I have a rather huge question, today, that (as all good questions tend to do) has no “correct” answer. Which is why I’m just going to throw it at your faces and DEMAND you tell me your opinions. Because I’m a delightful human like that.
SHOULD WE READ OUTSIDE OF OUR COMFORT ZONES? HMM? SHOULD WE?!
It’s a complicated question, I concur. So we should discuss it.
Reading is, supposedly, a hobby. And hobbies suck if they’re not pleasurable. Scrubbing frypans is not a “hobby” of mine, yet…I’m always doing it. What even is bacon’s problem? It just leaves a catastrophe behind. So, if we read for downtime or escapism or pleasure or knowledge, then shouldn’t it be fun?
By the way, small disclaimer here, I’m NOT talking about required reading for school or university or whatnot. I’m talking about books you pick up to read on your onesome.
Reading books we don’t like IS NOT FUN.
It can be impossible to have fun reading a book in a genre you just. do. not. like.
For instance: I struggle to get on well with classics. I just…nope. There are a few I like (basically Alice in Wonderland and Treasure Island because it is the reason Treasure Planet exists and Treasure Planet is a reminder of humanity’s excellence in film creations…but I digress) but if you asked me to read something by Jane Austen or George Orwell, I would die. My brain melts. IT DOES NOT WORK FOR ME. I’ve tried Orwell, but not Austen.
I haven’t had any luck with steampunk either. And YA horror never scares me. It’s usually quite ludicrous. When I see specimens of their kinds on the shelves, I avoid without trying.
But if you don’t try a genre, how do you know you won’t like it?!
Once upon a time, I used to be a strict Historical Fiction reader. This is because I grew up on it! It’s what was cosy and safe and entertaining. So what if I’d stuck on historical fiction? What if I’d never discovered URBAN FANTASY (which is probably my favourite genre in the world)?!! What if I’d never discovered dystopian?! Or…or…dragons? Or FAIRY TALE RETELLINGS? I’m having a heart palpitation here.
Just think, if Little Cait hadn’t crept outside her comfort zone, she wouldn’t spend 79% of her blogging time raving about Maggie Stiefvater. Which you should read, like, all her books. Now. THAT THOUGHT IS TERRIFYING AND HORRENDOUS.
Still…reading outside our comfort zones is fraught with risk.
We might find gold. We might also waste precious hours. And what happens when your well-intending friends try to convince you in a genre you just don’t like? What if you’ve been burned by a genre, decided you hate it, and then miss out on other brilliant books because of this??
Unfortunately, life is short, there are too many books, and we only have two eyeballs.
Is it worth attempting to read all the books just to see if you find an unexpected gem? Or should you read what you KNOW and LIKE and therefore give glowing reviews, enjoy yourself immensely during your limited reading-time, and fall in love with marvellous worlds you adore?
Is it okay to be a “niche reader”? We can’t be expected to like everything, right? I, personally, am widely-read (well, in YA). I have preferences, but I’m not solely glued to one genre. But not everyone is like this! And that’s okay. I’m just extraordinarily nosey.
I don’t think there’s a “right” or “wrong” answer to any of these questions. I DO NOT. Personally? I get tired of trying New Adult books in hopes one has a plot. (So far, having a plot in NA isn’t popular.) I do not want to try more. Instead, I could read more Cassandra Clare and enjoy Shadowhunters and Downworlders, which rock my world, instead! See?! IT’S HARD TO KNOW WHAT TO DO.
All I know for certain is that I hate and loathe reading books that don’t mesh with me. I don’t like leaving sucky reviews. I don’t like wasting time.
Shouldn’t I pick up books I know I’ll enjoy? Shouldn’t I listen to my “tastes” and discover my reading niche? Should I eat bacon despite the mess it leaves in the frying pan?
Okay…wait. That last question doesn’t fit? Eh. OH WELL. It’s a good question anyway. The answer to eating bacon is always: yes.
Reading outside of comfort zones is a good thing, especially if you’re a writer. If i hadn’t started reading crime fiction, I’d be still stuck writing only fantasy. Reading outside my comfort zone helped me improve my writing. I used to read only fantasy, but for the past few years I’ve read a lot of crime fiction/thrillers. I used to read only MG or YA too, but now I read about as much adult books as I do MG/YA, maybe even more. I don’t read romance or non-fiction.
ME TOO. I spent like 5 years writing epic fantasy…ever since I branched out I realised it is so not my strongest point! That just underlines the goldenness of trying new things, right?! I’m trying to read more adult books too, but I really prefer YA. XD
I still like YA, but recently a lot of it has been books trying to ride on the success of other books. I’m a big fan of the Jack Reacher books–action, violence, fast pace, sharp writing style, can’t go wrong. Stephen King is a great writer too.
Reading out of comfort zones is pretty important in my opinion. You never know what you may like! I few years ago, I didn’t think that I would like historical fiction, but I tried it once, and I loved it! I didn’t think I would like classics either, but again, I tried it, and I loved it. Yes, I think its okay to prefer one genre to another (I prefer realistic fiction) but its important to read all genres. It helps improve your reading skills, and your writing skills, too.
You should try Jane Austen! Her books are actually pretty interesting. If you do try her, start with Pride and Prejudice.
As long as we TRY before we say “no” and throw tantrums right?! Which is why someone ought to glare me into reading Austen because I profess I don’t like it and I haven’t actually read any….
Ditto, Cait. I don’t like reading classics–some I can’t understand why they’re called classics… is it just because they were written a long time ago? Does that make them a good book?
Well, to be honest, until a few years ago I couldn’t tell the difference between different genres, so it was a moot point then. I’m pretty much stubbornly glued to speculative fiction, though, although I have a respectable collection of Agatha Christie books. I did try Simon Vs the other week, and I KNOW it was a good book, and I KNOW it’s got lots of awesome things, but I just didn’t CLICK with it. I enjoyed it less than a more average fantasy, I would say.
And regarding classics, I have SUCH MIXED FEELINGS. Because I love Orwell and Dickens to death, and I love love love Shakespeare and Greek tragedies, but I cannot last through anything Austen or Wuthering Heights or anything in that vein. Just noooo. I fall asleep. Generally I suppose I need some sort of political or social critique to be really really interested in a book, and those come best in spec fic, I suppose.
I think it’s okay to read only the books that you want to read. I subscribe to the theory that a truly awesome book out of your niche will appear enough from other people that you’ll give it a try, and you might expand your niche. Basically, even if you don’t read all the books, discuss all the books so you can read somewhat less of all the books. *looks back at sentence* Yeah, that made very little sense, but hopefully you see the gist.
Basically EXCELLENT POINTS to why there are so many different type sof books and authors, right?! We don’t (and shouldn’t feel beholden to) like ALL the books, amirite?! I loved Dickens and Carroll and Barrie ohhh and I didn’t mind Stevenson too! But I’ve died at Austen and Bronte. 0-0 I feel totally scared after trying Jane Eyre. Omg, talk about child abuse!
IT MADE SENSE AND YES I TOTALLY AGREE.
Basically, my answer to this is yes, we all should try and read out of our comfort zone. Now for the rambling! Basically, this time last year I read nothing but fantasy with the odd science fiction book thrown in. I loved those two genres, and still do. They’re filled with amazing books and great authors that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I wasn’t planning on going outside those two genres any time soon. I thought all literary fiction was pretentious, I had ‘outgrown’ YA, comics were all about shallow superheroes and classics were mostly boring. Then I decided to do something totally unprecedented: I started reading outside my comfort zone. As a result, all the preconceptions I had about the genres I mentioned above just disappeared. Now, I realise that literary fiction is filled with great authors with amazing ideas, YA is very vibrant and comics/graphic novels are a new favourite of mine. Staying within your favourite genres will be grand for a while, but eventually you’ll get bored. That’s what happened to me, so I branched out. And it turned out very well.
I think a lot of people are a bit too quick to dismiss genres, and I’m definitely guilty of it too. We’ve all been in the situation where we try a book that’s not in our usual genre, we hate it, and then we dismiss the entire genre. We’ve all done it at some point. However, it’s all about finding your niche within each genre. Just because you didn’t like one book in a genre, doesn’t mean you won’t like the rest.
