This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic hosted at my other blog, The Broke and the Bookish, was about 10 books you enjoyed recently that aren’t your typical genre or were outside of your comfort zone.
As I sat down to think about this topic I realized it was a little tricky for me — not because I don’t read outside of different genres or outside of my comfort zone — but because I really read just about anything. I mean, sure, I have read my genres I read from most often but I really don’t care much WHAT a book is labeled…I just want a good book. I read from pretty much every genre of YA and Adult or am at least willing to give a book a shot….which why is I get lost at the bookstore and library because I want to look at like EVERYYY section ever.
When I went through the list of books I have read in the past year or so I couldn’t really pick many that were like “AH this was so not a genre I usually pick up or this is out of my usual comfort zone of reading.” There was sooo much variety. That’s not the issue. It’s just that I’ve been reading all over the place so it was hard to pick things because I’m like nothing is untypical for me at this point.
It’s funny because as I look over the years…my reading has evolved SO MUCH because of blogging. Prior to starting blogging in 2010 I read mostly adult literary fiction and historical fiction and classics…sometimes horror. I rarely read YA and never fantasy/paranormal/sci-fi. Until Twilight in 2008. But once I started blogging in 2010? I became immersed in YA and that is actually what opened me up to so many genres. It made me open to certain genres that I wasn’t before — like fantasy and paranormal and sci-fi. Besides the people I’ve met, that’s one thing I will always be grateful to blogging for.
I also think that is also my key to reading so much that I enjoy — because I’m never reading the same things these days. I go from a sci-fi to a contemporary YA to a classic to an adult historical fiction to a romance novel. Sure, I have my genres that are my favorites and that I gravitate towards. And I definitely go through phases where all I want to read are certain types of book in genres. But overall, I read so eclectically, especially the past couple years, that I just don’t get in many reading funks (that aren’t life related rather than reading related).
I really enjoy reading so eclectically. I explore so much different material that nothing feels stale to me that often. It really is the key for me to have a great reading life — variety. Looking back at other years where I read a genre heavily I can see that I started to get harder to impress and bored. More reading funks. But when I’m changing it up so often my brain is like YAS YAS YAS EVERYTHING IS SO EXCITING (not to say I’m loving everything I read but it’s good for my brain).
So I guess what I’m saying is that maybe a few years ago some of the books I read would have fit for this but my lines of comfort/typical reading are kind of disappearing. I just don’t read the same thing anymore — though some things I might read less of but it’s still a genre I DO read from and have many books I want to read from.
So that being said…this was hard for me to think about but I was able to think of 6 books where I was like “okay these are things I read LESS often than other stuff and I really enjoyed them.” Although the first one was very out of my comfort zone because it was a new-to-me- genre.
1.Saga Volume 1-4: Comics are a new beast to me altogether in the past 5 months. I haven’t really had any genres I feel like I’m exploring for the first time until I started reading comics and it’s so exciting. I never tried them and was fairly sure they wouldn’t be my thing….so I decided to give them a try and fell in love. This one is a sci-fi comic series and sci-fi is probably another genre that I read less often than anything else. It was fun to discover a love for comics BECAUSE I do read so widely…it’s been a really exciting to explore territory that, for me, is a bit unknown.
2. The Unquiet by Mikaela Everett: This one wasn’t really out of my comfort zone but rather from a genre I don’t read as much or is a newish added genre to my repertoire of things I will read. That being science fiction. I delved into it in the past 2 years or so and it’s still one I’m exploring slowly. (read November 2015 // read my thoughts on The Unquiet)
3. The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo: I used to read a lot of non-fiction of all types. But I can’t say my typical fare was self help about cleaning/organizing though I DO love a good self help book. I’m typically just a practical type of cleaning tips kind of girl but this one was very….different. That being said, I really enjoyed some of her tips for cleaning and the mindset I could get into. Now while I had a hard time with viewing my things the same way she does (telling the object it did a good job and served its purpose) it was nice for me to think about the idea of what sparks joy in my life and it helped me to actually let go of some things that didn’t serve their purpose anymore. I definitely got a lot out of it and was glad I tried it. (read August 2015)
4. Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas: I read adult romance here and there and really enjoy it but it’s definitely a genre I’m not as well versed in. This one was SO GREAT. I loved it so much and have been planning to continue on with the series but just haven’t gotten around to it yet. A friend described it as “adult romance meets women’s fiction” and I DEFINITELY agree. I thought it was going to be a full on romance novel but it actually was a lot like some of the adult fiction I normally read — I think maybe it was the title? (read March 2015 // read my thoughts on Sugar Daddy)
5. The Girl With All The Gifts by M.R. Carey: Again, science fiction-ish type of book. A newer loved genre for me. Plus this one was an adult one so even more rare for me to pick up. I loved it so much! The writing was great and OH MY FEELS. (read January 2015 // read my thoughts on The Girl With All The Gifts)
6. Luck on the Line by Zoraida Cordova: New Adult romance is a genre I’m very picky about and reluctant to read unless I hear great things about it first because I’ve been burned by the genre a lot. I’m SO open to reading it…I just don’t want to wade through it myself and pick things up on a whim but would rather solely read on recs. I really enjoyed this fun romance in the genre. Wasn’t a favorite but thoroughly enjoyed it and made me keep the faith that this genre CAN be a genre for me. (Read June 2015 // Read my thoughts on Luck on the Line)
So tell me…what books have you read and enjoyed that aren’t your typical genre of things you read or were out of your comfort zone? ALSO, I would love some science fiction recs — YA or adult– that I MUST read!
PS. You might also like When You Become Well Read in a Genre or check my series I did on how blogging changed me as a reader or existential crisis central with When The Well Rounded Reader Finds Herself Not As Well Rounded
This post may contain some affiliate links. Simply put, if you were to make a purchase through one of the links I make a tiny percentage from the sale which is ALWAYS so appreciated. Thank you!
Eve says
I haven’t heard of any but Saga but that I heard great things about on BookTube. Glad you found some good reads!
Jamie says
It’s sooo good! I’m glad it was one of the first comics I started with!
Chrissi Reads says
I’m reading Saga next month for part of a Banned Books challenge than I do. I’m really intrigued about it. I’ve certainly been getting into comics/graphic novels much more than I ever anticipated.
Jamie says
Oooh I hope you love Saga as much as I do!! It just keeps getting better and better!
dawnie says
Love the gifs 😀 They always make post better -in my option 😉
I had the same problem with this weeks list, and not having a specific genre that i stick to but just reading all over. Still you made a wonderful list 🙂
I have to finally get to The Girl with all the gifts. For some reason that book keeps slipping my mind, thanks for reminding me 🙂
I am still new to Sci-Fi myself but i really do recommend These Broken Stars the first in the Starbound trilogy, i really enjoyed it mostly because it is not overly heavy Sci-Fi. And it made my list this week, so there is that 😉
My TTT: http://booksbeautifylife.blogspot.de/2016/02/top-10-tuesday-books-different-books-i.html
Jamie says
Yes! I Hope you get to Girl with All The Gifts!!
And I LOVED These Broken Stars which reminds me I need to finish that series.
Jess @Bird, Books, and Coffee says
I have the Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up on my list as well! 🙂 I concur with your thoughts on it. Great list!
Jamie says
When everyone was raving about it I just HAD to check it out because I am disorganized and cluttered and had pretty much resigned myself to that haha. It was an interesting read for sure!
Greg says
I’ve heard good things about Saga. And I can relate- I read so much more widely since I started blogging, entire gneres I never used to read I do now. It’s kinda nice. 🙂
As far as recommendations go, I just finished Sanctuary Bay and that was a good YA read with a science fiction vibe. I liked Vitro by Jessica Khoury as well a year or so ago.
Jamie says
It really is nice to explore genres you never read before!
Will check out your recs! Thank you! I read Jessica Khoury’s debut a long time ago when it came out but never checked out what she’s done since!
Rosario @cityandprophet says
I love reading from all genres as well! I get a bit restless and bored if I read the same genre continuously!
I’m half way through the The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, and I haven’t put Kondo’s tips into practice yet but it’s so inspiring (a little weird but I like that too lol) I read The Girl With All The Gifts a while ago and I agree, the feels!!!!!
Jamie says
Yes! When I was reading it I was like this is so strange to me but I really dig it? I started with my closet but life things came up and I got busy and was never able to continue on so I plan to put it to use again soon!
Ginger says
Yes, I hear you! My book taste is all over the place. One minute Im reading Stephen King, the next Im on a Warriors series book xD However, I did just take a leap in weary territory by reading some romance and ended up enjoying more than I thought!
