Top Ten Tuesday: Reading Outside My Comfort Zone & Tuesday Intro

Top Ten Tuesday


Top Ten Tuesday
 is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish that asks bloggers to create Top Ten lists on a variety of bookish topics. This week’s topic is Ten Books I Enjoyed Recently That Weren’t My Typical Genre/Type of Book. I learned a couple things putting this post together:

  • I don’t read out of my comfort zone as much as I should/could.
  • Most of my “out of the comfort zone” reading is comprised of well-known crossover hits that appeal to lots of other people that don’t normally read X genre (i.e. The Martian for sci-fi). So, I guess my “adventurous” reading is not, in fact, that adventurous.
  • Some forays out of my comfort zone opened me up to new genres/sub-genres that I can see myself making part of my regular repertoire, while some alerted me to the fact that I probably should never set foot in that particularly sub-genre again…

Reading Outside My Comfort Zone

Dystopian

The Beautiful Bureaucrat by Helen Phillips
I’m not entirely sure this is dystopian, but it is compared to the rest of my reading!

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
I’m pretty sure this one is dystopian and I LOVED it…leading me to be more open to this kind of book moving forward.

Post-Apocalyptic

One Second After by William R. Forstchen
I didn’t even realize that post-apocalyptic fiction was a thing when I read this (in 2013), nor did I realize this book was part of said thing. But, I liked it!

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
This one really opened me up to post-apocalyptic fiction…I’m no longer shying away from it entirely.

Romance

The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
Is this even really romance? Maybe not…but, it’s as close as I’ll ever get to that genre!

Science Fiction

The Martian by Andy Weir
Probably will be the only sci-fi I ever read…since the reasons I loved it were the non-Science parts!

Short Stories

Beneath the Bonfire by Nickolas Butler
This is the first short story collection I ever really loved. 

Why They Run the Way They Do by Susan Perabo
And this is the second…the good news is I can actually see myself reading more short stories moving forward.

Supernatural or VooDoo Elements

The Gates of Evangeline by Hester Young
This one contains a tad bit of the supernatural (i.e. ghosts)…which is about my limit.

The Star Side of Bird Hill by Naomi Jackson
Obeah (a Caribbean form of folk magic involving herbs and potions) is a small background element…I think I’m more open to this kind of thing in my reading than ghosts.

Young Adult

Mosquitoland by David Arnold
I used to read more YA than I do now (and I can see myself not reading any in 2016), but this is the last YA book I enjoyed.

Tuesday Intro

First Chapter First Paragraph
Every Tuesday, fellow blogger Bibliophile By the Sea hosts First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where bloggers share the first paragraph of the book they are currently reading or thinking about reading soon.

Tender, Belinda McKeon
I just finished this book, but wanted to share the first paragraph because it broke me out of an epic reading slump!

Plot Summary from Amazon (adapted for length)

When they meet in Dublin in the late nineties, Catherine and James become close as two friends can be. She is a sheltered college student, he an adventurous, charismatic young artist. In a city brimming with possibilities, he spurs her to take life on with gusto. But as Catherine opens herself to new experiences, James’s life becomes a prison; as changed as the new Ireland may be, it is still not a place in which he feels able to truly be himself.

Here’s the first paragraph:

Dreams fled away, and something about a bedroom, and something about a garden, seen through an open window; and a windfall, something about a windfall – a line which made Catherine see apples, bruising and shriveling and rotting into the ground. Windfall-sweetened soil; that was it. And, the flank of an animal, rubbing against a bedroom wall – though that could not be right, could it? But it was in there somewhere, she knew it was; something of it had bobbed up in her consciousness as she lay on the lawn in front of James’s house, a wool blanket beneath her, one arm thrown over her eyes to do the job of the sunglasses she had not thought to bring.

What do you think? Would you keep reading?




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32 Comments

  1. Station Eleven and The Martian were both such great books! I’ve checked out One Second, but had to return it due to time constraints. I’d like to get it again though at some point 🙂

    Posted 2.23.16 Reply
  2. Diane wrote:

    I don’t like reading outside of my comfort zone either but, I have read 5 of the 10 you pictured and must say I enjoyed them all.

