This Week’s Topic:
In this day and age, I am sure all of you have experienced this. You see/hear/read something that makes you go "hmmm", and not always in a good way. This is kind of a salty post for me, but these are a few that I either recently encountered or stick out in my mind. 
WHY do so many characters in romance novels have green eyes or red hair or both? The last five romances I read had a bit of both and it baffled me, as it always does. I don't have anything against green eyed people or red heads, but seeing it so often in books would lead one to think these are common characteristics, when in fact, they are not. Five books in a row, I encountered these characteristics, yet only 2% of the population has green eyes and 1 - 2 % of the world's population have red hair. It's a fact, that green is the rarest of eye colors. Yet, I read five books in a row with a green-eyed character.
WHY do I have to see so many reviews that begin with the phrase, "I don't like X genre" or "I don't like books like this". Call me crazy, but when I find a genre or type of book doesn't work for me, time and time again, I don't keep reading them. Are they looking for the "magical" book that will change their mind?
WHY are people annoyed about instalove in a Romeo and Juliet retelling? I think R&J are the OG instalovers, so to be surprised and annoyed by this in a retelling seems like an odd reaction to me.
These are some things that make me scratch my head and roll my eyes. How about you?
Now it's your turn!
What sort of bookish things have made you go HMMM?
Let us know in the comments!
Let us know in the comments!
If an author doesn't incorporate local terminology and slang, sometimes I feel like books could be literally set anywhere and it wouldn't matter. It helps establish the setting! I also come across a lot of red-haired characters, which as you said, is really rare - I also see massively curly hair a lot. I think authors just like describing it!
ReplyDeleteI agree. I want that whole experience. It's the "seasoning" that brings me fully into the setting. You might be onto something with your hypothesis for why authors select those physical characteristics.
DeleteHaha, I’m definitely looking for the magical book that will change my mind! I WANT to like thrillers, but I end up frustrated with them 90% of the time. I think the thing that annoys me most in books right now is long, drawn out miscommunication plotlines. I understand that talking to other humans is difficult, but I don’t want 300 pages of angst about something that can be solved in five minutes.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
That's such a common complaint. I can usually dismiss any of my pet peeves, but only if they are a small part of the story. I can understand growing frustrated when it just drags on and on.
DeleteI read a book recently that was doing the miscommunication thing, and it made me want to quit, BuT they resolved it less than halfway into the book and then went on to deal with the "secret," which redeemed the book for me!
DeleteProbably ended right in time for you. I recall almost DNFing a book that I ended up really liking, because the hate part of the hate-to-love was getting to me. Thankfully, the author had it start to morph just in the nick of time, and I finished the book.
Deletei try to go wherever the author wants to take me, however they want to do it. most of the time it works
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
Me too! I feel like it's those details that really bring me into the setting
DeleteI was just thinking the same thing about red hair. I have read about a lot of red headed characters lately and it just seems odd. I think some reviewers enjoy writing negative reviews and constantly pick up books that they know they are not going to like. Negative reviews are often very popular on Goodreads and it is the only explanation that makes sense. I am convinced that some reviewers don't even like reading at this point.
ReplyDeleteI mean, my aunt, her daughter, and her granddaughter are red heads, but I wouldn't say I know a ton of redheads. I have encountered 2 more green-eyed characters since I wrote this post too. It's really sad that we celebrate negative things.
DeleteI always roll my eyes when I see green eyes or red hair.
ReplyDeleteI do use "I don't normally like this genre" in a review where I'm happily raving about the book so that other non-genre readers will know it worked for me. But I think the ones you're speaking to are trying to trash the genre and that's it.
I do think that if a book won you over and it's outside your usual genre, it is a good thing to mention. But I agree with you, why say it, if it's a genre you do not typically enjoy.
DeleteWhiskey eyes is what I keep coming across and it drives me crazy for some reason lol
ReplyDeleteI do keep trying genres I don't like. For example I love some verse now that I gave Elizabeth Acevedo (and audio books) a try. I loved Raybearer even though fantasy usually goes right over my head. I try to get rec's from friends that know me though - Amber from Dulivre is great for that. She knows when something might be *too fantasy* for me.
