Being a lover of YA, it’s somewhat difficult to pull myself away from them for a while to eat up other genres. One genre I try to implement into my joyrides through words are the classics. I don’t do it much, but every once in a while I’ll read one.
Right now I’m reading Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. It’s rather hilarious just how far apart they are on the spectrum—one steeped in darkness, the other flowered with romance.
I’m reading Dracula out of a traditional book, but listening to Sense and Sensibility on audio book in order to utilize my time in an effective manner. I’m just gonna use the cliché: Hitting two birds with one stone.
I like to call my book a “Horrific Love Story.” These two books are very useful to add a dark aura and romantic touch to my story.
With saying this, the classics and all genres for that matter can help to improve an author’s writing because reading is research for a writer. Technically YA are where I get my stylistic ideas, but other genres aid me to formulate a story. Plus, I’ll be honest, they’re just fun to read.
I love reading. It’s a delight to become absorbed in a story, even if it is outside of my most beloved genre—Young Adult.
What is your favorite genre? Do you have a hard time branching out to read other ones? Or are you able to slide from one to the next with ease?
What is your favorite genre? Do you have a hard time branching out to read other ones? Or are you able to slide from one to the next with ease?
Thanks Evie for the comment. Yeah, YA fills up 99% of my reading too. I like how you put that, "Books that make me feel." I like those too! Sigh!
ReplyDeleteI, too, love YA! But if I have to pick a "favorite", it would be fantasy. Anything on the fantasy spectrum is fine by me, everything from Harry Potter and Percy Jackson to Lord of the Rings and the Demon King and everything in between. I usually say, "Anything where a main character dons a cloak at some point" :)
ReplyDeleteI do, however, force myself outside of my comfort zone often. I am loving the dystopian stuff, and the paranormal is fun, too. I am forcing myself to read the 100 best classics according the BBC, one at a time, and that takes me across a lot of genres: romance, science fiction, literature, action, westerns, etc.
What do you think of Dracula so far? Have you read it before?
My ultimate favorite author has always been/will always be Shakespeare. I've read Dracula, it's an amazing story for it's time and incredibly visual. Some folk don't understand it cuz it's almost lyrical in words, but I've never had a problem with it!
ReplyDeleteJulia, if you love the classics, might I suggest H. G. Wells' The Invisible Man or War of the Worlds? How about Mary Shelley's Frankenstein? Those books are visual with great examples of exposition and character development.
Nonetheless, classic books rock! Great post!
I love both of those books - Dracula and Sense & Sensibility. The classics are great! I try to pepper my reading with them as well. My personal favorites, however, are YA and mysteries. I do try to read fantasy novels also. I second the recommendation of Frankenstein and would add Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde to the creepy classics list. Thanks for the post!
ReplyDeleteI actually love reading a variety of genre's. But political thrillers like those brought to us by Vince Flynn (Term Limits being my favorite). But I enjoy fantasty (something I have just discovereda about myself), young adult, non-fiction, I wish I enjoyed the classics more but I struggle through the few I have read.
ReplyDelete--Liz
More than genre's I am just always on the look out for a good book, no matter what catagory it might fall into.