I wasn’t originally planning on doing today’s Top Ten Tuesday, but after reading a few lists, I decided to do one but modify it just slightly. The original topic is “Top Ten Words/Topics That Instantly Make Me Buy/Pick Up A Book,” but there are literally zero topics/words that will instantly make me buy a book without consideration of other factors. Probably most of my topics will propel me to pick up books that I otherwise know nothing about, presuming that I like the cover. Otherwise, I probably won’t look into it without several recommendations. In no particular order, here are some of topics/words that will catch my interest when I’m looking at books:
1. World War II
I have actually read very few books set during WWII (though I recently read the non-fiction WWII story Unbroken), but I definitely want to read more as I love learning about this time period! (Please let me know if you have any recommendations!)
2. Genetic Engineering
Genetic engineering is a topic that I randomly became interested in when I was in college. For this reason, For Darkness Shows the Stars is high on my TBR list, but I haven’t read it yet. Any other great reads about genetic engineering that you know (preferably fiction, or if non-fiction, then maybe a bit dumbed-down)?
3. Cloning
I almost feel wary to put this down, because I’ve seen this idea go wrong so many times before (primarily in movies). But this topic interests me as well, and I would love to read a good science fiction book about it.
4. Young Adult Dystopian & 5. “For Fans of The Hunger Games”
These are basically the same, but I thought I would list them separately anyway. When I see one of these two plastered on a sign in Barnes and Noble, I will crane my neck to check out what they have. Same with if I see these labels online. And I have read a few books due to these words!
6. Psychological issues, mainly schizophrenia
I minored in psychology in college, and really, if I had not been concerned about scholarship money or graduating on time so I would not still be in school when I got married, I might would have double majored. On the whole, social psychology fascinates me most, but out of all the disorders I learned about, schizophrenia is the one that I love to learn more about. I’m a book fan of the movie A Beautiful Mind and of the book shown above, Finding Alice, both which focus on a character suffering from schizophrenia. I would definitely love recommendations for more book on the subject!
7. By Oscar Wilde
I was required to read two of Oscar Wilde’s works my senior year of high school, The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Earnest. The only other one I have read on my own is Lady Windermere’s Fan, but I found it clever just as I did his other works, and I’m sure I’ll read some of his others sometime. After reading and enjoying three of his books/plays, I feel I can trust his work enough to just pick up something he wrote.
8. Fantasy/Fairytale-esque but grounded in reality
Think Chronicles of Narnia, books that are grounded in our world or reality but have an element of fantasy interest me. Though I am not sure I have actually read many books like this outside of Narnia. I would love recommendations!
9. Writing
I have read a few books about the technique of writing, but I also often times enjoy characters who also enjoy to write and talk about it (like Jo March).
10. Clean content
This really is the most important factor I consider with books. Sometimes I don’t always know going into a book just how clean it will be, but I try to find out. Otherwise, I try to borrow it, so I won’t be concerned if I decide to set it aside. Call me a prude or old-fashioned if you wish, but I simply don’t find books with a lot of language or sexual content enjoyable. As long as these things are kept to a minimal, I’ll show more interest in what the book is about.
What words or topics attract you to a book?
I totally agree with your clean content stipulation!
Also, I seem to prefer fantasy/fairy tales when grounded in reality. It makes them more feasible or something like that.
Yeah, I think it makes it feel like it could happen to you!
I love, love, love World War II books! That topic also made my TTT list today. Check it out here: http://bookblogzilla.wordpress.com/2013/04/30/top-ten-tuesday-2/
I’ve never read Between Shades of Gray as mentioned on your blog; I’ll have to look into it. I have read The Hiding Place and Unbroken, both of which are great books. Thanks for dropping by!
I love #8 and #9! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by & commenting!
I love social psychology! I have a lot of non-fiction social psychology books, especially around social marketing and behavior change, on my bookshelves and TBR pile. I also love magical realism and one thing that your list made me think of that I didn’t put on my list (but should have) is portal-based fantasy – Anything with a portal to another world and I’m there (the “grounded in our world” is what made me think of that).
