(I think that book is pretend – but I didn’t pick the picture for the book ;)
Or better titled – what romance, urban fantasy or sci/fi do men read? Recently at Patti’s she posted that her husband really enjoyed the Sookie series and several others. I think the Sookie series is a great one for men to read. My dad just started the series and loves it. He also has read Harry Potter (which doesn’t really qualify as romance), Twilight, and The Host, also by Stephanie Meyers.
Now my husband on the other hand will not try any of my books. He usually reads history or non-fiction but I really think he would enjoy some of my urban fantasy series. Whenever he goes on a business trip, I always put a book in his suitcase. One has yet to come back read, but I won’t give up! Here is a list of books I like that I also think appeal to men:
The Sirantha Jax series – Ann Aguirre
Sookie Stackhouse series – Charlaine Harris
Mercy Thompson series – Patricia Briggs
Magic series – Ilona Andrews
Black series- Leslie Parrish
Anita Blake series – Laurell K Hamilton
All the above are really urban fantasy and not strictly romance.
What other series do you suggest? Do any men in your life read the same books you do? If any men are reading, chime in!
Mandi I used to stick to SF and Fantasy until I discovered urban fantasy and paranormal romance. I read it all and I like it all. I'd even venture to read some contemporary romance if I only had the time. I still read SF&F and the occasional thriller and mystery as well.
Mandi,
I'm lucky enough that my husband read my first manuscript, so I better count it on his romance list or this will be over before it's begun. He's read Harry Potter and enjoyed it. Can we include the Lord of the Rings trilogy? Besides these, I can't think of what other romance-like books he's read. Lots of war non-fiction tops his reading pile.
Perhaps you could add Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series to the short list of what men like. Again, not classic romance, even within the world of urban fantasy, but love is definitely on Harry Dresden's radar.
And I love Harry Dresden and frequently wonder what he's doing tonight as I wash my dishes (grin).
Doug – I wish I had more time to read too :) I see the appeal of all of those books – a well written book, is a well written book.
Michelle – I just bought the first Dresden book! Hopefully it will not get lost in my tbr pile:)
What better way to wash dishes than to day dream about some great characters! :)
My librarian sister says a lot of men check out Diane Gabaldon's books. My 19-year-old son read & liked the Twilight series–though he may not admit that to his guy friends. ;)
Margaret Mallory
http://www.margaretmallory.com
Knight of Desire-4 Stars RT Book Reviews
Knight of Pleasure-Nov 24, 2009, 4 Stars RT Book Reviews
LOL – Twilight is definitely a series a lot of people like. And Outlander is one I didn't think of…oh Jamie ;)
It's so sweet of you to tuck a book in your hubby's suitcase! :) My hubby doesn't read much of anything, unless it's a tech manual on some new computer program. I do have gay male friends who read m/m romances, but I don't personally know any men who read m/f romance. Most straight men I know stick to mysteries or thrillers. Though if they knew how 'hot' some romances were…perhaps they'd change their mind. LOL
LOL – Is it also sweet that I have to pack for him too? Sigh.. ;)
Maybe we need more men to read these hot love scenes – pick up some pointers ;)
My husband always says he doesn't read a lot because he reads all day at work..but I just don't think he is reading the right stuff. Doesn't he know I know what is good for him!
One of my friends commented that she got her DH to read Dark Lover by telling him: "three words: sex, violence, vampires." LOL.
Ha – see, my husband immediately cringes when I say vampire…I think he thinks Edward.
My hubby mostly sticks to non-fiction books. But I did get him to read 13 Reasons Why (Great YA book by Jay Asher) which he liked and the first Anita Blake Vampire book (which he thought was okay). I've read some good erotic romances lately, he might be surprised how much he'd like that, lol.
Guilty Pleasures is one of the books I have stuck in my husband's suitcase ;)
i got nothing, the last book my hubby read was on Johnny Cash's bio, on our honeymoon, over a year ago!
my dad and i share a passion for reading when i was little and living at home we read all the Sharpe's Rifles books, Hornblower, and (old school) Travis McGee ones together.
My husband is currently reading a book about Edgar Allen Poe – boooring..No just kidding!!
Both of my parents are voracious readers. Although my dad normally reads mysteries and history, he is the one that got me hooked on Harry Potter. He even read Twilight just to see what all the hype was about.
My hubby won't read any of my books. Actually, he doesn't read much except for diesel magazines… But I'd love it if he would for the conversation.
;) VFG
The Man in my life is not a reader. As a librarian, it's my one true shame. Sigh.
My Dad does read, but he's strictly a non-fiction/biography guy unless we're talking Harry Potter. He got WAY addicted to that series on audio book (which I highly recommend, since Jim Dale rocks the house).