Karen @ For What It's Worth
A rec from a friend seems informed, even when it's outside your genre of choice. My daughter is good at recommending fantasy books to me, and I am not a big fantasy fan. I think I read a romance books titled Whiskey Kisses and he talked about her whiskey eyes. At least brown (hazel?) are more common than green.
DeleteYes! Why do people read books they think they won't like?!! I know (for the most part) what works for me and try avoid what doesn't. I don't like to waste my time on a story I won't enjoy. The only thing I can think of is maybe they're trying to be more open to reading different genres?
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, why would you complain about Irish-speak if that's the culture and setting of a book you're reading? Lol, I don't get it!
Yep, on Romeo & Juliet retellings. Why wouldn't you expect insta-love? Which, btw, I don't mind when it works with the story. Fantasy shifter stories are insta-love all the time and I love those. Plus, insta-love is kind of par-for-the-course when you're a teenager. My husband and I were an insta-love romance and we're still together after 32 years, lol!
And yes, red hair and green eyes are rare, unless you live in Ireland/Scotland maybe? I hear it's becoming extinct. I read a lot of books that feature red hair and green eyes, too. Hmmm....
Great post, Sam!
If reading was my job, I might be more open to books that don't usually work for me. But I read for pleasure, so that just doesn't make sense to me. Deanna had a good point, that it's useful to mention a book is not your normal genre when you enjoy it, but how does that add to the conversation when you didn't like it (as predicted)? I don't mind insta-love at all, but it struck me as odd criticism when it came to an R&J retelling.
DeleteI didn't know that only 2% of the population has green eyes! Oh my gosh I think I'm inundated with green eyed people and was clueless to this statistic cause both my husband and I have green eyes. My mom had red hair but I got my dad's Greek hair and skin coloring. My sister in law has green eyes, both of her kids do, my bestie I've known since birth does too along with one of my besties here. I had no clue it was such a rare eye color since I see it so often LOL!! And for those people that read genres they don't like again and again and keep hoping for a different outcome....I don't get that at either, it's craziness if you ask me lol.
ReplyDeleteJen @ Star-Crossed Book Blog
I have encountered green eyes in two more books since I wrote this post. I am buying into Angela's theory that authors just like describing those attributes. Could be? You know way more green eyed people than I do. I know some red heads (my aunt, my cousin, and her daughter - 3 generations!), but not a lot (of natural red heads at least).
DeleteOh yeah, the green eyes and/or red hair thing. If you read romance you'd think that 90% of women are running green-eyed gingers! lol And complaining about local accents/slang? Uh, how could expect any different? I actually don't think I've come across that (the complaints) but it would baffle me if I were to read that! I'm reading a book right now that takes place in Ireland (and in a land that is accessed thru a portal in Ireland) so there are several Irish words and phrases sprinkled throughout. To me, it adds authenticity and I have fun Googling them to find out what they mean. :)
ReplyDeleteThe green eye/red hair thing is something I see a lot in romance. Angela thinks the authors just like describing green and red. The local slang thing goes hand in hand with those people who go abroad and expect everyone to speak english. Same. I like being immersed in the setting and using local lingo is part of it.
DeleteWay to go Sam! I am chuckling here because you are so right! I would also add that you'd believe billionaires are more commons than ordinary people! I also don't get how authors always make their heroines orgasm so many times in a row like it's the most common thing and if you don't, you are an anomaly...LOL
ReplyDeleteI actually do find it baffling that there is a whole billionaire sub-genre, though there are so many crazy possibilities when you have endless funds. STOP! I am dying here. Romance is definitely heavy on the fiction, but I expect those choices in those books at this point.
DeleteAs a redhead it’s nice to be represented but seriously we are like unicorns, I don’t know how we have became YA go to stereotype. Plus I can’t think the last time I’ve seen a redhead with green eyes, I’m a rare redhead with dark brown eyes!
