Top Ten Words/Topics That Instantly Make You Buy/Pick Up A Book
Any books that fall into these categories are pretty much insta-reads (or at least insta-going-on-the-TBR) for me. As I made the list, I realized that a lot of it, for me, has to do with wanting to read about things that are relevant specifically to my life. Does this make me a selfish reader? If so, I am not ashamed.
1. "The _______'s Wife/Daughter"
Example: The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve
I adore most books with this title structure. Why? Perhaps because I am a wife...and a daughter? Plus, titles like these almost always equate to women's fiction, which I love.2. Marital Strife
Example: Love The One You're With by Emily Giffin
Okay, this is NOT something I aspire to, but my interest is always piqued by a book with marital strife as a major plot mover. I like to think it's because my marriage is so blissfully wonderful that I have to look elsewhere to read about such things. :-)3. Babies/Pregnancy
Example: A Bump In The Road by Maureen Lipinski
Again, this is completely selfish in nature, but as a mom I love to read about mom-related and baby-related books. Most of them are written either from a very humorous perspective (I love to laugh at my own mom mistakes, why not others' as well?) or an introspective one (moms muddling through child-rearing and trying to figure it all out). I enjoy either side.4. Travel + Humor = Win
Example: Notes From A Small Island by Bill Bryson
I'm a lover of travel. And travel can be hilarious sometimes. Miscommunicating in countries where you don't know the language, not knowing local customs, missing connections--these all have the potential to be funny (in hindsight, at least). A travel memoir that embraces this is a winner.5. Food-Related Nonfiction
Example: In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan
I've already waxed poetic about food memoirs, but my love extends to all things food-related. I am a horrible chef, but my stepfather was trained at the Culinary Institute of America, so I harbor a fascination for this area of reading.6. "Psychological Thriller"
Example: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
This term is pretty broad, but I think the spirit of Gone Girl captures it fairly well. The more twisted and unexpected, the better.7. Zombies
Example: World War Z by Max Brooks
This has absolutely no relation to anything in my life. I just have a really sick fixation on the zombie apocalypse. I have an escape and survival plan in place, it involves baseball bats and an Ergo carrier.8. Female 20-Somethings In Their Post-College Years
9. Collegiate Setting
Example: I Am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe
What can I say? I adored all 4 years of my college experience, and now I work at a college. College settings are very, very familiar to me.10. Set In/Near My Hometown
Example: I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb
I should basically just say "Wally Lamb novels" because no one else sets their books in southeastern Connecticut. But if they did, I would totally read them! No matter what the genre! SECT in the house, boiiiiiiii.What do you think, readers? Do you share any of my preferences? What are your insta-read topics?
