Do you read anything else besides fantasy?

[Endymion]

I know this is a fantasy writing community,
but I would like to know (don't know why) if you people read anything else besides fantasy.
Maybe it is because deep inside I still respect other genres more than fantasy because
As I already wrote, I really haven't read to many good fantasy books.
So yeah, I really want to get to know your interests and I thought this is a good way to get to know you a bit better.
I enjoy many different genres. Here is a list of my favorite books with different genres:
- The count of Monte Christo (probably ever single one of you have read it)
- Vij (Written by Gogol, a Ukrainian writer. Horror story. Am not sure if it has ever been translated to english)
- Two captains (A. Pibakov, a russian writer, not sure if it has been translated to english either. This is my absolutely favorite book)
- Jeeves and Wooster (P.G Wodehouse, humorous, comedic books. Lovable)
- Lord of the rings (...)
- Purge ( Sofi Oksanen, a finnish writer. The book is terribly gritty and violent, but awesome anyways)
- Strange House (am not sure if it was the books name, Agatha Christie)
- Headless horseman (Mayne raid)
- Dead souls (again Gogol. Not fantasy)

[ALB2012]

Yes, some Sci-Fi, true crime, historical fiction and also non fiction, 19th Century horror, classic- Monte Christo, Wuthering Heights, Les Mis etc.

I do not generally like trashy romance, modern horror or biographies. Although I did read Peter Falk's "Just one more thing" and that was very good.

[Steerpike]

I'll read anything. Science fiction, thriller, horror, crime thriller, historical fiction, YA, classic literature, western, whatever. So long as it is well written.

[Chilari]

I also read historical fiction. In fact the book I'm reading at the moment is Patrick O'Brien's The Mauritius Command. I found HMS Surprise a little slow and actually never finished it, but I'm enjoying Mauritius Command more. They're quite slow paced, but O'Brien had masterful grasp of his characters' personalities, which I'm finding enlightening. I made my way thorugh a lot of the Sharpe books before giving up when they started getting samey, and have read some historical fictions about the Romans in Britain too, notably Eagle of the Ninth.

I've read thrillers too, mostly by Joanne Harris. A lot of them have historical settings but I wouldn't class them historical fiction. My favourite is Gentlemen and Players.

Mostly what I read is non-fiction though. One I'm part-way through is A History of God by Karen Armstrong. I've also recently purchased In the Shadow of the Sword by Tom Holland which is next on my reading list. There was one I read last year called the Suspicions of Mr Whicher which was very well written, a fascinating look at a murder in 1860 which led to the profession of police detective being established. And for my ancient history articles I read an awful lot of books and articles about ancient history topics. Currently working my way thorugh books about ancient Argos.

[Kelise]

Same as Steerpike, I read anything, as long as it's well written. All I need is a recommendation - and it helps if I've already established similar reading habits as whoever is recommending.

Though I also review books for publishers. Generally I get to pick which books I review, but at times they send books to me at random. So my reading tastes are varied. Fantasy just happens to be my favourite.

[deilaitha]

I do not generally like trashy romance, modern horror or biographies.

I agree with you on this. Romance novels, trashy or not, are not my thing. Sometimes I feel like some of the books in the fantasy section are just trashy romance under the guise of fantasy. I've never been a huge fan of horror, either--but I will read about anything and love it if it is well written. I generally read based on recommendation from friends.

Besides SF/Fantasy, I enjoy the classics, poetry (I love poetry and have published a few poems in college journals. I was always really inspired by my step grandfather who wrote poetry), young adult, even kid's books (oh Roald Dahl how I love you) historical fiction, and so on. I've never much enjoyed westerns but I don't disrespect the genre.

I like to read. I think a fantasy writer who only reads other fantasy novels severely handicaps themselves--there is a world of inspiration out there. Besides, I have heard that "realism" is a lamp and "fantasy" is a mirror--realism illuminates the world and fantasy helps us to see who we truly are. If you don't have light, though, a mirror will do you no good.

[Jess A]

I read a lot of various fiction genres. Depends on my mood. Sometimes I am too sick of fantasy to read it so I will pick up a historical fiction novel or crime thriller or classic instead.

I also read a lot of non-fiction. Magazines (science, Nat Geo, travel, history), history books, natural sciences stuff, journalism and other research...list goes on. I have a nice collection of non-fic stuff that contributes to my books or my journalism - or just general interest. That's not to say I've had the time to go through them all. Or the fiction I've collected either.

[Benjamin Clayborne]

Mostly fantasy and SF. Occasionally something else, but I'm spending most of my time writing rather than reading

[Telcontar]

Science Fiction, occasional pseudo-historical stuff (think Count of Monte Cristo), comedic writing, and every now and then collections by people I think are especially interesting or insightful. Currently reading the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius in that vein, and intend to get a collection of writings by Thomas Paine fairly soon.

[Penpilot]

I mostly read SF and Fantasy, but I'll dip into contemporary, horror, pretty much anything that's good. I think it's self-limiting for a writer to read only one genre. There's so much one can learn from exploring outside your personal boundaries.