I think it all comes down to you as a reader though. If you are open-minded towards a book or genre, chances are you might like it. If you go into a book thinking you’ll hate it, you’ll spend the whole time looking for faults. Again, we’ve all been there.
However, I think the biggest reason for reading out of your comfort zone is that it’s just so damn fun! I don’t know about you, but I love the thrill of finding out about new books that I haven’t read. To me, researching a book is almost as fun as actually reading it. If you stick within your favourite genres, you may get this feeling, but to a much lesser extent.
OK, I’m going to stop there. There are some other reasons that I could say but I think I’ve rambled or enough. Great post, as you can tell it was very thought-provoking.
TOO TRUE!! I totally got stuck on read dystopian a few years back. Like, to the point where I read about 20 of them in a row. And now?! I don’t even want to touch a dystopian. I got burnt out and everything sounded the same. Totally golden reason why one should never get stuck in just one genre. *headdesk*
It’s hard when we judge an ENTIRE GENRE off just one book. But if you get badly burnt enough by the one book…it’s hard to see past that, right?!
OMG I AM WITH YA. I love new books and new genres and new plots and new twists. If I read stuff that’s too similar for too long, my whole brain melts with boredom after a while. But YAY SO GLAD YOU LIKED THIS POST!!
I don’t have a niche. Or a comfort zone. Or a…I’ll stop now. I like trying everything. If someone throws a book at me and says “try this,” I say, “Sure!” Then, if I hate said book, they never hear the end of it 😉 Reading (and writing) one genre all the time would bore me after a while because everything would feel exactly the same. That’s just the way I am though. Everyone should just read what they want to read. If that means that you only ever read one author then so be it 😉 I will admit to actively avoiding dystopia though, because I just don’t get what the obsession is with the end of the world…
I know what you mean about horror! I am a big lover of horror, but I’m yet to find one (YA or otherwise) that actually scares me 🙁 The search continues…
Agh, I spent like 5 years of my life ONLY writing epic fantasy. I MISSED OUT ON SO MUCH, OMG. I love writing all the genres and I love reading all the genres…though I’m basically exclusively YA. I do branch out to Adult a bit now though. 😉 I love dystopian…well loved. I kind of read so much I burnt out.
WHEN YOU FIND A GOOD HORROR LET ME KNOW.
I think it is always good to push outside your comfort zone (with anything really). But I think it is ok if you decide something isn’t your deal. I read pretty much anything or will at least try it but if I am not enjoying it I have no issue putting a book down because I don’t have time for that – ya know??? But if someone sticks to what they like and that’s it whatever good for them!
At least if we TRY it before we say “no”, right?!
I gravitate towards my comfort zone, true but from time to time I like to get out of my little hole and try reading new things because it’s true we won’t like all of it but there are hidden treasures here and there, and hey, we may find new favourites and enjoy new genres 🙂
A bit of variety totally spices things up, too, right?!
This attitute some people have of ‘we must all read outside our comfort zone’ thing is nonsense! Why? If you WANT to try new genres and things you don’t think you should like, then good for you but don’t expect me to feel compelled to follow like a sheep! I have limited book time and years of reading behind me. I think I’m entitled not to bother trying things I don’t want to.
I stay within my comfort zones now. I’ve experimented with things that haven’t worked ie historical fiction outside the Tudor period, steampunk, traditional fantasy, crime, thrillers, YA paranormal and all I got were lots of DNFs, a grumpy attitude and wasted reading hours! Am I concerned that by stopping reading these genres I might miss something great? Well, no. I cant read everything on the planet anyway so why worry about what I don’t get to? I’m also not prepared to plough through 50 crap books in a genre I hate in the hope that one might be great. I don’t have the time.
There are soooo many new urban fantasy, dystopia, mountain expedition non fiction, dark fantasy, tudor fiction and horror out there waiting for me and I refuse to be distracted by anything else unless it sounds like an awesome plot. Only then do I deviate! I know what I like plot wise, I know what things I hate seeing in books, I’m more selective about what I pick and I HOPE that when I get to reading these bad boys that I’ll love most of them.
Oh and I get round the bacon problem by buying it from the local shops thus no dishes!
Too true! I feel like forced reading usually ends badly, eh? I’m the kind of reader who likes to nibble on EVERY genre, but I totally think niche readers are to be admired! As long as you try it once, though, right?! That’s a start! XD Being selective leads to more better reads, imho so GO YOU.
I also grew up on historical fiction like Little House, Indian Captive and a billion other books. Basically when I was little all I would read was historical fiction about Native Americans and pioneers. That and Nancy Drew. Historical fiction still remains my favorite genre because it’s so engrained in me, but I’m still glad I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone a little bit. I wouldn’t have found classics if I didn’t step out of my comfort zone. Neither would I have found literary middle grade fiction. Or sci-fi. Or allegorical epic fantasy that I actually enjoyed.
Still, even though I’m glad I branched out, I understand your hesitancy to do so because there are so many books to read and so little time. I say that readers should at least attempt to branch out by choosing one book from a different genre and reading it. If it sparks their fancy, then maybe they should slowly attempt another book from that genre, all while mostly reading the genre they like best. Or everyone can just do what they want because unless it’s reading for school, then no one cares how widely you read. At least you’re reading.
THAT is basically my childhood! Except swap Nancy Drew for Trixie Belden and Mandie Mysteries. xD I’m reeeeally glad I left all that though, because I wouldn’t have discovered my murder and mayhem-ish paranormal and urban fantasy — and those are my LIFE. So yes. Branching out is quite healthy. 😉
I have to say that I read just about anything. Sure, I have the genres that I don’t really like but everyone does. I’ll try just about any book if I sounds interesting to me. Most of what I read is YA but there is also quite a bit of straight fantasy and religious nonfiction.
I really think it is up to the individual. We are all individuals, right? Then we need to do what we want to do. If someone wants to stick with one genre or subgenre, that is their choice. If someone wants to read ALL THE BOOKS, that is their choice, too. To me, it is a pretty personal choice and totally up to each individual what they want to read.
I’m about 98% YA, buuuut occasionally I do squeeze in an adult book because, WELL, I’m supposedly an adult. Jury is out though *squinty eyes*
I’m reading Austen right now! I actually quite like it, but it does take some getting used to. I occasionally read adult books (like the Windup Girl) and nonfiction books (I finished Collapse by Jared Diamond this morning. It was massive. SUV’s and Australia’s water usage suck). I do read for school books I don’t like but I did find that when I had to read Othello was kind of a genius, though a bit hard to read. I mostly stick to YA though, because YA makes me happy. My mum pointed out to me recently that I tend to read YA books published in the last few years so I’m trying to read more variety. I think it’s important to step out of your comfort zone, because you can find really good books, but I tend to discover that the books which I like are the books I read… does that make sense?
Thanks for the discussion, Cait 🙂
It totally makes sense! I’ve noticed that, ever since I started book blogging, I mostly read paranormal/urban and always published in the last 3 years. BUT! I’ve really stepped out of my zone this year! I’ve read a slew of adult books and older books. I’m all growed up and mature. :’)
(ahah, probably not, though. I have a good imagination.)
I think I’ve grown more niche-y as I’ve gotten older. Now it’s mainly contemporary YA that I read, and most people on the street wouldn’t know what it means. BUT I do like some classics – it’s nice being able to say that you’ve read something famous, you know? And a lot of them are really thought-provoking. I still stay away from some genres, though. Liiiiike paranormal, for instance. Which is why next month’s reading challenge is going to be hard.
I hardly ever read adult books at all…
OMG. IF YOU NEED PARANORMAL RECOMMENDATIONS, COME TO MEEEEEE. *hugs all the paranormal* That’s my go-to genre. I find I’m getting more picky the more I read too, like I can actually look at a book and premise and go “Nope, gonna hate that”. Then of course I have to read it to see and YES. I USUALLY AM RIGHT ABOUT MY SUSPICIONS.