I’m right there with you on the genetic engineering and cloning. Have you read Beta, False Memory, Origin, Unremembered, or Insignia? All books you should probably look into! 😉
No I haven’t! I’ll have to check them out! Thanks for the recs!
I got this recommendation from B&N, I’m sure that you’ve gotten it too, but it seemed like something that might be interesting. I know nothing that isn’t on this page, lol.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-5th-wave-rick-yancey/1113594440?r=1&ean=9780399162411&cm_em=sgrahamwells%40comcast.net&cm_mmc=Targeted-_-New%20Release%20Alerts-_-130503_TD_NRA_N_THE5THWAVE-_-NA
I’ve been reading several positive reviews about that one; I really might need to check it out!
I don’t know how I missed this post earlier, but great TTT! I’m with you on the YA Dystopia/”For Fans of the Hunger Games”. I’ve only read a handful of the books you mentioned there, and have most of the others on my wish-list. Oh, and I definitely am with you on the psychological issues. I actually just added Finding Alice to my TBR list because of you! Thanks for the recommendation!
I hope you enjoy it when you read it! It’s a good character development story. It is written by a Christian author, so there are Christian references (I say this only because I know everyone’s beliefs are different) but I think it’s pretty light and doesn’t take away from the story.
Embarrassed to admit but… Yes! I’m a dystopian fan! I don’t know what’s wrong with me but the moment I see “for fans of _____ (extremely awesome dystopian)” I’ll just sweep it off the shelf! I know it’s some marketing ploy but I CAN’T HELP IT haha I’m curious about For Darkness Shows the Stars… The cover is so pretty 🙂
Isn’t it, though?! So pretty!
I love psychological issues so must check out Finding Alice. I also love books that mention writing (and reading), I forgot about that one. Little Women is one of my all time favourites. The clean content isn’t a must for me but I’m glad you mentioned it as its something that should be stated in reviews so thanks for the reminder.
BookishTrish @ Between the Lines
I have even neglected to mention content in my reviews even though I always want to see them in reviews. Actually, I have not really found the right format for my reviews quite yet, so I think I’ll need to add that as I try to continue working on how I want to write reviews.
I pretty much agree with all of these except YA Dystopian, not because I don’t like dystopian (one of my favourite genres), but I simply can’t stand the love triangles that tend to appear. I prefer reading adult fiction in general, but especially dystopian. Everything else; agreed!
Love triangles can be annoying. What are some of your favorite adult dystopians? I don’t think I’ve really read any.
Difficult, I really enjoyed Fahrenheit 451, and The Road was good too (also super-hyped). The Day of the Triffids is great too! I have quite a few adult dystopians on my TBR, actually own several of them, just haven’t gotten around to them yet (I have about…70ish unread books in my bookcase :P)
Fahrenheit 451 is definitely on my TBR list, as well as 1984. I have not heard of the other two so I will look them up!
Funny I should read this now, as I’ve been seeing Code Name Verity {http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11925514-code-name-verity} pop up all over the place. I finally added it to my TBR list even though wartime stories and historical fiction don’t usually interest me. Kelley for sure has been raving about it so I figured I should give it a shot. There is also The Book Thief {http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19063.The_Book_Thief} but I believe one of your more recent posts said you read or had started to read it already.
An interesting book that was sort of about schizophrenia I read last year was We Can Build You {http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/400270.We_Can_Build_You}. This one is doubly good since you seem to like science fiction, as there are freakishly lifelike androids and brilliant artists and schizophrenic people galore. Well, one schizophrenic but you really don’t need more than Pris for sure.
As far as cleanliness goes – I can’t speak for Code Name Verity and The Book Thief since I haven’t read them but I imagine they would be alright. We Can Build you has a bit here and there but it is kept to a minimum. I can really only remember an instance or two in there and they weren’t that bad.
We Can Build You sounds interesting; I’ll look into it! Yes, I’ve been seeing Code Name Verity everywhere as of late as well! It and Between Shades of Gray are two WWII books I plan to read, and yes, I did finish The Book Thief not too long ago!