The list looks interesting-might have to check some out x3
Jamie says
It’s so fun to have all-over-the-place book tastes!
Kailana says
The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up is a book I read recently that is typically out of my comfort zone. It definitely gives you a lot to think about, though!
Jamie says
It really did! I started her method on my closet but time became a factor and I haven’t been able to set aside that kind of time. Hoping to go on a huge spring cleaning binge and utilize it again!
Kristilyn (A Little Time To Read) says
I read so many different things. Graphic novels and comics were a big thing last year for me, I had never really read a lot of historical romance until the last few years, YA is what got me into blogging though I didn’t really read any of it prior to when I read Twilight. Like you say, I don’t care what genre a book is, I just want a good book! Usually I’m willing to try anything (which sometimes leads to a lot of DNFs but that’s a risk I’m willing to take!). Great post! Oh, and Saga is awesome! If you’re still into the graphic novels, try Alex & Ada next! The whole series is out and it’s amazing.
Jamie says
I keep eyeing Alex and Ada at my library and was planning on getting it the next time I was there so YAY!
Tiff @ Mostly YA Lit says
Saga! I need to get back to it, I’m so behind.
SUGAR. EFFING. DADDY. SO GOOD. I’m so glad people convinced me to pick it up, that title is so damn misleading. Kleypas’ writing is so real. So glad we’re all giving her a try!
India says
A book that I LOVED that I wasn’t in my normal genre was All The Light We Cannot See. It was amazing, and I never read historical fiction! Another one is All-American Boys by Jason Reynolds. I read YA all of the time, but I never really read issue driven books because they can make me really sad. This ended up being a five start read for me because it was so good!
-India | IndiaHillWrites.com
Brenda says
This was a challenging TTT for me as well, mostly because I’ve been working on expanding the genres that I read. Nice thing is it opens up so many possibilities. Happy Reading! My TTT this week
Kyra @ Blog of a Bookaholic says
I rarely read outside my comfort zone, but the books I have read when I have ventured outside my comfort zone I’ve really enjoyed! I’d like to read comics as I’ve never really read them before. I’ll have to check if my library has any in.
Kyra @ Blog of a Bookaholic
My TTT Post!
Paula says
I don’t have a Sci-Fi recommendation but I do have a graphic novel series to recommend – Locke and Key. It’s a fantasy/paranormal series and it was so good! I don’t read out of my typical genres a lot, but this year I am trying to read more non-fiction. I just read The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, and I really enjoyed it. I plan to start the whole KonMari process soon.
threegoodrats says
I had the same problem in that my reading varies so widely, but I just picked titles that I didn’t expect to like as much as I did. Saga was on my list too!
Lindsey @ Lindsey Reads says
I’ve heard a lot of great things about Saga but I’ve never read any graphic novels so I’m a bit intimidated to start with it 🙂
I agree that it is great if you like to read so many different genres! I like a lot of different genres as well, but I tend to get addicted to one genre and read only that for 2-3 years and then move onto another genre which I obsess about for 2-3 years. Though I’m trying to be good now and keep mixing it up 🙂
Cynthia @ Bingeing On Books says
I had the same issue as you. I will read just about any genre and I did not have a list of ten books that were super outside my comfort zone. And yes, I had read a lot of YA prior to blogging, but somehow I got even more immersed in it since I started my blog. I had never read fantasy until I started blogging and saw all the amazing recommendations. Now I love it. I did my top ten list on classics. Classics are the one type of book that I just don’t read very often. Great list!
Lauren @ Always Me says
I just read Saga not that long ago and I can’t wait to continue to volume 2. The Unquiet is on my tbr! Glad you liked it. 🙂
Check out my TTT.
Zeee @ I Heart Romance & YA says
I already have Saga out from the library! BTW, I didn’t know that graphic novels are not placed on the hold shelf bookcase.. 😆
I mostly read from 2 genres and their subgenre and I admit to not venturing out of my comfort zone as much. I do try new things once in a while. I just finished reading Anna and the French Kiss and I thought it was meh. Maybe it’s too young for me? Anyway, I want to read the next book just because.
I’m nit sure if you’ve read Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff yet, but if you haven’t, this needs to go on your TBR pile because it’s sooooo good! The unique format alone is just phenomenal!