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  Are You Evolving In Your Reading?

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  When I look back to my younger years, I see that I favored fantasy and science fiction over everything else. Over the years I have been gravitating towards general fiction, historic fiction. I used to avoid non-fiction as a general rule but I do now read an occasional non-fiction book. Although I still read fantasy, I read it much less. And I still favor science fiction but I read it less just because I am reading general fiction more.
  
  How are you evolving?

  Foghorn Leghorn started this discussion 4 months ago. ( reply | permalink )

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  Julie L 

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  I certainly evolved in my reading since high school where I read a lot of romance, science fiction and a lot of Barbara Taylor Bradford. I then went on to reading mostly mysteries and now I am into women's fiction, some classics and a lot of non-fiction which I enjoy a lot.

  posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

• The Happy Gardener 

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  In the last several years I have evolved a lot. In the past I read mostly cozy mysteries, romance and urban fantasy. While I have nothing against them at all, I can no longer read one after the other and they tend to not hold my interest like they once did.

  I now gravitate towards the classics, autobiographies/biographies, historical fiction and I would like to expand my knowledge of international authors as well in the future.

  posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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  Marie T 

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  So many years of reading behind me! I've evolved several times, of course. When I was really young (teens, etc) I read lots and lots of fairy tales - every color (the title) that was on the library shelf, books about collie dogs, etc. Then when I was a young woman I loved books about South Africa (a couple of authors' names are just outside my memory!), then when my husband and I read books (in my 40's and 50's) there were lots of espionage/counterspy books, Stephen King, Dean Koonz, sci-fi books. Now that I'm lots older I've gravitated to romances, but intersperse a few others, like non-fiction or historic tales. An interesting question, Foggy!

  posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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  Bev 

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  I probably have expanded my reading because of the increased availability of titles at the library, on line and of course trying things because someone here (Shelfari) enjoyed it.

  I've found I now enjoy a good bio/autobi/memoir.
  I now read more nonfiction..esp military nonfiction (do to a challenge) and history
  I've found that I enjoy historical fiction more and romance and fantasy less.

  If things are too heavy, I do a childrens book and I've found some YA I really enjoy.
  Mystery has always been an active part of my reading.

  I'll do chick lit...but I need a substantial story line

  One impt thing I do now is pull the bookmark if I'm not taken with the book.
  Life is too short and there are limitless reading possibilities..........

  posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Foghorn Leghorn 

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    You know Bev, I will usually finish a book. I will usually give the author the benefit of a doubt. But if it turns out I don't like the book after finishing it, I will never, let me emphasize that, NEVER ,ever, read a book by said author again. That only applies if it is the first time I read an author. If I have loved a book by the author, I will consider it just an unusual oddity. Of course there have been several books I have pulled the bookmark on, though.

    posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Sally S 

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    My policy is to never abandon a book once I start reading it. As a result I give a lot of thought to what I read. This also answers your other question FL as to how I've evolved as a reader. I hope that I don't sound like a snob, but that's just what I am when it comes to books. I only read classics or books that come highly recommended by the New York Times or some such paper. In my younger years I read more, pardon the expression, crap. I like contemporary literature, but it has to be really well reviewed, as I said.

    posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Foghorn Leghorn 

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    In a sense, you are letting the critics do the slogging work for you. But be aware, I have read books that were highly praised by the critics and turned out to be barely readable.

    posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Laurie G 

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    I'm like Bev.I will give a book a chance,but if I don't like it, I dump it.Too many good books waiting to be read.

    posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Marguerite M (edited)

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    I have had too many books that I toughed out and the end was totally worth it, that I will finish a book no matter what. If I end up hating it, it gives me practice on being diplomatic on my blog, which is always good.

    And Sally S. I would respectfully disagree that any books are "crap". There are some that are poorly written, but I blame the author and not the genre. I have read beautifully written romance and horrible classics. That is why I love my library. I'll grab a book off the shelf and read the first ten pages and then decide if I want to take it home with me. There are so many personal things that make a book great and many times it lies with me and my frame of mind. On the other hand, none of of will live long enough to read all the books, so what ever system works for you is probably the best. Happy reading.

    posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Sally S 

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    I apologize to any one I offended and Maguerite, you are right that no book is crap. To each his or her own!

    posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Foghorn Leghorn 

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    I beg to differ. There are plenty of crap books out there. That is why we need someplace like this so that the brave can trudge through the 'crap' for us and weed it out by their reviews.

    posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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    TwistedMind...or Angela if you are so inclined. 

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    I concur, Foghorn.

    posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Marguerite M 

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    Leave it to Foghorn to put it in such a practical way.

    Sally S. no worries from my end, it's not possible to offend me I just like to share my 2 cents whether requested or not :)

    posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Nicki m 

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    I must finish a book as well. Even if its torture! I guess I have hope it will get better and I just MUST KNOW!!! I tortured myself with The Poe Shadow recently.

    posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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  Hope H (edited)

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  Sometimes I think I'm de-evolving in my reading.
  
