Let’s all just pretend for a moment that it’s still Sunday and that I wasn’t too busy to post the Sunday Book Club at its regularly scheduled time. :-/
Last week for Top Ten Tuesday I talked about Carrie-bait, i.e. those elements to a book that will instantly make me want to read it.
Today, I want to talk about what makes you NOT want to read a book.
I’ll read just about anything, but there are a few things that turn me away. First and foremost, excessive language and (for lack of a better word) smuttiness. But looking at the story elements themselves, I will almost always avoid reading vampire/zombie/werewolf stories of any kind. Unless Remus Lupin is involved, of course. Another thing sure to turn me away? A dog dying. Can’t handle it.
Ok now it’s your turn. What are some reasons that YOU won’t read a book?
When bad things happen to kids… Little kids. I have a really hard time.
yeah… that’s a big one for me too
Happy Sunday Carrie! I have a hard time reading anything where animals and kids are abused…….
ugh – me too!
oh – and thank you for playing along with my “This is really Sunday” thing haha!
What an interesting topic! I agree about disliking “smuittness” and bad language in a book. I do not like bad endings, negative talk about God, nor constant deaths or hardships in a book. I like chilling books but not the “over the top” gross ones. I prefer to read books about successful adoption rather than infertility. While I do like long books, I have to think twice about starting one. 🙂
i love your list!
Opps, correction needed on the word “smuttiness”! Sorry!
haha! No problem 🙂
I won’t read a book with foul language or explicit sex scenes. There are ways to tell a story without adding “junk”.
very true!
As with all rules, there are exceptions to this but if I don’t like an ending of a book (i.e, the heroine didn’t end up with the hero I was rooting for), I have a hard time reading anything else by that author.
I’m also not a lover of the Amish fiction genre. I’ve tried to read a few and just can’t get into them.
oh that’s so disheartening – when the hero and heroine you’re rooting for don’t end up together. Case in point: I’m still not over “Little Women” lol
I agree with all that you mentioned. I’m also not into the sci-fi books.
I think most of us read for fun and sort of an escape so definitely no dogs or babies dying for me. Guess I prefer the happy ending and if either of those die then how could anyone be happy about it?
exactly.
When I first started using my Kindle and getting free books from authors I didn’t know, I would download the book and then put an “ugly word” in the search. If it was there, I’d delete the book especially if it showed up multiple times. I was always afraid my kids would catch me!! Haha
Besides bad language and explicit sex, biblical inaccuracies bother me. It sends me away from other books by that author.
And since it’s Sunday, can I stay home from the gym?!!
sure! Go for it! haha!
I agree with what everyone here has said. Another reason to stop reading a book ( or just slogging through it to get to the end and claim another “read ” under my belt) : bad writing, dialogue that seems forced and doesn’t flow, something that seems artificial, words for words sake, repeating same concepts or words, plug another twist near the end, such as : hero just got the gun out of someone’s hand but hey! another crisis pop up( for the fourth time in 10 minutes)!
I guess I have to be more discriminating about what I SELECT to read.
I don’t like to read sci- fi or fantasy but I like to watch it.
yesss i totally agree!!
I am more about poor writing mechanics than subject matter/genre in general. Of course, I want “clean” and inspirational fiction. But if the story is just one long narrative paragraph, over descriptive while “standing still”, etc. I get bored quickly and move on. At the same time, I do try to give debut writers the benefit of the doubt. Oftentimes, I can see a “diamond in the rough” and they rarely prove me wrong.
yes, i agree!
Not a fan of anything paranormal–ghosts, vampires, fairies, etc. Especially when I think a book is a psychological thriller and then they have characters do astral projection to explain the mystery (just read one like that) I also won’t pick up a book most of the time if the description mentions the environment or politics.
I agree with most of the people on here. I don’t like smutty, bad language, vampire/werewolf/zombies,etc. I usually don’t read sci-fi, paranormal, or Amish. I don’t like books that have cliffhangers, so you have to get (or wait a year for) the next book to find out what happens.
Agenda books really irritate me, especially the male-bashing feminist ones. If you want to make a point, make it with story, don’t preach.
I don’t like books that blame Christianity/Christians for all the wrongs in the world or mock any Person of the Holy Trinity. Sure, Christians are human, but most of us are trying to live godly lives as best we can.
Books that claim to be historical but feature 21st-century language and mindsets and modern characters dressed up in period clothes really bug the fire out of me.
I wish authors wouldn’t rush to publish their books before they’re really ready. Make sure you’ve studied the craft, have your book edited and proofread, have a GOOD cover, THEN publish your book. You’ll be glad you did.
Books with child or animal abuse go instantly into the trash.
I won’t read horror or sci-fi that’s too horrible (and I have a very low threshold). A little bit of creep factor, okay (like those stories you heard at summer camp when you were a kid), but not the disgusting, perverted stuff that never leaves once it’s in your head.
I won’t read books that glorify sin. Sure, show the destruction infidelity causes, I’m all for it. Don’t tell me how great adultery is, or that it’s justified or inevitable or anything else.
Hmmmm . . . I guess I had a lot to get off my chest. Those will do to start with. 😉
No dystopian.
I don’t mind sci-fi in Chronicles of Narnia …. But don’t like supernatural or paranormal.
Most authors I follow are clean … meaning there’s no language or detailed sex scenes.
I can put up with swear words once in a while,
but if it’s every page … forget it.
Too much detail turns me off.
There should be enough to imagine what’s going on, but if it takes half a page to describe something, I’ll fall asleep.
I dont really read sci-fi nor do I really like books that are very graphic. What I mean by that is too much sex, foul language or violence. I dont try to single any book out but I tend to have my favorite genres. The above book will be added to my books to read list.