TTT: Top Ten Turn-Offs
It’s been a long time since I’ve participated in The Broke and the Bookish‘s Top Ten Tuesday meme, but this week’s topic is interesting, so I thought I’d give it a shot. You know the way these memes work: write a post on the day’s topic, add your name to a linky list, and visit other participants. Check out The Broke and the Bookish for more details and to read what others are saying.
The theme for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday is…
Top Ten Words/Topics That Will Make You NOT pick up a book
For the most part, I’m a “never-say-never” kind of reader (though there are some topics that I am really not interested in), but here are ten words/topics that are the hardest sell for me. I’m most likely to pass on books that contain:
- Erotica. One of the few “never” genres/topics on my list. Absolutely not interested. Just don’t want to go there. Thank you.
- Romance. I’m not a fan of extended kissing scenes, or stories where the protagonist’s love-life is the whole story. I can put up with some romance, as long as it’s well-written, not too in-your-face, and the rest of the story’s worth it.
- Western. I confess that I haven’t read any westerns, but I’m not a big fan of the movie genre, so I can’t see how translating cowboys and dusty trails to the written word is any more appealing. I’m open to being proved wrong on this, though.
- Horror. Before my blog friends laugh at me because they know I read Stephen King, and I’ve said I’m planning to write a vampire story, let me explain. As a general rule, I’m not into blood-and-guts stories. But, if it’s well-written, and leans more toward suspense than gore, then I’ll give it a try. ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD is a good example of the kind of horror I’ll read.
- LGBT. I don’t endorse the lifestyle, so I’d hardly find books where this is a central theme that enjoyable.
- Pioneer/Frontier. Possibly more because of the setting than the theme. I’m sure a lot of these books are good stories, but they sound too much like westerns when I read the cover blurb. Not a “never,” but it would be a hard sell for me.
- Christian. Let me explain. As a Christian, I am very sensitive to how my faith is portrayed in novels, regardless of whether or not the author is a Christian. I don’t expect Christian characters to agree with me on every point of theology (I’ve written characters that don’t), but I get very irritated when Christians are stereotyped, or when Christian beliefs are misrepresented (especially by those who should know better). So, I’m very cautious when the cover blurb describes a character as Christian.
- Hunky Guy/Sexy Girl Covers. Okay, not technically “words” or “topics,” but I find it very off-putting when the publisher decides to market the book with a cover that tells you more about the perceived target audience than the story inside. When I see a book I might have been interested in with a muscle-y shirtless guy on the cover, I immediately think, “Oh, this is clearly not intended for me” and move on.
- Poetry. Reading Jen’s list prompted this. Like Jen, I want to be into poetry and really like poetry, and while there are some poems in the past that I’ve thought “wow, that’s really good!” I don’t like poetry enough to want to read a whole book of poems. Maybe one day…
Okay, so that’s not ten… but it’s as many as I can think of right now.
How about you–what are words, themes, or topics that are literary turn-offs for you?
1, 2, and 8 would be on my list. When I read a book, I want plot. I want interesting events, characters, a good antagonist. I’m not picking up a book simply to read about two people doing it. It’s not a disgusted thing, I’d just find it a very boring read. I want a plot, not porn.
It’s the same with Romance. Now, I loved Anna and the French Kiss. That’s considered contemporary romance but there was more happening than a girl longing for an English/French guy. And that’s when a romance works. When it’s a book that focuses purely on the drama of a romantic relationship, I’m not interested. Like I said before: I’m looking for a plot. Not pages of an angsty teen’s diary.
I can’t stand those type of book covers. I’m not looking for insanely beautiful people. I couldn’t care less if the MC had warts all over their nose. Just give me a story. Besides, all these teen guys portrayed as all muscle and abs is ridiculous. If I had a penny for all the guys I knew in high school who HATED any type of exercise I’d be quids in!
I think I’d add Paranormal Romance/Dark Fantasy to my list of turn offs. Reading those books are seriously harmful. I mean, the amount of times I head desk reading that stuff…
And as bad as it may sound for a former English Literature student… I’m turned off by classics. Bronte, Austen (although I will admit P&P wasn’t too bad), Eliot etc. I can never get into them. It’s mainly the narrative style I dislike.
Perhaps I can get away with saying it since I wasn’t a English Lit student, but the classics are as much subject to personal taste as any other book/genre. I really enjoyed JANE EYRE, but HEART OF DARKNESS…? Meh. I don’t know that I’m a huge Jane Austen fan, either. I’ve read EMMA, and I wasn’t blown away like I was with JANE EYRE. I have a whole bunch more Austen to read before I come to any firm opinion, though.
I might have to try ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS. Though buying a copy of that would be as uncomfortable to me as carrying my wife’s handbag. I’m sorry–just being honest. The cover, the title… I’d feel like I have to explain to the cashier “It’s not for me, it’s for my daughter…” 🙂 Thankfully, I can buy the e-book and no-one will know… 😉
I get a bit like that by simply looking in the YA section at Waterstones. I feel like I should be reading books with people my age but you can’t help what you like to read. It’s one reason why I’m glad about online shopping and kindle.
I know that feeling! Standing in the YA aisle at Barnes & Noble, I swear the teen girls at the other end are giving me nervous looks as if to say “What’s *he* doing here?” I mean, they wouldn’t do that if I was Scott Westerfeld or John Green, would they? 🙂
That’s a great list! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Thanks, Shounak! You’re welcome. 🙂
I definitely agree with not liking horror novels. However, can I recommend two books with ‘horror’ themes which I have enjoyed. One is ‘Blood Sinister’ by Celia Rees. The other is ‘Leaving Poppy’ by Kate Cann. Two other books by Kate Cann you might like are ‘Possessing Rayne’ and it’s sequel ‘Fire & Rayne’. Kate Cann is a brilliant author, but I can hardly ever find her books in the shops, because they get pushed aside for the Twilight-y books. Likewise, I have enjoyed pretty much all the Celia Rees books I have read.
Thanks for the recommendations, Anna. I’ll definitely look out for these books. Ooo… BLOOD SINISTER seems to be a vampire story. Shiny New Vampire Idea will like that… 🙂