Blogger: Rachel Kent
Janet’s post about Downton Abbey got me thinking about what I like to watch on TV and if that translates into what I’m reading. I confess that I am not a fan of Downton Abbey, though I do enjoy reading historical romances with plots similar to events that happen on the show.
Publishing houses often look at popular shows and movies to determine what kinds of books will also be successful. Based on my preferences, I’m not sure that movie and TV viewing habits always translate into reading interests. I’ll describe my preferences a little bit, and I’d love to hear yours in the comments!
The way Downton Abbey is structured isn’t attractive to me. By that I mean there are so many characters, and the episodes connect as one long story like a soap opera. I prefer shows that can be enjoyed as single episodes because there are no cliff-hanger endings or loose ends. I like my TV shows to be pretty simple so that I can watch them off and on without committing a large amount of time.
I watch true crime shows more than anything else. I’m not sure why I like them so much, but I am fascinated by psychology, and abnormal psychology was one of my favorite classes in college. I don’t read true crime books at all.
As far as my movie preferences, I watch mostly romantic comedies. I don’t watch many deep movies–even though I can appreciate them when I do see them. I like using movies as a distraction from life; so I typically go for the feel-good flicks (not that I’m depressed or anything, I just don’t want to have to think while I watch). My husband is the opposite and always wants to learn something from shows and movies. We have to switch off with suffering through the other person’s movie pick. 🙂
I like the books I read to be deep and thought-provoking, but I like the stories with some romance in them the best. I like to experience emotional catharsis through reading more than through watching TV or movies, and I do most of my learning through reading as well.
So as far as I’m concerned, targeting my movie and TV preferences wouldn’t be a good move for the publishing houses if they were trying to predict my book purchases. My question is am I the only one like this? Do your TV and movie preferences line up with your reading interests?
and a second question to consider:
Are publishing houses making a mistake by looking to television and film to predict reading trends?
I’m looking forward to your responses!
This is really interesting. I haven’t thought of it before.
My husband loves true crime shows. Have you watched Dr. G Medical Examiner? It’s a goodie! He also likes shows that completely creep me out. (I Survived, Monsters Inside Me…) I don’t want to be terrified!
I don’t watch much scripted TV anymore, but I love a good comedy. I avoid the deep dramatic films for the same reason as you–I prefer lighter movies. I’ll always rent a romantic comedy!
Your husband and I have similar preferences! I like shows like Monsters Inside Me, I’m Alive and I Shouldn’t Be Alive too. I haven’t seen Dr. G. Medical Examiner. I wonder if it’s on Netflix? We don’t have cable.
If you like the I Survived and all that, you will enjoy Dr. G! I have to admit, she’s pretty cool. She does autopsies and solves how people died. I even enjoy her show! Try Netflix. 🙂
I guess my tv/movie picks do tend to aline with the books I read. Romance. Action or drama. Light or heavy. As long as the romance is well established, I will be happy. (A good example of it not being satisfying was Snow White and the Huntsman. Grrr. But that is for another Conversation).
The biggest obvious difference is that most of the books I read are Christian inspirational and the movies are not. But that is mainly do to availability and quality.
I do hear you on movie differences when it comes to my husband though. We rarely watch movies together. I know that sounds bad. But we have decided that it isn’t the best time together anyway. The funniest was a Valentine’s Day when we went to the theater and went to separate movies. They ran almost the same time. He walked me to my movie, sat by me, talking and holding my hand until the previews started and then left to go to his. When mine got over he was waiting at the door. Sounds crazy I know, but we loved it. We both loved our movies. The only drawback was that we couldn’t process the movie together afterward, but I don’t usually like his opinions on my movies anyway. 🙂
I love your solution to movie preferences…and I’m not exactly fond of My Sweet Husband’s opinions concerning my movie favorites either. We often find some common ground, but it takes a bit of work! LOL
Lol! I love your Valentine’s date! That is what we should do!
I LOVE that!!! Hey, whatever works. I’m not a big Valentines person myself, so we wouldn’t even do that. You’d think I would be given I LOVE a good romance. But I usually like the ones where the characters drop everything to be there for each other when they need it, rather than just buy flowers at an appointed day and time. But that’s just me :o).
That’s such an interesting thought!
I love documentaries and movies about social issues, and I love those kinds of book too.
I also really enjoy a good love story on tv, a movie, or a book. I’ve been known to watch youtube montages of my favorite love stories (don’t tell anyone.)
For me, they do line up. I’m interested to know if they do for others!
