I've read about 115 books since January.  I read paranormal, mysteries, thrillers, etc.  I don't read serious books or literature.  I like fiction, it destresses me.   There is always someone who will comment that I don't really read since I don't read important books. 

I read what I enjoy. I can't make  myself like a book to make someone else happy.  My husband reads more "substancial" books than I do but I would never read if I had to read the stuff he enjoys. 

Same here. I only know one other person that reads as much as I do, and she reads the 'good books.' I'm sure she thinks what I read is crap, but I don't have the pain of that stick she has up her butt. It all evens out in the end.

I'm the same way.  I've read 180 books this year, but they've all been paranormal, mystery, YA, ect.  I read for pure enjoyment, so that means I read what I like and not what others think I should read. 

I also read for enjoyment.  I don't really have anyone give me a hard time about it.  occasionally DH teases me about my werewolf/vampire books, but that's about it.  since he also reads for entertainment (mainly sf&f), it's not like he has a lot of room to talk.  ;)

I dont care what other people think about what I read. I have read books on every subject you can imagine. Just this year I read a True Crime about a pair of sisters who died in the care of a fad diet specialist at the turn of the century, a book about brain evolution and function which was really cool, a book about women writers in the 20's, Two books about poker, one book written by a schitzophrenic girl, the book is a novelization of her life and was so insanely rich and detailed that it was hard to believe it was over in a little more than 250 pages and  a ton of  mysteries and paranormals and other  books I enjoyed.

If someone has enough time to worry about what Im reading they need to reevaluate their life and maybe read a book of their own. I have actually noticed that most of the poeople who have criticized what Ive read are people that never pick up a book themself.

I read mostly science fiction, fantasy, and this year I've gotten into paranormal.  I read what I want, and if anyone wants to comment they are welcome...but I did complete an English Lit degree, so I can out-snob most literary snobs if I want to. 

If anyone dared criticize what I read I'd have to give them the sharp edge of my tongue - and believe me, it can be pretty damned sharp.  Why should anyone care what anyone else reads?  (Unless you're talking parents and children, and that's a whole different story.)

Actually, most of my friends are in awe of how much I read; I don't think they care what it is.

All my coworkers read the same stuff I read. In fact it was a coworker that got me hooked on the paranormal genre. I do like to mix things up and read a variety of things though but most of the time it is romance and paranormal. Life is too short to read books I am not interested in just because they are "good" for me.

Like the rest of you, I read for enjoyment and relaxation.  I have a pretty mentally engaging job, and I deal with some heavy subjects there.  I don't need to do that in my spare time too!  Besides, I'm long past caring what other people think about me and my choices.

As a college grad with a bunch of college grad friends, yes I do get teased.  But reading is for fun.  And I'd rather read a book than watch a football game, so there.  I have to say, I do edit my own reading.  If I'm going to be on an airplane or waiting in line at the DMV, I bring a much different book.  Short stories with no erotica for public lines.

My bookshelves are so um.... eclectic that no one really says anything anymore.  I have many classics, westerns, historicals alongside my ghosts and goblins... I'll read anything.  Most times I have 4 or 5 books I'm reading at any one time, one in the bathroom <blush> one in the car, one by my night table etc.

My boyfriend will tease me if he sees me reading paranormal, but he doesn't try to make me feel bad about it. I read "serious literature" (stories are stories to me!) and I just read what looks interesting to me- be it 2666 or Sookie Stackhouse. I think with paranormal, romance and cozy mysteries that it's fun reading- I can relax and just have fun. With the other, more snob approved stuff ;) it stretches my reading muscles and improves my vocabulary and writing, which is great, on top of it being a pleasure to read. I definitely get different things from different books, and I highly recommend people just read everything they can get their hands on.

i have 8 brothers and sisters, besides myself my older sister della are readers, we read mostly paranormal

or as my husband calls it "that freaky crap" lol. so we have been ribbed from the cradle over our reading

habits and choices. i read anywhere between, 200-250 books in a year...yes god blessed me to be a speed-

reader (MY COLLEGE LIT PROFESSOR LOVED ME LOL). but the point is no matter what kind of books you

are into reading, there is still knowlege to be gained, sometimes the leson may be something as simple

as to how to spiff  up your sex life, but hey, knowlege gained lol. so never let anyone snub thier nose at your

choice of reads.  reading should be something you love and enjoy, so tell snobby people to "bugger off"

.............................marion

I agree Marion!

I get so sick of everyone at work always complaining about the things that I read.  They call my paranormals 'smut'.  Well, ya know what, I LOVE them..and can't get enough of them.  I rarely read anything that is considered educational, but oh well.  I'm not reading to learn, I'm reading for my own personal enjoyment :)

Jenni

good is all perspective, its like an opion everyone has one doen't mean you have to agree!

For myself I do balance-I try and read 1 NY Tiems Bestseller book a week and the rest whatever makes me feel froggy; paranormal, chick lit,e erotica etc.

The reason i do is because for me peronally i did notice a change in my own grammar and the words I use since I switched to pure pop ficition. I started reading when I was 4 and grew up on classic literature when I outgrew the kiddie books. So the way I thought and spoke was really strictly "proper english." I never used slang, never swore until i started with the mainstream pop ficition/.

NOT SAYING that there NOTHING WRONG with pop fiction-I love it. Helps me get away from it all. BUT as a writer/teacher/reader I KNOW that the majority do not span the real of gramatical brilliance, nor do they have the longevity of some of the classics. Those are just the facts. So I balance and Im back to having an immense vocabulary I do nothing with lol and happier for it.

As a teacher (future) i am ALL about letting kids read what they wnat 90 percent of the time especially if they hate reading-if you force them to read a book they HATE they willa ssociate it with all literature. But as an adult I think balance is important because I run into sooo many people who cannoy speak well to save their lives or write well (HUGE number of college students in NY and NJ failign manadatory tests) and alot of it is because they dont read or when they do, its nothing that is challenging.

Just my thoughts.

Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis? I do read good boks. :)

I just started reading them this fall, I work in a library at a jail and the female prisoners love J.R. Ward, Christine Feehan and so on.  I usually read a lot more fantasy than anything else but decided I needed to broaden my horizons and also as a way to select better substitutes when certain books are checked out.

With popularity of the Twilight series, it isn't only the gals who want paranormal romances.  So I did read Twilight (meh) but then graduated on to Sookie stackhouse and tried Sherrilyn Kenyon.  I fell in love with Patricia Briggs' Mercy series and loved Dresden when I read it several years ago (re-reading him again for fun).

I hadn't really had much experience with people mocking what I read until I had the Kenyon book, then it was snickers and laughs.  They aren't my faves but it is interesting how we get defensive about our choices or what the derision means about their mindset.  But I figure that they can just laugh all they want because I am enjoying myself .  I too have an English degree and I go through periods when I read more classics than not but I like to mix things up a bit.

sorry if I rattled on, I am glad I found these threads and can  learn more about the genre.

p.s I am glad you mentioned Tanya Huff  Matt, I need to add her to my list as well :)

I always try to alternate between more serious books and the lighter ones that I have a lot of fun reading.  Although now that I am more busy with a baby in the house, I am finding myself sticking to the lighter stuff (paranormal, mystery, young adult).  I am never ashamed of what I read; you need to read what makes you happy!