I’ve noticed for a while now that my movie and TV favorites aren’t similar to the books I like to read. There’s somewhat of a disconnect between them.
For instance, my most often watched shows are Law and Order:SVU, NUMB3RS, all three CSIs, and Cold Case. I like ER (used to never miss an episode, but I haven’t watched faithfully in two years) and the regular Law and Order (again, I used to watch constantly, now not so much.).
However, I don’t read hardly any romantic suspense or medical mystery/thriller books.
For movies, I prefer big blow ‘em up action flicks. They don’t have to be believable. They don’t even have to have much of a plot. Just blow things up and have some hot male eye candy; I’m a happy camper. I love science fiction and paranormal movies, too.
But I don’t read action adventure books and I buy very few paranormals. Those I do buy sit for long lengths on my TBR pile and I skim much of them.
For my reading, I pick up predominantly romance, mostly historical romance. However, I rarely watch romantic movies. I never pick them myself. Anytime I watch a romantic movie, it’s because I’m with someone who rented it or is watching a rerun on TV.
I enjoy Stephen King and Dean Koontz. I have a few books from each of them that are on my keeper shelves. Rose Madder and the Christopher Snow books come immediately to mind, as well as The Dark Half and The Bad Place, yet I really don’t like watching horror on the screen. I’m a big chicken. I cover my eyes and go, “What’s happening now? Is he hacking her up?”, but when it’s in book form, I can’t tear my eyes away from the page.
I’m not sure what that means, if anything. Maybe most people have reading tastes in opposition to their viewing tastes?
These aren’t absolutes, of course. I loved Emma and The Painted Veil. I dug the first two Final Destinations (the third was major suckage) and the Scream movies (which are kinda horror, right?). My last all-nighter read was Alpha and Omega by Patricia Briggs (a paranormal). Although it’s only a novella, I was hooked and what was supposed to be a one-chapter-before-bed treat became a wee-hours-of-the-morning binge. (I’m so thrilled she’s writing a series with those characters!) But for the most part, these preferences hold true.
Are you like that, too? Do you watch movies/shows in genres you don’t read much of and vice versa?
Tags: Books, movies, television
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I think my reading tastes are very similar to my TV watching. I loved Sex and the City and I read chick lit. I loved Buffy and I just started reading paranormals. I love suspenseful thriller movies and that is the same for the books I read.
on October 19th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
yes i love svu, i only watch that and the reruns, very good
on October 17th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
I spend a lot of time watching cop/crime oriented TV, but this is a genre I don’t have much interest in reading about. There was a time I was reading Ann Rule a lot, but the subject matter is so dark and disturbing that I didn’t want to become hooked and found myself less inclined to look for her next book. On the other hand I like to read romances, but I’m not inclined to seek out chick flicks as I find the romance element in movies to be lacking the deep emotions that authors can create within a book.
on October 17th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
I think my TV viewing, movies and books are all coming into synch. I love Heroes and Torchwood. My books are starting to lean towards paranormal and movies…well, I haven’t been to a movie in a long time but I imagine it would be along the same lines. There aren’t too many paranormal movies out there that aren’t thrillers…and I don’t do thrillers. Great topic!
on October 17th, 2007 at 8:08 am
I’m more apt to want to read something similar to a movie I’ve watched. You know, watch Buffy or Charmed, then I want to read about Vamps and witches. Watch a horror movie, then I want to pull out a creepy read~~but still has to be romance. The last one I can think of, I watched a really scary movie…can’t remember what it was…but had me grabbing and rereading some of Karen Rose’s books. I don’t watch a whole lot of TV or movies, usually, but when I do I’m very ecclectic, and with my reading it just has to have romance in it, and I’m going to read it.
on October 17th, 2007 at 8:03 am
I am totally like that. I love House, ER, and Grey’s Anatomy, but the thought of myself cutting into people or even reading about it just grosses me out!
As far as movies go, I like the “chick flicks”. Can’t help it. Last night a commerical for a horror movie came on and I closed my eyes through the whole thing. My husband looked over at me and started cracking up!
on October 17th, 2007 at 8:01 am
I like Showtime. I watch Dexter, Brotherhood, Californication, and Weeds. I read everything so I would say, yes, they fit in my “what I read” catagories. Humor, danger, horror…etc. I don’t smoke pot though!!!!!!!
on October 17th, 2007 at 7:39 am
My two favorite shows are L&O:SVU and CSI:Las Vegas. And like you, Sylvia, I don’t read those type of books either! Never thought about it, actually. I do love period movies (if they’re done right). I haven’t seen The Painted Veil yet, but I really want to!
on October 17th, 2007 at 6:14 am
Wow, I adore NUMB3RS! I’m developing a serious crush on Charlie, but Don is cute too.
I love the concept of the show, as I’ve always been fascinated by mathematics and mathematicians… even though I can’t add up for toffee myself!
on October 17th, 2007 at 12:49 am