A Good Thriller discussion

Huh?

I don't know. I'm confused. Carry on ;)

I can't stand pure romantic books. I don't mind romance or sex as a subplot, but I don't want the whole book to be about that.

I also don't like the really "feel-good, happy" books. My grandmother reads those, and given my life experirences, they can't hold my attention. They just don't seem to have much depth or texture to them, to me.(Debbie Macomber's book are good examples of these books.)

What do you mean by "feel-good, happy" books?

Like what are they about?

David wrote: "What do you mean by "feel-good, happy" books?"

I mean books that are suppose to be about real life, but end up being fairy tale like because everything turns out to be oerfect and right in the end Books where you can already guess the ending after just a few chapters. (person 1 falls in love with person 2 for example.)The kind of books that Hallmark movies are based upon.

Oh yes. I understand.

Yeah, I don't like those, either, Kim.

And on the opposite side of the teeter-totter, I don't like books that are too real to life. I like to escape to perfect worlds where I know whatever is going on, in the end it will be solved and happy or happily-ever-after.

I live reality everyday, I don't need to read about it.

On that, Groovy, we can agree. "I live reality everyday, I don't need to read about it."

Hear! Hear! :)

Amen to that!

LOL I love all the different ways people say "yes."

Yep.

Groovy: This Epic Rap battle of History pegs what you said abour Reality. J. R. R. Tolkien vs George R. R. Martin. Epic Rap Battles of History. Season 5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAAp_... And Yes, Tolkien really WAS a WWI vet...British Army: 1st Lt.

Best line is the one about Led Zeppelin.

Not keen on True Crime stories.

Lisa wrote: "Not keen on True Crime stories."

Not my favorite category either, but I think one of the best in that category and one of the best books I have ever read is Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi.

Gary wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Not keen on True Crime stories."

Not my favorite category either, but I think one of the best in that category and one of the best books I have ever read is Helter Skelter by Vincent ..."
Is that about the Manson murders?

Lisa wrote: "Gary wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Not keen on True Crime stories."

Not my favorite category either, but I think one of the best in that category and one of the best books I have ever read is Helter Skelte..."

Yes it is. Buglosi was the prosecutor on the case. It was turned into a TV miniseries with Steven Railsback as Manson.

Science Fiction, Bodice Ripper trash, and... Ordinary urban stories.

With all due respect, Wolfrott, "bodice rippers" are usually read by women...particularly women who don't care if the male cover model has moobs bigger than hers.

Kim wrote: "I can't stand pure romantic books. I don't mind romance or sex as a subplot, but I don't want the whole book to be about that.

I also don't like the really "feel-good, happy" books. My grandmother..."

Ditto! :)

Lisa wrote: "Not keen on True Crime stories."

But, they can be hit or miss. Unfortunately, it is like buying a bottle of wine to me. You never know if you are going to like it or not until you open the bottle and begin to consume.

Amber wrote: "With all due respect, Wolfrott, "bodice rippers" are usually read by women...particularly women who don't care if the male cover model has moobs bigger than hers."

Amber,

This statistic does indeed surprise me. I would have figure the average reader of this genre to be about 18-30 and male.

Are you kidding, Cameron? Most males in that age group that I know avoid "bodice ripper"-style romances like bubonic plague either because they consider the books to be "mushy," "girly," or because they feel inadequate compared to the male lead character...especially if he's described as "hung like a horse" and they aren't.

An example of a book where this happens is Naked Dragon (Works Like Magick #1) by Annette Blair (Goodreads Author) ( https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6... )

Oops. Amber,

I did not see romance in there. Yes, I can see that along with your last description. Male instant turn-off for sure.

Not sure if I'd ever read one of the gay fantasy subgenre romances. It's obviously a gay romance, but the fantasy element is usually something like a shapeshifter falling in love with a normal gay human or other fantasy bs like that.

Amber wrote: "Not sure if I'd ever read one of the gay fantasy subgenre romances. It's obviously a gay romance, but the fantasy element is usually something like a shapeshifter falling in love with a normal gay ..."

I must be missing something? Gay?

Amber wrote: "Not sure if I'd ever read one of the gay fantasy subgenre romances. It's obviously a gay romance, but the fantasy element is usually something like a shapeshifter falling in love with a normal gay ..."

Imajica This was the first ever book I read in that sub-genre, decades ago. I was so surprised.

Yep, Gary. Such a thing does exist. https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid... is a listing of websites..including a list right here on GR!

Zippergirl: I was thinking about a more recent one on one of my emails about the genre that I got from GR. If I remember correctly, one of them was a normal gay man, the other a tom cat shapeshiter... .

