Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday: Words/Topics That Makes Me Stay Away

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
Finally, a Tuesday that I am able to participate in and actually be able to do! In April, it was words/topics that make me want to pick up a book. This week, it's the exact opposite. I initially thought this would be easy, but I have a premonition that it will be harder than I think. There is the fact that I like to give books a chance. Hopefully I don't come off as a book snob in a few moments.

Vampires/Werewolves

I think this trend has finally seen its death, but if I do see it around, I won't be reading it. The usual premise of these "creatures" make me feel blah inside as a reader. That does NOT mean I hate on the readers who do read these type of books. I just personally won't read one. 

Male main characters 

I know. It's horrible, it really is. Most of the time, I won't read a book because it's narrated by a guy. However, I do love to read dual perspectives from both genders in a book, so that mollifies it by at least some, right? 

If I can't understand half of the synopsis

This usually is for fantasy books. I love fantasy and different worlds, but I don't like looking at a book's description with foreign words and every other word is capitalized and I have never seen that word before in my life. The whole synopsis feels riddled to me and if I can't understand the back cover, how in the world will I be able to keep up in the book? The exception? My sister might hand me a book and it's a bonus if she explains it to me in simple, already-read-it language.

Insta-Love/"Love at first sight"

If a book really is about the dreaded insta-love then they will probably use that second phrase. I hate when people are unrealistic and so I don't care for it when it's in my books too. On top of that, I think it's utterly stupid that someone thinks you can instantly love someone. It's called insta-attraction, people, and that's completely fine.

Poetry

These are considered the dreaded verse books, for me at least. One, I can't understand them. Two, I hate poetry. Always have, always will, thanks to it being the only thing I was bad at in English. I see a great synopsis and I'm all excited until...it says "written in verse." 

"Steamy"/"Sexy"

I DO like sweet kisses, scenes, gestures, relationships, etc. However, I would rather not be uncomfortable through the whole book. If they advertise "steamy" or a synonym of it, that usually means that's what's happening through the WHOLE book. No thank you. 

"Popular" "Homeschooled" Other bad stereotypes
When authors make demeaning stereotypes.
There a few exceptions to the rule of the first stereotype mentioned, but none for the homeschooled. We aren't uncivilized and usually when they mention that he/she is homeschooled, that means they are going to have to face some kind of social "difficulty" and be "introduced" to the world. As for the popular side, I'm getting sick of it. They use the same kind of characters as they do for the other stereotypes. I'll stay away mostly, thanks. 

"Bad boy" "Dangerous" etc. 
"Oh, you're a self-proclaimed bad boy?" 
I love bad boys, I really do. However, I have found that I like them when they are not already proclaimed as one in the synopsis. I want to be SHOWN. They're a bit cheesy otherwise.

"For fans of..."

When I see a book saying "for fans of..." or "if you're a fan of..." I think, this author doesn't have any imagination and they are basing their work off of somebody else's popular YA book. I think of all those  authors who suddenly became Twilight and Hunger Games-esque authors, straying from what they knew. Also, I don't like being told by someone in a far away city, who could very well be a robot, that because I like this Book A, I will like Book B. 

Love triangle

It's disappointing to see a love triangle already introduced on the back cover/front flap. I have found that means that is what the book is mainly centered around, no matter what other problems the main character is having. Love triangles might be growing stale, but I do like some, especially when done right. I do not like it when I see that's what a book is about. I want it to be introduced in the book and even better, if it is unexpected of sorts. 

Do you agree or disagree with these? What are some words/topics/phrases that make you stay away from reading a book? 

32 comments:

  1. I really like vampires and will probably read them forever, but I cannot stand werewolves, so I chuckled a little bit that you put them together in the first one up there. And you know what, I kind of like love triangles if they're done well and have a point in the story. I usually put in my reviews if they're present because I know most people don't really like them, but if they're BAD, I'll put that in there too.

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    1. That's good! I do too with love triangles, but like it when someone points it out.

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  2. Yes!! I hate it when authors portrays Homeschoolers as uncivilized and Unsocial. If i'm reading a book and figure out the author put that stereotype in there I will drop the book no matter what. It really anger's me when anybody thinks that. We aren't like that at all.
    Old follower
    my TTT
    http://kimberlysnovelnotes.blogspot.com/2013/07/top-ten-tuesday-27.html

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  3. I'm not a huge fan of werewolves, but I don't mind vampires as much. I think there are some authors who can manage to put a spin on them that's not romanticizing like Twilight but still compelling. That's why I'm looking forward to The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, but it sounds like just the idea of vamps is a no-no for you :).

    Omg, poetry, yes. I recently won a contest from Epic Reads and was given a verse book. I can't. I just... can't.

    As for insta!love (and love triangles too), to be honest, I'm a little perplexed that this is still a huge trend in YA lit. I don't think I've ever seen a single blog post that says GIMME INSTA!LOVE.

    I'm definitely tired of the bad boy (or "mysterious" "enigmatic" "mercurial" in synopsis) and popular stereotype, and I'm with you on male main character perspectives. I think it's partially because I find it harder to empathize with the voice, or the author will make the MC's voice too male - try too hard to make him sound tough and brooding and thinking about the girl's dress coming off and blah blah.

    I'm with you on steamy... sometimes. If the pub uses it, no way. If another reader/blogger uses it, that's fine. I enjoyed Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series, and its steamy romantic relationship is not at the forefront. It plays a bigger role later in the series, but still not the only part of the plot.

    For fans of, I'm definitely going to have to disagree on that. I don't think that if your book is marketed as being for fans of X and X, that you've based your book on that series/etc. That, to me, is more like Matrix meets the Hunger Games. For fans of is more of something that authors have to use to convince publishers that their book is worth being put out on the market; that's probably why it doesn't bother me as much. It's hard to stay away from comparisons, though I do take your point.

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    1. Okay. I might make an exception for The Coldest Girl in Coldtown :)

      HA. Disappointing fail.

      Me either now that I think about it. PUBLISHERS AND AUTHORS TAKE NOTICE.

      Yes, exactly. And for the steamy, yes exactly on that too. I basically agree with all of above.

      And I agree on the last point because I see your side as well!

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  4. I love how you presented your list! Insta-love, stereotypes, and love triangles are huge turn offs. I can't get into poetry or books in verse either.
    http://wp.me/pzUn5-1Ba

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  5. I agree with pretty much all of these, except the main male character. I've been relieved to discover today that I am not alone in my disliking for vampires, werewolves, and too much steamy/sexiness.

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  6. I haven't read a lot of vampire or werewolf books so I can't say I'm over them yet. And I love male POVs but sometimes it doesn't work. It's got to be believable. Your synopsis one is soooooo me! lol Fantasy novels I sometimes don't even bother reading those suckers. lol

    Your GIFs are awesome!

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  7. AHHH. So. Vampires and werewolves are two of my favorites, so you're killing me there! For male main characters with just a male POV, check out ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD by Kendare Blake. And for poetry/verse, I'd recommend all of Lisa Schroeder's YA books, especially CHASING BROOKLYN. Thanks for stopping by!

    Rachel @ Beauty and the Bookshelf

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  8. I HATE the homeschool stereotype and I wasn't homeschooled. I find it SO demeaning to a group of truly fabulous people who happened to go about their education in a different way. Gah!!!

    I don't like the 'For Fans Of...' either. I find it condescending, as if I can't make up my own mind on what I like.

    Great list!

    My Top Ten

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    1. THANK YOU *hugs*

      Love that, perfectly said :)

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  9. HA I love your gifs!!! They were right on the money. Especially the use of Abby Lee since I used to dance for her when I was young. Seeing her face always makes me cringe a little inside though. Anyway books... I am pretty much with you on all of these, except poetry. I like *some* books written in prose, but it depends. Ellen Hopkins books are easy to read and I like a lot of those... and there's been a few books so far where the M/C writes poetry so even though the book was written in poetry, it was still sprinkled in there and I liked that. Insta-love, stereotypes, stereotyped bad boys, love triangles, and vampire books can all die a fiery death though... I can't stand any of those things.

    Thanks for stopping by My TTT

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    1. YOU DID?! Tell me more! Well, good for you :)

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  10. Abby Lee Miller! Dance Moms is my guilty pleasure. I can relate to many of these turn-offs, especially love triangles, for fans of, and werewolves/vampires.

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  11. I agree with all of these except novels in verse, which I find to be refreshingly different. While I won't write off a book for being narrated by a male, I also feel guilty that this makes me a bit wary. They are not all bad, though; I just finished Dead Ends by Erin Jade Lange, which stars two boys and is fantastic.

    Your GIF for your "for fans of..." point is perfect, because that is the most unimaginative thing a blurb writer could do. Half the time it is a turn-off because you hate the book being likened, and half the time it is a disappointment because the books are nothing alike. It often seems as if the person saying these things has not read either novel.

    And I am so glad I am not the only one who sometimes turns away from synopses thinking, "What?" I always feel a little slow, but it really is not the best idea to introduce all your crazy dystopian dialect in a summary. Save it for the story, where you can put in in a context that allows me to understand what is going on.

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    1. I'm glad you do, I wish I did. I just..can't. I'm pretty wary as well :)

      YES, it's just why?!?! It's like when people put covers on and it doesn't even look like the MC!

      Thank you, you pinpointed it exactly.

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  12. I agree with so many of these! Especially vampires/werewolves, a book being advertised as steamy/sexy, and books written in verse. Your "Oh, you're a self-proclaimed bad boy?" gif is perfect! I agree, sometimes it seems like we're *told* who the character is from just the synopsis or their first introduction instead of being shown.

    Alice @ Alice in Readerland

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  13. I definitely can't stand books with insta-love or the bad boy! I am particularly miffed when the bad boy isn't bad at all and becomes this nice guy in a matter of moments! Brilliant top ten Sunny, I wish I had taken part in this week's post! :)

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    1. Yes, I am too! It's like his complete make-up just instantly changed!

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  14. Love triangles grate on my last nerve possible!! I'm sick to death of them. I don't mind steamy, lol! Most of the "bad-boy" books I read the bad boy is not really bad, so I don't know about the label. Hmm....

    I hate overly descriptive worlds, info dumping or just really super wordy prose puts me to sleep, instantly! Great list here, Sunny! :)

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  15. Oh man. I feel like this could be MY list! I'm put off by so many of these things! Insta-love and love triangles are probably the biggest deciding factors for me, but I also can't stand stereotypes and book descriptions that TELL you a character is a bad boy. And I do understand what you mean about the male point of view. Although it can be quite refreshing sometimes, I usually find I never seem to have as much enthusiasm for books written from the male perspective compared books written from the female perspective.

    Great list, Sunny!

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  16. I just love your GIFs. :) And your list is pretty similar to what mine would be if I had participated. Except that I do enjoy books from a male perspective, at least when it sounds realistic. I'm reading The Beginning of Everything right now and it's pretty great...and HILARIOUS.

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