I took the quiz and got yellow, which made perfect sense to me as a certified big feelings reader. For me, I think it's less about genre and more about style and tone? And I do think part of knowing yourself as a reader is knowing the right ways to push yourself!
I totally agree that for me it's more about tone and style, and I think this quiz does a good job of touching on that. And I love your point about knowing how to push yourself!
Love this way of looking at "types". I was surprised taking the Color quiz about the "would definitely not read this" choice. I would almost never say that! (and to be fair, I did select that option about one of those CEO/self-help books) I also came out Blue with a lot of Purple. and his fiction recs are spot on ... not so sure about the non-fiction. I really just love having another source of book recommendations! I'm thinking that 10-years ago me would not have typed that way. I used to seek out fun, "easier" books, and now I ... don't. I have more time to read now, and enjoy challenging myself with style, structure, and theme. Also, I think your book club invites many different perspectives (on life and on reading) and that also broadens my perspective.
I went into the test thinking the same thing as Mary...that there were very few books I would say I'd NEVER read. But during the test I was more in line with you and Christie! I selected that as an answer way more than I anticipated. It can be hard with a one sentence description though! While I stand by a lot of my "would definitely not reads," if I had more information about the tone or the structure or if a favorite author were to somehow write a book with that plot line, maybe I would try it!
I found most of the descriptions really naff so I'd probably NOT read any of them, but I tried to decipher the meaning behind each summary to see what kind of book it was implying when answering :D
I have so many thoughts on the interplay of "types", algorithms, and identity! To answer your question think it's helpful and important to know yourself as a reader, but limiting to box yourself in.
I have always been a broad reader. While I have things I tend to read more of I always say nothing is off limits (OK, maaaybe self-help, it would be an Everest-like feat to talk me into self-help 😅) and I tend to read a mix of genres. Some of my best reading experiences have happened when I take a chance on (or am talked into) books I might think of as outside my wheelhouse.
I think the nature of algorithms push people into boxes to our detriment on many levels. I also think it's somewhat easier to interact within the book community when you have a specific type/brand/niche. It's harder for people (or the algorithm) to connect with content or know what you're about at a glance when it's less specific.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Stephanie! I definitely agree, especially about how some of my best reading experiences have been risks!
Your last paragraph is exactly what concerns me. I just think that limiting ourselves or boxing ourselves in for ease of being understood is part of a larger issue of lack of nuance.
I agree that if we stay within the bounds of what “type” of reader we are, then we are less likely to grow as a reader. I do however find that I am a “mood” reader and occasionally find that I’m not in the mood for a growth stretching read every week. After a heady book I often need something purely fun.( not that heady isn’t fun).
I also love these kind of quizzes, and also came out as Blue with a strong side of Purple (unsurprisingly as I really chime with your taste in books Sara). I eagerly looked at the linked Substack and am curious to try some of the suggestions. But… is it just me or does it feel weirdly “a bit AI”. Not sure what it is about it but it just feels a bit like he’s asked chatGPT to recommend books based on these colour categories. I’m probably being unfair to the guy.. and I know it’s a different sort of Substack to Sara’s but the contrast underlines why I LOVE the FM Substack so much. I’m struggling to articulate what it is about FM that I value so much.. the distillation of years of engaging with books and readers, the hows and whys of the (necessarily flawed) human endeavour of reading and the depth of thought and insightful analysis. Erm something like that.
I have the same feeling, Niamh! I mean, quite frankly, there's just no way someone could recommend 18 books a week based on such specific categories by only considering books they've personally read or know about! I think it's fine to use tech to recommend books, but, as with everything touched by AI, I feel some concern about it especially if it impacts real people's ability to do this work. But I hope there will always be room and an audience for deep reflections about the hows and whys of reading! Thank you for the kind words and for reading along!
I also got Blue and Purple and I feel like we are such different readers. So I was shocked by that. When I looked through I think I'm much more of a green reader than purple.
