List a book that you think would change someone's mind.....

[ufcasey]

...about a specific genre.


This past Friday's post had a QOTW about what is your least favorite genre of books. There was a lot of different responses and I'm sure some people were reading them thinking "but that's my favorite genre!" or "my favorite book is in that genre!"

So with that in mind, if you have read a book that you think could change the mind of someone who doesn't prefer that book's genre - list it out here

Genres that were listed in Friday's thread (but feel to expand past this list if some other book/genre comes to mind):

chick lit
fantasy
historical romance
horror
memoir
mystery
nonfiction
poetry
romance
sci-fi
self-help
short stories
true crime
urban fantasy
war history/drama
western
ya (non: dystopian/sci-fi/fantasy)

[snshne322]

Mercy Thompson and Kate Daniels were really what introduced me to and hooked me on Urban Fantasy.

[ufcasey]

Here's some of mine:

fantasy -
Tairen Soul series by CL Lewis (this has more romance in it and the world building isn't ridiculously large so it's more palatable for non-fantasy fans while still being fantasy. just do NOT do the audiobooks for this, the narrators keep changing and some of them are awful lol)
Queen of the Tearling series by Erika Johansen (this is also part dystopian, starting in the second book, so it could appeal to more than just fantasy readers)
A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah Maas (first book is ok, the second book is amazing - definitely more romance-y)

historical romance -
When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James (this is a like a historical romance version of the Fox tv show 'House', so if you liked that show, you might like this)
Wallflowers series by Lisa Kleypas (you might have liked her romance Travises series, if so you should check out her historical romance stuff too)

mystery -
The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson (I can't really explain it well, but basically none of the characters are good people, so the book is fantastic ha)

non-fiction -
Rena's Promise by Rena Gelissen (a book about surviving Auschwitz that reads like a historical fiction novel, only scarier because it's all true and also surprisingly uplifting because there are lots of small things the prisoners do to help each other)

romance -
Kane's Hell by Elizabeth Finn (some major trigger warning, but the violence separates this book from the typical 'romance' so it might appeal to more people because it's more serious; please ignore the hideous book cover)

chick-lit -
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty (made me laugh out loud even though it's about domestic violence, murder, and helicopter parents of kindergarten kids)

[monkeyfeet]

Columbine for non-fiction. And probably a whole lot more, but that's the first that came to mind.

[packfan20]

I think if you don't like a genre, one book isn't going to change your mind but one book may be an EXCEPTION. For example, I don't like fantasy but I love Harry Potter. I don't like sci-fi but I loved The Martian (but that doesn't make me want to read more sci-fi. It makes my head hurt. )

[dorothyinAus]

Sept 19, 2016 13:47:46 GMT -5 packfan20 said:

I think if you don't like a genre, one book isn't going to change your mind but one book may be an EXCEPTION. For example, I don't like fantasy but I love Harry Potter. I don't like sci-fi but I loved The Martian (but that doesn't make me want to read more sci-fi. It makes my head hurt. )

I totally agree with the idea that there are exception books.  I do not like science fiction or dystopian fiction.  Nothing is going make me check out those sections in a bookstore.  But I may enjoy one or two books that could be classified as science fiction or dystopian fiction.

Sometimes one book is enough to introduce someone to a genre that they end up enjoying, but I would never recommend a book with the express intention of trying to change someone's mind about an entire genre, especially if I know them well enough to know what they enjoy.

[aurora]

I think this is an excellent thread idea. I will be back after I've thought about it a bit...

[snshne322]

You might be right that it might not change a persons mind entirely, but it might open the door a bit.

I've loved history my entire life. I kept trying to read historical non-fiction and it just wasn't working for me. I know non-fiction is SO broad, but I didn't have much luck so I wrote it off as "not for me". Then I got some recommendations for a few memoirs and biographies that I really liked so it's kind of cracked the door open again for me.

Even a few years ago I would have said I disliked romance novels. I always pictured heaving bosoms and Fabio-like men carrying them off into the sunset. Sure they're there, but there's SO MUCH MORE. I read a ton of varied romances now after a few good suggestions, so I guess I could say that I now read a genre that I was previously turned off to.