ReplyDeleteRomance has to be the one genre that makes me eye roll with it’s many kinky billionaires, also all that rampant “you know what” over and over again, maybe it’s me but I think that would eventually lead to a course of antibiotics!
Not just YA. I encounter a lot of red heads in romance too. My aunt, cousin, and her child have brown eyes with their red hair. I have not read a ton of billionaire romances, but it is astounding how many there are. OMG! You have me rolling on the floor. 🤣
Delete"WHY do I have to see so many reviews that begin with the phrase, "I don't like X genre" or "I don't like books like this". Call me crazy, but when I find a genre or type of book doesn't work for me, time and time again, I don't keep reading them. Are they looking for the "magical" book that will change their mind?"
ReplyDeleteThose are all fun and/or interesting, but the one above takes the cake. I don't understand why people would want to punish a book for...just being what it's supposed to be.
Unpopular opinion: retellings make me go hmmmmm. I can understand using a classic of any kind for inspiration, but things have being going overboard lately.
A few people made some good points about mentioning when something outside your normal reading genre really works for you. In that case, it's a good thing to point out, but when you didn't like the book, it doesn't seem to add anything to the conversation that you normally don't like that kind of book, and HEY! You didn't like it again, you know?
DeleteWith all the retellings and reboots in all forms of media, I am leery of them. However, I can appreciate a fresh spin on something that preserves the essence of the original.
It actually REALLY annoys me when a book is set in a certain culture/area and the characters AREN'T using the slang/common phrases for that culture. I love it when the author mixes in some of the language. To me it is complete laziness on the author's part and disrespectful to the culture if they don't.
ReplyDeleteSomeone pointed out, that if the author fails to incorporate local flavor it renders the setting meaningless. I think it adds so much to the experience, and readers complaining about such are lazy readers in my opinion.
DeleteI honestly agree with all of these. I think I've done #2 before, not about a genre, but a subgenre or a particular trope, but then I saw that authors don't like that and this was at the time when I was tagging authors. Looking back, it really isn't a compliment to say that I usually hate the genre/subgenre/trope you used, but YOU ALONE did it well, lol. I see people say this with romance a lot, and it's annoying. Great list, Sam!
ReplyDeletePeople always wonder why I usually rate all my books between 4-5 stars. One reasons is because I don't read books that I know have things in them that I usually don't enjoy. I agree with saying that you enjoyed something that normally doesn't work for you a compliment. I could see someone taking, "It was good for an x-book" a bit negatively, but not what you said.
DeleteSeriously, what is it with all the redheads? I'm guessing authors are trying to make these characters stand out or maybe indicate that they are "fiery" or something? It truly is irritating.
ReplyDeleteAngela has a theory that authors like describing those traits. I guess there are more interesting ways to describe red hair vs brown, but I think you might be onto something with them thinking it makes the character standout physically. I am normally so forgiving of unrealistic things in stories, but the overuse of rare physical attributes gets to me.
DeleteI definitely think the red-haired thing comes up a lot because of the 'fiery' connotations. (And are green eyes really that rare??) I get more annoyed when books describe people by their hair colour - like 'the red-head did such and such - especially when it's a main character whose name we already know. Also that eye colour is even mentioned at all. I couldn't tell you the eye colour of most people I know?
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't think I know one green-eyed person. My dad has hazel, that could look green with the right shirt, but no green eyes. That is an odd choice, if it's a named character. I am going to be looking for that now. I think romances are all about eyes. Swooning and staring into them.
DeleteMy goodness, the red hair and green eyes! It's dominated young adult novels for years and I don't know whether authors believe that's the standard for attraction but as a redhead myself, I'm damn sick of it. Let's be honest, redheads are all freckly too, our skin is pretty much transparent or milky white and more often than not, we look like we've been sunburnt all year round.
ReplyDeleteAnother red head! See, I actually have known several red-heads in my life, but no green eyed people. I have brown hair and brown eyes and massively freckle in the sun. Maybe my Irish heritage? I didn't seem to get much from my German side.
