If you only had access to one of these genres of books, which would you choose?

MedozK said:

dankind said:

10 is bullshit. We need @MedozK on this.

Missing comic books/mangia/graphic novels; how-to; history; psychology/self-help; children's (young adult, picture books, chapter books, choose your own adventure, etc.); reference; business; politics; criticism; erotica; essays; humor....

lol, yea I need History... but of the ones listed. I guess I am in the minority with Bios.

Oh man, yes.  History!  I wish I had included that and maybe dropped one of the lesser read categories.  So many great history related books!

WhatYouTaughtMe said:

I enjoy reading about people who've had interesting lives when it's put into a good narrative. 

I love biographies too! 

OffSheGoes35 said:

I love The World According to Garp. After reading that book, I went on a John Irving binge, and even though he has written other excellent books, Garp is still my favorite. Also love Truman Capote. I came across this photo of him just not too long ago and I thought it was so cool. So Truman Capote.

Great photo.   Capote is amazing (and yes, Irving too!).  In 10th grade, my English teacher gave us a reading list from which we were to pick a book to read.  I looked it over and told her I had read most of them including all the Steinbeck on the list.  She thought  a moment and then went to her desk and pulled out a book and handed it to me and said, "Why don't you try this one.  I think you'll like it."  The book was Capote's Other Voices, Other Rooms.  That book completely blew me away- I'd never read anything like it before- and I became a huge Capote fan.

OffSheGoes35 said:

After I read your comment, I thought "Wish I would've had a teacher like that"...then I thought," I probably did, but I was a knucklehead student." Good on ya for having already read most of the books on the list!!

I have always thought I was very lucky to have had a teacher as good as that one.  One day, she came into class, didn't say a word, went up to the blackboard and wrote "Death is the ultimate joke".   That piqued my curiosity and I've never forgotten that incident.  I've thought about it often and never have fully understood what she meant but I see it as a life-long challenge to try to come to that understanding.  I will probably get it on my death bed.

OffSheGoes35 said:

Death is the ultimate joke. We spend all our lives, every second, filled with earthly concerns, (maybe even some otherworldly concerns at times), but we can't take money, things, feelings, or even knowledge with us.I never had a teacher like that. You were very lucky, and she was lucky to have you as a student.

Why, I think you have it!  My teacher (sadly I have forgotten her name), very likely had much of what you say in mind.  I'm feeling lucky to have you help me get way closer to wrapping my head around that fifty year old enigma.  Awesome, thank you, OffSheGoes!

OffSheGoes35 said:

^^^Thank you, kind sir! 

I have really been wanting to delve into the genre of magical realism. So, I welcome suggestions.

Same here but I have not done so yet.  Several people have suggested Gabriel García Márquez, particularly Love in the Time of Cholera and One Hundred Years of Solitude.

dankind said:

You also can’t go wrong with Midnight’s Children. 

And my favorite more contemporary example is Swamplandia! by my homegirl Karen Russell. Anything Karen Russell, really. She’s stunning. 

Swamplandia- good to hear kudos regarding that one.  I hadn't heard anything either way before. Must add it to my ever looooooong list!