[aurora]

Since I originally said that I was sad so many people didn't like sci fi/fantasy, here are some of the exemplars I'd recommend in that category:

The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
A Game of Thrones and the rest of the A Song of Ice and Fire series by GRR Martin
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
The Eye of the World and the rest of the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan
The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King
Dune by Frank Herbert

(as you can tell, I lean more toward fantasy than sci fi).

There are other books I love in this genre, especially Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, that I wouldn't necessarily recommend as exemplars to people who don't already like the genre.

[pandorica]

Sept 20, 2016 11:11:17 GMT -5 aurora said:

Since I originally said that I was sad so many people didn't like sci fi/fantasy, here are some of the exemplars I'd recommend in that category:

The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
A Game of Thrones and the rest of the A Song of Ice and Fire series by GRR Martin
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
The Eye of the World and the rest of the Wheel of Time series by GRR Martin
The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King
Dune by Frank Herbert

(as you can tell, I lean more toward fantasy than sci fi).

There are other books I love in this genre, especially Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, that I wouldn't necessarily recommend as exemplars to people who don't already like the genre.

Just wanted to correct one thing - Robert Jordan is the author of the Wheel of Time series. I was thinking about this series as I read the OP, but as much as I love it I think someone who already hates fantasy probably wouldn't enjoy it. But I hope I'm wrong, because I think it's the best thing ever

[aurora]

Sept 20, 2016 11:16:50 GMT -5 pandorica said:

Sept 20, 2016 11:11:17 GMT -5 aurora said:

Since I originally said that I was sad so many people didn't like sci fi/fantasy, here are some of the exemplars I'd recommend in that category:

The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
A Game of Thrones and the rest of the A Song of Ice and Fire series by GRR Martin
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
The Eye of the World and the rest of the Wheel of Time series by GRR Martin
The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King
Dune by Frank Herbert

(as you can tell, I lean more toward fantasy than sci fi).

There are other books I love in this genre, especially Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, that I wouldn't necessarily recommend as exemplars to people who don't already like the genre.

Just wanted to correct one thing - Robert Jordan is the author of the Wheel of Time series. I was thinking about this series as I read the OP, but as much as I love it I think someone who already hates fantasy probably wouldn't enjoy it. But I hope I'm wrong, because I think it's the best thing ever

Drr...I C&P'd the formatting from my GRR Martin line to make the italics work. I'll go back and edit my original. Thanks!

[shurasgirl]

The Name of the Wind

[snshne322]

Nov 3, 2016 0:36:43 GMT -5 shurasgirl said:

The Name of the Wind

Based on your name, I'm guessing you like The Bronze Horseman?

I love The Name of the Wind.

[shurasgirl]

Nov 3, 2016 8:02:03 GMT -5 snshne322 said:

Nov 3, 2016 0:36:43 GMT -5 shurasgirl said:

The Name of the Wind

Based on your name, I'm guessing you like The Bronze Horseman?

I love The Name of the Wind.

Haha I just saw this reply, but yes The Bronze Horseman inspired my name.

[CrazyLucky]

For Mystery, I really enjoyed Redmption Road by John Hart.
I have to say that for me, there is no exception book for poetry. I don't get it, so I don't like it.

But thank you to those who recommended some of the other books.  I've added them to my want to read list.

[gibbinator]

aurora I love all the books on your list! I remember the first time I read Dune... So amazing.

[litskispeciality]

For non-fiction I agree with "Columbine" and I'd add "Missoula", but that can be a tough read due to the nature.

For historical fiction (I think?) The Nightengale

Not sure if this is non-fiction or autobiography, "Scar Tissue" by Anthony Kedis. I got a lot more out of it as I had an addiction related loss the year I read it. I've recommended that to several people. Very eye opening. And in that same category "Beautiful Boy"

Finally, for mystery I'd add the Gillian Flynn trio although I was bashing her a few weeks ago because you catch onto the style pretty quickly. Her books are graphic, but always tells a good story.