DeleteSpot-on GIF usage! I cracked up at Tina Fey bwhahah. I agree though! I WILL say sometimes that I will say that I don't always have luck with X genre, but it's usually to explain how GOOD the book is, not the alternative, but then that would be on me hah. I FEEL you with the red haired green eyed folks, like that is almost no one! Another one for me is heterochromia. Like the odds of that are bananas low, and yet I encounter at least a few a year! The local thing is ABSURD, I am with you! Like- why wouldn't I want Irish slang in an Irish book!? People are... interesting hah
ReplyDeleteI love that there are so many sarcastic gifs out there for my use. When I wrote that thing about not reading a certain type of book, I was thinking of all the negative reviews that started that way, but I can see it being complimentary if you liked the book. I am reading ANOTHER book today - green eyes. That's the 3rd instance since I wrote this post. I have read a few books with heterochromia, usually SFF type, but I think I have only met one person with the condition.
DeleteI've definitely seen the red hair/green eyes a lot lately and was surprised by it since, as you say, it's actually pretty rare. The instalove complaint on any R&J retelling would drive me batty because yes, R&J is all about the instalove and I would actually be shocked if any retelling didn't also have instalove.
ReplyDeleteI just read two more books - green eyes! I know instalove is a thorn for many, but why would you choose to read an R&J retelling. Did they think that part would be changed?
DeleteAs a person with red hair and green/ hazel eyes, I see it as a victory! :D
ReplyDeleteHa! I can honestly say, I don't know any green-eyed people. Look at those recessive traits you got there
DeleteTo be fair, I legit thought green eyes were common until recently because I and my parents (and maybe my grandma and aunt, though idk if that's more what people consider hazel) have green eyes, whereas I've rarely seen people with blue eyes. Also I kind of just don't notice anyone eye color unless it's a really prominent blue? So to me blue always feels like the rare color lol.
ReplyDeleteYour family is rare with all those green eyes. Even hazel isn't that common (5% world, 18% US), but my dad and sister have hazel eyes, so at least I know people with that eye color. I know lots of blue eyed people though it's not that common either.
DeleteI don't tend to read books from genres I know I don't enjoy just to find that magical one that will change my mind. Some people really like to push the idea of "if you like this one thing from this genre, you will like the genre as a whole" and I just don't think that's true.
ReplyDeleteAnd I once did the opposite of the local slang one. I read a book by an Irish author, set in Dublin, with Irish characters but the MC called her character Mom instead of Mum, Mam, or Mammy, and said that the boys wore AXE body spray which is called Lynx in the UK and Ireland, and it bugged me to no end.
That is so odd that they didn't integrate the local slang. I have read a few books that I think were updated for US release, and I didn't think they should have changed. One book sticks out, because the filtering of local "language" was not consistent. And now I know they call AXE LYNX in the UK.
DeleteI actually was thinking the same thing about the red hair lately as well! It was neat at first, because it is unique. But now that almost everyone seems to have it, it is kind of weird. I agree with you about not reading genres that are ones I don't usually like. Of course, if that person then goes on and says they really liked it even though it wasn't their usual type, then I understand why they say it. Fun post!
ReplyDeleteI think including you don't normally like X genre for a positive review is ok, but in a negative review -- WHY? I don't think they should ban red heads or anything like that, but they also shouldn't act like they are so common, you know?
DeleteI've often thought that about the green eyes/red hair thing. People seem to LOVE to give their guy characters green eyes and the girls red hair (sometimes the other way around too, but this is usually the way I see it). I guess we find the rare traits the most interesting? But, yeah, every time I see it, I sigh.
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Red hair is quite rare as far as hair color, but blue and hazel eyes are pretty rare too. (I did a lot of googling out of curiosity)
DeleteI couldn't stop laughing reading this one! All very good points, Sam!
ReplyDeleteIn a pseudo-continuation of the complaining about local terminology and slang, I get super salty about when people also complain about spelling when British authors use UK spelling... It's kinda right there in the name!
This is pretty salty for me, but do you know I have read at least 8 more books since I wrote this featuring a green-eyed character. I find it an odd complaint, that authors write books using the spelling and lingo of their region. I think it's one of those "ugly American" things
Delete