Adult books are scary. How can I channel my inner Peter Pan if I’m reading adult books?? HMMM???
Ohhhhh this is SUCH a good question! I think reading outside of your comfort zone can be a good thing sometimes, I mean as long as it sounds interesting why not give it a try? If you don’t like it there’s nothing stopping you from dropping it. Brianna and I both, at first, refused to read contemporary, yet now we have been reading quite a few of them! I think it depends on the book, more so, then the genre 😀 but I dunno I feel like I’m rambling on and on now xD
Contemporaries can get kind of addictive, eh!? Especially if you find really GOOD ones. I’m mostly wary of them, but if the premise is amazing then I want in .XD
I don’t stick to just one genre, either. I don’t feel limited by labels attached to books in order to organize them better. I’m more concerned with what is on the back cover. If it looks like it will be good (no matter the genre) I’ll give it a shot. If I get reading and discover it isn’t so good . . . if it loses me, I will put it down because I don’t want to waste my time on something I already know I don’t like.
One “genre” I do stick to quite a bit is YA. I’m scared of adult books because I don’t want to read anything with explicit content or gore, and Young Readers’ books are generally too lightweight. That being said, I have read a few books which aren’t YA. I went through a Star Wars phase where I was reading loads of Star Wars books, which are all adult. I’ve also read Brandon Sanderson’s Way of Kings, which is adult, and I’ve gone through a couple classics like Tarzan, The Count of Monte Cristo, and Robin Hood. I also still read the Percy Jackson books, The Ranger’s Apprentice, and The Brotherband Chronicles, which are all for a younger audience.
Huh. I’m not as restricted as I thought.
I’m scared of adult books too. The romance terrifies me. *shakes in boots* At least in YA I know it’s going to stay fairly…calm and not graphic. hehe. SO YEAH. that’s a big reason I get stuck in YA, but I’m not upset about that. There’s sooooo many genre options in YA. AND OMG I JUST FINISHED THE FIRST MISTBORN BOOK. *awards self sticker* I love Sanderson.
YES STAY AWAY FROM ADULT ROMANCE. *Shivers* And yeah, I’m not too upset by it either. I’ll probably still be reading YA when I’m fifty. XD Sanderson is the best. No question. And Mistborn will always be amazing. Now you have to go read the next two. 😀
Cait, you’re like a perfect specimen of a human. I know I don’t often partake in your opinion discussions like these but YOUR POSTS ARE HILARIOUS AND BEAUTIFUL. You could write a post about a a cardboard box and I would read it and love it.
You’re awesome XD
*commences majestic hair toss of perfection* I KNOW. IT’S TRUE. I CAN’T DENY MY UTLIMATE WONDERFULNESS.
I read outside my comfort zone as much as possible. Actually, I try not to have a “comfort zone” at all. I’ll give any book a try, and I’ll DNF it if I really don’t like it.
You clearly have the best bookish diet then. 😉
Hmm. I don’t think any reader has an obligation, exactly, to read outside his or her comfort zone, so I would never say one “should” read outside that comfort zone. However, I do think it is often a good thing to read outside your comfort zone for the same reason it’s important to get outside the comfort zone in other hobbies or life things—no one wants to stagnate. For me, reading widely means that my books tend to always feel original and fresh, because I haven’t just read ten other books that rely on the same genre tropes. There are times when I feel a book is unoriginal, and for me that’s a huge red flag precisely because I read so widely. I also think access to a good library might be a reason someone might decide to read outside their comfort zone or not–it’s a lot easier to try a book when you’re just borrowing it & not spending money, and I also have less trouble marking a library book as a DNF if I’m not feeling it. Back to the library it goes, no harm, no foul.
“Should” is a scary and dangerous word anyway, isn’t it? i USE IT TO FEEl the POWER OF EVIL. MWHAHAHA. Okay, whatever. I’m kidding. Someone shut me up before I hurt my own brain. But this comment is golden and true. If one gets stuck in a genre rut things can get old and redundant fast, right? I did this for dystopian a while back…like I read 20 of them in a row. BAD IDEA. Now I can’t even look at the genre for very long because I’ve basically “seen it all”. *sigh*
I, uh, don’t really have a comfort zone. I’m more like, oh, that sounds interesting, throw it on the pile! The only genre I don’t like is straight-on romance, but other than that…I don’t really think I have a niche.
You are clearly the most awesome. If it’s YA there’s a 99% chance I’ll try it. But I still have my pickiness. xD
I think reading out an out-of-comfort zone book every couple of months is a very very good idea. I mean, you never know when you will find something that changes your life. For example, my first couple of run ins with sci-fi were quite negative. So I thought I hated sci-fi. But my friend convinced me to read The Missing series by Margaret Peterson Haddix and I FELL IN LOVE. Now I watch Dr. Who on occasion. You’ll never find new joys and loves if you don’t step out and try new things.
THAT IS SO TRUE! And basically me with epic fantasy! I used to read it all. the. time. But then totally fell out of love with it after a slew of bad reads. Now?! I’m back in and as addicted as ever because I gave it a second chance. XD
I like my comfort zone, it is a good place to be and has all my favourite books and genres I like. But sometimes it is nice to step out and try new things. I’ve recently been reading a couple of crime novels and was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed reading them. But I completely agree that it is hard, after all there are so many amazing books out there.
Also you should definitely read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, it was the first classic book that I picked up to read outside of school and remains one of my favourite. Although Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation may have helped the love a long a little bit…. Basically it is amazing!
That’s basically me with epic fantasy! I USED to love it, but then I read a few bad apples and basically didn’t touch the genre for yeeears. Now?! I’m obsessed with it because I gave it a second go. XD
I definitely try to read outside my comfort zone. I think it’s fine to have a comfort zone to go back to, but I want to explore! If I think a book will interest me, I’ll read it, regardless of genre. “Niche” readers kind of frustrate me because of their refusal to try new things. There are TONS of books that I didn’t know that I would like until I started reading them. And even though there are books that I’ve read that I haven’t enjoyed (Wuthering Heights, Oliver Twist, etc.) I still feel glad that I read them. Most of the time, even if I don’t like a book, I wouldn’t call it a waste of time.
When I was, like 12, and my sister 7 she wouldn’t read ANYTHING except for the same 10 books. It drove me so batty I think I ended up hiding her books to try and make her read some of my favourites. Haaaa. Mean bookworm I am. Least to say, I don’t think it worked. -_- My devious plans failed.
I’m pretty comfortable with reading other genres, but I don’t think it’s for everyone.
And sometimes it takes a few years reading stuff you’re comfortable with before you branch out.
I’m still not a big fan of paranormal and horror, but I’m reading pretty much everything else in YA.
I’ve only read one steampunk because they don’t have many at my library, and my cash source is very limited, but I’m attempting to write a sci-fi novel with steampunk and so far it’s going pretty well.
Good for you! I accidentally wrote a steampunk once. 0-0 It was before I really knew what the genre was…and least to say it did NOT work. hehe
I think sometimes that it’s fun to go on an adventure into the unknown. You never know what’s going to happen, you might find a beautiful waterfall, you might slip in a stream and get the wind knocked out of you, you might find a pile of dirt, or you might find a precious gem.
Overall, I think it’s worth it to go out and read new things. But you don’t go on crazy adventures every day, you only have them once in a good time.
-Monica @ Tomes Project
That picture was beautiful. :’) Particularly falling down the waterfall. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME BUT THAT SOUNDS REALLY FUN. *ahem*
Of course it’s important to try things out of our comfort zones. I mean, I think it is important in most aspects of life, not just reading. Eating, cultural activities, news/media, exercise, clothing, travel… if you stop trying new things, you stop growing as a person. It’s a matter of finding a balance between spending time on stuff that is important and fun for you, vs. challenging yourself and maybe discovering some new thing that is also important/fun.
