Has your reading taste changed over the years? If so, how?
Has your reading taste changed over the years? If so, how?
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Has your reading taste changed over the years? If so, how?
Years ago, I’d never touch a nonfiction book aside from a required textbook. As the years have worn on, I’ve found myself more inclined to pick up select nonfiction material (reading some in part and others from cover to cover). The last nonfiction book I chewed up and a lathe book. There was a ton of useful information in it.
It’s consistently stayed the same. I’ve just found authors who have expanded my interest.
Good question! I think I read more fantasy now. When I was younger, it was more literary fiction and classics, and I still do read those, but I see so many interesting sci-fi or fantasy stories being published, and I find myself interested in ones that first came out in the 50s or 60s as well. I think it must have started with Harry Potter, which I didn’t read until I was in my 20s. I’m also reading more series than I would have when I was younger as well.
On the fiction side of things, my reading habits have remained pretty consistent. I love horror (as if nobody could tell from my recent post). Authors name get added the to list, but it is mostly horror. Of course, there are always exceptions.
As we grow, life experiences are accumulated, some books I reread can have better understanding than before
Looking back, there are a few that I’ve read that I wouldn’t mind revisiting when the time allowed.
Yeah, but I don’t read much ‘cliché’ books that more or less can be guessed from beginning till end, so non-fictions can be surprises than fictions
Fair enough. It been said that every tale has already been told. But the difference is the way it’s been told. You are right, though, that non-fictions can bring surprises.
@Nathon True it depends on the skill of the authors
Yes, I read fewer classics and more current or contemporary fiction
I would say that I do too. But there are some classics you just can’t get away from.
Less patient.
Please explain.
@Nathon don’t like all the background like what happened 40 years ago
Ah! So if I’m understand you right, you prefer the author to get straight to the story, and stay on course without a bunch of flashbacks and side stepping. That’s understandable.
I used to only read romance but in the past year or so I have taken quite a liking to psychological thrillers also – which came as a surprise.
I used to devour romances; historical, supernatural, just as long as it was romance. Every now and then, I would branch into sci-fi. Nowadays, it seems as if the romance genre is predictable. I’ve been going back and forth with reading histories and murder mysteries, with some fictions thrown in.
I don’t think mine has, now that I think of it. I’m still pretty young at 28 and that can change, but the genres I love and enjoy now, I also loved then. I still make it a habit to try and read the classics occasionally, I’ve been doing that since I was 12
I stopped being embarrassed about reading whatever I felt like reading. And I got more into YA and sci fi. Before I feel like more than half of my readings had to be either classics or “good books” and I didn’t read much fantasy or sci fi.
I feel like I want more maturity in written content but if felt that happening since I was 13 I find some YA to young for me
@Filipa, I certainly understand. I’ve been reading horror since my early teens. I used to get funny looks at times. It really didn’t bother me. But regardless of the situation, you shouldn’t feel embarrassed about your reading preferences.
It has always been eclectic. ?
@Anja, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! 🙂
I have literally only read sci-fi/fantasy for the last 25 years or so. A random stranger suggested a psychological thriller for me to just try and now.I.am.addicted. I never thought I’d ever read another genre!
Any suggestions from the new genre?
@Ty Literally dozens lol. Do you want a list?
@Dannielle Some of your favorites would be wonderful. I have long been interested in diving into the genre but dont know where to start.
@Ty ok some good ones that stick out are Sharp Objects, The Dry, The Dark Tide, just to start. I just started reading this genre a few months ago and I already have dozens of them. I thought they’d all be basically the same, but I’ve only come across 2 that were just mediocre. Hope you enjoy!
Thanks!
Being an author and reader is one thing. Being a publisher is something entirely different when you don’t want to hit just a niche market. Horror, of course, is what I know and love best because it’s been with me (whether through movies or books) since my pre-teen years. Saying that, I’ve ventured out a little into the sci-fi/fantasy genre in the past year, and have the desire (when money allows to secure the rights to work) to venture into mystery and suspense and into romance. There’s an interest in Mystery and Suspense, and I’ve read a little over the years. As for romance, I have never read a single story to date. However, if i am allowed to venture down that road in the future, I’m gonna have to read some because I’m the guy saying “Yay,” or “Nay” to the pieces of work. It might be interesting. I don’t know. Right now, of course, I’m busy building a fan base on the front that I know. That doesn’t rule out the possibilities though.
