Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Addicts discussion

Are there any topics which are taboo in your reading? Do you avoid books which contain subject matters you consider taboo? Would ou stop reading a book if you came across a particular thing or could you accept it if it was part of the story which you otherwise enjoyed?

So far I have not run across anything that would stop me from reading a book or series.....

Incest, or anything that plays on that theme. Don't know why...I just can't read about it (or at least, read it without being pulled out of the story and slightly weirded out), regardless of context. Like for instance, I haven't quite been able to bring myself to read Charlaine Harris' Harper Connelly books. Yep, even though the man with which the main character shares a "thinly guised physical attraction" is a step-brother, who may or may not have been such for very long (can anyone clear that detail up for me? Were they raised together?) Gah!

I tend to avoid true stories that involve children (any abuse) or domestic violence, just something I can't deal with in books and I even avoid these subjects in tv and movies.(big admittion but I'm ok with it, having lived with it from a small age till I left home I didn't realise till a few years ago how badly it affect me, I have nightmares and panic attacks). All books I read have some element of violence but if its in the context of domestic violence that I come across I won't read any further and the book will end up in the charity shop.

I'm now avoiding true stories of child abuse-they just bring my mood down so low and it takes me longer to get through them.Other than that I'll read any topic.

I try to avoid rape situations during the book's time period or abuse of children (sexual).

I can't read misery memoirs: true horror tales of abuse, disease, divorce etc. Otherwise as long as the subject is portrayed really well (in fiction), I have no problem reading about it. Oh and the fae, I haven't found many books where I don't mind reading about them. Not sure why.

I have never had anything keep me from reading something but there have been uncomfotable elements in stories.

Alisha wrote: "Incest, or anything that plays on that theme. Don't know why...I just can't read about it (or at least, read it without being pulled out of the story and slightly weirded out), regardless of contex..."

Harper and Tolliver were raised together from a certain point on. I thought the books started out strong, but I really didn't like the last one at all because of the relationship between Harper and Tolliver.

I don't like books that have detailed description of childhood rape/molestation, especially in fiction (I'm a little more lenient if it's a true story, since no one can downplay what happened to a person for real). If the story mentions it briefly as part of the character's development/journey it's fine, but I'm not fine with books that give too many details, or revisit the scenario over and over.

Incest bothers me if it is between two people that SHOULD know better (people that are blood related and were raised as family all along). I don't want to read about people that know something is absolutely wrong (and sick to most) and still partake in it.

Although, it bothers me less if the siblings felt something for each other BEFORE they knew they were related. Then the situation is quite interesting to me because this usually comes with internal torment that the characters have to deal with, which makes for a fascinating scenario. I also don't mind it as much if the siblings were raised in an environment when they weren't around other people or don't know/weren't taught any better. Sort of the ignorance defense.

Stacia wrote: "Although, it bothers me less if the siblings felt something for each other BEFORE they knew they were related. Then the situation is quite interesting to me because this usually comes with internal torment that the characters have to deal with, which makes for a fascinating scenario.


Interesting that you mentioned this. I've been struggling with the decision to read a certain book with a 'sibling-affair' plot for a while. The book has come highly recommended and has a ton of great reviews. I have to admit that I'm intrigued after reading the synopsis but I just don't know if I can set aside the part of my brain that says "This is wrong" long enough to enjoy the story. It's a tough decision. The book that has me all in a tizzy is.....


Forbidden

I have that on my TBR list actually, I threw it up there after reading Mortal Instruments and finding myself interested in their struggle.

The worst that happens is I try it and find it too uncomfortable and quit out. No big loss if I have to stop reading.

Another one that has interested me but I'm afraid to go there is . I want to try it but feel like it might be too far out of my comfort zone, although the story sounds interesting.

Forbidden is a great book. I highly recommend it though you'll need plenty of tissues because it's in no way a happy read. It's heartbreakingly painful. It's one of the best books I've ever read. And it didn't make me uncomfortable, I sympathised with these characters' struggles to survive. The incest is more a product of their situation rather than anything kinky. It's incredibly well-written.

Thanks for the info, Amy. I've heard a lot of the same. Well-written, heartbreaking, emotional, beautiful story. I just have to get my mind set to accept their situation and I'm sure I won't have a problem with it. I don't foresee a happy ending though and that's one thing I usually require when reading. I need at least a semi-HEA!

Jessa ♥§♥metalgirl80♥§♥ wrote: "...I don't foresee a happy ending though and that's one thing I usually require when reading. I need at least a semi-HEA!"

Definitely not for you then.

i dont knoe of any that i aviod yet.....maybe like non-paranormal books, like books that are easy to predict that wit happen thats why i read PNR and UF, stuff that dont normally happen in real life happen which i like.

i dont like books maybe like girl goes to skool, likes guy, and try to win guy over. i dont knoe. i still wanna try different types of books when im over my PNR and UF craze

I haven't run into anything that has kept me from reading, but I'll also read anything that interests me, no matter the genre. Harper and Tolliver's relationship in The Harper Connelly series were a little uncomfortable, but I think it was because Harris' sex scenes are kind of cringeworthy.