This is something I've been thinking a lot about recently. I study literature, so most of what I read are classics or modern classics, a.k.a. books that "everyone" agrees are good or at least influential/valuable. I also want to read books that are more out of the box, but I don't have so much free reading time, so I often find myself reaching for books that I know I will enjoy...
Yes! I had the same experience as a student. I didn't think much about my personal taste because everything I read was deemed worthwhile by experts! But I actually think that is a great way to begin developing personal taste because taste is largely built on knowledge. With a wide breadth of literary knowledge, you can better formulate your own opinions about what's worthwhile.
I have always struggled to categorised my reading, but it turns out I'm a purple reader, which actually explains a whole lot and also why I don't have a lane to stick to. I'm thrilled to finally have a description of myself as a reader that feels just right.
I am also blue with a heavy dose of purple! Makes sense for what I’m drawn to. But I always say, I will read anything. If I get a recommendation, whether it’s fiction, non-fic, genre, if someone recommends something for being thoughtful, intentional, novel, or even just sticking with them in a distinct way, I will read it!
I think this quiz would be great for someone who hasn't read in a while or wants to start reading more. I am pretty confident in what I like, but I was curious and took the quiz anyway. I was surprised that I got Purple as my highest; I was expecting Blue, like you, but that was my second. The recommendations for me were all postmodern lit, which I actually detest (except for Kurt Vonnegut).
Here's what I think the limit of this quiz, and many like it, is: all of the prompts were about concepts. There was little to no detail about the prose (which, of course, is almost impossible to provide, since these books aren't supposed to be real), and prose quality might be the single most important factor in whether I'll like a book. If I could have guaranteed that some of these prompts were about well-written books, I'd probably have said I'd read them. But for some I thought "hmm, that COULD be literary, but it might just be written like a Hallmark movie!" The high-concept ones sounded cooler to me, but since I don't know what these hypothetical books' writing is like, I have no idea whether I'll like them! I've been hoodwinked before by a book that sounded really cool but whose writing style I don't enjoy.
I totally agree with you about not letting a test define you. It's good for a guideline, but I think it might lead to people missing out on books they might love!
You hit the nail right on the head!!! I love all personality quizzes, but the crucial thing to remember is that they don't actually define my personality. Nor should they, because we are complex humans that cannot be defined so neatly — no matter how fun the concept! I also like the concept of this particular color quiz to give you something to read when you just need a book you know you're going to like, but yeah, you're not discovering much of anything new if you actually take it seriously. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, as always!
I got blue, too. I’m a sucker for a fun quiz. I do think knowing your identity as a reader can be helpful. I work in high school libraries, and I see patrons come in all the time and they’re clueless about what books to try or what genres they might like. Establishing some kind of reading identity can help you make better choices and lead you to books you’ll actually enjoy, not just titles you think you should be reading. For me, I like having a strong reading identity while still leaving room for surprises and mood reading.
I took this quiz immediately (my students are working on something -- they're FINE...) and I was 90% blue and 65% purple. I expected to match yours because I tend to share your opinions about a lot of the books you talk about and we seem to have similar tastes. I think about this sort of thing a lot but I've also lately realized that I was just as good (or probably better) at choosing my own books before I gave so much thought to it. I'm thinking back to when I didn't listen to book podcasts or think about new releases and I just went to a bookstore or library and picked up what looked interesting. It was always emotionally devastating literary fiction, to be honest, and now I get distracted and pick up things I should know by now won't work for me (why oh why would I ever pick up another thriller, for example?) Anyway, yes, like in everything else, we're probably overthinking this to our detriment.
I took the quiz and got yellow, which made perfect sense to me as a certified big feelings reader. For me, I think it's less about genre and more about style and tone? And I do think part of knowing yourself as a reader is knowing the right ways to push yourself!
I totally agree that for me it's more about tone and style, and I think this quiz does a good job of touching on that. And I love your point about knowing how to push yourself!
I am a yellow reader too.