    As for that intro I’m curious for more. I have weird dreams from time to time and my husband even needs to wake me up when I start yelling LOL

    Posted 2.23.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      I feel like these books are standard choices for people venturing into those genres…that’s why I feel I still didn’t venture too far outside of my comfort zone – ha! But, I don’t feel a huge urge to venture into areas I really do know I won’t enjoy (i.e. romance…I even get annoyed with too much romance in literary fiction!!).

      Posted 2.23.16 Reply
  3. Naomi wrote:

    I don’t often read outside of my comfort zone. I don’t think I could even put together a list of 10. But, I think part of the reason is that I read a pretty good range of books (which, judging by your list, I think you do, too). More than anything else I avoid the formulaic-type books that usually fall into the romance and mystery categories (but I’m just guessing about this, because I don’t read these books, so I could be wrong about them). I did just read a crime fiction novel for my book club, and I hardly ever read those, so I think that counts. I enjoyed it while I was reading it, but once it was done, the only reason I kept thinking about it was because I was trying to figure out what I liked about it and what I didn’t, and why I don’t feel the urge to read another one. If I have time, I might write about it.
    Glad to hear that Tender pulled you out of a slump. I’ve heard lots of good things about that book!

    Posted 2.23.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      That’s such a good point. Maybe if we’re eclectic readers, then it’s harder to venture out since that leaves fewer areas to venture to? And – I’m with you on the formulaic-type stuff….that is never going to work for me.

      On the crime front – I really enjoy true crime or fiction based on true crime…but I don’t love pure crime fiction. Again – the formulaic nature of it. I’m you got at least a bit of enjoyment out of your book club book…even if it won’t leave a lasting impression!

      Posted 2.23.16 Reply
  4. Kay wrote:

    I wrote this really long comment and then somehow it went away. I’ll shorten it. Don’t think Tender is for me. It’s good to read outside your comfort zone, but I don’t do it very often. And I’m pretty OK with that. LOL

    Posted 2.23.16 Reply
  5. Carmen wrote:

    You have an eclectic list up there, Sarah. I usually don’t read outside my comfort zone, but when I do it can get interesting.

    Posted 2.23.16 Reply
  6. My book club forces me to read outside of my comfort zone and quite often the books aren’t great for me. I do need to stretch myself more though.

    Posted 2.23.16 Reply
  7. Haha I think we both liked The Martian for the same reasons…I just skimmed anytime it got too sciencey for me

    Posted 2.23.16 Reply
  8. Andi wrote:

    Love this topic! YA tends to fall the furthest outside my comfort zone (alongside westerns and romance). I’m jazzed to try Mosquitoland at some point since I’m seeing lots of praise for it.

    Posted 2.23.16 Reply
  9. Judy wrote:

    The most outside my comfort zone book I never finished: Naked Lunch!

    Posted 2.23.16 Reply
  10. The first paragraph felt very personal. I often have muddled dreams like that.

    Good for you – for reading outside your comfortable genres. I’m also very glad you emerged from your reading slump. Enjoy your new enthusiasm for books.

    Posted 2.23.16 Reply
  11. I like the way the author described the fading images of the dream. I’d keep reading to find out more about this character.
    My Tuesday post features ROUND THE BEND.

    Posted 2.23.16 Reply
  12. Amanda wrote:

    I like your list! I really enjoyed Station Eleven, but definitely agree post-apocalyptic stories are just not my favorite. I still need to get to the Martian!

    Posted 2.23.16 Reply
  13. Beautiful opening lines…I think I would keep reading.

    Of your Top Ten, I LOVED The Handmaid’s Tale. I don’t usually read dystopian, but I guess this one qualifies. But it’s Margaret Atwood, so that explains why I loved it!

    Thanks for sharing…and for visiting my blog.

    Posted 2.23.16 Reply
  14. I am trying to venture out of my comfort zone (mysteries) and have read and want to read a few listed above in your TTT. Good luck with stepping out once in a while! I’m just trying to broaden my horizons or maybe prevent reading burn out.

    As for your First Chapter, First Paragraph, I love stories set in Ireland, about Ireland, or even just about Irish-Americans, lol. Yes, I think I would read this, am glad you enjoyed it, and will now put it on my list to look for. Thanks!

