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Jonathan Shipley's avatar

There are some people who like Faulkner quite a lot (my wife) and there are those who dislike Faulkner quite a lot (me). There are 129 million books out there to read. If my wife wants to read Faulkner's impenetrable interminable sentences and takes joy from it, go forth! Be content! I will never harsh that buzz! I'll just be over here reading, say, anything else.

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Evelyn Skye's avatar

haha I love this so very much, and my husband and I are the same. We read very different books, and it's overall a great thing to support different writers!

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Andromeda Romano-Lax's avatar

Agreed! I’ve stuck with my book club for years specifically because they don’t generally agree with my views—or each others’—and being exposed to that constant and often perplexing diversity of opinions grounds me as an author. I have to endlessly remind myself that pleasing everyone is both impossible and not the point. On top of that, I can’t even predict which book club members will like which books. Recs I am sure will please them often fail and vice versa!

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Evelyn Skye's avatar

Yes, so so true! I mean, how often has a friend given me a book as a gift, sure that I'll love it, and it turns out not to be quite right for my tastes? I love how you put it, that this "grounds" you as an author. Well said!

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Ralph Rice's avatar

In the bookclub I used to be a regular member of (I sometimes go now) we read Matrix by Lauren Groff at my suggestion. Well, out of the 10-12 people that attended the discussion, only myself and one other person liked the book. About 6 months later when I suggested Fates and Furies, also by Lauren Groff, there was a resounding NO! This wasn't the only book that had a division in the group.

People are different, with different likes and dislikes. Well, except for chocolate which everyone likes. :) Some people like science fiction, others like romance, some historical fiction. Some people (like me) like baseball; some like crocheting...... Well, you get the point.

People can disagree on liking a book. It's all part of being individuals.

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Evelyn Skye's avatar

100% agree! It's what makes us all unique and wonderful, isn't it? (And I've had that same experience, suggesting a book for my book club and getting a resounding NO, haha.)

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John Jackson's avatar

I’ve followed and try to read every book that “wins” the Morning News Tournament of Books each March. Some are great. Others, not so much. I feel like Elaine in the “Seinfeld” episode where everyone loves “The English Patient” but she doesn’t

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Evelyn Skye's avatar

hahaha SUCH a great episode! Love the Seinfeld reference.

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