Are Your Interrests the same in real life as what you read?

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Sun September 7th, 2008, 1:15 am

Just thought I would put that question out there. I generally like to escape reality when I choose reading literature. That is why I am attracted to Historical Fiction. It is so different from my everyday life. But some of the characters that I really am drawn to in literature, I must say I would probably hate in real life. How about the rest of you?

Divia · Post by **Divia** » Sun September 7th, 2008, 3:03 am

Well, sometimes I dislike them, but most of the times I like the otherwise I couldnt read the book

I finished the Tsar's Dwarf and I hated her character which made teh book difficult.

I also like HF cause I was a history teacher and have my BA in History.

Telynor · Post by **Telynor** » Sun September 7th, 2008, 4:38 am

That's a good question. It's funny -- in real life, I ended up getting my degree in Mathematics and Computer Science, not art or history. For a hobby, I picked up historical reenactments, and dove right into the middle ages, and started to pick up the skills and knowledge that a woman would have had then. Now that I am 'retired,' I do quite a bit of cooking and embroidery, not to mention reading and writing. So it's hard to say, really. Now I have the freedom, somewhat, to do as I please.

Lady of the Forest · Post by **Lady of the Forest** » Sun September 7th, 2008, 4:47 am

I am pretty much obcessed with all things of the past, and history, and have been for a long time. Much of the poetry I write tends to reflect the style of the romantics, I prefer it over most contempary poetry. I love to do the Ren fairs, and other simillar things, and I have been known to wear a cape in public when it was not halloween, I am also a collector of weaponary, and I want to learn archery I also thought it would be cool to be a falconeer, and jousting is one of my favorite sports.

LCW · Post by **LCW** » Sun September 7th, 2008, 6:44 pm

My real life has nothing to do with the fiction I read. I do read non-fiction science related books as well as lots of journal articles but that's really to keep up with current knowledge in my field and other scientific disciplines. In fact, I'm probably drawn to HF because it is so different from my daily life that it's easier for me to be transported to another place and time while I read for pleasure.

nona · Post by **nona** » Tue October 14th, 2008, 3:21 pm

better late then never...

As a pre teen my love for history drove me to want to be a history teacher for high school students or middle school. I excelled in it and I read everything the library had to offer, but with age life changed. I still day dream of myself as a teacher or professor of History but for now thats out of the question so every night I settle down with a little key in the form of a book that opens that historical portal for me and I escape for a time.

donroc · Post by **donroc** » Tue October 14th, 2008, 3:30 pm

I majored and have a degree in History, taught European and U.S. and World History, and have never stopped reading History. I write Historcal Fiction too. The only thing I have not done regarding History is make it. But, some of my avatars may.

Leyland · Post by **Leyland** » Tue October 14th, 2008, 5:29 pm

My interests and HF do coincide whenever I visit museums or historical sites. Unfortunately I can't visit those in Europe, South America and Asia on the occasional weekend as I can now in Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama. Well, I could do Europe for a long weekend if I had a personal jet, but that isn't gonna happen.

Otherwise, I read a lot of urban fantasy (like Patricia Briggs) and I really don't get to hang with werewolves and vamps in real life all that much. Unless I actually am and that wolf just ain't talking about it.

Julianne Douglas · Post by **Julianne Douglas** » Tue October 14th, 2008, 7:54 pm

Unfortunately, yes, my interests and my reading/writing completely overlap. Sometimes I do wish they were different. They've remained constant over the years, though, so I doubt they're going to change much at this late date.

Somebody mentioned above how they read about people they'd probably hate in real life. I'm in a similar situation now, about to write a novel about someone I'd probably have a hard time admiring in person. I hope I can pull it off...

JMJacobsen · Post by **JMJacobsen** » Tue October 14th, 2008, 9:27 pm

I suppose my interests are certainly the same, I am certainly obsessed with history. Unfortunately, my day-job only encompasses math and science, with a bunch of technology thrown in for good measure. Hard to find any historical relevance there.

Oh well...if I were forced to rely on my historical interests for a living, perhaps it wouldn't be so enjoyable anymore.