Thanks to all those who took the time to
take part, which I found interesting.
More than one category could be ticked in answer to each question.
The
main age group of my readers was
between 36 and 50.
Then 51 – 65, closely followed by 20 –35.
Only a few were aged over 65.
All were female.
Most
of you choose a book by a favourite author.
The second consideration is the cover, followed by a recommendation.
The influence of a prize or review is the least important.
The
most popular period for a saga was WWII; followed by 20s and 30s; post war;
Victorian; Edwardian and WWI.
The
level of sex was overwhelmingly ‘As appropriate’, followed by tender.
Raunchy was the least popular choice.
The level of violence was again overwhelmingly for ‘As appropriate’ followed by little or none at all. A few people voted for fairly graphic. Since I don’t write graphic novels people who do enjoy these elements in a story would be unlikely to be one of my readers.
Others
genres read include in order of popularity:
Modern family sagas.
Romance and Chic Lit.
Historical fiction.
Crime and thrillers.
Misery memoirs.
Other, which included non-fiction, autobiography, and westerns.
Most
people in this survey borrow books from the library.
When buying books, the supermarket is the first port of call.
A bookshop and the internet were next, almost neck and neck.
Borrowed from a friend.
Book club.
Some
of your reasons for reading sagas included:
Escapism.
Pleasure. Enjoyment.
To relax and unwind. You
love books which help you to escape from life’s pressures because they make
you feel good and put a smile on your face. You like reading true-to-life
stories about real people and being transported to another world.
Stories set in the past which are hard to put down and have a positive
outcome in the end. A feel good
ending. You want to like the
characters. You enjoy good light
reading, often to add some romance to your own life.
You like the book to be interesting and admire the research.
Some of you particularly enjoy the nostalgic aspect of sagas, reminding
you of childhood memories and happy times long gone, and about places which are
familiar to you. ‘Transports me
back to when England was so, so much better,’ said one reader.
Thank
you for including me in your list of favourite authors:
Others named were:
Maeve Binchy; Elizabeth Elgin; Maureen Lee; Meg Hutchinson; Rosie Goodwin; Jack
Higgins; Sandra Brown; Anna Jacobs; Lyn Andrews; Josephine Cox; Jill Mansell;
Sue Grafton; Danielle Steele; Lesley Pearse; Rosie Harris; Joanna Trollope;
Audrey Howard; Wendy Holden; Marie Joseph; Rita Bradshaw; Sheelagh Kelly; Annie
Groves; Gaelen Foley; Joan Jonker; Catherine Cookson; Nora Roberts; Rebecca
Shaw; Brad Meltzer; Dee Williams; Mandasue Heller; Doris Davidson; Elizabeth
Chadwick; Anne Bennett; Peter Robinson; Sally Spencer; Linda Howard; Loretta
Chase; Sophie Kinsella; Annie Murray; Tory Hayden; Pamela Evans; Ruth Hamilton;
Valerie Wood; Ruth Rendall; John Grisham; Katie Flynn; Rosie Harris; Maggie
Bennett; Geraldine O’Neil; David Feintuch; Lillian Harry; Victor Pemberton;
Alex McCall Smith.
The
draw for the Readers' Survey
was won by
Joy Park from South
Australia. Congratulations Joy!
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