I’m curious now. You need to post a link to one of these montages!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQuk4oGwPw4
Here is an Anne and Gilbert one 🙂 Dare I admit to this?
Good topic, Rachel! I might find something to order on Netflix from the suggestions today!
As far as what I watch, I find documentaries to be fascinating (when they aren’t self-indulgent hipster-aware snoozers), am always willing to give something on the Criterion Collection a look, am a sucker for (well-done) romantic comedies or suspense (“His Girl Friday,” “North by Northwest”), and can appreciate the freedom that B-movies allow for the writers and actors to have fun.
Though I guess there’s some areas of divergence between what I watch and what I read, if only because there aren’t too many decent sci-fi, fantasy, or esoteric magical-realish films which aren’t, once more, self-indulgent hipster-aware snoozers.
“North By Northwest” was a great movie!! I hadn’t heard of the Criterion Collection, thanks for mentioning it.
Awesome! Always glad to help great movies get noticed. 🙂
We’ve been watching all of the health-nut documentaries these days. My husband’s favorite is Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead.
There really aren’t many good sic-fi movies!
Indeed! Though have you seen Cloud Atlas yet? Recent film that gets sci-fi right, and the book it’s based on is supposed to be pretty good also.
This was a thought provoking post, Rachel. I find that I am a multi-genre reader and movie watcher, within certain parameters. In my movies, I don’t like a lot of gore, sex or language. I’m not real into sci-fi, either. But I love, LOVE character-deepening movies–those that touch my head and my heart (Think “Remember the Titans.”).
For reading I read across genres as well. Character-strong stories with definite arcs are the ones that I like reading. 🙂
I agree with you completely, Rachel, on watching movies as a distraction from life. I think that’s why I prefer light-hearted movies. I’m not opposed to “heavy” movies, though, and that’s the same with my reading. It’s a difficult question because I can’t really categorize what I like. It just needs to be well-done.
I’ve never thought about it, but now that you mention it, that’s true for me too! I like to watch shows like Forensic Files, but I’ve never picked up a book about true crime. And I love Downton Abbey, but never read historical fiction. Interesting!
Strange, isn’t it?! Glad I’m not the only one. 🙂
Rachel, I didn’t know publishers looked to television and film to predict book trends…thanks for enlightening me.
I’m all over the board in book and movie selections. My only consistent choice in genre are cozy mysteries. And I never read or watch horror.
Many movies though, have been based on novels… The Life of Pi, The Hunger Games, The Help, The Hobbit…etc. I think the film industry finds wonderful stories in published form!
Thanks for a great post.
There was a time that every publisher was looking for a Downton Abbey-like book. They all have what they want at this point though (I think), so no use trying to write one, anyone. 🙂
I do love movies based on books quite often. But those are also the ones that frustrate me the most when they don’t stick to the storyline!
Rachel,
Like you, I have different tastes in movies and books. I actually love sci-fi movies, which means my husband and I can enjoy the same shows together 🙂 but the few sci-fi books I’ve tried, I’ve put down out of boredom. I want my books to run deep into real topics, to plumb the depths of the characters’ relationships, to make me ponder life. In my movies, I’m happy just to see the alien blown up and the girl kissed. So I guess I’m saying I want realistic books and fluffy movies. I read to stimulate my mind. I watch to give my mind a break. So, no, I don’t think publishers need to be looking to movies to determine which books will sell.
That’s a great way to put it! “I read to stimulate my mind. I watch to give my mind a break.”
That’s how I feel as well.
So, do you agree with the guy trying to re-sign me up for Direct TV who said I was limiting my life and exposure to good entertainment by NOT watching television?
🙂
I told him I used that time to write instead and I was a NYTimes best seller.
“Oh.”
What else could he say? 🙂
Michelle, what a great come-back! Way to leave him speechless! 😉
Such a thought-provoking post, Rachel. What I read and what I watch are usually very different. I’m crazy eclectic when it comes to what I watch…I enjoy Duck Dynasty every bit as much as DA, and can jump from either to House or Burn Notice without missing a beat. What I read, however, needs to be worth the time, probably because I am a slow reader. It needs to be worth the investment. I hate it when I come away from any sort of book, fiction or non, and think, “wow, I’m not any closer to Christ-like than when I started.” Having said that, I think it would be a travesty for the publishing world to focus solely on film/tv trends, especially the Christian publishing realm. There is something about the written word that can deliver an unparalleled richness. It should not be overlooked for the sake of pop-culture trends.
I do wonder, however,how much publishing can/ does determine film trends. Consider the popularity of Love Comes Softly, and the surprising success of the Kindrick Brother’s Sherwood Films. Perhaps these point to a hollow aching for something substantial in the entertainment industry. Could it be that the publishing world could set the standard, mark the trends, rather than follow them?
I think MANY movies are based on books and they do tend to do well. I think you are right that it works best when the book publishing world sets the trend.
Rachel, I have varied interests when it comes to television and books, but I do find that I gravitate toward specific things: old movie classics, romantic comedies, homespun nostalgia, and some suspense (but NOT horror).
I just finished reading Michael Reynold’s Flight of the Earls and I’d be thrilled to see that made into a movie!
And I’m over-the-moon excited about Debbie Macomber’s new series (based on her Cedar Cove books) coming soon on Hallmark.
I think trends are fickle and unpredictable to a degree, but worth bearing in mind when numbers remain steady for a given length of time.
I wonder if television panders too much to what they TELL US we should be watching. But I digress…
Thanks for the food for thought today!
I’m with you on the Cedar Cove excitement, Cynthia!
Yay, Debbie! That should be a fun series.
My bottom line, books or TV – entertain me. I look for beginning/middle/end stories that appeal to my mood of the moment. However, a TV program or movie that isn’t keeping my interest, *click”. Books are different story. Dreadful plot, horrid grammar, still…I must finish! I blame Catholic school.
I don’t believe pub houses are making a mistake per say by looking to TV and film for trends, basic math, hot trends sell. The trick is staying AHEAD of the trend, and unless you’ve got a wand and some fairy dust, good luck. What may be wiser is to re-brand (might have made that term up?) some classics in accordance with current trends. (Example – Downton craze – push historical fiction and piggyback a new author or two.)
I used to be that way with books, Kathryn. I had to finish even if it was awful. Because of my job, I’m much more used to reading just part of a story now and I can EASILY put a bad book down.
And yes! Most trends come and go before a book could even be released. Predicting trends is nearly impossible, but everyone is trying to do it!
Count me among the Downton fanatics, but I like shows/movies with big casts and ongoing stories. I also love all the historical detail–the vintage automobiles, clothing, jewelry, etc.
I really enjoy shows that are either science or history based. Medical dramas like House and Grey’s (though haven’t watched either in years, they got too weird), History Detectives on PBS, Lie to Me, etc. I’ve discovered that I really enjoy shows with intelligent (to the point of obnoxious) male leads: House, Sherlock, Doctor Who, Doc Martin, Lie to me. I’m a little concerned about what that says about me…
When I read, I gravitate toward historical romance. I do like some historical detail, but not too much. I haven’t found a writer who can pull off that obnoxious male lead. Maybe someone has a suggestion for me. 🙂
Lol! I can’t imagine enjoying a book with an annoying male OR female lead. Dr. House as a book character would likely drive me crazy.
I think my reading and TV preferences do match up to an extent. I love reading cozy mysteries and I watch mysteries on TV, though usually the grittier TV Crime shows, like Castle and Bones, since shows like Matlock and Murder She Wrote aren’t on anymore 🙂 I really enjoy the funny ones like Psych too.
But I also love the teen TV Dramas, which have more of a soap opera feel with all the drama. My current favorites are based on two book series by the same author. The TV episodes don’t follow the books exactly, but it creates an alternative story with the same characters and the same or similar situations.
The common thread I’ve seen in my writing, reading, and TV watching is that I do like to follow characters through their personal lives, whether their personal life is interspersed with finding a killer or with finding their real parents. I like seeing them grow, change, and backslide into their bad habits. While I write mostly stand-alone books at this point, since I’m as-yet unpublished, my love would be to create a long-term series, but the market doesn’t seem widely open to that right now.
Yes, long-term book series don’t seem to be too popular right now–at least with the publishers. There are probably bunches of readers out there who love them.
I’m one of those readers who loves a long-term book series. Marilyn Meredith, who also writes under the name F.M. Meredith writes crime dramas/police procedurals. Marilyn’s Deputy Tempe Crabtree series follows the female Native American deputy of Bear Creek, a small mountain community in the southern Sierras. As F.M., she writes the Rocky Bluff P.D. series, which features several recurring characters. Tempe has 12 books and Rocky Bluff 8, the latest of which I am reading now.
What a great topic. Like always, I am a mixed bag, because if publishing houses look at my TV choices they only have a 50% chance of being right. 🙂
I grew up in the era of Bonanza and Little House on the Prairie. In the 90s, there was Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. But Deadwood did nothing for me. I’m tired of all the cuss words and sex that make up the grittier shows. Give me more drama and hold the swearing. I think that’s what’s attractive to me about Downton Abbey is that it’s high on the drama, we don’t see naked people, and every character doesn’t say the “F” word at least once an episode. Because I want to get invested in my characters and follow their journeys, I don’t mind the longer stories versus one episode resolutions. It actually irritates me when TV writers forget something that happened in the past for future episodes (Like when Royal Wilder appeared with two pre-teen boys in Season 7 of LHOP, but returned with no boys and a 10– or 11-year-old girl in Season 9).
Though I enjoy shows like Law and Order and CSI, I would much prefer a cozy mystery on my bookshelf than crime drama. On the flip side, Argo, Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s List, and The Patriot are some of my favorite movies, and books similar to this would be attractive to me.
Thanks for getting me thinking today.
I liked Little House on the Prairie too. My mom got all of them on DVD when they came out around 2000 and we watched them together. Fun! I didn’t notice Royal Wilder’s missing boys though…
Hm. Good question, Rachel. I think my book/TV tendencies do line up somewhat–I like plotlines I can’t figure out. Thus my obsession w/Heroes (back in the day), Grimm (now), and Psych. Sometimes I do watch lighter fare, esp. when I’ve had a rough day. In real life, on days like that, I tend to play video games instead of read something light.
And reading–love Agatha Christie, suspense…spec fic. But mostly classics. I guess I do love quite a few classic films, like Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Niagara…stuff like that.
And as far as TV/movie trends predicting books’ success…still hoping the release of the second Thor movie, coupled with the Viking miniseries coming in March on History Channel, will funnel some attention toward my beloved VIKINGS. Sometimes the interest is there, but the publishers haven’t tapped into it/aren’t aware of it–and sometimes, they’re too late to the party! Hee.
“In real life, on days like that, I tend to play video games instead of read something light.”
Interesting! In regards to that and the topic of todays’ blog, I’d suggest “Indie Games: The Movie.”
Found it to be a fascinating documentary that, besides a few qualms I have such as a few concepts that it didn’t fully explore, showed some parallels between that industry and the independent authors of today.
Interesting, Larry! Video game creators have to be imaginative too–at least the best games are.
There are some overlaps between what I watch and what I read. However, if publishers were to target me based on my preferences, they’d be flooding me with sci-fi books that I don’t read, and historical fiction I don’t watch LOL.
I watch and read suspense/thrillers, but not always in the same subgenres. E.g. I read medical thrillers, but I don’t watch medical type movies (I’ll make an exception for Richard Mabry when they adapt his novels). With the family, we watch sci-fi, but I don’t read sci-fi.
The converse is probably truer, as others have pointed out. A movie might get more audience if adapted from a trending popular novel. E.g. I’m a fan of Joseph Finder’s suspense novels, and I know I’m going to see his Paranoia thriller when it comes out in the theaters. I read medieval history, so I will see any Tolkien movie or Merlin TV shows…
I’m sure Richard appreciates that you like his books enough to make that exception! 🙂
Jan, do you every watch the series, Warehouse 13? If you like to watch sci-fi, you may enjoy it. I think it is a great, imaginative show.
Rachel, you said, “The way Downton Abbey is structured isn’t attractive to me. By that I mean there are so many characters, and the episodes connect as one long story like a soap opera. I prefer shows that can be enjoyed as single episodes because there are no cliff-hanger endings or loose ends. I like my TV shows to be pretty simple so that I can watch them off and on without committing a large amount of time.”
This is me exactly! Which is why I almost never watch TV but I love movies. 🙂 The few times I watched bits of Downton Abbey, I thought it was too soap-opera-ish. 🙂
Glad you feel the same way! 🙂
My husband and I both enjoyed the PBS documentaries by Ken Burns about Prohibition and The Dust Bowl. My eight year old and I love the Planet Earth and Life series. I like how The Wonder Years captured the essence of the late 60s and 70s. Learning something new about a certain time in history or unique places scattered around the world piques my curiosity and makes me want to discover more.
My movie preferences range from The Wedding Singer to The King’s Speech, from The Secret Garden to Serendipity.
I read to learn, and I read to escape to a place that makes me smile, where I can gain a bit more courage to gracefully live my story outside the pages.