Completely far-afield from paranormal romance and urban fantasy – I've known several male library patrons who read western romances. Probably because the only thing harder to find than a western romance, is a straight-up western. I think some of them crossed over out of sheer desperation and discovered they didn't mind the mushy-mushy love cooties ;)
VFG – I think that is a big part of it..I would love to discuss my books with him. He will listen if I talk about a book, but it would be much different if he read it.
I think the Night Huntress series would appeal to men… or maybe I'm just so in love with the series that I can't imagine anyone not liking it :)
Wendy – lol..there is something about that Harry Potter ;)
That is interesting about Western Romances. A little lovie-dovie is good for the heart:)
I know it's shocking but I married a man who doesn't like to read. That's right. He's read, I think, maybe 5 books since we've been together – all 17 years. And those were books that his bosses over the years made him read. It's horrid. I don't think I could pay the man enough to read a romance. So. sad.
Tara – Oh how I love the Night Huntress series. I can see the appeal of Bones and Cat to men – very witty – lots of action. Bones could teach a class on romance – hello chapter 32.
Tracy – I feel ya. My husband considers reading computer stuff at work "reading" :) Fun times.
Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles books would appeal to men. I know my teenage son and his friends love these books. They have always been labeled The Vampire Chronicles Horror because Urban Fantasy didn't exist back then but I think they could easily fall into the Urban Fantasy category too.
I haven't read any of Carrie Vaughn's Kitty Norville books (they're on my shelves though) but I see a lot of guys commenting on her blog talking to her about her series.
Nice list!
Hi Mandi!
My hubs only reads biographies, non-fiction, or books that teach you something (though not text books), boring in a big way!!
I tried to get him to read some of my books, not all are PNR or UF, so I thought maybe (he used to read some fiction – John Updike and others), but he shook his head muttering something about witches and vampires. lol. His loss.
Dottie :)
Hi there Mandi,
My friend at my favorite bookstore close to me said a lot of men come in and buy Janet Evanovich's, Stephanie Plum books. I like her books too! I absolutely love Harry Potter and know a lot of guys that have read all the books too. Like my boss for one and his brother. It is fun to talk books with them!
I think this is an excellent list! I think guys may also enjoy Shadofae as well. I agree with you on the photo, btw! :P
Donna – oooh – Ann Rice is a good one. I still need to finish a lot of her books!
Dottie – HA..my husband mutters too;)
Michele – My dad got me started on Stephanie Evanovich too…and Harry Potter is one that definitely crosses the gender line.
Lilychild – I need to read Shadowfae! You had a very good review! :)
Hey Mandi – thanks for the shout-out! Some good ideas in the comments there – I should give him the Night Huntress or Kitty series. I tried to give him Outlander but he said no, and I don't think I want him to read my beloved BDB books -the less he knows about my guys the better :)
He commented that these books are not really romance but paranormal/sci-fi/UF with a bit of romance thrown in and he's okay with that! He wants nothing to do with my historicals, LOL.
I would keep your bdb boys close to you…I wouldn't share them ;) And I can't see a lot of guys getting into historicals either!
LOL, I have an Uncle who reads Stephanie Plum. My mom was reading Two for the Dough and my Uncle recognized the book and told her he likes Stephanie and Grandma Mazur! Too funny!!
Bf loved Ilona's Kate Daniels Series but he's afraid to read any other of my books after reading my blog.Oops! I think Caitlin Kittredge would be great for guys too but Bf is reading Raymond E. Feist at the moment and I think he will stop when he finished all his books. And he's calling me addicted. LOL
Jill – LOL..that is funny!
Susi – Caitlin Kittredge would be good!
I actually started reading romance because my grandfather looooooves romances. He had a Lisa Kleypas novel lying around, and I decided to give it a try. :) Right now he's reading a lot of the category romances because he says "they don't take forever to get through." His favorite authors are Julie Garwood and Jude Deveraux. I usually buy him a romance for Christmas every year.
Heidenkind – I love that. What a special thing to share with your grandfather :)
I'm not dating anyone so don't have anything to share on that front.
But my mom and I give my dad a lot of books. He's read the entire Outlander series and enjoyed it. My mom slipped him Robyn Carr's Virgin River and he's read that whole series.
He's also read the Sookie Stackhouse series.
I even give him some YA like The Hunger Games and Graceling.
He'll read just about anything we give him.
But he really did enjoy the Outlander series. In fact he read the newest book and neither my mom or I have gotten to it yet!
Mollie – Ha – that is funny about Diana Gabaldon. I am curious to know if he views Jamie and Clare's relationship like I do.