What genre do you prefer reading, and what do you look for in a novel?

I primarily read non-fiction, but, on occasion, I enjoy a good mystery novel.

For me, good means: tight plotting, excellent characterizations, a vivid sense of locale, and a beginning, middle, and plausible ending.

Give me the above elements, and I'll be awake all night, will see the sun come up, and will kick myself at work!!

(At least I don't have to do this with a flashlight under the covers anymore!)

Fantasy/Science Fiction PWNS ALL! especially ones with good plot twists. Great examples of great books are Lord of the Rings, Eragon (the Inheritance Trilogy), Chronicles of Narnia, and Harry Potter. At least one of these series are at the top of every best sellers list and copies just fly off the shelves. I suggest writing a series because they are so obviously successful. Sci-Fi all the way. It won't even matter if the books are 1000 pages long :) but seriously, that is the most popular genre of our time... epic battles... adventerous, deathdefying feats, and something that would make an AWESOME movie or video game! trust me one this one and read some of the books mentioned if you haven't

I like dabbled in most of the Genres ..I found that its extremely difficult to choose one..for every good read in a type there are 100 thrashy ones.... and it changes with time..I have loved fairytales & fantasies in my childhood and have rediscovered them RowLing,Tolkien etc...Then I thought I was a mystery buff right from the juvenile Nancy Drews Famous 5 Secret 7 to perry Mason, Doyle, Dan Brown Agatha Christies etc... Then while I stumbled upon literay classics Lttle Princess Little Women Jane Austen Charles Dickens Oh what a wonderful treasure it was( Toltoy, Bronte Sis, Ayn Rand,Duman,Marget Mitchell, Harper Lee,Kafka, O henry,Steinback, Thackeray,Homer...many many more)...In between there were Wodehouse & Twain and Regency romances by Georgette Heyer...lately started Sci fi with Carl sagan, Orwell, Wells and Crichton ....I enjoyed most of them immensely... the ones I hated were Seldon, Archer, Wallace yuck!!!!!... don't know what genre they will come under... why I m writin such an elaborate ans is ...now I NEED HELP ..i m at my wits ends what to read now...I keep scouraging the relevant sites keep asking questions and examing answers here too (it doesn't help b'coz I live in India its extremely difficult to find books except in Metros)...

I prefer Expressionist and Surrealist literature of the 1920s-1930s (Kafka, Rilke, Camus... etc.), and I also like contemporary Postmodern novels very much (Auster, Golding, Bellow... etc.). However, I can enjoy a lighter entertaining, funny book just as much sometimes. I always look for that special atmosphere that has all the novels in common... What writers try to grasp.

My favourite genre is Horror. I particularly enjoy supernatural horror - as opposed to psychological horror. I also like romance that deals with time travel and sci-fi of all kinds. Lately, I have been reading books about a cat detective. Very well written. I like books that have me sitting on the edge of my chair every time I read it, even if I have read it a thousand times. I have 2 books that are like that: "Moonslasher" and "The Occult Madonna" both were written by Mr Douglas D. Hawk.

My first criterea is that it be long. At least 800 pages. I don't want to bother with anything that was someone's hobby for a couple of months. Next, just basically well-written. Authors whom don't attiquatly describe their characters, don't create mood, one demensional characters, obvious plots, lack of focus or even theme, these things kill my interest rather quickly.

As far as genre, I like REAL science fiction (Star Wars is not science fiction; Frankenstein is), fantasy, some horror, history-based fiction.

I read chick lit or romantic comedies. I don't really label mine as a specific genre, but this is what they are listed on in libraries and on ebay. I look for books about women that are beautiful, vivacious, intelligent, and have great sex with an unexpected person or persons. Books by authors like: Candace Bushnell, Jennifer Crusie, Carly Phillips, Jackie Collins, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, etc....

My favorite genre (that I discovered only recently) is historical fiction. When I read a book I want to escape from reality, go to another time and space, and historical fiction definitely accomplishes that task. With a hint of romanticism and mystery, reading becomes a great pleasure.

Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code was, for me, the most absorbing book I have ever read - I just could not put it down. I love the suspense and the European setting. It is a very exciting book.

I'm a thriller and fantasy fictions fan! A good fresh unique story line, good character development, twisted plot (but still understandable), mind challenging, vivid descriptions (but not too much to the details), real factual materials.