To Be Outside of my Happy Comfort Zone Reads
Happy Tuesday, readers, and happy September (!!). Today we’re talking about outside comfort zone reads, and their many wonderful (?) complications.
That Artsy Reader Girl | September 3: Books I Enjoyed That Are Outside of My Comfort Zone (i.e., a genre you don’t typically read or subject matter you’re not usually drawn to)
To be honest, I don’t really wander much outside the books that are my comfort reads. On occasion I do, but I find I read so much “better,” and enjoy my experience reading that much more if I read books I’m sure (or as sure as one can be) I’ll enjoy. It’s just how I work when it comes to reading, and over the years I’ve tried hard to perfect my reading preferences.
Life’s just too short to read books we don’t enjoy – especially if, like me, you tend to be a slow reader vs a speedy one.
Still, of course, I have read a few books that I’d put in this topical box. Likely there’s more than what I list below, but I can’t remember them, which means the list is a bit pitiful today. Let’s take a look.
Top Ten Tuesday September 3
1: Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
I love Austen. I’ve seen countless adaptations of her works, and I’m the one (?) person who is still not weary of said adaptations and re-makes (bring on a new Emma and the new Masterpiece concoction known as Sandition). Still for some curious reason, I’ve never been able to get into her books. I did push through this one, but Northanger Abbey? It’s still on that DNF list. Goodreads
To Be Outside of my Happy Comfort Zone Reads | Top Ten Tuesday. Talking about comfort zone reads (aka the times I've wandered away from them!). Share on X2: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
Just sticking to the Austen themes. Pretty sure I’ve had this one on a list similar to this before, and I know I’ve mentioned the story that goes with it before. Suffice to say, I never (in a million years) planned to read this one, but then the movie came out, and I decided, I kinda’ had to give the book a chance. It’s fun. Gooodreads
3: The Runaway Princess by Hester Browne
This one was an “outside my comfort zone” read at the time I read it. It’s a secular novel which I don’t think I read much of when I picked this one up, but a glowing review from a reviewer whose talent amazes me convinced me I had to read this one. Turns out, I’m glad I did. Goodreads
4: The Selection by Kiera Cass
Another one of those “at the time” reads, this is probably the first YA I really bought and read. Again, as it turns out, it’s another good one I’m glad I added to my shelf. It’s an easy read that makes me happy even if the plot is basic. Goodreads
5: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Pretty sure my thought process for this one was just its style; I didn’t think I’d be a reader who enjoyed novels written in epistolary format. Turns out, for this one, I certainly do, and same can be said for Katherine Reay’s Dear Mr. Knightley. Goodreads
Do you read out of your comfort zone reads? If so, how often? All the time? Infrequently? Do you prefer to read these types of books or are you a comfort only read? Have you read any of these? Let me know all the thoughts below! If you have a blog or joined in the Top Ten Tuesday meme, leave your links below. It may take me an entire week, but I’d love to come by and visit your bookish spaces.
Thank you for visiting
ps: please excuse the “disorder.” you can read more about these changes, new follow options and why archive posts are a royal mess in my “Disorder + Feedback” post!
I love it when I find books that I love but I didn’t think I would. Genres and topics outside my comfort zone
I pick my outside- comfort-zone reads carefully too! Like you said, it usually goes better when I stick to what I like, but sometimes I do get a blogger rec or I try something new and am pleasantly surprised. Interesting to see Austen on here, because I’ve liked most if not all of the adaptations I’ve seen of her work, but when I tried reading Sense & sensibility it didn’t really work for me. Oh well… :)
Sense and Sensibility and The Selection are both favorites of mine.
My TTT https://thereadingrebel.wordpress.com/2019/09/03/top-ten-tuesday-owlcrate-or-shelflovecrate-books-i-want-to-read-by-the-end-of-the-year/
“The Selection” is a “happy place” read for me. Now I just need to finish the series! :) Thanks for the visit, Nicole.
I rarely read anything outside of my comfort zone. Mostly I enjoy young adult contemporaries and realistic fiction and that’s what I’ll stick with, thank you very much. If I am going to try something out of the ordinary I’ll go with horror or maybe fantasy (although fantasy usually doesn’t work for me).
I don’t REAL often either, Mari, but sometimes, especially if it’s a debut author, I take a chance. :) I’m all about YA (or adult) contemporaries, too! They’re my most favorite, and same. I just cannot seem to jive well with fantasy. Thanks for visiting! :)
I’d love to read classic novels but I think I need to be in the correct mindset for them. If I ever do, I’d love to start with P&P and Wuthering Heights!
I’d like to give another one a chance soon-ish, but like you, I suspect being in the right frame of mind would help. My mom has read “Pride and Prejudice,” and she really liked it. :) Appreciate your visit!
Great list! The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is one I keep thinking of checking out. =)
It’s SO good, Jess! Let me know if you read it. :) Appreciate your visit.
Have you seen the film based on The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society? I watched the first bit of it recently and thought it was pretty good!
My TTT.
I have! It’s so good albeit quite different than the book. :) Thanks for visiting, Lydia.
Great list! I love Jane Austen too, but I can certainly understand having a difficult time reading her works. Here is my Top Ten Tuesday.
I forever seem to have trouble with novels by Austen, but as adaptations, I love her stories! Hopefully someday the books and I will be friends. :) Thanks so much for visiting.
I like to stick with what I know I love too. There are too many books, and not enough time. Although occasionally I find an exception, like Fawkes.
DITTO! Too many books, but not enough time is the forever struggle. But as you say, there are exceptions and sometimes those are the books we love best. :) Thanks, always, for the visit, Brittaney!!
I don’t usually read outside my comfort zone. I know what I like and will stick to that, most of the time. Though there’s been a few books that have turned out to be favorites that weren’t in my usual genres of choice.
I don’t either… but yes, on occasion I find that rare gem that’s THAT good. :) Appreciate your visit, Ashley.
I like to read lots of different kinds of books. I should read The Selection sometime.
I’m so glad you like various books, Brooke! Sometimes I read outside my comfort zone, but I know what I like, and for me, that’s when my reading life is best. :) Appreciate you visiting – and I hope you like “The Selection”!
Great list. I tried The Selection but it didn’t work for me sadly. I did love Sense and Sensibility though.
Nothing wrong with this, Melanie. :) Appreciate your visit!!
I was pleasantly surprised by Pride and Prejudice and Zombies both the book and the movie as well. Thanks for visiting my blog earlier. :)
I thought the P+P+Z movie was SO MUCH FUN. Never in a million years did I think I would enjoy it, but I really did. Thank you for the visit here, Lauren. Always nice to chat with you.
Awesome list, Rissi! I think Pride and Prejudice and Zombies would definitely be out of my comfort zone as well ? I tend to not read that often outside of my comfort zone, but there are a few genres that I don’t read often. I actually thought it’d be difficult to come up with a list and it turned out pretty easy haha
My TTT post
I’m not a werewolf, witch or zombie (basically anything supernatural) kind of genre reader, but there have been a FEW that surprise me. P+P+Z is one of them. YAY! Easy blog posts are THE best. :) Appreciate your visit, as always, Dini.
I read Northanger Abbey and it was a struggle for me to get through that. XD I then read Emma and LOVED it! I listened to the audiobook whilst reading along with a physical copy which really immersed me in the story!