Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish. They’d love to share their lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!
Happy Tuesday y’all! While the lovely bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish have this meme on hiatus, I decided I would go back and do a few of the topics I missed during my own Spring hiatus. One of those topics was “Ten Things that will make you instantly not read a book.” It didn’t take long for me to think of my list for this one. There are just some things that are a book turn off for me and I won’t pick up the book at all or I’ll set it down before I finish it.
Ten Reasons I Won’t Read a Book…
Erotica: I can stomach a little sex in my books, I can. I’m not a complete prude…well I guess I am because even those small scenes I skim. BUT I have a hard time reading straight erotica. I like a little storyline/plot. And I know that some erotica do have a storyline, but it’s just not my thing. Give me clean, contemporary or YA any day.
Graphic Novels: Nothing against the graphic novels, it’s just not my thing. As a kid, I enjoyed comics, but not so much now. I can’t get into the graphic novels. I never know what I’m supposed to read first and often times get myself lost or disinterested trying to figure it out.
Head Hopping: I like dual POV, I even enjoy multiple POV books. However I hate head hopping. If the character’s voice is clear enough to keep me from being confused at whose POV it currently is in, than I’ll read. But if I see reviews that talk about being confused and having to go back and reread to find out who is narrating…NOPE. Won’t read it. I’ve set down a few books for this myself. I like a clear delineation between characters.
Political Agendas: Look, I get it. You as an author have your soap box. And I have my own. Sometimes they are the same and sometimes they are very, very different. I’ve read many books that deal with LGBT, racism, discrimination, feminism etc. This doesn’t bother me. It’s when the agenda overshadows the story (i.e. Every Day by David Levithan) that I take issue. When the agenda an author is pushing overshadows the plot of the story OR detracts from what the blurb promises, I’m done. I can think for myself, thank you very much 😀 I do not need nor do I want to have it shoved down my throat. I read to escape every day life not have it brought up in my sci-fi and fantasy worlds.
Open Endings: Personally I’m not a big fan of open endings on series or standalones. Give me an end. I don’t like having to interpret what has happened to the characters or wonder “what if.” I like a clear ending with loose ends tied up. I know not everyone feels this way and that’s fine. But there are some books that after reading reviews, I won’t read because I feel like “what’s the point?”
Love Triangles: This is a tried and true trope. It’s in nearly EVERY YA book I read. I’ve gotten over it for the most part. I don’t let it bother me AS much as it used to. However when the blurb makes it clear that a book centers on a triangle, I’m out. Won’t read it.
Drama: To be more specific, teen drama/angst. I didn’t like it in high school and I certainly don’t enjoy it now that I’m in my thirties. Just no! It’s why I don’t read YA contemporary which I’ve written an entire post about here: Things that Make Me Question My Age
Insta-Love: Nothing grates my nerves more than insta-love. You know the kind…the kind where the girl sees guy and now she can’t live without him. Really?! You’ve known him all of 2.5 seconds! More like insta-lust. Give me a story where the romance is a slow build-up, more true to life.
Alpha Males: An alpha male is fine, it’s when they are borderline abusive that I take issue. I don’t like a male that gets jealous just when the female says hi or smiles at the opposite sex. I don’t like a male who tells the female what they are going to do instead of ask. Just no!
Middle-Aged Characters: I know, I know…I’m nearing middle aged *shudder* But adult fiction of any sort just doesn’t interest me. That may change as I get older, but right now it’s just not my interest. Kind of like when I was a teen and YA wasn’t interesting to me, now that’s the majority of what I read.
Your turn! What are some reasons you won’t read a book? Share below
Quite a few of these bother me as well!
Jo recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday #117