Monday, June 20, 2011

Too Hot to Handle

Happy Monday!

Last year, Mr TR and I purchased some Scotch Bonnet chili peppers at our local supermarket. We like spice in our food and these were on special, so we grabbed them, figuring if they had anything to do with Scotland, they couldn't be tooooo spicy (apologies to anyone Scottish reading this, but the Scots aren't exactly known for their spicy food).

Mr TR mixed them into some beef mince and 30 minutes later, dinner was ready. One bite into the meal, our eyes were streaming and our mouths were on fire. Little did we know that Scotch peppers are some of the hottest in the world. Lesson learned: never take anything at face value!

As a reader, I've learned not to do the same. I've put aside some of my misconceptions about science fiction and enjoyed some wonderful novels; similarly with YA. I've soldiered on through boring-looking literary fiction and found it rewarding, and I've purchased dodgy-covered self-published novels that are amazing!

Do you have misconceptions about any genres, authors, or types of books? And have you managed to overcome them?

PS - The next few weeks will be 'blogging light'. I'll be posting on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays until I've finished the bulk of my revisions. Drop by on Wednesday, when Catherine Ryan Howard will share her self-printing wisdom and give away copies of her new book! And on Friday, Australian Michael Hearle will also be giving away copies of his new YA novel.

53 comments:

  1. I know what you mean. Sometimes it's worth digging below the surface. And trying things you're not familiar with is all part of learning and discovering things about yourself, eh?

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  2. So right! As writers we should be branching out, trying new genres, unknown authors, it's all part of the funnest job in the world!

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  3. I would've enjoyed those spicy peppers! And I recently read part of a critique partner's work and darn it, now I want to know how it ends because it was good. Definitely not a genre I would read eithr - Regency romance! Don't tell anyone...

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  4. I too like spicy food, but I couldn't handle scotch bonnet. They're crazy hot! Best of luck with the revisions.

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  5. I like spicy food but not if it's too hot!

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  6. I always thought the hottest chili peppers came from Africa. Then I've read some pretty hot ones grow in the US. Like you, I've not heard of Scottish peppers being super duper hot.

    Good analogy. I try to read all kinds of books. You just never know what kind of gem you'll discover.

    Best of luck w/ the revisions.

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  7. Gosh, Sci-fic is definitely a genre I found hard to read but I DO love sci-fic films - go figure! ;-)

    Spicy peppers, I can't live without!!

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  8. Words in a row... they're all good, if the writing is good, and if its not... Doesn't matter what's on the cover or how hot it is in the bestseller lists.

    Some years ago, I discovered that I liked historical biography. Though contemporary women's fiction is still my fav. Still not sure that paranormal or 'shifters are my "thing," but have read some good ones.

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  9. Ooh, sorry to hear about the Scotch Bonnet snafu. Hot!

    Get those revisions knocked out :)

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  10. I just bought my husband mint-jalapeno finishing sauce as part of a gourmet basket I put together for Father's Day. He was, to say the least, skeptical.

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  11. The appearance of certain peppers can be deceiving. I myself was in a situation when I cut a little slice of an innocent-looking pepper, and spent the whole day coughing. It's important to look below the surface.

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  12. I definitely agree with you on picking out some self-published books that don't have the best covers. They've been amazing reads. I just hope more people are discovering them!

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  13. I had a bit of the same struggle with YA. It wasn't that I didn't like it, I just kind of skipped the genre when I was a teen and thought I was a bit too old to enjoy it now. Well... I was wrong. :)

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  14. I've definitely had misconceptions that I've recently overcome. I used to read only traditionally published books until I became friends with a few self-published authors. Wow am I glad I did because it opened my eyes in a big way. There are fantastic books on both sides of the publishing fence and I'm really glad I know that now.

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  15. I agree, Talle.

    I think the key thing is to never judge anything until you've actually experienced it. Life is too short to miss out on stuff just because you didn't trust the book cover or because it was a genre you don't normally read.

    Jai

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  16. Those are some hot peppers indeed!

    I may have some misconceptions about some genres, but I will probably have to read those genres to know for sure. I'm usually receptive to trying something though, it's just a matter of finding the time. There's too much to read out there!


    Lee
    Tossing It Out

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  17. One has to try new ways of life sometimes as if you're too repetitive life can get boring.

    Look forward to your next post.
    Yvonne.

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  18. My misconception had been with eBooks, but since buying a Nook a few months ago, I've found I've read more books than I would have otherwise. So I'm loving eReaders and eBooks now :)

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  19. I've done quite a lot of author interviews over the past few years and that means reading the authors' books which aren't always what i would choose. Good idea!

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  20. Oh boy hot hot hot! I enjoy historical fiction much more than I used to, reviewing some novels by request has made me realise this.

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  21. hmm. I stay away from books with the stickers on them that they've won 'such and such' a fiction prize. Because when ive tried to read those books i never like them. Its a bit like the films that win a million and ten oscars. Why am i the only one that dosent get it?!

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  22. I can't even cope with mild chillies, so would probaby have been hospitalised!

    I've read a couple of self-published books that were a LOT better than I was expecting them to be :o)

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  23. Sci fi-I don't pick it up unless by accident but there have been a few I've 'accidentally' enjoyed : )

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  24. Hah! That sounds like a crazy meal.

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  25. Yep. Books are like a mixed salad to me. I gotta have a whole variety of stuff or it just eats boring.

