MP 4-- 3rd Post -- Out of Comfort Zone Book

Today you are going to reflect upon your out of comfort zone book.  Please address the following topics in your post.

• Provide a brief summary "teaser" in which you identify the title, author, and genre and in which you explain what the book is about -- no spoilers.
• Share your personal reaction to the book -- what do you see as its strengths and weaknesses, what did you think of it, to whom would you recommend the book?
• Explain how the book is out of your comfort zone-- what is your comfort zone, how is this book out of your comfort zone, how did this affect your reading, what are your thoughts now on this particular genre?

Out of my Comfort Zone--  Fantasy-Horror

Paranormal creatures are definitely out of my comfort zone.  The above three books are fairly recent additions to the horror genre with the Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch falling into the urban fantasy sub-genre.  I must confess that I was not able to read all three in their entirety.  Rivers of London and Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter were read as part of this class but Pride and Prejudice and Zombies I never finished.  All three books explore the concept of paranormal beings interjecting themselves into the human world and the conflicts that arise.

As you probably know by now, paranormal beings are not my thing as I am easily scared.  However, I have been willing to step out of my comfort zone and read about them.  In some ways, if I can get over being "scared" these books can also be humorous as their plots tend to be far-fetched.  Their satire is also to be appreciated.  Both Rivers of London and Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter would appeal to readers of fantasy and horror but also to readers of detective fiction as the main character in each seeks to solve mysteries and seek out the bad guys-- ghosts and vampires.   Readers who like history or the O'Reilly killing series might like the Abraham Lincoln book as it is another "spin" on history. As a an avid Jane Austen fan, I started to read the zombie book but for some reason never finished it. I still have it and plan to finish it one day -- the plot starts out following Austen's book which made it interesting for someone who is familiar with Austen's work.

Paranormal beings,  as stated before, are not my thing.  There are several other genres I prefer such as crime fiction and popular fiction;  and, with little time to read during the school year, I am more inclined to read different books than those in the horror genre. However, I cannot deny that these books can be a fun read and are certainly imaginative.  I particularly appreciate how Seth Grahame Smith weaves in history and literature with his horror plots.  His imagination and creativity are extraordinary and clever.  My ventures into this genre have enabled me to expand my reading and help me to connect with friends and students who enjoy this genre on a regular basis whether it be through reading or film.  Checking out what others enjoy is not a bad thing and benefits all involved.  The world would be a narrow place if we did not occasionally step out of our comfort zone and experience what it has to offer.