I enjoy fantasy as a way to unwind, but have become very picky as i get older with it. I find most of the genre to be poor now and am probably less patient with said genre than i used to be. I also read a lot more non-fiction where, when i was younger i read more fiction. Now i have a tough time with fiction and find myself wondering at times, why read something made up when i can either read real accounts or learn so much more by reading non-fiction.
Fiction is an escape from reality. Rather than cooking brain cells on drugs and being a babbling fool who can’t put two words together in a cognitive way, I opted to read fiction and it was fun (regardless of how unrealistic it may be at times). But we all have our own preferences. And there are no right or wrong answers here. On a side note, @Ty, what interesting nonfiction reads have you found?
Oh, i was only speaking for myself. I still read some fiction and fantasy as a way to unwind when I am mentally fatigued, but otherwise i usually read books on international affairs, governance, history, sociology, etc.
Some of my summer reads:
oh, wow! Is there any one of those that stand out more than the others?
Most stood out for different reasons. Some focused on global leaders like Orban in Hungary, Xi in China, and Duterte in the Philippines, and they help me understand the countries involved better at a time when they are playing big roles in the world. No Turning Back on Syria was well written, but written more like a journalistic memoir than the non-fiction i usually read. Factfulness stands out because of Hans Rosling who i am a fan of and who just died. I followed his Ignorance Project online. In The Displaced, every chapter is written by a different refugee author on their own experiences so it has a number of voices and styles and is an easy read.
How long ago did The Displaced come out?
Just this year.
There’s a Meijer grocery store around the corner from my work. Might have to stop off there in the morning and see if I can find a copy of it. They carry a fair selection of books in their book and magazine department.
The Editor of the book is a popular author. Won a Pulitzer for his book The Sympathizer that he published in 2015. Wouldnt be surprised if you could find this one. It was published in April.
I find idea of multiple authors writing about their experiences regarding the same issues intriguing.
It was. They all looked at different aspects of the experience, they all come from different backgrounds, and since you are essentially reading a collection of essays, it is a very easy read despite the serious subject matter. A lot of the non-fiction books i like have chapters written by different authors, it is a really good way to break up a book.
I have always liked suspense/thrillers and true crime. I have read some YA books lately I liked.
I used to be snobby about books. I only read literature or old books.
As I grew I realized there are many different reasons to read and different genres and writing styles suit those reasons. I read a wider variety now. I have respect for all readers now. A friend is a romance writer and I don’t read romance but I deeply admire her for pursuing her dreams and achieving such success.
I didn’t used to like suspense, now I love it.
I used to struggle with non-fiction, but the last 2 books I’ve read are nf and working on another.
I’m still into YA but finding it increasingly difficult to relate to the characters so reading a mix of YA and other fiction. For reference, I’m 23 and in university, so reading books about 16 year olds and their boyfriend probs tends to be on the more annoying side. Not ALL books like these are hard to read though (I LOVE Sarah Dessen books), so it’s difficult!
(If anyone has some YA suggestions I’d love to hear them!)
Balance is sometimes a struggle with all I have to juggle: a job on 3rd shift, a family of 7 (between me and my wife—another avid reader), a publishing business ect. I have a novel I have to read to write a review on by mid-month so I have to tear myself away from the computer for a while. The interaction here has been fantastic! I’ve enjoyed the chats and reading suggestions. Keep them coming. Throughout the night I will check in and interact as time allows (I gotta dodge the boss though. He doesn’t like phones on the floor).
Btw… if any of y’all are curious, the novel in hand is The Outsider by Stephen King. I’m about 49 pages into it and it is great! I can’t is see what the next 510 odd pages have in store. I’ll chat with y’all soon.