As far as books go, though, I think that we as modern readers are lucky that there is (a) a lot of genre crossover and (b) a lot of options as far as obtaining new books. Take your example of the “classics” — just like with YA, there are a lot of genres that fit under this umbrella. I talked a friend of mine who likes historical romance (her thing is Outlander right now) into trying Lorna Doone. Even though it was written in the 19th century it is set in the 17th. It’s not my personal fav, but the aforementioned historical romance fan loves it. Best part? It’s out of copyright and easy to get for free. Anyway, the point of the story is that trying new things is easier than ever before, so what not take advantage of that?
Okay, YEP, I totally agree. I very easily get stuck in ruts and am happy to not change…but I think change does spice up life a lot, right?! And I don’t agree with hating on something before you’ve tried it. Unless it’s cauliflower pie because. No.
I always try to read at least one book a month, that is either a genre I have never read, or something I am not sure I will like. I tried reading some adult books, because I am no longer considered a teen, but adult books tend to be filled with adult content. So I find myself still sticking to Y.A.
ME TOO! I try to read more adult books but I’m not a fan of how deep the romantic aspects get. I way prefer YA. Althooooough, I’ve found if I read hardcore epic fantasy I skip the weasely teen romance AND the awkward adult romance and just get non-stop action. XD Which is epic. But yeah. I totally stick 98% to YA too.
I’d say yes to both! I like to read a couple of books at a time, and so I’m trying to read one that I know I’ll love, and an other that is experimental. That way, if I get tired of one, I can pick up the other. (Unless it’s the kind of book that is super jealous and won’t let you go until you’ve finished it) I love reading books that are in my comfort zone, but if I hadn’t stepped out of my comfort zone of classics and historical fiction (kind of like you) I would never have gone to Narnia or cheered Katniss on during The Hunger Games. Also, I think reading your blog has definitely made me try new and different kinds of books that I’d never have picked up before. Like Cinder. Ohmygoshthatseriesissoooooogood… Anyhow, thanks for being the FABULOUS blogger that you are. Your blog has introduced me to a lot of phenomenal books. (-:
Omg. That is the best thing to hear of ever. :’) I’m so glad my blog has made you try some new things! AND THAT YOU’VE LIKED THEM. Because it’s secretly terrible to rec books and have people hate them, hahah. BUT YA KNOW. Everyone has different tastes so I’m not too devastated. 😉 But YUUUUS CINDER IS INCREDIBLE. *tackle hugs you and smushes cake in you hair*
I try to pick up different books occasionally just because I’ve discovered some really amazing ones that way…but it’s a small portion of what I read. Probably ten percent or so. And if I start something and I’m not in love, I’m totally okay with DNFing it!
Ooh, Good for YOU!! I wish I could DNF more easily. Butt it bothers me more to have a half-finished book around than to continue with a sucky one. I KNOW. I have problems. -_-
I try to read some outside of my comfort zone so long as it’s still within a certain extent of comfort, if that makes sense! I mean, I’m probably never going to read horror because I already know without a doubt that I do not like scary or creepy anything. But I try to read so many adult fiction, non-fiction, etc. each year just to keep things fresh, because it can get old to read all the same genre all the time (at least it does me), and it’s good to see the different ways stories can be told. But I definitely don’t think that means you have to try EVERYTHING out there.
Dude. YES. That totally makes sense! I have this secret ambition to want to try everything, but come now, Cait. That’s ridiculous. Sometimes I feel the need to dial back and just enjoy reading instead of trying to dabble in everything.
I can’t claim to know what to do about your niche, (I personally only stray with things like The Help that seem particularly interesting to me) but I DO know that if you put bacon in the oven at 400 degrees for twenty minutes, you can cook it in bulk and there’s not too much cleanup because you’ll just be able to throw out the aluminum foil you coated the pan with. Plus, it comes out to the perfect amount of cooked-but-still-chewyness. Assuming you don’t like chewy. How can you not like chewy?
I’m torn with the chewy to be honest. I LOVE chewy and crunchy…omg, my mouth is watering just thinking of it…but I have a jaw locking problem which sucks. BUT STILL. IM GONNA TRY THAT BECAUSE IT SOUNDS PERFECT TBH.
It IS! And then you really just don’t have to deal with the grease so much! I hate dealing with grease. I love dealing with BLTs.
Can I just take a moment to appreciate that you have, like, twenty million comments on everything you post but you still take time to reply to every one (even the ones solely about bacon) AND still visit my blog? I’m such a fan of you right now 😛
Some of my favourite bookish discoveries have resulted from reading outside of my comfort zone. A few years ago, I got an e-book from the library called Inside Out and Back Again. I thought it was historical fiction (which it was), but what I didn’t realize until I opened the book was that it was written in verse. At that point, I almost returned it… but it was short, so I decided to give it a try. And that’s how I discovered my love for novels in verse.
I consider myself fairly widely read. I read mostly YA, and mostly fantasy of some sort in that age category. But I have read children’s, middle grade, new adult, and adult books, and have tried classics, literary, contemporary, fantasy (including urban fantasy), historical, crime, horror, sci-fi… Probably the only thing I haven’t tried is erotica. That’s definitely outside of my comfort zone, but I’m not ruling it out in the future; I’m hesitant to try it, though, fearing I’ll pick a bad one that’ll sour my view of the whole genre.
If I read as quickly as you did, I wouldn’t be worrying so much about wasting time. For me, on the other hand, wasting time is a very real risk. A book is usually an investment of over a week (probably because I don’t spend a lot of time reading each day, but it still means it takes a while to get through each one). I’ve read a lot of stinkers in my many years of reading, too… but that just means I know what I want to avoid in the future.
I feel like I’ve tried EVERY YA genre, but not every adult genre…(and there’s no way I’ll be reading erotica, erk, but that’s just personal. I’m just…no. hah) And, it is true, I do read fast. But then reading awful books I don’t like/enjoy gets me into woeful reading slumps! So the struggle is real there too! BUT OMG VERSE IS AMAZING. I read a book (Out of the Dust) for school in verse and hands down it is the most exquisitely written book I’ve tried. Part of The Ghosts of Heaven was in verse, too, but I wasn’t so sold on it. So it also depends on the author! Which means…we have to try more than one book out of our comfort zone, right?!
I am definitely for reading diversely and outside our comfort zones. Because if we never give a genre a try, how are we supposed to know whether we like it? Am I right or am I right? xoxo
YOU ARE RIGHT. 100% YOU GET CAKE ALSO.
New Adult contemporary is TIRING to read. Nothing I’ve read has a plot and I totally agree with you thinking that too. It’s just “two people who are seemingly strangers have a BURNING attraction to each other” or at least, that’s what I see 99% of the time.
I’m always open to trying new things but I know what I like and what genres I prefer over the other.
Don’t forget frequent coffees! Basically coffee + BURNING ATTRACTION FOR NO REASON + tragic moody backstory = every NA book ever.
Okay! Okay! I’m being harsh. xD I would like to find a good one with an actual plot one day….
My comfort zone is reaaaaaally wide. It’s basically all YA genres. I just love a lot of things! However, I am a squeamish and easily-scared person, so I tend to stray away from horror and gore. I would really like to try and get over that…someday.
I think people who do have “comfort zones” should step out of it often. When I was younger, I mostly read realistic fiction MG. I started to branch out with Harry Potter and it really broadened my horizons. Now I love dystopian and urban fantasy, which I didn’t even know existed!
So just step out of your comfort zone and take risks. But if you’re really uncomfortable or bored, feel free to step right back in and then maybe a bit later try a different new genre.
Basically: we need balance, right?!! I’m a hugely wide reader at the moment anyway, but I still get stuck in ruts…like reading 99% paranormal. haa. I need to branch out myself. 😉
Hahahaha as I was reading your post I started thinking about what I was going to say in my comment. Then I came to “Personally? I get tired of trying New Adult books in hopes one has a plot. (So far, having a plot in NA isn’t popular.),” which is basically a direct quote of what I was planning to say. Sex is not a plot, I’m sorry, and that’s not going to change. Fangirl, which isn’t even marketed as YA, is EXACTLY what I want the NA genre to be. Ughhh.