Love this way of looking at "types". I was surprised taking the Color quiz about the "would definitely not read this" choice. I would almost never say that! (and to be fair, I did select that option about one of those CEO/self-help books) I also came out Blue with a lot of Purple. and his fiction recs are spot on ... not so sure about the non-fiction. I really just love having another source of book recommendations! I'm thinking that 10-years ago me would not have typed that way. I used to seek out fun, "easier" books, and now I ... don't. I have more time to read now, and enjoy challenging myself with style, structure, and theme. Also, I think your book club invites many different perspectives (on life and on reading) and that also broadens my perspective.
Mary, I selected would definitely not read this for about half of the books 🤣
I went into the test thinking the same thing as Mary...that there were very few books I would say I'd NEVER read. But during the test I was more in line with you and Christie! I selected that as an answer way more than I anticipated. It can be hard with a one sentence description though! While I stand by a lot of my "would definitely not reads," if I had more information about the tone or the structure or if a favorite author were to somehow write a book with that plot line, maybe I would try it!
I found most of the descriptions really naff so I'd probably NOT read any of them, but I tried to decipher the meaning behind each summary to see what kind of book it was implying when answering :D
this is why reading with y'all is so much fun!
Me too!!
Same.
I have so many thoughts on the interplay of "types", algorithms, and identity! To answer your question think it's helpful and important to know yourself as a reader, but limiting to box yourself in.
I have always been a broad reader. While I have things I tend to read more of I always say nothing is off limits (OK, maaaybe self-help, it would be an Everest-like feat to talk me into self-help 😅) and I tend to read a mix of genres. Some of my best reading experiences have happened when I take a chance on (or am talked into) books I might think of as outside my wheelhouse.
I think the nature of algorithms push people into boxes to our detriment on many levels. I also think it's somewhat easier to interact within the book community when you have a specific type/brand/niche. It's harder for people (or the algorithm) to connect with content or know what you're about at a glance when it's less specific.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Stephanie! I definitely agree, especially about how some of my best reading experiences have been risks!
Your last paragraph is exactly what concerns me. I just think that limiting ourselves or boxing ourselves in for ease of being understood is part of a larger issue of lack of nuance.
I agree that if we stay within the bounds of what “type” of reader we are, then we are less likely to grow as a reader. I do however find that I am a “mood” reader and occasionally find that I’m not in the mood for a growth stretching read every week. After a heady book I often need something purely fun.( not that heady isn’t fun).
That makes sense to me! And as a mood reader as well I agree that sometimes I just need something fun!
I also love these kind of quizzes, and also came out as Blue with a strong side of Purple (unsurprisingly as I really chime with your taste in books Sara). I eagerly looked at the linked Substack and am curious to try some of the suggestions. But… is it just me or does it feel weirdly “a bit AI”. Not sure what it is about it but it just feels a bit like he’s asked chatGPT to recommend books based on these colour categories. I’m probably being unfair to the guy.. and I know it’s a different sort of Substack to Sara’s but the contrast underlines why I LOVE the FM Substack so much. I’m struggling to articulate what it is about FM that I value so much.. the distillation of years of engaging with books and readers, the hows and whys of the (necessarily flawed) human endeavour of reading and the depth of thought and insightful analysis. Erm something like that.
I have the same feeling, Niamh! I mean, quite frankly, there's just no way someone could recommend 18 books a week based on such specific categories by only considering books they've personally read or know about! I think it's fine to use tech to recommend books, but, as with everything touched by AI, I feel some concern about it especially if it impacts real people's ability to do this work. But I hope there will always be room and an audience for deep reflections about the hows and whys of reading! Thank you for the kind words and for reading along!
I also got Blue and Purple and I feel like we are such different readers. So I was shocked by that. When I looked through I think I'm much more of a green reader than purple.
I’m not surprised your results are off because all of the nonfiction examples in the quiz sounded so bad!
Correct. I didn't ever click I would for sure read any of the books.
This is something I've been thinking a lot about recently. I study literature, so most of what I read are classics or modern classics, a.k.a. books that "everyone" agrees are good or at least influential/valuable. I also want to read books that are more out of the box, but I don't have so much free reading time, so I often find myself reaching for books that I know I will enjoy...
Yes! I had the same experience as a student. I didn't think much about my personal taste because everything I read was deemed worthwhile by experts! But I actually think that is a great way to begin developing personal taste because taste is largely built on knowledge. With a wide breadth of literary knowledge, you can better formulate your own opinions about what's worthwhile.
Blue reader here with a heavy dose of "rainbow". :) Blue description very accurate as to my preferred books.
I have always struggled to categorised my reading, but it turns out I'm a purple reader, which actually explains a whole lot and also why I don't have a lane to stick to. I'm thrilled to finally have a description of myself as a reader that feels just right.
I am also blue with a heavy dose of purple! Makes sense for what I’m drawn to. But I always say, I will read anything. If I get a recommendation, whether it’s fiction, non-fic, genre, if someone recommends something for being thoughtful, intentional, novel, or even just sticking with them in a distinct way, I will read it!
I love those adjectives too!
I took the test and got red. My secondary was blue. I read the descriptions and they seem to align pretty well with my reading preferences.
Yes I thought my description fit pretty well too! It's a fun test!
I think this quiz would be great for someone who hasn't read in a while or wants to start reading more. I am pretty confident in what I like, but I was curious and took the quiz anyway. I was surprised that I got Purple as my highest; I was expecting Blue, like you, but that was my second. The recommendations for me were all postmodern lit, which I actually detest (except for Kurt Vonnegut).
Here's what I think the limit of this quiz, and many like it, is: all of the prompts were about concepts. There was little to no detail about the prose (which, of course, is almost impossible to provide, since these books aren't supposed to be real), and prose quality might be the single most important factor in whether I'll like a book. If I could have guaranteed that some of these prompts were about well-written books, I'd probably have said I'd read them. But for some I thought "hmm, that COULD be literary, but it might just be written like a Hallmark movie!" The high-concept ones sounded cooler to me, but since I don't know what these hypothetical books' writing is like, I have no idea whether I'll like them! I've been hoodwinked before by a book that sounded really cool but whose writing style I don't enjoy.
I totally agree with you about not letting a test define you. It's good for a guideline, but I think it might lead to people missing out on books they might love!
You hit the nail right on the head!!! I love all personality quizzes, but the crucial thing to remember is that they don't actually define my personality. Nor should they, because we are complex humans that cannot be defined so neatly — no matter how fun the concept! I also like the concept of this particular color quiz to give you something to read when you just need a book you know you're going to like, but yeah, you're not discovering much of anything new if you actually take it seriously. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, as always!
I got blue, too. I’m a sucker for a fun quiz. I do think knowing your identity as a reader can be helpful. I work in high school libraries, and I see patrons come in all the time and they’re clueless about what books to try or what genres they might like. Establishing some kind of reading identity can help you make better choices and lead you to books you’ll actually enjoy, not just titles you think you should be reading. For me, I like having a strong reading identity while still leaving room for surprises and mood reading.
I took this quiz immediately (my students are working on something -- they're FINE...) and I was 90% blue and 65% purple. I expected to match yours because I tend to share your opinions about a lot of the books you talk about and we seem to have similar tastes. I think about this sort of thing a lot but I've also lately realized that I was just as good (or probably better) at choosing my own books before I gave so much thought to it. I'm thinking back to when I didn't listen to book podcasts or think about new releases and I just went to a bookstore or library and picked up what looked interesting. It was always emotionally devastating literary fiction, to be honest, and now I get distracted and pick up things I should know by now won't work for me (why oh why would I ever pick up another thriller, for example?) Anyway, yes, like in everything else, we're probably overthinking this to our detriment.
I did the quiz, and unsurprisingly I got all the readers types with 40-60% which confirms my suspicions that I'm pure chaos.