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Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings, where the blog's owner Heidi discusses a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.
Here is what is on deck this week:
WHAT TIME PERIODS ARE YOU DRAWN TO IN BOOKS?
I think you know by now that history is not my strong suit/favourite subject. I KNOW it's wrong. I KNOW we need to know history, if only to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. I KNOW history is IMPORTANT. But at least when I'm trying to have fun, I don't need history to meddle with my entertainment. Heck, even while watching Doctor Who, historical episodes are my least favourite ones. I don't need a refresher of how women, queer people and so-labeled "freaks" had it rougher than they still have nowadays. I don't want to be reminded that we haven't always had functional bathrooms and sensible clothes. So, gimme all the future I can handle (which, I can tell you, it's a lot). And the present of course...or at least a past that's not so far behind - something I can remember, like the '70s or the '80s. But then again...been there, seen that. I want to experience the unthinkable now, pretty please and thank you. (That's why I tend to like my contemporary stories sprinkled with magical realism/supernaturalism at the very least).
Well, that's it for now. And if you're interested in participating, here is the TMST prompt list for the rest of April and the month of May:
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| Guess the movie? 😉 (Which I HAVEN'T seen of course, Erin 😂) |
Well, that's it for now. And if you're interested in participating, here is the TMST prompt list for the rest of April and the month of May:
- April 28th: What are some series you started or fell behind on that you would like to pick back up?
- May 5th: Goodreads reviews: do your round your ratings up or down? Do you think it matters? (I submitted this one)
- May 12th: Name some of your favorite book friendships
- May 19th: If a book disappoints you by an author that you read for the first time, how likely are you to try that author again?
- May 26th: What are your summer reading plans?
I'll be back for the meme on May 5th of course, but I'll visit your blogs if you participate in the next round.
Now tell me something...what's your favourite era (or eras) to read about?
I really don't read historicals, though I have dabbled in some steampunk. You know me, I am usually reading a contemporary, and I prefer minimal pop culture references too. I guess the time period, in that case, would reveal itself via tech, language, and some beliefs, like you mentioned above.
ReplyDelete"and I prefer minimal pop culture references too".
Delete...And NOT all that Harry Potter stuff lurking everywhere LOL.
Most of my reading is contemporary and I don't looove history (or the future - sorry! lol) but I'll read anything if I find something that hooks me in.
ReplyDeleteKaren @ For What It's Worth
Yeah, I know the future/hard sci-fi isn't your thing...but I also know you're pretty onnivore - or at least you try a morsel of (almost) anything!
DeleteI’m really into ancient history. I have always been a mythology nerd, and have been fascinated by ancient artifacts and stuff. Not really into more modern history, but I guess I am always drawn to a book set in the ancient world!
ReplyDeleteYou should be an archaeologist then! Ever thought of that career path?
DeleteYes, actually! Funny enough, I am in university right now for creative writing, but I had an epiphany this year that I might actually want to be an archaeologist instead. I kinda regret going to school for english now. But, it's never too late to learn something new, so I am hoping to go back to school to study more ancient history once my degree is finished.
DeleteLOL, really? Also, yes, it's never too late, and at least with English you will have studied something that you like anyway! Good luck in advance for the path you'll end up choosing!
DeleteI like a little paranormal/ supernatural/ whatever in my contemps too, a lot of times, for the same reasons. I mean, life can be kinda mundane and a little future tech or magic can go a long way, right? lol so I'm with you for sure on that.
ReplyDeleteLove that GIF :)
*high-fives*
DeleteAnd thanks!
I never really thought about the future as a time period, but I guess it is, and that makes sense! I do like certain historical time periods as settings, but I would definitely not want to live in them!
ReplyDeleteI get itchy if I read/watch historical stuff - the same as if I read/watch a prison narrative...I always expect something really bad to come up...But I guess it's more a matter of personal preference, even more than of actually enjoying the kind of life one would live in the past, or in a word with harsh rules.
DeleteI'm not good with history either, for pretty much the same reasons. Time periods before electricity and indoor plumbing don't interest me, and I really don't care for the oppression that comes with a lot of those stories. (But more power to the people who love them!) I like present-day or near it, but I'm fond of WWII stories too if I need to pick a historical time period.