  I used to read a lot of literary fiction. I still read some, but I am reading more romance and mystery series. I tell myself it's because I've needed "brain candy" for the past two years.

  posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Nicki m 

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    We all need an escape!!

    posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Sally S 

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    Hope H, I would like to recommend The Woman In White by Wilkie Collins. It's a mystery written in 1860 that is beautifully written and truly engrossing! I have trouble putting it down!

    posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

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  Debbie M 

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  I would say it has evolved since joining Shelfari, I am reading genres that I wouldn't have tried otherwise.

  posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Josephine J 

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    I agree with you, Debbi M.

    posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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  Caipirinha 

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  I've definitely done more branching out. My biggest is really just literary fiction - and always has been. But then I started branching out into mysteries... then historical fiction... I had a brief period of time where I read a number of memoirs... I also will read young adult fiction, but I've been reading less of it.

  I'm hoping that this is the year where I discover non-fiction that I enjoy.

  posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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  Foghorn Leghorn 

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  This is all very interesting.
  You know, I cannot bring myself to read autobiographies, and rarely do I read biographies.

  posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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  Leah K 

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  When I was younger I read horror mostly. Now I rarely read horror. I read mostly non-fiction - history and biographies for the most part. This may due to my change of direction in college once upon a time where I found a love for all things history. Since then I can't get enough of it, any of it.

  posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Olympia S 

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    When my younger daughter was alive I only read about her illness when she passed I went back to school to finish my degree I only read the books professors assigned. I started teaching and read all the preschool books, now I not only read these and thanks to all you great readers I've evolved a great deal so I say thank you and keep at it. :)

    posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Marie T 

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    Superb evolution, Olympia - keep it up! Extreme sympathies regarding your daughter, too.

    posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Olympia S 

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    Thank you Marie.

    posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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  Maggie 

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  Being a high school student I can't help but lean toward the paranormal romance/ sci-fi /teen chick-lit stuff my friends like to read. I do enjoy more adult-sy books once in a while, but I find them to be rather heavy, and i struggle to finish them. I have made an effort to find more mature books since joining Shelfari, but somehow I always wind up back at YA.

  posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Marie T 

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    That's okay - you'll change (probably) as you mature. Enjoy whatever you read, while you can!

    posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Julie L 

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    I still read YA and children's books so don't worry so much about what you read and just enjoy what you do like.

    posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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  Marguerite M 

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  Yes, I used to read Romance and Sci/Fi Fantasy. Now I will read almost anything including travel journals. It is because of Shelfari. People will rave about a book and I'll try it and enjoy it. The last couple of years I have read a lot more biographies, political info, and historical fiction. I find I look forward to reading more as well. I always enjoyed reading, but when you read the same things after a while there appears patterns. The story seems close to what you have read, only the names and places change. Now I don't know what to expect and when I got back to old genres I find I look at them with different eyes and can enjoy them more.

  posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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  Olympia S (edited)

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  Currently reading. The Accidental Man by Iris Murdoch's so far not grabbing me could be that I'm only on page 57.But I'm one reader who cannot return a book unread, so I will finish it. But the question is how many times will I have to renew it because it's 442 pages. LOL

  posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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    TwistedMind...or Angela if you are so inclined. 

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    I hate to put a book down unfinished, too. I could kick my own butt sometimes thinking of all the prime reading time I've wasted on 'crap' books.

    posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Marie T 

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    Cheer up, Twisted, as you get older (you seem to be one of the young ones - ??) maybe you'll decide that "crap" isn't "crap" at all! We do change our likes/dislikes - especially reading! It's all an experience to be embraced. The alternative stinks!

    posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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  Laurie G 

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  My tastes have evolved since my teen years. Always liked fiction and still read that most of the time. I liked more dystopian reading then,than I do now,seems like that is becoming more non-fiction these days.
  I used to like to read more bio's in those days, today not so much. I have a few I want to read,maybe one a year. I find those terribly dry.
  I read alot more of the classics these days,I surprise myself by that! And more historical fiction too! I think life experience has played into that!

  posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Bev 

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    I'm wondering why....like you, Laurie, I liked dystopian earlier in my life...? not so much now....
    and definitely more non fiction at this point in life

    posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Laurie G (edited)

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    I think alot of the dsytopian books I read then,have actually just become real life,these days.So many events that didn't seem possible are happening now. It was more sci fi for me then,now it is non-fiction and current events! Scary.
    I think our tastes change with our life experiences as well.

    posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Marie T 

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    Hear, hear!!!

    posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Nicki m 

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    I think your tastes change after having children too. Things affect me differently now than they did before.

    posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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  TwistedMind...or Angela if you are so inclined. 