    Posted 2.23.16 Reply
  15. Sharlene wrote:

    Hahah! I also had The Royal We on mine. And yes, it is the closest I’m getting to ‘romance’!
    Thanks for the reminder to give Naomi Jackson a try. The book cover always catches my eye but I’ve yet to pick it up.

    Posted 2.23.16 Reply
  16. Chippy wrote:

    I think I’d have to read a little more of that intro before I made my mind up

    Posted 2.23.16 Reply
  17. I had a hard time with today’s topic. There are certain types of books I may not read a lot of, but it’s not because of a lack of interest or that they are necessarily outside my comfort zone–there are just other books I want to read more. Science Fiction made my list too. Short stories probably could have too, but I didn’t include it.

    I’m not sure about Tender. The blurb sounds interesting, but the opening paragraph didn’t grab me.

    Posted 2.23.16 Reply
  18. I’m fairly rubbish at reading outside my comfort zones so I’m very impressed with your list. I’m liking the sound of your opening paragraph too.

    Posted 2.23.16 Reply
  19. You really have me looking to add Tender to my shelf. I was a slacker this week and didn’t post my top ten, I could only think of a couple I could have listed: historical and sci-fi. 🙁 Truth: I just didn’t want to pull my nose from my books to try to think of any.

    Posted 2.23.16 Reply
  20. I think I’m still working to define my “comfort zone”… and I find it shifting constantly! Maybe I don’t really have one… P.S. I’m DYING to get to Tender.

    Posted 2.23.16 Reply
  21. I don’t even know what I’d call my comfort zone… Then again, I do notice when I pick up something that’s completely outside of it. Apparently I am the wishy-washiest.

    Posted 2.23.16 Reply
  22. Reading outside my comfort zone is not very easy for me, to be quite honest. There’s one genre I absolutely refuse to read, and that’s the horror genre. I just don’t see the point of reading something that will scare me. I made the mistake of reading “The Exorcist” years ago, and couldn’t sleep for a week! And I never saw the movie, by the way. Another genre I don’t read is crime fiction. I don’t like gory stuff at all!

    “Tender” sure sounds like a great story! That opening paragraph is so poetic….I loved it! I would definitely keep reading. In fact, I’m adding this one to my Goodreads shelves. Thanks for sharing!

    Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting on my own Tuesday Intros post!! 🙂

    Posted 2.24.16 Reply
  23. Michelle wrote:

    I don’t know if I have a comfort zone. I have genres that I avoid having learned through trial-and-error that I will never enjoy them. Does that count?

    Posted 2.24.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Haha! I’m not sure there are specific rules to this?! But, I’m with you…there are certain genres that I’ve been burned by. Or, genres I used to love, but have been burned by lately and now try to avoid a bit (mysteries/thrillers and historical fiction come to mind).

      Posted 2.25.16 Reply
  24. I just posted my review of The Gates of Evangeline today, and I talk about how if it weren’t for my book blogging community, it’s a book I never would have picked up! I’ve also read Station Eleven and The Martian, both of which I really enjoyed. The Martian was more in my wheelhouse since I was a total space addict back in the day. I think I’m getting better at these books if the “out of my comfort zone parts” do not encompass the whole novel.

    Posted 2.24.16 Reply
  25. Carrie wrote:

    I’ve been wanting to read The Royal We too! My TTT

    Posted 2.24.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      It’s fantastic if you’re looking for something light, yet smart and snappy!

      Posted 2.25.16 Reply
  26. I’ve had so many of those books home from the library and never got them read–guess I don’t read out of my comfort zone enough either, particularly when I’ve got more interesting (to me) looking piles of nonfiction around…
    But I do still want to read “The Martian” and “The Royal We.” Thanks for the reminder.

    Posted 2.24.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Well…nonfiction is out of a lot of other people’s comfort zones, so I wouldn’t worry too much about that!

      Posted 2.25.16 Reply
  27. Athira wrote:

    I am reading Beautiful Bureaucrat right now and yep, it’s weird. I’m not super excited about it yet but I’m only about 30 pages in. Station Eleven and Handmaid’s Tale are high on my TBR so hopefully, I get to them soon.

    Posted 2.27.16 Reply

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