No Romance or Erotica for me.

I never read love/romantic books, never been intrigued to read this type of book.

Emma wrote: "I never read love/romantic books, never been intrigued to read this type of book."

I definitely agree with you on this one, Emma. I cannot stand vampire, fantasy or dystopian books.

You know, part of me dread checking in on this thread. Why? Because it seems like everyone hates the books I read. LOL!

I love urban fantasy, paranormal romance, romantic suspense. I have a weakness for dystopian fiction (especially YA) and I love Stephenie Meyer's books.

(Yes, I know, vampires should NOT sparkle. But I still loved that series.)

I admit this freely with full knowledge that I will be judged.

Ok sparkly vampires are a bit much. However you and I share many genres, although not all.

Ok, I admit to liking the Mack Bolan series, at least the first series which was written by Don Pendelton himself before he sold it to Gold Eagle, a division of Harlequin and it was written by ghost writers.
I think you for reassuring me it wasn't weird to like the In Death series.
I like urban fantasy, my favorites so far are the Sabrina Kane series by Jaye Wells, The Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost and the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. They all share a streak of humor that I enjoy.

Kirsten - Dogs welcome, people tolerated wrote: You know, part of me dread checking in on this thread. Why? Because it seems like everyone hates the books I read. LOL!

I love urban fantasy, paranormal romance, romantic suspense. I have a weakness for dystopian fiction (especially YA) and I love Stephenie Meyer's books.

(Yes, I know, vampires should NOT sparkle. But I still loved that series.)

I admit this freely with full knowledge that I will be judged

Not by me. You are entitled to enjoy whatever genre you choose.

OK so I now have visions of sparkly vampires riding the ponies from My Little Pony and frolicking with The Care Bears.

Okay, I never really enjoyed My Little Pony or The Care Bears, and despised The Smurfs.

Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "Okay, I never really enjoyed My Little Pony or The Care Bears, and despised The Smurfs."
I think I created a new horror genre :)

Oh, yes....

Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "You know, part of me dread checking in on this thread. Why? Because it seems like everyone hates the books I read. LOL!

I love urban fantasy, paranormal romance, romantic suspense. I have a weakne..."

Kristen:

You will not ever be judged by me. I believe that everyone has their own right to tastes of reading, and they may or may not agree with mine, which makes no difference to me at all. Whatever you decide to read, good for you.
On a second note, I kind of see where you are going here. (I think) This thread may have run its course.

I don't care about being judged (incidentally I can't imagine many sitting in judgement of me. They have life; more important things in life to think about!) and read for my pleasure alone. No one else's. :)

Janet wrote: "I don't care about being judged (incidentally I can't imagine many sitting in judgement of me. They have life; more important things in life to think about!) and read for my pleasure alone. No one ..."

Here, here! Order in the court forum, Janet.

Over this whole discussion, I don't think anyone has said, "You're wrong for reading those kinds of books." All the remarks have been "I don't like books about ______."

We all love books, just different types. As my friend says: "That's why they make vanilla and chocolate ice cream."

Gary wrote: "OK so I now have visions of sparkly vampires riding the ponies from My Little Pony and frolicking with The Care Bears."

EYE BLEACH!

Cameron: Isn't thas the idea behind this topic? To talk about what we don't/won't read?

Amber wrote: "Gary wrote: "OK so I now have visions of sparkly vampires riding the ponies from My Little Pony and frolicking with The Care Bears."

EYE BLEACH!

Cameron: Isn't thas the idea behind this topic? To..."

Amber wrote: "Gary wrote: "OK so I now have visions of sparkly vampires riding the ponies from My Little Pony and frolicking with The Care Bears."

EYE BLEACH!

Cameron: Isn't thas the idea behind this topic? To..."
Oops ... hit post too soon. Yes, you know Amber, I believe that I do have to agree with you on this. After thinking this through a bit, I see that this is really the point of the topic.

It happens, Cameron.

Some thrillers indulge in long characters' background, thus helping the reader to walk in their shoes. The downside is that their flow slows down. They usually feature few main characters.

Other thrillers, among them many top-selling spy/military thrillers, focus on action and dialogues. Sometimes they also involve several relevant characters.

Do you love or hate either of these broad groups of thrillers?
And why?

I am not into reading romance, YA, military/spy thrillers, or fantasy. I do you like mystery/detective thrillers, true crime, true paranormal, and horror - will read some science fiction depending on the author. Though I can say the only fantasy I did read was Lord of the Rings a long time ago.