Anyway, it’s good to give different types of book a try, but I don’t think anyone should torture themselves by continuing to read a book or genre that just isn’t working. We have so many types of books because there are so many reading preferences, and that’s great. I also think our reading preferences can change, so hating a particular genre 10 years ago doesn’t mean you should never try it again. That being said, if you want to keep reading one, very specific type of book over and over and don’t think you’ll get bored, who am I to stop you? (I may think you’re crazy, but who isn’t? :P)
*hi fives* We are clearly TWINS in this matter, Maraia. Sex is not a plot. Figuring out if a boy loves you is not a plot. A PLOT NEEDS TO HAVE ACTUAL STUFF HAPPEN NOT JUST COFFEE AND MAKE OUT SESSIONS, OMG. NA KILLS ME.. *ahem* But what was I saying? Oh yes, I was just agreeing with the rest of your comment. 😉
It’s nice to know I’m not alone! We can start a “We need plot-iful NA” campaign, haha.
THIS IS SUCH A GOOD QUESTION. Because on the one hand, I don’t think that anyone should be a niche reader. I think that writing off a book simply because of its genre is really just wrong. It’s Book Discrimination. It’s like racism for books. HOWEVER that does not mean that one should pick up every tatty paperback trilling “well, maybe it’s my next favourite book!” If all the signs point to your not liking it? You probably shouldn’t read it because you /just don’t have the time/. Of course, genre is going to be one of those signs. But I think that, based on other people’s recommendations, one can dare now and then to step away from the comfort zone. I don’t read sci-fi but I love Hitchhiker’s Guide. I don’t really read “fluff” but I love Anna and the French Kiss. I’m not big on crime but I love my recent read Child 44. I’m willing to try books from not-my-genres IF they are well recommended by people I trust.
*whispers* I don’t like fluff and yet I loved Anna too!! It’s just Stephanie Perkins I think. She’s a wizard and casts a spell of you must love this book on whoever touches her writing. 😉 AHEM. BUT YES. I think it’s fair to be a niche reader, but I do think you miss out on stuff if you live like that. I tend to just have greedy-book-eyes and I want to try eeeverything event hough there’ll be neon signs saying “CAIT YOU WON’T LIKE THIS”. Gah. I should listen to me, but that’d be boring now, wouldn’t it?
I admit that I am a moody reader. So if right mood strikes me, I am known to pick and enjoy something that is definitely out of my comfort zone- So yeah, I do think that we should give different genres a try. But I do not believe in giving third or more chances to genre we happened to hate first or second time around. For example, I tried M/M books and it was not for me so even though whole world will be going crazy for this or that M/M book, I know I will not be interested to read it. But if it is book in genre I havent tried yet that is gaining huge praise all around the world, I would be willing to read it.
*nods* I would agree with all of this! I keep forcing myself to read NA and steampunk even though I know I don’t really like those genres…and I really think it’s time to just give up and accept it! Basically YOU ARE WISER THAN I.
How funny, I was just thinking about this today, Cait. I finished a YA Contemporary book this morning and it was okay. I don’t normally read YA Contemporary and I was trying to formulate why. The book was outside my normal genre reading zone and while it is fun to venture outside that, sometimes the not-so-good books burn us on trying the best-thing-since-sliced bread in that genre.
I’m going to keep collecting my thoughts and maybe a post will come out of it!
Terri M., the Director
Second Run Reviews
Ooh, I totally want to read your post! I LIKE when we can actual put into words why a thing ticks us off, you know? I really should articulate why contemporary usually doesn’t float my boat in a post someday. (I was talking about it with my sister and we realised I only enjoy the contemporaries that end in mayhem and destruction. -_- I’m a sad little bean.)
I’ll working on refining my thoughts, Cait! Please keep harassing me about it. 🙂
Terri M., the Director
Second Run Reviews
Cait! I composed my thoughts tonight and scheduled a post for June 10th. I hope you’ll stop by.
As a blogger, I choose most of my books based on what other bloggers are recommending, which works rather well, because I know who has a similar taste in books as me and all that jazz, but as I follow mainly YA bloggers, it also means that I very rarely read out of that genre…. I have in the past occaisionally dabbled in the classics and although I enjoy them, I find that they are at the same time difficult to get through… I don’t know if that makes sense? I like that, but at the same time, the language is so different and they have parts which are long and boring that the pleasure I get out of them isn’t always worth it. I don’t know….
It totally makes sense! I really enjoy epic fantasy…and at the same time I avoid it because they’re usually huge and they’re haaaard work on the braincells. SO I TOTALLY HEAR YA THERE.
FANTASTIC topic. Okay *cracks knuckles* here we go –
I think reading as a hobby, is something you should take pleasure from, it should be entertaining. People who choose to read, or find enjoyment, in classic texts and literary fiction? That’s great, fabulous even. But that doesn’t mean that everyone will be entertained by these genres. Personally, I read and study to learn quite a bit, and that is often outside of my comfort zone (well, it has to be if you want to actually learn anything, otherwise you read about things you already know…). That being said, I do try to fit in some books that are outside of my comfort zone when I read for pleasure. If I hadn’t have done that, then similar to you, I never would have found Throne of Glass, or To Kill A Mockingbird, or Bad Feminist. I do think that “bad” books within a genre, can kill an entire genre for some readers. And I hate that. But I think you need to become okay with DNFing before you can comfortably leave your comfort zone, because it’s likely that when you start exploring other texts, you’ll have no clue what you like and dislike, and which authors will suit your tastes. or me, that’s where blogging comes in. If it wasn’t for blogging and Goodreads, I’d probably still be in my comfort bubble. There are some bloggers with super similar tastes to me, and there are some whose tastes are totally opposite to mine (but we’re still friends and we argue/discuss our differences – yay for diversity!). These people are my lifeline, because I can be pretty certain if they like/dislike a book, then the same or opposite, will be true for me.
Back to the main question – should you read outside of your comfort zone? I say hell yes. Even if you do it on a ratio basis (I’m a mood reader, so it works well for me anyways), you should definitely push past your own self-inflicted boundaries because you’ll never know what you’ll discover, and learn about yourself along the way! R x
*hi fives* I SAY HECK YES TOO. I DEFINITELy DO. And I absolutely hate it when a bad book will colour an entire genre. **sigh** It’s unfair on so many levels. But then, sometimes I read repeatedly in a genre and I’ve yet to be impressed/interested, so I guess as long as we try before we say no, it’s fair. Right? (I love talking books with bloggers no matter our tastes. IT’S JUST FUN. I’ve spent my life with non-readers and the fact that the internet is full of readers just makes me flail like a pineapple frond.)
I tend to stick with my go to genres most of the time. (fantasy/paranormal) Those just tend to be the books I love best. But I am always willing to venture out if the story or characters can capture my attention in the blurbs. Or if the cover is striking. I can’t help it when I fall for a pretty cover. Personally I think every reader should branch out. Like you said, how do you know if you like/dislike something if you never gave it a try. Plus sometimes you just pick a bad book the first go around and could be missing out on your next favorite author if you do not try new genres. How can anyone read the same genre over and over with no variation? Wouldn’t you get bored of it pretty quickly? This is a big reason I go through reading cycles, to keep things fresh.
And Cait? *passes over all her bacon* I don’t eat bacon, so you can have all of mine. XD
Omg, fantasy and paranormal are MY go-to genres as well! I CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THEM. *flails* I’ll read from such a huge range of YA, but those are the books I always get excited about. ^-^
I’m with you, I struggle with classics. I like the IDEA of classics but just can’t get through them. Do horror movies scare you? Because I found out the reason why horror books weren’t scaring me is because I just don’t get scared xD “I get tired of trying New Adult books in hopes one has a plot.” AHA THIS. Anyways, I think it’s important to try new genres but if you don’t like them, don’t force yourself to read them, just put them down and go back to what you like.
Eat the bacon.