ReplyDeleteIt's odd that you do like WWII stories, given your overall preferences. But I guess it makes sense in a way, since WWII was what largely shaped the world we're still living in, despite progress and everything.
DeleteI'm the opposite, I guess. I don't mind history but I kind of hate contempory books or rather, books that are situated in modern times but I don't mind if it's a fantasy. But I have no favorite time period to read about. It's easier to say what I dislike, than what I like. But I'm willing to read any book set in any time if the story interest me because you will never know if you like a book until you read it.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely day.
You're probably the kind of reader that uses the past as an escape route the same way I use the future 🙂. That been said, you're braver than me! I tend to avoid books that I'm not fairly sure are for me - though of course you never know.
DeleteI have been challenging myself to read more historical fiction this year (I’m trying to get to at least 5 books set in the past, so not a huge ask) because I am the same as you - “I don’t need history to meddle with my entertainment” :’)
ReplyDeleteHaha, at least you are trying! Good luck with your experiment - will you tell us how it went on the blog?
DeleteThanks! I sure will - I'm thinking about posting a mid-year check-in, but otherwise it will be at the end of the year :')
DeleteAww, I LOVED the historical episodes of Doctor Who... at least ones that I've seen, but maybe the only one I did watch was about Pompeii and I'm strangely fascinated by what happened there. I wouldn't say I LOVE history, but I think it really depends on the period for me and how it's depicted (I'm also interested in Holocaust for some reason... and I really don't know why other than wondering why the fuck people think it's okay to go down that dark road).
ReplyDeleteGOOD MORNING ROBERTA (now that I'm almost done with classes - okay, I'm actually taking a break from writing this whopping paper with all the bells and specific whistles of stylization... - but anyways, I can now bug you a little more often maybe)
The Pompeii episode was great, I'll admit. Also because of how time travel was used (OK...I keep getting back to that LOL). But seriously, it's probably one of my favourite historical episodes, along with the one where they meet Van Gogh.
DeleteI can see why you would be interested in the Holocaust, because as you said, there's a lot to wonder about - and to this day there are people who either think it was OK to commit such atrocities, or deny it ever happened...so we need to keep history alive against them.
I would hate to be the reason for you to fail delivering your paper, but...looking forward to those GOOD MORNING calls 😉.
I love historical fiction (is it just me lol) and I am open to most periods. Maybe not like ancient Rome, though that is my son's favorite time period and I'm always looking for books like that for him.
ReplyDeleteNope, you're not! Emily above mentioned loving historical fiction. My friend Shayna @ Clockwork Bibliotheca (https://clockworkbibliotheca.blogspot.com/) does too!
DeleteI adore historical fiction, haha. It's not my favorite genre, but I do love historical romances (I know, your two least favorite things put together, lol) and some historicals. One of my favorite series in The Diviners, which takes place in the 1920s, and the reason why it works so well for me is that the author did a great job of realistically portraying the era. It has diverse characters, and ah, I love it so much!! Anyway, I don't like all types of historical novels, war books are really not my cup of tea, mostly because they tend to end sadly.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, my least favorites tend to be futuristic novels, so I suppose we're polar opposites in this, haha. Great post! :)
"I do love historical romances (I know, your two least favorite things put together, lol)".
DeleteLOL, I noticed! One thing I have to praise historical novel authors for is the amount of research. It's easy (so to speak) to create a futuristic world from scratch, but with historical, you must be rooted in reality, even if you write alternate history...
True, but I feel like futuristic novels would also be hard to create, especially if they are science based. At least you can do research for historical - although I've read about how hard that can be - but a science-based futuristic world you have to do research for and then put together in a way that it's logical. Both seem so hard, but then I'm no writer, lol.
DeleteI think sci-fi is a tad easier because you can come up with lots of stuff that doesn't exist...yet, but it still has to feel plausible!
DeleteI smiled when you said even in doctor who historical scenes weren't your favourite. I have to admit that I really like historical fiction, especially when it comes to the Renaissance time period. Especially because I really like art history I am realising, and Renaissance set historical books often focus on some element of art as there were many active artists around at that time.
ReplyDeleteThat's a unique reason for liking historical fiction - no one else mentioned it so far 🙂.
Delete