Read what you want? Or branch out because you “should”?

[Anonymous]

I read mostly popular fiction…rarely fantasy (except Harry Potter) and NEVER non fiction.

Do you read what you want… or do you force/challenge yourself to read things out of your realm?

[Anonymous]

Read what you want but every now and agai , it’s good to branch out.

[Anonymous]

I read constantly and I read what I want. I no longer feel like I “should” read anything in particular.

[Anonymous]

If I’m not enjoying it, I don’t read it. I had enough forced reading throughout school, as an adult I read for pleasure.

[Anonymous]

Only what I want. Something what I want is something meatier (I usually have one nonfiction I’m working through too and sometimes a novel or classic) but mostly it’s fluff genre fiction like fantasy, romance, murder mysteries. I have zero guilt about this. Reading is for fun.

[Anonymous]

I read what I want, but I have broad interests. Some genres I strongly dislike - fantasy and romance. I’m ok with that!

[Anonymous]

I'm in a book group and some of the selections are not what I would generally read, and most of the time I'm glad I did - it's been a great way to discover new authors and talk about books that have been reviewed well etc.

And I also read old favorite authors, genres I enjoy, and the occasional juicy mystery or beach read.

[Anonymous]

I read whatever I want nowadays, which is mostly mysteries/crime fiction and sci-fi. Sometimes I'm in the mood for nonfiction or a biography. Once in a while I'll pick up a classic, but I find that nowadays I don't want to expend too much brainpower reading... there was a time when I could devote considerable time to thinking about complicated multilayered texts like Russian lit and Faulkner. But not these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I’m not enjoying it, I don’t read it. I had enough forced reading throughout school, as an adult I read for pleasure.

Exactly. I have no shame in telling people I read mostly fantasy — high fantasy, fantasy romance, sometimes YA fantasy. Plenty of people look down their noses at that, and I just don’t care.

[Anonymous]

I read what I want but occasionaly i try to read slightly more literary fiction

[Anonymous]

Ahhh this makes me feel better. Sometimes I feel bad for not bettering myself by reading classics and books about race and war and trauma…or even trying to branch out.

But you’re all so right…it’s about reading for fun! And I do love it so much.

[Anonymous]

Read what you want. Life is too short to read things only because someone else thinks you should.

[Anonymous]

I read whatever I want to read. That said - sometimes I enjoy reading different things - I get sick of the same thing over and over - but that's just me personally!

I am in a book club - and one of the reasons is because that does get me to read some books that I wouldn't have picked to read on my own - and some of them I end up really liking!

But do what makes you happy!

[Anonymous]

I read nonfiction at night, it relaxes me more than a good novel, which is what I like to read most.

Also, since I started using the library’s online services, I have been giving books I usually wouldn’t a chance. If something is available now, I may read it. Or if it’s a book everyone is talking about, but doesn’t seem like I would like it, I still try it. I don’t finish everything I start, but I finish more than I would have expected.

I have 3-4 books going at any time, so if I’m not in the mood for something, I switch books and come back to it when I feel like it.

I don’t read anything very violent, trauma porn, or really upsetting. I don’t feel any guilt skipping those types of books.

[Anonymous]

I read what I want, and I have lowbrow tastes in fiction. I mainly read thrillers and domestic dramas.

I used to be a little embarrassed by only reading a few books of substance each year. Even then, they were memoirs or historical fiction. Now I've decided that I do not care. I read contracts, corporate formation documents and (boring) case law during the day. I need the easy readers to give me my dopamine hit.