I also wanted to read this but think it might go too far beyond basic descriptions by reading reviews.

I watched that Mary Kay Letourneau (sp) movie so many times, that I think this book might be interesting.

Stacia wrote: " I also wanted to read this but think it might go too far beyond basic descriptions by reading reviews."

This book sounds interesting. I want to read it to see how it lives up to its reviews.

I can't read true stories about child abuse/rape-that kind of thing. I actually went through loads of these books at one stage and I got to the point were I was really upset in every book.
One girls mentioned incest?, Now i think i would of felt the same if I hadn't of read a book called 'flowers in the attic' by Virginia Andrews. The brother and sister relationship turns into something more, but because you have followed the story the whole way for some reason even though in reality you wouldnt agree with it, for some reason with the book, it seemed strange not to accept it, and at one stage your torn between wanting them to be together and wanting them to find more suitable relationships. Thats what I love about fictional books, you can get so into them and believe so much in the characters you begin to see things differently

Stacia wrote: "I have that on my TBR list actually, I threw it up there after reading Mortal Instruments and finding myself interested in their struggle.

The worst that happens is I try it and find it too unc..."

I love the Mortal Instruments series it was kinda interesting to see Clary and Jaces struggle but in City of Glass it all gets cleared up so it's all good :D

Let's see... rape. Satanism or anything demonic, really. Child abuse in any form.

I'm actually kind of interested to read Forbidden. It's on my list. Which is ever growing... *sigh*

I am probably a strange case because I have pretty much no boundries for anything sexual in books. I like "gritty" type universes, and I will read anything from Joe Abercrombie type darker fantasy books to Flowers in the Attic to really steamy eroticas without feeling the slighest bit awkward. Heck, I will even review them even though I am goodreads friends with my dad! (He always likes my posts.)

However, I won't read any book where it looks like a beloved horse or dog dies in the end. I always cry and then I feel embarassed. If a book is about a horse or a dog, I will always nose around for spoilers before I start reading.

I stay away from depressing books or books that are depressing (to me) at the end. I can't read Nicholas Sparks anymore even though he's a wonderful author. I just couldn't take him killing off someone practically every single time. I like stories that have a HEA or at least a HFN though I enjoy an occasional good thriller/mystery/borderline horror story. Real life is depressing enough. I read for entertainment and escape.

I can't read anything too graphic sexually, or anything that paints incest as anything but a crime. Believe it or not, I read a description last year of a book where a woman has a romance with her long lost father. Sorry folks, that's disgusting.
Everything else, I don't really mind.

I can't do: Depressing, anything harming children in anyway, and extremely sappy love stories (just because he rescues you doesnt means he is the man for you)and incest.

I read Harper Connelly as well and it might just be me but I didnt consider it incest, it was weird but not incest since they were step-siblings (no blood link) and only lived together for a few years... but it was an odd subject to add to a book

I thought zombies were out for me as well until I read .... This was a great take on rotting corpes...

I'm pretty open to most topics when I read. It definitely depends on what my mood is as to whether I'm going to tackle different topics.

There are some days you only want happy endings and others where you're ready to cry a little and release some stress. If I start a book and find something I am not in the mood for, I tend to set it aside and pick it up at a later date.

Hmmm . . . maybe I'll have good luck with working stiff. I can never seem to manage zombies. They just bore me.

I can't read slash.. any kind of it.. It's not the fact that I have anything against it I just can't read it...

I have yet to find a book that touches on a subject I find taboo...I don't think there is anything I'd find taboo in a book, it's just words after all

I don't want to read about rape (The rape scene in was too much; I had to read another four chapters before I could go to sleep) or child abuse (too many childhood memories). I don't want to read books that make me cry, and as for sex, bodily functions (pee/poop) gross me out.

I did finish the book, I just had to read more so the rape wouldn't be the last thing on my mind before I went to sleep. Oddly, the second scene didn't bother me as much, probably because I love a good reckoning.

I will start reading just about any book, because I know I can put it down at any time. I do admit to a certain reluctance to reading about older women/cougars. I think it has to do with the fact that I'm not quite out of my 20s, and I'd rather focus on my youth and not what's to come. I get enough from living with my parents and taking care of my grandmother.

As far as incest and rape...it depends. Certainly I'm not about to read exclusively about these subjects, and I definitely had to stop watching Law and Order: Special Victims Unit because it gave me nightmares (although that's TV, not books). If it's done right, I guess I can handle it.

I used to read a lot of manga, and a common plotline in shojo (girls') manga involved stepsiblings. It usually goes like this: children meet each other at school and start going out. Single parents announce to their children they've met someone and are getting married. Children discover the person they've been dating are about to become their new brother/sister. Much confusion ensues.

I pretty much read anything if its good I mostly stay away from classics I dont like reading them it feels like I'm in school even in school I try to stay away

Haven't yet, but that doesn't mean it's not out there.

I don't read anything with graphic sex or BDSM books.