This week Lost in Books wants to know my favorite genres to read (and also promised not to tell the other genres). Although it seems like I've been reading a lot of historical fiction lately my choices are:
1. Fantasy - I read to escape and you can't get much farther away than in a fantasy story. Some of my favorites in this genre are The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly, The Harry Potters, The Chronicles of Narnias, and the Lord of the Ringses.
2. Magical Realism - I think a world with magic is much more interesting than a regular-style one. When others might attribute something amazing happening to god, I like to attribute it to magic! Some of my favorites in this genre are Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen, Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya, The Probable Future by Alice Hoffman, and Chocolat by Joanne Harris.
3. Animal Stories - I love animals so obviously I like to read fiction and non-fiction stories about them. I especially love horse stories. Since I don't have horses any more I have to live vicariously through books. Some of my favorites in this genre are National Velvet by Enid Bagnold, Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand, Chosen by a Horse by Susan Richards, and Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.
If you asked me this question 10 or 15 years ago, I probably would have said Horror, True Crime, and Chick Lit (all of which I still read). I wonder what I'll say in another 10 years.
What are your favorite genres?
P.S. love is magical is by vol25 and is the perfect blend of fantasy, magical realism, and animal.
5 comments:
I've read and loved all the books in your first category except for The Book of Lost Things. I need to get on that!
I do think it's interesting how my tastes have changed over the years. It will be interesting to see where they take me in the future.
I haven't read much Magical Realism. I have Garden Spells but haven't read it yet. I haven't read Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman, but it is one of my favorite movies. I can practically quote the whole thing.
I do have a special place in my heart for the use of magical realism...Thanks for sharing!
+JMJ+
I think #2 is interesting. I've never heard the term before, but I know I've read quite a few books that fit that description.
Would you consider Diana Wynne Jones' books to be both magical and realistic, Captain?
I had never heard of Diana Wynne Jones before but when I looked her up it sounds like her books are fantasy. Magical realism is more like a story about regular people but there is a small, magical element surrounding their lives (like an apple tree that grows apples that show you the future).
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