I don’t like YA anymore, with few exceptions
I would say I’ve broadened my tastes over the years, but I still love my favorite subjects just as much. I went through a real book snob phase in my late teens/early twenties and now I’m learning to just read for pleasure again.
I used to love books like Nicholas sparks. Can’t go anywhere near them anymore. Started caring less about people judging me for reading books aimed at teens as well. I have a mixed taste. For example I’m reading the diary of Anne Frank, voyager by Diana gabaldon, Stephen kings IT, and likely be starting stardust or maybe the 100 tomorrow on my day off ?
I once liked cozy mysteries, now like Scandanavian noir, also read mostly British authors now. I used to read many male authors, now only a few.
I’m not as much as a snob
I use to read only historical novels. Not so much now
I used to read only sf and horror. Now I read most anything except sleezy romance.
Yes, teen and 20s was all about romance.. early 30 was YA and now I’m almost 40 and prefer Mysteries and contemporaries
I used to be more into fantasy and sci fi, but my tastes have begun leaning towards mystery and thriller.
A lot of Dean Koontz, Steven King in my teens. Lots of horror and vampires. Moved on to Clive Cussler, David Baldacci, Michael Connelly. Love murder mysteries. Have about 10 authors I love to read all the time.
in my late teens I was a huge Danielle Steele fan. In my 20s and 30s I broadened my reading to non-fiction, true crime, mysteries, and spy novels. Lately I’ve added Scandinavian noir, classics, biographies. I steer clear of romance, unless it’s a classic.
I also love fantasy and sci-fi…especially Octavia Butler and N.K. Jemisin!
I’m not as much of a book snob now. 🙂
I used to read best sellers, then moved to non-fiction, passed through the years of pre-reading jf and clsssical lit for my children (homeschooled), and on to 18th and 19th century British fiction…coming out of it now to a mix of all of those genres. I love biography now, too.
True crime/mafia➡chick lit➡mystery, memoir, cozy mystery, Native American culture.
I read all different genres now, but my first love was horror and it will always be my favorite. I actually have Stephen King to thank for that. I loved his horror novels so much that I decided to read everything he has written. Through reading his body of work I was exposed to all different genres (he certainly doesn’t stick to just horror) and developed a fondness for other genres that I may not have otherwise experienced at all.
I think one of his most underrated novels is Eyes of the Dragon. It’s an awesome fantasy book.
Mine has. Once I used to only like strictly romance. Now I’m reading classics, mysteries, fantasy, thrillers and even the odd memoir or biography. I still like a bit of romance involved in my books but it’s not essential.
I was much more in to murder mysteries when I was younger. I now prefer historical or contemporary drama with a nice healthy sexual relationship in it. I also prefer the main characters to be over 40.
Interesting. I hadn’t thought about there being age requirements for adult characters. Learned something new today.
From Romance to Mystery
Yes. I have been reading too many suspense thriller murder stories. A friend gift me wonder it’s beautiful story. Though I was expecting some to be murder but nope nothing like that happened. All I realise is you can have a beautiful story with murders and i enjoyed it alot
Yes it certainly has, I used to read a lot of more serious books, now with so much stress in my life I keep it light and simple, and I really enjoy a lot of YA books as well, they are a bit “cleaner” and often more fun, I can’t be dealing with dark and morbid at the moment, maybe I will when I am over this awful time!
For several years I only read romance novels. I’m rather over them now. I now stick to mostly sci-fi/fantasy with strong female leads, but I do branch out once in awhile.
Less horror, more mainstream
Yes. I am more eclectic in my reading. I read a larger variety of books & I read more autobiographies & biographies. I use to not read them at all. I really enjoy them now?
I have broadened my tastes; not only do I still love mystery/suspense I also read romance now.
Yes from crime mystery to complete fantasy and faery world.
from contemporary romance to all out fantasy!
I read far less romance novels. I’m more into mystery, fantasy, and sci-if.
I went from animal stories and mysteries…to romance…to horror…now mostly thrillers…but I mix in some other genres. ?
No romance.