Book Themes

[applepie]

I was looking through some of the archives of threads, and I don't think I saw this one. Anyway, I thought it would be interesting to see what types of themes you like to find in books. What theme will suck you in and make you want to read a book time and time again? Why do you think that theme appeals to you?

For me, I love your basic good triumphs over evil themes, and I also love books about the bonds of friendship. I read Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit pretty often for this reason. They are some of my favorite books, and when I write I often see this idea reflected in my writing. I think the appeal is that I'm one of those people who is still naieve enough to think that good should ultimately win. I know that isn't the case in reality, but I dearly wish it was.

[aeroport]

Good idea for a thread, mkh.
Pour moi, c'est REVENGE!

[bibliophile190]

I've always liked family struggles, like a family has some secret and the family members have to resolve it. Usually it ends up being stupid, but there are times when it works really well. I also like reading books with apocalyptic disaster themes or alternate histories. I just get a kick out of that.

[stella]

i am interessted in books that deal with the disappointments of life , i am very dramatic in my choices.

[NickAdams]

Existence ...

[Daniel A. C.]

Coming to terms with suffering, transcending it.

[Granny5]

I too like Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit books. I think it's because it involved a lot of different struggles mankind deals with. I have read them maybe 10 or 12 times and I never tire of them. I really like the struggle of Bilbo against his own ability to be greedy. He's a good soul, but still capable of becoming a monster if he lets evil take over. I have known people who are given the books by their Analysts. And good does always overcome evil, mk.

[higley]

The theme of redemption is always interesting, sometimes because the protagonist initially tries to do it some backward way before learning better. It's a great theme to introduce both a physical and spiritual journey.

[Bakiryu]

I'm your basic fantasy reader: vampires, werewolves, faerie tales and the like. However I do love philosophical, controversial themes and books dealing with the human condition (Like Ender's game: which everyone SHOULD READ!)

[andave_ya]

yeah, LOTR rules! Good vs. evil and redemption are two key themes in the book along with friendship. Those're probably my favorite themes.

[bazarov]

Existence, history and individuals.

[loe]

I am interested in dramatic, suffering stuff.
And I also like books about existential crisis and self-knowledge - but not the optimistic ones like Coelho or so, more the terrifying ones like Dostoyevsky.;)

[bluevictim]

For some reason, I really enjoy books (or passages) about nostalgia. A couple of examples are My Antonia by Willa Cather (where I got my signature from) and Book 3 of Homer's Iliad (the teichoscopia), where Helen talks to Priam about her Greek acquaintances from her past.

[Oniw17]

I like historical fiction, or science fiction if it has philosophical ties(like dune). Actually, I pretty much like any book that can make me think(my favorites all have Socrates in them), or books with a realistic portrayal of friendship

[jlb4tlb]

real basic themes for me, good vs evil, friendship and love in its many forms.

[Nossa]

Struggle, repentance and self-conflict. I like the characters to be resltless, having an emotional and a social roller coaster. People seeking forgiveness for things they did in the past, people coming from humble places and struggled to reach the top...things like that would appeal to me. Good triumphs Evil is also appealing, in a John Grisham kinda way though.
The Human struggle always appeal to me.
And lastly, and only sometimes, things like The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons, where something is a mystery and it only unfolds in the very end, is also appealing. But as I said, just sometimes, not every story that has this theme can be appealing to me.

[AdoreroDio]

the struggle between life and death, good and evil, freedom and slavery. Basically I like a spiritual or physical struggle within each character.

[Nebula]

I like themes of self introspection, character struggles and psychology, and, in thrillers, suspense and humanity.