So many many times, I will pass up a book because I don’t think it’s in a genre I want to read. Every now and again, though, I like to push that, though I will often need a nudge. A friend of mine reads across the board. We were at Barnes and noble after dinner one night and she picked up a big, fat paranormal and raved about it. I don’t know what compelled me, but I thought, what the hell…

The book: Deborah’s Harkness’ A Discovery Of Witches. The reason why this is a big deal to me, I tend to have a problem suspending disbelief. I will find holes in books and/or movies with a paranormal bent. Sometimes my logic is solid and sound (and I will argue it until I am out of breath) and sometimes, I think I pokes holes because I just don’t “get it”. So when I started out reading this new book, I had little hope of finishing it.

I will admit, I started off slowly. I read one chapter a day for about a week. I was reading another book at the time-I thought one chapter at a time would get me through the book so I could tell my friends that I’d read it. Somewhere around chapter 8 or 9 the world became real, I found no holes to speak of and I couldn’t wait to read the next chapter. I finished the book in just a couple of days-did I mention how big the danged book was! 576 pages. Trade paperback size. That’s a lot!

When I got to the end I was proud I’d done it, like I said, it’s not my genre. Not my first, second or even third pick of genre and I’d opened myself up to it. And enjoyed the hell out of the book, so much so, I did pick up book two in the trilogy a few days ago and am 3/4 of the way through it (it’s just as danged big, BTW). I am certain book 3 will follow shortly there after-well, shortly there after it’s published and ready to go. (Had I know I’d love it so much and had I known I’d get book 2 and then have to *wait* for book 3, I may have pushed it back to read them all at once.)

But who could have known?!?!

What have you read lately to challenge yourself? Were you pleasantly surprised? Will you try another book in that genre? or a different genre entirely?