Genres and time

[filkferengi]

I still watch a fair amount of tv, but it has definitely evolved over time. Sometimes it depends on the people in my life. When my dad the contractor was alive, I watched lots of real estate and makeover shows. It gave us something to talk about [Property Brothers: eye-candy + banter = win!].

It seems like I'll enjoy a genre for a while and then go off it. My bridesmaid recommended "NCIS" many years ago, and I've enjoyed all of them for years. During Covid, I binge-watched "Shark Tank". It was a fun game to play along with, guessing who would get a deal and how it might be structured. Once caught up, however, I have no desire to watch the new season. Sit-coms feel so artificial and no longer amuse. I used to enjoy crime shows, but the women-led ensemble shows I loved went away. Now I'm going off shows and genres faster and faster. I actively seek out new shows and try them out, but 5-10 minutes in, I'm saying, "Blargh" and bailing.

Ironically, while I claim to not read much non-fiction, that's far and away what I'm watching most these days: history, science, nature, travel, "mysteries". I get most news from political comedy shows.

I was always a heavy reader, but since Covid, it's become more obsessive. I'm typically reading several hours a day. Since the eyes and hands went goofy, reading physical books is inconvenient, so it's all e-books these days. That means no library book sales, which formed a good bit of my socialization pre-Covid. Hence, even more reading. The big change is, instead of rereading every few years or decades, I'm rereading whole series every year or so.

It's an odd turnaround. I bitterly fought e-books for years, since there was no universal format. It's a good thing I gave in when I did, given how things turned out. I got carpal tunnel during Covid, and don't like to drive long distances any more. These days, I mostly keep in touch with friends via phone or email or text, with occasional in-person outings. Ze spouse & I do our walks in the nature preserve several days a week, collecting litter from the most *improbable* places. When one is the spouse of a superhero, one has certain obligations.

So, there've been personality--not changes so much as shifts, reinforcing some tendencies and letting others go. I'm not distressed or depressed, but it's interesting to step back and analyze. I'm still enjoying life every day, especially, it must be admitted, those times when I put on my aspect as the filkferengi and match folks up with books or music.

Comments

[warriorsavant]

Haven't actually watched TV in ages. When I did, like you, I went through cycles of genres and spin-offs. Books, although a prefer physical books, I don't have problem with e-books. Heavy on genre fiction.

[filkferengi]

Do you swap between genres too? I read cozy mysteries for a while, then switch to fantasy or sf or romance, and back around again.

[warriorsavant]

Yes. Read SF from the time I was able to read (around 4 months, although I might be a little off on that one), included a mix of fantasy a bit later. Got bored at went to classic British mystery in med. school (courtesy of my g.f. from that era). Now I’m mostly doing YA fantasy, with a mix of adult fantasy & SF, mystery, cosy mystery, and whatever else looks good. Never big on Romance.

[filkferengi]

Genres are so blendy, there's a whole lot of sf, fantasy, & mystery with romance elements to enjoy, from Dorothy L. Sayers to Lois McMaster Bujold, and beyond.

[warriorsavant]

I do like cross-genre if they are done well. Have to have BOTH (or all) parts done well.

[madfilkentist]

I don't watch TV in the strict sense these days. Occasionally a Netflix or Disney series interests me. I don't have them myself but watch them when I'm at V's house. "The Three Body Problem" wasn't bad; it changed some things from the book and used a little from the second book, but it kept the spirit. "Resident Alien" was interesting. And I watch a lot of nonfiction in German on YouTube to improve my language skills and general knowledge.

My current reading stack includes Finding Magic by Tanya Huff, Lord of the Rings in German, and Guardians of Lorr by Roberta Rogow.

[filkferengi]

We've only recently gotten Netflix, and are slowly exploring options there. I'm more interested in comedy specials, whereas my spouse initially got it for the wrestling cards. [I have frequently said, as long as wrestling is badly written, badly choreographed, badly costumed, badly coiffed, we will never run out of things to talk about. ;) ]

Tanya Huff's wonderful. I have lots by her, but haven't read anything by her in years. It was a great relief when she started putting out collections of her short stories. It's so convenient, having them all in one place. I have _Lord of the Rings_ in French, in one large, gorgeous hardback, illustrated by Alan Lee. I'm way behind on getting caught up with Roberta's books.

As I mentioned, ever since Covid, I'm rereading favorite series far more frequently. Have you experienced something similar?

[gorgeousgary]

Even with relatively decent hands and eyes, reading physical books can be inconvenient. I feel like there are an increasing number of books that make we want to burst into a recital of Tom Digby's Little Teeny Eyes. I think Filthy Pierre's Microfilk had bigger print than one or two paper books I've read in the last couple of years.

[filkferengi]

Have you checked out the paperbacks from the '70s? When full novels were under 150 pages, & the print was both inchy and squinchy?