot of good reviews for them and am really liking them. I'm glad I can order the latest one this month. Another genre would be gay romance book. I'm finding a lot concentrate more on the romance side of the book and not the fact that the couple is the same sex.
(Christa Runge 12:19pm March 2, 2009)
Hi Sandi,
I'm like you if I'm really not sure about a book but still want to try it. I will get it on audio, I was like that a few years ago when The DaVinci Code was the big thing to read. So I got Angels & Demons first then The DaVinci Code. I'm very glad that I listened to them instead of reading them.
Lynn
(Lynn McCrea 12:20pm March 2, 2009)
I have so many of my favorites in my TBR that I don't have time to worry about what the "IN" books are. I hear friends and coworkers raving about books like Harry Potter, Twilight, Confessions of a Shopaholic and I think naaaaa not my cuppa tea. If I ever complete my TBR mountain I may branch out to some of those "IT" books. I'm pretty much set in my preferences. Every now and then I will let friends opinions sway me and I will venture out of my comfort zone. Years ago I bowed to peer pressure and tried to read a couple of "it" books recommended by Oprah and found them not at all to my liking, much too depressing for my tastes. Since then I avoid those type of books! LOL
(Shauna George 12:49pm March 2, 2009)
I'm with Shauna -- my TBR pile is more like a bookcase rather than a pile. The few times I've stepped outside my comfort zone I've usually ended up disappointed. I try and stay away from supernatural books as they leave me feeling very uncomfortable. However, I love Nora Roberts' Donovan series -- go figure. I'm thinking of getting one of the In Death books by J.D. Robb that I've heard so much about -- they're on at Walmart for 30% off right now. I don't do audio books, but that could change. When we travel I read while my husband drives. Works for us.
(Donna Breitkreuz 4:07pm March 2, 2009)
Hi Sandi,
Now that I've registered, maybe my newsletter will come to my inbox instead of my junkmail box. I've got the address in my address book, but it didn't make a difference.
(Donna Breitkreuz 4:10pm March 2, 2009)
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