Do You Judge a Reader By Their Cover?

the duke and i

 

I do wonder this. You see someone reading a copy of a Discworld novel on the train – are they a geek? Someone reading Crime and Punishment – are they intelligent?

I read a lot of romance books. Regency romance is by far my favourite genre. I love Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, Sarah MacLean and many, many more. And of course, the original, Jane Austen. So, I ask you, are you judging me now?

I’m a voracious reader, and I’ll always fit a book in somewhere. It’s my escape and my wind down time, and it means so much to me. Yet I’ve encountered literary snobbery because of my reading preferences, and I’m not entirely sure why.

Do these books dumb me down? Are they grammatically poor or lexically-challenged? I do read other genres. I like an easy chick-lit read, a gruesome horror and the occasional foray into fantasy. I then dip my toe into thrillers, murders and contemporary fiction. I do enjoy them all.

All books are there with new worlds for me to explore, new stories for me to become immersed in, and a book shop will always be one of my favourite places to kill an hour or two in (these hours are non-existent at the moment, but maybe one day, when the children are a little older…?!).

I’ll thumb through the recommended reads, browse endless shelves and read blurb after blurb, but then I’ll usually gravitate towards the romance section, and seek out those historical reads.

Why? Well, the chances are high that they’re going to end well! They’ll make me smile, as I tend to go for the authors injecting humour into their novels, too. So when I get to escape and have a few moments to myself, I needn’t think too hard and I know all will be well in the end. Regency romances also combine my love of books with my passion for history. Amongst other things, I know about British nobility hierarchy, duelling etiquette, pelisses, and White’s.

OK, I freely admit that this knowledge isn’t particularly useful, but then neither is knowing how to murder someone and nearly get away with it…is it…?!

However, I’m asked ‘why do you read that rubbish?’, or smirked at when revealing my preferences.

What difference the content – they are still books?! Should I be reading the classics or Booker prize winners only? Though, to be honest, I suspect that I need not aim so high. Just a Grisham or Slaughter will probably do, as it doesn’t have a cover full of frivolity, or even worse, a cover like this…

eloisa

 

So I’m interested to know – what genre is your favourite read? I promise I won’t judge you…. 😉

 

Sharing is caring!

27 thoughts on “Do You Judge a Reader By Their Cover?”

    1. I just feel so much happier disappearing into a book – even if just half an hour. Just squeezes a little ‘me-time’ into the day. Thanks for commenting 🙂

  1. I too LOVE to read and am a big fiction fan… I love a bit of Amish fiction which also gets raised eyebrows at times! I just love their simplicity of life and faith and its fun to escape into that world when mine is a little chaotic! Glad to find your blog! #pocolo

    1. Amish fiction? Now, that’s a new one to me, and you have me intrigued! I’ll keep an eye out for that. Thanks for sharing 🙂

  2. I jump from romance to thrillers/murders…to me if I lose myself in the story it’s a good book, regardless of its genre. I almost feel a bit intimidated by the Classics and Booker winners, I wouldn’t know what to start with!
    Glad I found your blog on #PoCoLo x

    1. Yes, I think you’re right – as long as you’re losing yourself in the story, it’s a good read. Thanks for commenting 🙂

  3. Lovely blog..Ah I love all sorts, from thrillers to odd graphic novel. So you can imagine the stares.. Grown man … Comic book .. Nerd! Well saying that maybe I do look like a nerd, lol into a lot of horror and fiction At the moment though . Catching up on the dean koontz collection

    1. Oh yes, I do like Koontz, too. Thanks for sharing (& yes, I can imagine the looks!) People shouldn’t judge a reader by their cover.. 😉

  4. I’m a fan of a good bodice ripper, the promiscous sister of Regency romance, but I also read a wrist-slappingly terrible amount of fan fiction which has the added bonus of being completely inconspicuous… 😉

    1. Yes, teen fiction is really popular now, isn’t it? Eloisa James has a current historical series based on fairy tales that you may enjoy then 🙂

  5. I am a massive SF & Fantasy fan, and I usually find it very hard to break out of my Genre Lock! I do just love reading, though, never without a book open, and recently I’ve been forced to widen my reading selection as I try to find books for my website project. It’s been wonderful to find lots of other types of books I like outside my normal genre – I’ve discovered a passion for a certain type of chick lit. My biggest discovery is the themes I tend to be drawn to – Power, Quest, Redemption, Good vs Evil, Journey… rather than the genres. I also have to have a happy ending!

    1. Now I’ve never really thought about books in terms of themes rather than genres – that is an interesting idea to explore. I’ll have to examine my tastes more closely now! Thanks for sharing 🙂

  6. I’m just going to say it – I love trashy ‘holiday reads’, love them. They always end up in a perfect relationship and you can close the book a sigh happily before getting involved with another romance 3 days later. Those and comedy based books about parents, parenting or failing at being a parent! I have a wide taste but I can always devour one of those types easily.

    1. You just can’t go wrong can you?! You know they’re a quick read with a feel-good ending. I like yippee funny parenting books, too – can do identify! Thanks for commenting 🙂

  7. I’m a SF & Fantasy fan, although I do like the odd bit of chick lit or a good crime novel 🙂 I have to admit that I’m favouring YA dystopian fantasy at the moment – slightly lighter and faster paced than some of the ‘grown up’ stuff, but good reads nonetheless 🙂 interesting to read the comment on themes above, I would agree with that – and is probably why I favour fantasy… But to be honest – I adore reading, and I will read just about anything to have a book in my hands! #PoCoLo

    1. Yes, YA fiction is definitely getting a big share of the market now. I used to run a kids book blog so got to read plenty of YA books to review and some of them were brilliant, and quite fast reads, too. Like you, I feel a book in the hand is always a good thing 🙂 Thanks for sharing

    1. Oh, I do love a good horror – the scarier the better!! It’s great to read a huge variety and get lost in so many different stories. Thanks for commenting 🙂

  8. Pingback: Readings Read – September

  9. Pingback: The Readings Read – August

  10. Pingback: Blind Date With A Book

  11. I went through a huge chick lit phase last year. Very very easy reads where you really don’t have to think at all. I think I’d end up reading a couple a week. I keep meaning to read the girl on the train and keep forgetting to download it. Much more edgier I think and it’ll probably take me ages to get through!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *