Book Comfort Zones?

I found this on a blog called, I kid you not, http://bookeywookey.blogspot.com/. What follows is the question posed. Your comments are welcome; my response to it is below.

Do we all have reading comfort zones, I wonder - that is genres or specific types of authors or periods or subjects within which we like to stay, knowing that our reading experience in that chosen sphere will most probably be a pleasurable one? Or do we read much more freely, never saying "I don't touch science fiction/chick lit./poetry/etc." but choosing our books as we happen to find them, unrestricted by preconceptions?


I read fiction and non-fiction, freely. I enjoy historical fiction, mysteries, young adult fiction; I also read non-fiction that questions the "norm", i.e. that explores the bigger picture we as humans are a part of, such as spiritually, politically, environmentally...

The main thing I look for in fiction is well-developed characters and dialogue that is believable. I'm not an age-ist and I don't have a preference of the gender of the character.

I won't say "never", but I RARELY read romantic fiction NOW-- although I read tons of heaving-bosom-damsel-in-distress-type-historical-fiction (think Kathleen E. Woodiwiss)-- when I was a teenager. I'll confess, I'll confess- I basically looked for the sexy parts first (didn't we all?)

I RARELY read Sci-Fi; I RARELY read horror (Stephen King is about the scariest I get, and I love his books about writing. I have read a lot of John Grisham's "lawyer" novels; I have NOT read any of his novels that veered away from stuff like "The Firm." I dabbled in chick-lit and enjoy Liza Palmer a lot, among others. As far as a steady diet of Chick Lit, though, no.

I have read every book that Chris Crutcher has written EXCEPT The Deep End, because certain elements of it are too intense for me. That's one of his rare "grown-up" novels, although I know a lot of adults who read Chris Crutcher and love his writing as much as I do.

I have of course read several of my other Kunati authors' books; in particular, I enjoyed Rabid, The Game and The Last Troubadour; Whale Song, bang Bang; Women of Magdalene, On Ice, Toonamint of Champions, Shadow of Innocence-- and I have already ordered Madicine, Janeology, and Callous. I can't wait to read Bathtub Admirals, Nuclear Winter Wonderland, and Hunting the King.

So, how about it? Do you stay in your "Comfort Zone"?

Beth Fehlbaum, author

Courage in Patience, a story of hope for those who have endured abuse