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  I've always been a horror fan. I've been reading Stephen King since I was 10 or 11 years old. In high school and in my early 20's I read mostly romance. Now, I refuse to pick up a romance book. I cannot explain why the genre I used to love makes me nauseous (sp?) now. Now I gravitate towards the supernatural, psychological thrillers, horror, and fantasy. What does it say about me that I've gone from happyily ever after to the dark side? lol

  posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Foghorn Leghorn 

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    I think you are just looking for the 'real thrill'. Can't get that in romance books!

    posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Marie T 

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    foggy - sure you can! Take it from me ........

    posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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  Nicki m 

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  In grade school I read every horse and dog book available, I even tackled Jack London's Call of the Wild and White Fang.(btw-he has a wine label now with a picture of a wolf on the bottle!) Loved secret world books and devoured The Chronicles of Narnia. Then in 5th grade I read The Girl who lived down the Lane and progressed to Stephen King in middle and High school. I read almost everything he wrote. I had a long drought of not reading at all. I just had baby #2 in 08 and my sister in law loaned me Twilight. My reading was re-born! Luckily, I tried a Phillipa Gregory book and began to mix up historical fiction, YA, and paranormal books. Love mixing it up now. Makes me appreciate the value of all genres.

  posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Marie T 

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    You're so fortunate - and there are so many good and great books out there. You have many years to enjoy them!

    posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

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  Relzo 

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  Not really. My mom used to read me some pretty adult books as a kid, like The Dragonriders of Person series, James Herriot novels and Midnight at the Well of Souls (although we never finished that one), explaining what I didn't understand and skipping over some of the more adult parts. The only thing that's really changed is that I can now read them by myself since I can understand them without them being explained, and books that bored me a bit before I now enjoy. I still read a mixture of adult and young adult fiction today. I do read more realistic fiction than I used to, but I never saw fantasy and science fiction as being below other genres. If anything, the really wordy ones tend to be harder to understand than more realistic books.

  posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

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  Jules 

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  I have definitely evolved - I used to read sci-fi only but it became too restricting. At the time there didn't seem to be much new work coming out (that was due to my ignorance and not my favourite authors' lack of productivity). So I forced myself to branch out. Now, I will pick up anything that sounds remotely interesting but my preferences still lie with sci-fi and historical fiction. I have to say that having a kindle has broadened my reading habits quite a lot as I am a bit of a sucker for a special offer. Obviously, the description still has to grab me and I never buy anything without reading the reviews first (negative reviews I find particularly helpful as long as they don't just slam the book without good reason).

  posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

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  Dave H 

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  Yes, my voracious appetite for reading is increasing with every passing year, a "must have" that can get prohibitely expensive :])...

  posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

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  Kathi G 

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  As a youngster my parents would find me reading a book under the covers at night or instead of doing homework. (they found that difficult to punish) I always read anything I could get my hands on even a bit of non-fiction as a child. Now that I'm older (and an incredible nerd) I plan out what I'll be reading far ahead of time. I find so many topics interesting that I want to make sure I get them all in so to speak. Right now I'm working my way through all of Stephen King at the rate of every other book. In between Stephen King I'm reading fiction in many subcategories, presidential biography, politics, classics, and many others.

  Happy reading all

  posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

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  Chalee B. 

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  I don't think I've really evolved too much in my reading. I've always really enjoyed reading fantasy books and I'm reading more of them now more than ever. However, now that I'm in college there are certain types of books that I have to read for my classes and I've enjoyed some of them as well.
  
  But I'll be honest, at this point in my life I think my favorite genre is fantasy and will remain that way for some time. I'm still young - my taste in books still has time to evolve c:

  posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

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  jerry-book (edited)

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  Adventure, sci fi and fantasy when young. Now I read largely non-fiction like the "Swerve" or the "Cosmos" by Sagan or "Byzantium" by Norwich. I am also reading biographies. In the Contemporary History group we have read bios on the presidents from Washington to US Grant.

  posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

• Bridget Oliphant 

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  Yes! I have so evolved. When I began reading regularly in 2006, I would read things from people like..Nikki Turner, Wahida Clark etc....Then I went into reading non-fiction/memoirs/biographies from time to time...Then, I picked up Twilight and that started me on my YA Fantasy Journey..When I found books about Angels, I fell in love...I don't like them all mind you...But thats what I gravitate towards mostly..But I am finding myself wanting to read different genres...And I am trying to step back into Romance/Contemporary books..Its hard because I like the 'action' of Fantasy...Even though both have the romance usually...Maybe its just the "Not So Reality" of it all..It helps me lose myself a bit...And I think thats why I started off reading books From Nikki Clark and others in that genre..because it's just so not part of my life...But after a while...It got really old and repetitive...Although I am not big on dystopia, I am finding myself at least attempting to read more of them just to be 'outside my box' of reading...

  posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Laurie G (edited)

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    Since you like YA have you tried Wendy Corsi Staub? Her fictional books take place in a very real beautiful,spiritual place called Lillydale (in NYS).She has 4 that are AWAKENING,BELEIVING, CONNECTING, DREAMING etc. Those should be read in order of the series.
    Her mother is murdered and she goes to live with her Grandmother in a spiritual community (the same real place. I lovethose stories.)She tries to solve her mother's murder, make snew friends in this new community and school as well as some new spirit friends!

    posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

  • Bridget Oliphant 

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    Thank you. I will try to remember to look into it. :-)

    posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

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