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  26. I laughed once I started reading this as I knew how it might turn out. Well, hot is good once in a while, lol. I have always read widely, but recently realized I've gone off YA. I have to fill that gap soon.

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  27. I'll read almost anything, just as long as Fabio isn't on the cover...

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  28. Sci-fi can give me trouble but I took advice from friends and tried out a few and realized it wasn't as bad as I'd always thought. Years of thinking I wouldn't get it was only time I'd wasted. Branching out is wonderful!

    BEST LUCK WITH REVISIONS! You're a rockstar! You can do it!

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  29. Oops on the peppers.

    I know what you mean about taking things at face value. Sometimes we need to try a bit first before making an opinion ;D

    Good luck with revisions ;D

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  30. We use Scotch Bonnet peppers in nearly everything we cook so I know they are potent.

    Sometimes, I have books I think I won't like lying around for ages, only to find they were really good. The first Sci-Fi book I read was like that too. I thought I wouldn't enjoy it, but it turned out to be a great book.

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  31. I find when I put a toe into a new genre, I often have a nice surprise. My latest raves are Italian detective stories - theres lots of food, wine, relationships and wisdom on the way to solving a crime, and I'm devouring all I can get my hands on!

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  32. I've been wearing one of those scotch bonnets on my head for a wee while now, and I did wonder why my eyes were waterin' when it rained...
    Janice from Scotland xx

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  33. The first time I heard of scotch bonnet chili peppers was from Levi Roots cookery show and so I knew they were HOT! But he loved them and never cooked anything without them. Even in puddings!! LOL!

    Ooh misconceptions! Ok so I said, Dan Brown!! Pah! Until I read the DaVinci Code and thought...darn that was good! Shame about the film. LOL! take care
    x

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  34. Remember the blind guy eating a Scotch Bonner on Big Brother? Look it up if you haven't seen it it's hilarious. He was Scottish too....and anyway isn't curry our national dish? Who needs haggis!

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  35. I am not fussy, eat anything, read anything. Guess I am just a pig :)

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  36. Good luck on your revisions!
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  37. Oh man! My mouth is burning just thinking of that pepper.

    With books, I'm horrible at judging things based on the cover or genre or whatever. I need to break out of my cocoon. :)

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  38. Lol! Yes....I am not a fan of anything paranormal....but I adore Meg Cabot...so when she released Insatiable...I had to read it, especially since the main character hated all things vampire! I really liked it ....and was even rooting for the vampire!

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  39. Never thought I'd like memoirs, but now I do.

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  40. Love when I'm proved completely wrong about books! I thought I didn't like mystery books, but I realized I love crime shows and used to ADORE Mary Higgins Clark--why would I not love mysteries?

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  41. Your first paragraph cracked me up! I was born in Canada, but my folks emigrated from Scotland & you are so right!! I'm still not good at eating spicy stuff! :)

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  42. Whoah, I can only imagine. I did make guacamole and washed my hands after cutting Serrano peppers. Well, didn't work, I got some of the heat in my eye. I tried to wash it out...big no, no! The heat spread. Hubby came home and found me with sour cream dabbed around my eye. It worked, cooled off the skin. So scary; I hope you two are okay~ This could be a scene in your next book?! Fantasy is something I need to explore more...

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  43. I still haven't overcome my misconceptions about YA. I still force myself to read them if they're authored by a friend. But I STILL cannot get into them. If I say why, I might get bashed over the head ... LOL

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  44. I have a tough time with nonfiction. I know this is wrong, but in my mind, nonfiction is about as thrilling as reading the phone book.

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  45. What a great misconception analogy! Didn't realize Scotland was known for hot peppers - hmmm, very tempting to find here!

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  46. I haven't given romance novels a chance since high school. But in the last few years, I have read science fiction, and realized I like it.

    I'm sorry about the hot food. I've had burning fingers from handling hot peppers. Some of them are pretty brutal!

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  47. Hi Talli .. you're so right - never take anything at face value .. and Scotch bonnets are definitely one little veggie to be exceedingly careful with!

    Good for you .. and hope the revisions go smoothly .. cheers Hilary

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  48. No misconceptions, but I've recently started branching into contemporary crime fiction, as I realised my reading in this genre was rather dated. I'm also torn between a few different ideas for my second novel and one idea borders on crime fic, hence reading / swotting up on what is already out there!

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  49. Ooh, I've suffered at the heated tang of a Scotch bonnet chili pepper. They're evil things.

    I used to have really bad misconceptions about certain genres but thanks to Twitter and getting to know people who write in those very same genres, I am slowly overcoming them - and discovering some thumping good reads in the process that I might otherwise have missed out on. :-)

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  50. This year I decided to download onto my Kindle, books only by new authors - maintstream or self published, and I have read some fantastic books. A breath of fresh air and wonderful reads too!

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  51. I love spicy food but that sounds too hot for me too! I've recently started branching out of my comfort zone with reading. Its worth the effort, there are some books I would have missed. The Kindle def helps.

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  52. Hi Talli. I laughed when you said you didn't think the Scotch Bonnet chili peppers would be hot, because I've always heard they are hot! My hubby would have been willing to try that dinner, as he likes spicy food, even if it doesn't always agree with him.

    Good luck with the revisions!

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  53. Great analogy, Talli. You're such a great story teller. :)

    I try hard not to have preconceived notions when it comes to books. Hot peppers, on the other, hand are another story. I once took a dare to eat a spicy red pepper. Never again.

    Good luck with the revisions.

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