Monday, September 17, 2012

Genre Favourites Blogfest - Genre? What genre?


Just back from yet another weekend camping, a glorious one, I might add, only to remember that I'd signed up for Alex J. Cavanaugh's Genre Favourites Blogfest. Ye gods, I can barely see through the yawn-induced rivers seeping through my crusty eyes, never mind think clearly. For one panicked moment I thought about bailing on the blogfest but then I realized Alex has the easiest fests in the blog biz so I poured some coffee and put on a sweater (because it's frickin' freezing in here) and got to it. 

If you'd like to join in the fun (and Alex's bloghops are always fun), click HERE. In the meantime, here's the rules:

One blogfest, four favorites!
List your favorite genre of:
Movie
Music
Books
And a guilty pleasure genre from any of the three categories!

Now here's the thing – I don't really think in terms of genres and there's nothing I won't read/listen to/watch as long as it's well crafted. For example, I love Stephen King's books but I don't read them because they're horror, I read them because his writing is so darned good that he sucks me into the story. I mention King because I had a dream about him last night. He was doing a charity event in our town and for some reason only a few people showed up. I casually told him that I had just finished the first draft of my book and he asked to read it. (He did! He asked ME! I didn't even hound him – I know, hard to believe.) Then he offered some constructive criticism and told me he liked it, but then our cat started yeowling and Dave yelled "SHUT UP," and King's dear face disappeared in an obtrusive cloud of consciousness. 

The upshot is I have to think long and hard about what genres I DO prefer.

Movie: Chick flicks, I guess, even though I'm not sure what that term means to most people. In our house "chick flick" means anything that doesn't involve car chases, spaceships and fight scenes. It means that, for every nine Avengers, Bournes and Batman movies, I get to see one Hope Springs. My favourite movie is the kind that makes me laugh out loud and cry in the same breath. It makes me fall in love with the characters. It expands my horizons and makes me think. It lingers with me for days afterward and I talk about it to everyone who will listen. That's my favourite movie genre.

Music: Folk, I guess. Quiet music, beautiful lyrics. One of my favourite songs of all time is America by Simon & Garfunkel, but I also love I Feel Pretty from West Side Story. Go figure.


Books: No genre, just good writing. Two of the best books I read this year were completely different: City of Thieves by David Benioff and Still Alice by Lisa Genova. One is a survivalist adventure involving two men on an unusual quest. The other is about a woman with early onset Alzheimer's. As I write this I'm in the middle of Carrie Clevenger's Crooked Fang, about a bass-playing vampire. So you see, I'm all over the map.

Guilty Pleasure: True crime books, especially by Ann Rule, the more blood and guts the better. (I know, I'm sick, I can't help it.)

Wanna tell the world what your favourites are? Go see Alex! And happy Monday, everyone!



35 comments:

  1. Is chick flick and romantic comedy the same? Crap, I really lost points then.
    You just like quality stuff!
    Bummer Dave scared away King.
    Thanks for participating in my blogfest!

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  2. You're so welcome, Ninja-man! (And nah, you'll never lose points.)

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  3. Love your movie and music choices. Will have to check out those book choices too they look interesting. :O)

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    1. I think you'll like them, Madeleine. Book of Thieves, in particular, was wonderful.

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  4. Intesting picks!
    It's a little bit strange to me your favourite movie genre is quite the opposit of your guilty pleasure choice.

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    1. I know Zoltan! That's why I feel so guilty about it!!!!!!

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  5. LOVE Ann Rule - have read every one of her novels

    You know I'm gonna be singing I feel pretty all day now right?

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  6. I am so enjoying all the love I'm seeing for Chick Flicks today! :D

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    1. Me too, Kyra! That's because we're chicks and we're full of loooooooove.

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  7. Interesting on genre... I'd probably have to agree there. I don't know specifically what I like either, but I know it when I see it! Or feel it. You dreamed about King. LOLOLOLOL! I'd take that as a sign.

    And now I have to read this camping poem! What the heck... ;)

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    1. A good sign, I hope... as long as he's not dreaming of me as a victim in his next novel, we're good.

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  8. nope i am not going to respond... wait i just did, chick flicks rule... wait i didn't say that.

    Jeremy [Retro-Zombie]
    Howlin' Wolf Records: On-Line Magazine

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  9. neat thanks for sharing you can't go wrong with Simon and Garfunkel

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  10. My Mommeh read Still Alice a couple months ago!

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  11. I get tired reading what your busy mind puts out here...and you say you tire reading my blogs? Ha ! Love Stephen King, and not for horror as I really don't like horror, but the same, he draws me in..

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    1. Exactly!!!!! (I think we're both just generally tired -- too much to do and not enough time to do it!)

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  12. Absolutely awesome answers. I'm not normally a big fan of horror but I love anything by King because his characters are so alive. Great dream btw. I've often thought that if I could meet one famous person, it would be Stephen King. Have you read the Gunslinger Series? I read something like that and just hang my head in shame that I'm trying to call myself a writer. haha. He's such an inspiration. His "On Writing" is one of my fave writing books.

    Anyway, I didn't mean to turn this into a King fan gush. I'm envious of your camping trip! It's too hot down in GA to camp yet. And too many bugs. Hope you had fun and nice to meet you!

    P.S. You sound like a fun person, so I'm following your site now. :)

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    1. I've read two of the Gunslinger stories... obviously I'm sorely behind. And yes, On Writing is one of the best, most inspirational books that exist.
      You sound like a fun person, too! Off to check out your blog!

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  13. You had me with Crooked Fang. A bass-playing vampire, really? I need to get all over that one.

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    1. Angela, you'll love it. Carrie Clevenger is a terrific writer and the character is a long cool drink of water. Er, blood.

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  14. A guilty admission. I don't watch movies. If I like them, I want to stop and think about them - which is not possible in a cinema and pisses off people at home. And if I don't like them - I couldn't be bothered and would rather read a book. I adore diaries and letters, love biographies, autobiographies and memoires and will read pretty much anything else as well. Except Westerns. I am pretty fond of silence as well. Or bird song.
    Yes I know, you thought I was a tad on the weird side and I just stuck my hand up and confirmed it.

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    1. *chuckles* You know what, EC? I watch far, far too many movies and don't read nearly enough. You're doing the right thing - methinks I'm an excellent time-waster.

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  15. I will have to look out for the Crooked Fang also, it would be something I would like!

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  16. Yay for Stephen King, but you lost me at Chick Flicks. Bleh. Great answers all the same.

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    1. So you never told me - what kind of pie DID you have last night? (I think there should be a Pie Genre Favourites Blogfest.)

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  17. Hi, Cathy. Loved your post! So funny! I loved that you mention liking blood and guts. I write horror, but shy away from it. I love being scared. Grossed out is quite another thing. Lol!
    It was also interesting about your song from West Side Story. I love, love, love that classic film, but that is my least favorite song. Perhaps I'll have to listen again w/ a different perspective now.
    It was great meeting you. *waves*

    -Jimmy
    http://jamesgarciajr.blogspot.com/

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  18. That sounds like a delightful dream! Why, yes, Stephen, please DO read my novel.

    True crime has always interested me, too. Though right now I'm experiencing it in TV form.

    My Genre Favorites & Guilty Pleasures

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  19. What a dream, Cathy!

    With music, I find it's easier to just say what kinds I don't like- rap, hip hop, and metal do nothing for me, but I can find something interesting in many other genres of music.

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