Do you read anything else besides fantasy?

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

I'll read science fiction and history (mainly WW II or US Civil War), but if something is recommended and pretty good, I'll give it a shot.

 

I will read most anything, with the exception of true crime. At the bottom of my list is historical fiction(unless it it romance) westerns, and espionage. I love a good spy movie-Bourne is a good example-- but can't get into reading a book in that genre.

I am one of those crazy people who like mash up genres. I like romance in any genre, doesn't have to be the main thrust of the story, but I like it to be there. Back when I was alternating between reading historical romance and fantasy, I kept wondering why I couldn't have my cake and eat it too. This was before the wave of Urban Fantasy hit. I loved the WoT books at the start, but then I kept waiting for the main characters to start acting like adults. Didn't happen before I gave up. I think I might have finished book 5 before I moved on.

That's kind of what pushed me into writing seriously. I wanted an adult, gritty, sexy fantasy, where the men weren't either assholes or too good to be true, and the women weren't perfect virgins or so kick ass they scared all the men away.

I have a TBR stack that reaches the moon, so I will never run out of things to read in my favorite genres. Lots of fantasy, urban fantasy, mystery and a few SF. To me hard SF is better on the screen than in the hand.

Oh, I also read comics on occasion. Big Witchblade fan before Marc Silvestri and Michael Turner jumped ship. The Darkness too. If I could have my way, those two would make my WIP into a comic.Hey, a girl can dream can't she?

 

I have gone through phases where I've been interested in reading different things. But, as others have said, I'll read just about anything if it is well written (hence, I get into it). Also not a huge fan of romance or modern horror. I'm a sucker for a love story within a novel, but the trashy romance bit isn't really my thing. Maybe I blush too easily .

I've always loved fantasy, but I've also read a lot of sci-fi, plenty of "in the real world" type fiction (some good, some not so much), and I've recently begun delving back into a lot of classics and enjoying them in a whole new way - Jane Austen, the Bronte Sisters, etc. I have a big list of classic literature that I want to read over the next few years. I've read some good historical fiction, but it's been a while. I'm finding that branching out and reading other genres is really helping improve my craft and giving me fresh ideas. I love to see how other writers tell their stories.

 

I loved reading Beowulf in High School and it really got me into more classical works like the Iliad, Divine Comendy, and more.

I love sci-fi too. Warhammer 40K is probably my favorite thing to read about. Love the Horus Heresy series.

Also a fan of Manga. I remember when I read DeathNote back when it wasn't mainstream popular. Dragonball Z, Yu-Yu-Hakusho, Inuyasha, Bo-Bo-Bo-Bo-Bo-Bo-Bo etc.

 

I'll read pretty much anyone someone recommends to me. Recently I read "Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk," which I thought was absolutely fantastic even though it was really depressing.

 

I read a lot of nonfiction, as well as thrillers, historical fiction and some science fiction.

 

Fantasy is about the only fiction I tend to read anymore. The vast bulk of my reading time is spent in nonfiction.

 

I study literature at the university (meaning: I "have to" read all kinds of genres), and although I'm not personally into romance or chick lit, I gladly digest any genre as long as the book itself is well written.

Hmm. I realize this is your personal opinion but nonetheless your choice of words caught my attention. I feel that fantasy (and speculative fiction in general) deserves the same respect as any other genre. After all, it’s one of the oldest literary genres there is. Even realism – although so common nowadays - is a modern trend.

To me, a work of fiction can be read as a work of fantasy even if it includes only a few fantastical elements. When picking up a book, I simply hope to achieve the feeling of novelty, unknown, intrigue and surprise. For instance I liked “The Lord of the Rings” but any more dwarves or elfs or dragons (or any other pre-existing races simply because of their fantastical features) tend to bore me.

Fine speculative fiction I’ve read:
- Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell (Susanna Clarke)
- Earthsea, Hainish Cycle, short stories (Ursula K. Le Guin)
- Einstein’s Dreams (Alan Lightman)
- Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea (Jules Verne)
- Howl’s Moving Castle (Diana Wynne Jones)
- The Lies of Locke Lamora (Scott Lynch)
- Orlando: The Biography (Virginia Woolf)

Other fiction:
- The Last Samurai (Helen DeWitt, not the movie)
- The Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
- Measuring the World (Daniel Kehlman)
- The Catcher in the Rye (J. F. Salinger)

Plus, since you share the same native tongue as I do, I also do recommend Johanna Sinisalo's "Not Before Sundown" (Finlandia Prize for literature 2003) even though it doesn't belong into my personal favourites.

In any case I found your list interesting. I haven’t tried out Gogol yet but he’s definitely on my list. : ) And I've been meaning to read "Purge" for ages. Next I’m going to read Haruki Murakami’s “Kafka on the Shore”, though.

 

And I nearly forgot, I also enjoy reading all kinds of essays, causeries, plays, scientific texts, poetry...

Eeva-Liisa Manner, for instance, is my favourite poet. Her poems can also be found translated into English.

 

I will read just about anything really, though I tend to read lots of Sci-Fi and Fantasy more than anything else.