A Mixed Bag of Goodies: Musing Mondays

Today's Musing Mondays prompt from Should be Reading:

This week’s musing [borrowed from an old BTT post] asks…

I once knew a man who read about WWII. He read everything he could get his hands on on the subject. He had a whole wall of books that were all about WWII. It amazed me. How could he continue to find one subject that engrossing? My mother, on the other hand, loves to read best sellers. I’ve known other people who read science fiction to the exclusion of everything else; for others it was philosophy, self-help, or history.

So, to the questions…

What kind of books do you like to read?
Why? Provide specific examples.

This is quite the detailed question this week. Still, I'm left with my stock answer. I like to read all books. I don't even like having the same meal too often, much less read the same kind of books over and over. There are too many wonderful choices to limit myself. That being said, I am focusing my efforts on independent and small press books.

The highlights of my last month of reading:

1. Jacob Have I Loved, Katherine Paterson
Winner of the Newbery Medal and written in 1980. I hope to have the review up this week. A wonderful young adult novel about discovery and growing up. (Book club selection)

2. Shades of Gray, Andy Holloman
Yeah for indies! My full review of Holloman's debut mystery novel will be available here tomorrow. It's an intriguing tale about how far a father will go to save his little girl. Full of twists and turns and heartbreaking. Wonderful!

3. Turning Point, Melissa Luznicky Garrett
Again... yeah for indies! If you are intrigued by dark characters and the unexpected, you will appreciate every turn of the page. Melissa’s ability to slowly reveal layer after layer of this family’s dark secret is impressive. A great young adult novel.

4. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot
Amazing nonfiction, and that says a lot coming from someone who doesn't prefer a lot of nonfiction. The author did an excellent job weaving the family's story with the wonders of science. (Book club selection)

I hope my holidays, and yours, are filled with reading. I have a huge TBR stack next to my bed and on my Kindle.

What kind of books do you like to read? Do you prefer a certain genre?