Let’s Talk is a meme hosted by Smash Attack Reads and A Book Obsession.
Let's Talk is a a great place to get personal and learn more about one another!
Each week, a different question will be posted along with a place to link up your posts and visit other people’s responses. This meme is definitely meant to bring out conversation and meet new people. So, Let’s Talk!
Today's Question: Do you need romance in your books to read them? If not, what else “hooks” you?
Answer: Apologies for the meme redundancy posts. I've been sick this past week and haven't had time (or the inclination) to write up any reviews. Anyway, when I read this question I laughed.
NO!
I do not need romance in my books to read them at all. I'm a mush when it comes to dogs, but romance...meh. Valentine's Day makes me roll my eyes and a lot of Romantic stuff in books (as well as tv/movies) do as well. In fact, when a review says the romance is very minimal, doesn't play a major role in the plot, then I'm more likely to be interested. I'm not saying I hate any romance in a book, it's just that it has to be well done, believable and *not* the main focus of a story. It takes a lot to make swoon. I guess I'm just not easy! : )
What hooks me? Well, are you going to try to scare me? Creep me out? Please do! That's what hooks me!
Most aspects of the Paranormal/Supernatural hook me as well. Ghosts, hauntings...stuff like that. However...as opposed to a world where the paranormal is accepted, I prefer when the character questions themself or has to explore their surroundings and then discover and accept that all is not what it seems.
What else hooks me is scary stories about demons. I love theology and exploring mythology, religion and again, things that may be out there that you never dreamed of before.
Also, if a book takes place in New Orleans I'm more apt to pick it up. If I can't live there then I want to visit it via words and my imagination as much as possible.
I haven't read any in a while, but I love King Arthur and Celtic mythology re-tellings too.
What is your take on Romance in a book? What gets you to read a book?
12 comments:
I could have written this post myself. I absolutely agree on all counts. I prefer my romance to be on the side, and not the main focus of the story. I'm tired of reading something that sounds SO good, only to have the romance completely derail the plot.
What hooks me? Something creepy, weird, or strange, and unreliable narrator, and of course, high fantasy.
I only need romance in romance books. All others I just need it not to distract from the story. In horror, I would prefer for it not to be there for the most part :)
We are completely opposite in our books! :) I can't remember the last book I read that didn't have any romance in it at all. And I'm often disappointed when the romance is too light. I don't need romance to be the whole story, or to over take the plot, but I need it to be there.
Demons scare the poop out of me! In fact, exorcism movies are the only kind of movies that truly freak me the frak out!
Oh - Mythology is one of my weaknesses. I love magic and suspense. Not so much horror and if you throw romance into any of them, it's just a bonus. Definitely nothing mushy though. *shivers*
I do not need romance in my books to read them at all. I'm a mush when it comes to dogs, but romance...meh. Valentine's Day makes me roll my eyes and a lot of Romantic stuff in books (as well as tv/movies) do as well. In fact, when a review says the romance is very minimal, doesn't play a major role in the plot, then I'm more likely to be interested.
*does the high five with Midnyte* We're so alike! I even go to the point where my choice about reading a book or not is mostly based on the minimality of romance involved. (I even wrote a post about it here). And don't get me started on Valentine's Day LOL. My hugest weakness are what I call "dead girls book" (like Remember Me, The Everafter, Deadgirl, Touching the Surface, etc.). I also like alternate universes and time travel a lot. On TV, I'm a sucker for crime series, but I also watch a bit of supernatural ones...though I prefer the SN aspect to be covered by books.
(The first paragraph was supposed to be a quote from your post of course).
@Bekka-Oh I love unreliable narrators!
@Felicia-That makes sense!
@KIim-there are books for everyone and luckily you have plenty of romance books to choose from.
@Smash-Really? I think they're trippy, but I still don't get that scared.
@Roberta-Glad we're on the same page! Read the post you led to me, ver cool. I remember the Dead Girl boks, lol.
Love this question! I love when there is romance, but very rarely can it be THE thing or the only thing in the book. I like when it develops and feels natural and then the plot puts the two would-be lover at odds with each other.
I hope you're feeling better Pam.
I can live without romance (even though I prefer some) but I need some kind of relationship to root for. Whether it's romantic or not in nature.
I'm also with Steph. While I love it - it can't overpower the plot.
I do enjoy scary or gory too. Although it takes a LOT to scare me.
I'm all over the place. But it is hard to have characters with no connection to other's that friendship, tribe, etc. I do prefer romances to be secondary with a great story or adventure to be front and center. But I don't think enough reviewers honor that aspect in books. I think a lot get all swoony. Like Divergent. I remember lots of Tris-Four focusing. I thought their slow building tension was secondary to their survival and figuring out what the heck was going on. Which made their "moment" even better, because it was out-of-character for their behavior.
Hmm, I don't think I need romance, but I like it if it's serving a purpose. It just depends on the book. I've read a few books where the romance was very peripheral, and that can be nice and refreshing too.
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