Omg, maybe that’s it. 0-0 NOTHING SCARES ME. I haven’t watched a lot of hardcore horror, but stuff like World War Z never scares me. And if a movie is really old then it doesn’t. (But, tbh, I sit there thinking about how they did that act behind-the-scenes instead of actually enjoying the movie so MY BRAIN IS HOPELESS.)
Well, first, I think there’s a big difference between sticking to your comfort zone and not reading genres you don’t like. I think it’s absolutely okay to write off genres that you just don’t enjoy. I don’t read detective type mysteries, because I just don’t like them. They’re not outside of my comfort zone, since I could read one and not be uncomfortable, just bored. I recently decided to give cozy mysteries a try, and found that amateur sleuths work much better for me. Again, not outside my comfort zone, just trying a subgenre that I hadn’t tried before.
I really don’t think I even have a reading comfort zone. I’m all about trying new things. Sure there are genres and themes that I prefer over others, but I’d never exclusively read just those things. I like branching out. I don’t want to miss out on something that could be wonderful just because it’s not what I usually read. If I’m intrigued, I’ll read it. My reading tastes are really all over the place anyway.
But even if I don’t have a comfort zone, I do think others should try something outside of theirs every once in a while. Not that anyone should force themselves to read something just because it is outside of their comfort zone just to say that they did. That’s probably the wrong attitude. But being interested or intrigued in a book that isn’t something they’d ordinarily picked up is a good enough reason to read it. They may be surprised!
I guess by “comfort zone” I more mean stuff we don’t usually read, instead of stuff that makes us…like, really unhappy. Ya know?! I guess I should have said “do you read books that challenge you”, maybe?! hehe. Aaanyway. I think we’d miss out on a lot of stuff if we only read from a small range of books. *nods emphatically*
I think you can just expand your comfort zone instead of stepping out of it (but I guess you have to do one to do the other). Personally, I have limits like “heck no to Charles Dickens” but as long as I feel like something won’t traumatize me and it has golden reviews, I usually give it a try to see for myself so I’m not going in completely unaware. Sometimes, it doesn’t work out but you never know until you try and all that 😉
EXACTLY! We totally never can know until we try…and I guess you only have to try it once to know for sure right?!
I’m lucky because my reading tastes are pretty vast, so I never really have the problem of reading out of my comfort zone. But I completely agree that reading outside of your tastes is really important. If you don’t try something, how do you know you won’t like it, you know? (Except NA. That’s 75% a no-no for me for obvious reasons). Thanks for sharing Cait and, as always, fabulous review! ♥
UGHHHH. I do live for the day when I’ll find a good NA. (Can “good” and “NA” even exist in the same sentence?! Omg. It’s impossible.) >_< But, tbh, I'm too scared to keep reading it and looking!
Yay, another Treasure Planet fan! That has to be one of the most underappreciated Disney movies, ever.
When it comes to reading for pleasure, I’m always open to trying new genres as long as I know that the book contains a good story. That said, when the books revolve around certain subjects I’m not often comfortable reading about (e.g. mental illness), I try to space them out evenly. 🙂
IT TOTALLY IS. I’ve watched it so many times I can practically quote the whole thing. “You’d think in a hundred years I would’ve cleaned a little, eh?” XD I LOVE BEN.
READ ALL THE BOOKS. I mean yeah I guess I read a lot of fantasy, BUT IF YOU DON’T GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE, HOW WILL YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ENJOY? And there are definitely books that are good, some are bad, YOU JUST HAVE TO KEEP LOOKING! Haha.
Too true! I think we should try genres at least, say, once before we decide they’re not for us. XD Although, well, I’ve tried like 3 steampunks and still don’t like it. >_< #awkward
Ahhhhh such a great discussion question, Cait! Well, my world is fraught with required reading considering that I’m getting my second degree in the Liberal Arts/English category. But I will say there are som ebooks I pick up and read, not because they whisper sweet nothings in my ear telling me that I must read them, but because I know that I need to. I guess though that is also a personal preference. I value being a widely read individual. I think the more books you read, the more educated you become, so even if a book doesn’t completely interest me, I will every now and then pick up a book I think I need to read even if I don’t want to read it. Now the end game sometimes varies as well. Sometimes I absolutely hate the book, other times I find that I have absolutely fallen in love and I need more now! Books I’ve read out of the feeling that I need to read them includes The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Two Boys Kissing (OMG! I Madly fell in love with this book!), Paper Towns, The Fault in Our Stars, Outlander (and I ended up falling head over heels for this book), and Divergent (just because I had to know why all the hype). Some of these books I loved, some I hated. But I will say that I am a better person for having read them. Great discussion post, Cait! *hugs*
THIS IS ME, SO MUCH. I want to be uber widely read. I feel like I experience SO MUCH MORE!! Characters are written sooo differently from fantasy to, say, contemporary. It’s amazing. I love it. *hugs all the books* I quietly want to read all the YA books of ever, but, ya know. Still waiting on the fountain of Youth for that one.
I never, ever used to read anything outside of fantasy. Never. I’d never even LOOK at a book if it were, say, contemporary. Which is a little bit close-minded, right? But at the time I just didn’t think I’d LIKE anything outside the fantasy genre. And it’s totally okay if someone wants to only read things within their comfort zone, that is totally fine, but now I’ve found so many reads that I’ve loved. And I never would have found them if I hadn’t branched out. All in all — I think it depends on the reader.
I totally agree!! I can’t even imagine life if I hadn’t tried anything outside of HF. 0-0
Ugh, Cait, this is HARD. On one hand, I am thinking- YES, expand! Because I know that I would have missed out on so, so many books if I hadn’t expanded my horizons! I mean, I have YOU to thank for a lot of those expanded horizons, to be honest! And other bloggers too, for other horizons! I always said “nooo I HATE high fantasy. Yuck, retellings are NOT for me!”. Well, I love both of those now (you know, depending on the book, of course).
But then… I am not reading Jane Austen. Nope, nope. Not happening. YAWN. I am falling asleep just thinking about classics! I think though, since I HAVE read some classics, I kind of know they aren’t for me. And I would be super bored reading like, a football manual (American OR regular), so I won’t. I guess it depends, kind of like- if people who have similar tastes as you urge you to read a genre, maybe give it a try. Just so you know for sure either way. But if it is VERY outside your comfort zone, to the point that you absolutely HATE the genre for real, then skip it?
This is a hard question, I have to go rest my brain now. Or read. Fine, it’s definitely reading. I shall read some genres that I know I like, for tonight, anyway 😉
**bows** WELL. This pleases me greatly. HEHE.
Soooo many people tell me to read Jane Austen with the “you can’t say you hate it, you haven’t tried it!” and usually…yes. It’s not good to hate on books before trying. BUT REALLY?!! JANE AUSTEN?! IT APPEALS TO ME ABOUT 0%.
This is a tough topic to pick a “side” on, Cait! I guess I’d like to think that I do often try out new genres, but there are some that really don’t sit well with me (like classics, non-fiction and the likes). I believe that it’s all up to the person and their beliefs. If they don’t think any books from this genre will be for them, then they shouldn’t be pushed to read those kinds of books, because if they’re going to feel “forced” to read those books, they’re definitely not going to enjoy. But if the person really wants to widen their range of preferences, then so be it. 🙂
SEE WHAT I MEAN?! There is really no way to take a side on this one! BOTH sides are honestly totally fine. But that’s me, ya know, keepin’ it real with tough questions.
I like to read widely as well because I find if you stick to one specific genre, then you can often get sick of it easily especially expecting things to Wow you but they sound like everything else. And yes, I love reading adult/YA reads and then switching between subgenres too. Although sometimes I get into fantasy kicks or a recent thriller kick lately.
