It’s probably fair to say that anyone who reads has a favorite genre or even more than one favorite genre. There are several categories of books I enjoy. These days, I read more nonfiction than fiction titles–biography, history, memoir, true crime, books exploring social and political issues and most anything about WWII.

I also enjoy reading some fiction–crime fiction, historical fiction, thrillers and police procedurals are among my favorite reading choices. My criteria for most any fiction read is that it has to offer something beyond the usual of boy meets girl, boy and girl fall hopelessly in love, and boy and girl live happily ever after. I confess to reading a lot of romance books in the very distant past. But as I’ve aged, they usually are dissatisfactory to me as a genre, with some exceptions. Some authors write great material and integrate romance into their stories, and I love to read that kind of book. But I cannot read Amish or Christian fiction much these days, I think because for me, most of it isn’t true to life. I need that life reality, not some wishful wonderland. I sometimes read to escape, but even my escape reads can’t be overly fanciful. They have to be rooted in emotional reality.

There are a few exceptions to this. One is Nora Robets’ Eve Dallas In Death books. When I learned of them, I avoided them. I was mistakenly convinced their futuristic and romance elements would be offputting. I turned out to be wrong in those assumptions. I read the first book in the series and was hooked. Another exception is Barbara Taylor Bradford’s books. I love her books and how she portrayed women. I will miss her contributions to the literary world, with her passing. Yes, she incorporated romance into her writing, but she did so while writing about women and the times in which they lived, and the historical context of the hardships women faced, and still continue to face today.

in recent years, I’ve also begun reading a little more science fiction, and plan to explore the genre more. I think my reading tastes are still evolving, at least to some extent. I’m glad of this. I like to keep an open mind and explore different authors and writing styles. That’s what keeps the written word fresh and exciting, I think.