Hi Rachel – I also like to watch “guess who did it ” crime shows. I have a flat screen in my *DH.
One Question: How come the culprit is always a person or wild animal or an out of control tractor?
How about just once, Horatio Caine – takes off his dark (very dark) glasses and says, with dramatic flair:
“Let’s go arrest the killer, the doggie did it!”
*DH = Dog House
I read a mystery, “Death by Dressage” by Carolyn Bank, where the horse acutally commited the murder. Note, I am not being a spoiler since the question was why and how the horse committed the murder.
My movie and book choices are similar. It MUST have a thoughtful romance and touch my heart in some way. I work in the mental health field, so I don’t want too much of what I see at work, but if you do touch on those issues, don’t make them fix simply. At least a touch of humor is always appreciated. Put all those together and you have my ideal story, whether in book, TV or movie.
I almost never watch TV, except for DVDs of shows from the ’60s (Perry Mason, The Virginian, Daniel Boone, Andy Griffith, et. al.) I read theology, apologetics, and an occasional novel.
Not at all. I like to watch scifi, mystery, and a few cop shows, but I like to read historical and historical romance. Very occasionally I’ll read a historical mystery series, like the Brother Cadfaels, but I’ll read them more for the historical setting than the mystery element. I have never enjoyed reading science fiction.
But that’s just TV. When it comes to movies, they line up more with my reading habits. I like historical movies. Last of the Mohicans, that sort.
Rachel, I’m so glad I’m not the only one who hasn’t jumped on the DA wagon! Normally, I’m a big fan of Masterpiece Theatre, but I just haven’t been able to connect with Downton. I think, like you, it has a lot to do with the number of characters. And I’ve never connected with any of them. I could name a few characters I definitely don’t like but none I really do.
And I also like to watch true crime shows, but only the ones that are about the investigation. I cannot watch any that focus on the killer, some to a point where it seems they’re glorifying the evil. Shows like Deadly Women, Criminal Minds & The Following come to mind.
Other than that, my reading, TV & movie choices have two basic qualities in common: humor and at least a little romance. But I will watch a wider variety than what I’ll read. For instance, when it comes to movies I enjoy everything from Ever After to Lord of the Rings to Star Wars. And I love superhero movies like The Avengers. But most of the books I read are historical Christian romance.
I don’t know that publishing houses are making a mistake by looking at current film & TV trends. But if that’s all they do it certainly shows a lack of imagination. Personally, I’d rather set a trend than follow one.
My TV viewing habits tend to be what my family wants to watch or is appropriate for teenagers. I do have one vice, though, and that is Person of Interest. My husband says he doesn’t get the show. It can be pretty violent and I’m not into that. I think I’m interested in watching Jim Caviezel. LOL! I tend to like romantic comedies as well, although my husband and I went to see the movie Impossible recently and absolutely LOVED it, though the subject was difficult. My reading habits range from contemporary women’s fiction/romance to historical romance. Like you, I enjoy a story with romance, although it may be a subplot. Fascinating subject, Rachel.
Hi Rachel, I agree with you that I like my books to be deep and thought provoking. I do enjoy historical fiction as well, such as hilary mantel. Love her! Ref Downton Abbey, thought you might find this amusing:
http://diaryofanexpatinsingapore.blogspot.sg/2013/02/if-downton-abbey-were-set-in-singapore.html
Cheers, Jennifer
Laughing is always a good pastime.
Great question, Rachel! I’m very much like you in this regard. I like my television/movies to be lighthearted, with a touch of romance and mystery. I want to be entertained and not think too deeply about it. As for fiction reading I prefer old romantic mysteries, but spend a fair amount of time reading nonfiction.
Oops, forgot to add my 2 cents. Whatever publishing houses do, I hope they don’t start adding “reality show” books to their repertoire. I really can’t stand that garbage. But, and here’s the key, that stuff would not be on TV if there were not a huge audience for it. I can only assume that will prove profitable in books eventually as well.
My movie tastes and book tastes definitely line up. So far this year I have greatly enjoyed “Beautiful Creatures” and, much to my surprise, “Warm Bodies”. Classic favorites include “Gattaca” and “K-Pax”. My favorite books range from C.S. Lewis’s space trilogy to “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Dumas; growing up I favored L’Engle and Stephen Lawhead’s traditional fantasy. I would love to see more movies made from Asimov’s lesser known works (“Pebble in the Sky” would be a great place to start and is very timely for our age); my own writing is in the character-driven science fiction style he used in his best stories — at least, that is what I strive for!