I completely concur with your thinking here. xD
I, personally, love reading different genres. Because DIVERSITY!!!!! And also different worlds and thoughts and just sakjfdhaljsdfhl I LOVE LOOKING AT HOW DIFFERENT PEOPLE THINK AND EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND ADDRESS ISSUES!!!! And I love looking at history, then people’s hopes for the future, people’s ideals for life in contemporary, drama and romance novels and just WHO DOESN’T LOVE FANTASY AND PARANORMAL FOR ESCAPIST READING?!?!?!!? 😀
Thanks for sharing Cait!!! Also, bacon is life. YOu should never say no. 😉 xoxo
YOU POSE A VERY INTERESTING QUESTION. On one hand, I have no time for duds. On the other, I should live a little more LOL HMMMMMMMM
It’s now kinda a known fact that contemporaries don’t do it for me. Like ever. EXCEPT the other day one FINALLY did and well, if I hadn’t gone outside my comfort zone, WOULD I HAVE EVER MET IT???? OMG. Now that scares me
I HEAR YA WITH THE CONTEMPORARIES. Half the time I feel like throwing them permanently because I’m always too critical….buuuuut THERE’S ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES AND TFIOS AND WE WERE LIARS AND ZOMG MY LIFE WOULD BE EMPTY WITHOUT THEM.
I sincerely hope that question about bacon isn’t an actual question. IT’S RHETORICAL, RIGHT? Because the answer is bacon and I don’t give a damn about the question.
In any case, I do like to broaden my horizons every once in a while, just as a palate cleanser, you know? Pick up something you’re not used to reading (although it doesn’t always end well — I tried to read a bunch of classics last year and failed miserably because I hated them all), see how you like it. But in the end, if I choose to read something for me, I’ll always return to my loved genres.
Bacon is always the answer. This whole post was just an excuse to say BACON several times and make everyone drool. Baaaacooooooon.
AHEM.
But yes, I agree with your habits there. 😉 For me, dipping outside my comfort zone is, like, reading an adult book or something. xD I’m AWFUL with reading adult books. I’m such a child. *throws childish tantrum* But I did just finish an adult book and I feel immensely proud.
Great post! I do think it’s okay to be a niche reader. I really don’t think anyone should be judged for what they read, one way or the other (though it happens). That being said, I think it’s great if people try other genres and go outside their comfort zones. But if they don’t like it, they shouldn’t force it or keep reading something they hate. I feel like blogging has actually encouraged me to read outside my comfort zone. I didn’t read ANY fantasy before I started blogging. I had never read anything with faeries in it until The Darkest Part of the Forest and I loved it. I am currently reading The Lunar Chronicles series (reading Cress now) and I am sad to say I would not have read this without all the hype of the blogosphere. Thankfully I went outside my comfort zone and I LOVE this series!! Seriously, can we talk about how amazing this series is???
P.S. I am SO GLAD someone agrees with me about Jane Austen. I read Pride and Prejudice and it was so boring. I just can’t get through most classics. But I did just read Jane Eyre and loved that one!
OMG YESSSSS. I LOVE THE LUNAR CHRONICLES. IT IS BRILLIANT AND AMAZING. And each book gets better and better, right?! (Scarlet is my favourite, but I wish to hug Cress.)
(I read like 50% of Jane Eyre and it terrified me. Talk about CHILD ABUSE. 0-0)
I DEFINITELY say read outside your comfort zone! I try to switch genres and tones with every book that I read — like, I’ll read a classic, then YA, then maybe nonfiction, go from contemporary to fantasy to period and back again. It, idk, keeps your mind elasticated and nubile (what even are these words) — it keeps you on your toes!! Plus, you never run the risk of getting burnt out and getting sick of your favorite genre! Your comfort zone doesn’t have to be a place you don’t dare risk crawling out of, but the place you return to whenever you want to feel cozy and comforted!
Elasticated. XD YES. And reading widely definitely helps with the not-getting-sick-of-a-genre. I totally burnt myself out on dystopian by binge reading it.
This is an awesome discussion question! And I think it’s because, you’re right, there is no right or wrong answers here.
For me, I’ll try anything. But I might not stick with it. I used to have this “code.” (All readers have codes, right?) I had to finish ever book I started. But then one day, I realized that I don’t have time to put myself through a book I don’t like. So if the book doesn’t hold my attention, it’s okay to put it down. Take it back to the library. Let someone else who will like it read it. I know that might be gasping atrocity to other readers (which is okay, everyone has their own code). But I at least give it a try. I’ll come home from the library with ten books and maybe only finish four or five. And usually it’s not a question of genre. There are genres that I prefer. But sometimes there’s that one book in a genre I don’t usually like that ends up being my new favorite.
Usually my “comfort zone” consists of the content of the book “violating” (that’s kind of a strong word. . .) my beliefs. Seraphina was one of them, actually. I have this evolution angst. And the concept of dragons and humans being able to get married and. . . you know; that idea was based off evolution in a way. I almost put that book down. But I told myself to pull through it. Put my beliefs aside and just read the book as a story. You can still learn from people who don’t hold the same beliefs as you. That book is one of my favorites now! The writing is absolutely musical. The characters are amazing. The world building! I’m really glad I got out of comfort zone for that one.
Actually I know LOTS of readers who don’t finish books! Me? I have to. It drives me bonkers. But I always cling to that little hope that the ending will be better?! To be fair, though, I have plenty of time to read. But TIME IS PRECIOUS AND WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE CAN DO.
Hmm, yes, that is also true! I mostly don’t care about beliefs in books, so I’m lucky, I guess?! Because that doesn’t affect me but AGREED. Seraphina is amazing. MUSIC AND DRAGONS. Yum.
BACON!
I don’t really read outside my comfort zone – I can’t actually define my comfort zone in terms of genre, I read everything… everything good. And how do you find good books? With trial and error. But I can usually decide after a bit of reading if that book is going to be good for me or not and I can just put it down and never pick it up again. Oh, and I can’t read letter novels or whatever they are. I’m just unable to do that. I need dialogues in a book 😀
BTW, I think you should take a look at Angela Carter’s Bloody Chamber – it’s a collection of rewritten fairy tales and it’s seriously amazing. It was one of the books that we had to read for uni and was actually good. 🙂
ALWAYS BACON.
I mostly read everything too. xD Like, I mean, I have my iffy genres, but mostly I just want to eat all the books of ever. Omg, I’m looking that up RIGHT NOW. IT SOUNDS SO GOOD.
I don’t think there is more than one answer here. My opinion is that we should all read outside our comfort zone. That’s how we grow! Even if we get a little burned on one book, there’s plenty of good ones out there. I started asking for recs on the blog in genres outside of my norm. It has been working so far! As far as NA — that is the one genre where I am having the least amount of luck. But, the fact that I went there and tried is good enough for me. I’ll probably keep looking for one I enjoy, but realize it might be hard. So I don’t think you need to punish yourself finding a classic, because the fact that you have tried already means you did go outside the comfort zone!
ME TOO. What is it with NA?! I have one on my TBR right now but I’m sooo scared to crack it open because so far I’ve only read total fails in that section. -_- GAH. I’m 100% sure not all NA’s are like that though. I just have to find a good one…
What a great discussion post! I have lots of feelings on this, which shouldn’t be a surpass, it’s an interesting question you’ve posed. I think you should read what you want to read. No one enjoys books that we have little to no interest in. We have too big a pile of books we WANT to read, you know? But I do think we should read books outside our comfort zone. Of course, ones your actually interested in. Not just to pick it up because you feel you should. At the end of the day, all that matters is that your reading good books. If it happens to be outside your comfort zone? That’s just a plus.
Also, so nice to hear I’m not alone on the classics front. I think it’s the ye old style language? It just completely disconnects me, unfortunately.
Me too! I do NOT click with any characters, and I’m a real character-driven reader. *hugs characters*
Def reading outside your comfort zone! There’s always something unexpected when you try something new and this isn’t limited to books! Obviously, reading inside the comfort zone will be kind of like “coming home” but trying new things is like exploring the unknown. I personally don’t like it when someone refuses to try something new. It’s okay to have personal preferences but don’t hate on something if you’ve never tried it!
I feel like a person needs a REASON to not like something. You know?! I hate it when people hate on books they haven’t read, for instance. SO. Try before you hate, maybe?! lol I like to live by that anyway. xD
BACON IS LIFE. *Drops mic.*
Okay. First, you have to ask the person if he WANTS to read outside his comfort zone. Coz I think the moment he FEELS like he should read outside his comfort zone, it becomes problematic. Like, it has to be a personal endeavor and not something forced upon by the community. Coz there’s nothing sadder than reading something you do NOT enjoy just because you feel you SHOULD. I, however, try to push my boundaries from time to time. Once upon a time, I—get this—thought I didn’t like YA. But that was mainly because I haven’t read a title from the genre. And YA is my favorite now. (Well, I haven’t narrowed down yet. YA is massive and too broad.) Another: e-books. You could’ve never made me read e-books last year. But look at me now. I turn to e-books at night coz it’s more convenient.
So I guess what I’m trying to say is I’m Pro Reading Outside Your Comfort Zone. But that’s ME. There’s a lot of self-shaming already in this world and there has to be no more should’s.
Interesting topic btw!
I usually stick to my favorite genres which are YA fantasy and YA science-fiction, though occasionally I do mix it up and stray out of those. I read an Adult Thriller and now it’s one of my favorite books. I looooove it. I’m going to try contemporary soon too which is my least favorite genre next to Amish books. So yes, I’m normally a creature of habit, but at times I do try to do something different lol.
storitorigrace.blogspot.com
So I really can’t stand the classics I forced myself through The Great Gatsby before the movie with Leo came out. Easy read, but man it was the last thing I wanted to read. I stick to romance and paranormal, I’m almost over YA. But I try to read 2-3 out of my genre a year. One of those are usually a suspense/thriller.
I think reading outside the comfort zone isn’t something that happens to me intentionally. I try to not rate books by the outside and just by the synopsis and the first chapters (I usually start reading in a bookstore, before even buying a book. Ah, wonderful Real-Life bookstores) and even though I don’t ignore the covers 100%, I still have a lot of surprises. Before I knew there were genres, I put books into totally different categories than I do now.
What annoys me, are people who read all the newest books, but never seem to enjoy their readings, because they’re just reading them for having read them.
I think, we should read outside out comfort zone, but we should know, why we are doing this for. I Read “The True Meaning of Smekday” lately, because of the movie and also, because already the fist chapters were hilariously funny.
But I personally made a bad first experience with Maggie Stiefvater (Now you’ll hate me, I know. It wasn’t even bad, it just felt boring. And maybe I was too young, but I remember it as a bring read) and so I haven’t read anything of her yet. Mainly lazyness, also there are too many books in this universe. I think, it happens that we read outside of our comfort zone and we should, but this happens accidently and coincidentally. Which, according to Murphy’s Law WILL happen, so why worry?
I strongly believe that we should always try books out of our comfort zone.I read a lot of books outside my comfort zone to the point where I don’t even have such a zone nowadays:)
Reading such books makes our mind more open.That’s a beautiful thing that books do,and I think people should often try to read out of their comfort zone!
Widely read is awesomeness. I’m pretty widely read in YA, but a total wimp when it comes to Adult books…gah. Though I’ve read a load of adult fantasy this year SO I’M TRYING. hehe
I’m a big believer that “comfort zone” is the same thing as “safe zone”. My comfort zone is for when I’m too afraid to try something new. I always try something new at least once. Last year I tried YA Horror, and while it wasn’t my favorite, I’d definitely read again. Same with Free Verse novels… I thought I’d hate them but I actually enjoy them very much.
IMAGINE IF WE HADN’T DISCOVERED RETELLINGS?! What a tragic world we would have lived in.
I WOULD BE A PUDDLE OF TEARS RIGHT NOW IF I HADN’T FOUND RETELLINGS. Actually, well, tbh, I wouldn’t know what I was missing out on right?! But my life would’ve been very sad.
I try to read out of my comfort zone… sometimes. I mostly read fantasy and romance (and variations thereof) but I’ve been trying to read more classics again. I used to read loads of classics in high school but I fell out of the habit sometime after the university (maybe I just needed lighter stuff to read, who knows).
That said, there are some genres I just don’t read – mysteries (meh) and horror (I’m too much of a chicken – *everything* scares me) for example. I just have ZERO interest in those stories.
My choice of reading also depends on my mood – if I’m feeling adventurous, I’ll give something different a try, but if I’m tired and just want to be comforted, I’ll definitely go for something familiar.
Great post, as usual!
I feel like it’s totally ridiculous for us to read books we KNOW we won’t enjoy, right?! But so long as we’ve tried it and aren’t judging off…ya know, not knowing? Like I’m not a huge fan of horror, kind of for the opposite reason! It doesn’t scare me at all! So I’ve tried it, and it didn’t work, so I feel okay to skip it from now on. xD
I think we should try reading outside of our comfort zone. Like you say, if you don’t try something new, how do you know if you will like it?
I admit I tend to read the same genres, but I do try new ones too! The fact is that after I started getting into reading about 16 years ago, I have tried almost all genres now, so I know which I like and which I don’t. But still, when I’m exposed to a new genre, I always try reading it! This is how I found out that I like fantasy, sci-fi and steampunk a lot, but I’m not a hugh fan of most YA(I think I’m getting too old, because I used to be) and crime.
I actually LOVE reading outside of my comfort zone! I like pushing my boundaries as a reader and as a person. Sure, I’ve found less-than-stellar books, but I’ve also found wonderful gems. When I was in high school, I used to read strictly adult and mysteries. I didn’t branch out in YA until I started blogging, and if I hadn’t done that, hadn’t tried a genre (or, er, category I guess? idk people get weird about calling it a genre) I was sure I’d never like again? I wouldn’t have found some of my all-time favorite books. I would’ve missed out on them, and that is EXTREMELY SAD to think about.
Not everyone likes reading out of their comfort zone, and THAT’S TOTALLY OKAY. I read just about everything, but there are some genres I stay away from. Like nonfiction (like why would I want to read about REAL people, so boring) and historical fiction, which I’m not a huuuuge fan of but I really love war books. And Elizabeth Wein. I, personally, think it’s always a good idea to try new things and switch it up. You might end up really loving something you thought you wouldn’t. You might just find an all-time favorite book. But I’m also conscious of the lack of time I have for all the books I want to read, so I understand why people stick to what they KNOW they love. So really, it just depends on the reader. 🙂
Wonderful discussion, Cait!
I’m someone who reads a bit in every genre except like, two xD I do enjoy YA a lot and it is the one I read the most, but I love my fantasy, sci-fi, autobiographies and um, other genres I cannot think of at the moment. I just don’t read erotica because NOPE not for me. I have tried a few but really I feel that I am still young for it at 16 and there are a couple that I like but I think those fall under NA a bit more? Oh, and when I am talking about NA, I don’t usually like it but there are a few I like. One of those would be Books, Blogging and Reality by Ryan Ringbloom but the one I would suggest you to try (for getting out of your comfort zone and into NA) would be Variables of Love by M. K. Schiller. Yes, the cover isn’t too impressive but if you are like me and enjoy culture in your books you will LOVE THIS ROMANCE. I wasn’t expecting to love it as much as I did but whoa, there was a lot more to the book than the synopsis promised.
I don’t usually read outside of my comfort zone, I don’t touch classic novels(depending on how old) and erotica books. I do want to read outside of my comfort level though, I read some erotica books lately but they all have no plot, and are just about sexy time lol. A Captive in The Dark was good, although that’s not really erotica. It would be boring to read genres you might not like, but it’s good to give it a try once. I wasn’t the biggest fan of fairytale retellings before, but I adore them now! xD Lovely topic.
I’m lucky that my comfort reading zone is quite varied, but there are still things I just can’t get into, like classics, or zombie stories. I love every other monster, but zombies are just nope. I think it’s good to expand and try new things, you just have to be in the right frame of mind, and willing to experiment, knowing it may turn out good or not.
Too true! *nods* I’m not overly a mood reader, but I sort of am….for instance I’m obsessed with fantasy at the moment. I CAN’T GET ENOUGH. But last year I wouldn’t have touched a fantasy with a 9 foot pole. So yes. It definitely depends on what you’re up for, too.