Saturday, February 6, 2010

Weekend Wondering and Giveaway: Evolution as a reader

As I am watching my oldest son develop reading tastes and branching into longer and longer books it got me thinking about where I started and the journey I have taken with books.  Here's a quick look:

As a child 

Trixie Belden 
Nancy Drew 
Charlotte's Web
other mystery and suspense books I could find in my reading level
As a Teenager 
romance and horror were my mainstay:
Christopher Pike
Sweet Valley High
Silhouettes Teen romance line
Stephen King
Dean Koontz
 

College 
mainly suspense and horror books:

More Stephen King
More Dean Koontz
Jonathan Kellerman
Michael Crichton

First years of Marriage (right after college) 
I picked up romance again and found romantic suspense and also paranormal romance:

Nora Roberts
Sandra Brown
Linda Howard
Sherrilyn Kenyon
James Patterson
Greg Iles
Nicholas Sparks
J.D. Robb
Michael Connelly
Janet Evanovich

Last few years - I continue branching out 
I've gone back to young adult and moved into more general fiction, Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction and even non-fiction. I also really like new authors with the small independent presses - you can find some real gems among them:
Joshilyn Jackson 
Twilight series (I had to see what all the fuss was about)
Cecily von Ziegesar
Lisi Harrison
Anita Shreve
Michael Ruddy
J.P. O'Donnell
Chelsea Cain
Charlaine Harris

This is just a quick overview of authors/series I could think of.  One thing that has not changed over time is that I love to read.

I really love the doors that reviewing has opened up to me - books I wouldn't have necessarily read, but I got a chance to review them and they sounded good.  These books have ended up as some of my favorites.  I still find myself getting the big names from the library when their books are released but not as much as I use to - there are so many great authors out there waiting to be tried.  Not everyone will like the same books I do, but that's the beauty of the wonderful variety there is out there - we don't all have to like the same thing.

**GIVEAWAY**
How about your evolution as a reader - have you changed over the years - broadened your horizons or come down to one or two genres you like.   Tell me about it how you have changed or stayed the same and what authors you like now for a chance to win 1 book of your choice from the selection of book/ARCs below.  Either leave a comment with your answer or a link to a blog post if you would like to do that.  Open to US/Canada only.  Ends 2/12/10.

One Amazing Thing  Sleep No More  Letter to My Daughter: A Novel  The Information Officer: A NovelLone Star Legend  Yellow Moon: A Novel



8 comments:

Lynda Coker said...

I've always read anything with words. Well, almost anything. I don't care for today's horror, erotica and such. I enjoyed reading your list of changes through the year. I've read for far too many years to remember when I took new forks in the road, so to speak.

fredamans said...

I've always been an avid reader myself. I spend many nights as a teen, reading my mom's copies of Stephen King, and even took on Mein Kampf.
I haven't strayed that far today. I still read anything.

freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

Alyce said...

I started out reading historical fiction (Little House, Anne of Green Gables) and then moved on to sci-fi and fantasy (Narnia books, Robert Silverberg), then in high school I spent more time exploring sci-fi/fantasy books (Anne McCaffrey, Sheri S. Tepper, Stephen Lawhead) and threw in some Michael Crichton too.

In college I went through an Anne Rice phase, which is really out of character for me, but I chalk it up too needing some relief from so much textbook reading.

After college I read a ton of Christian fiction (I worked at a Christian publishing house). I think I over-dosed on the Christian fiction, because after about five years of reading it constantly I realized I was done.

I moved from there to general fiction, and lately have been enjoying literary fiction. I find that due to blogging I read many authors that I have never heard of before, and it's quite fun. I still love a good sci-fi story though. :)

Ok, that was really long-winded!

Edna said...

I have always read, can't remember a time when I didn't. I even loved the old Dick and Jane readers as I was in first grade. Now I will be 67 Feb 10th and still reading. Two of my kids are readers and no telling how many grandkids.
I like fiction, don't like to read about anything that is true, I see that in my everyday life, I like something that will "Take Me Away"


mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

Debbie Rodgers said...

I can't remember when I didn't read avidly - certainly started before kindergarten.

When I was a kid, I liked mostly historical fiction (the Little House series) and the Trixie Belden series. Never could get into Nancy Drew - her life just seemed too far removed from mine.

In high school, I broadened out to include Salinger, Steinbeck, Uris and others. Gone with the Wind stands out, as does Five Smooth Stones. I also discovered Agatha Christie - and a lifelong love affair with "cozy" murder mysteries.

That was 40 years ago and I've read a broad spectrum - but not romance, horror or paranormal. Mostly, I guess, literary fiction and mysteries.

I used to read a lot more non-fiction "self-help" books. It takes a lot to impress me in that category now.

Simply Stacie said...

I've been reading since I was 3 years old and my mom says I taught myself to read. I have always loved losing myself in a book.

When I was a child, I used to read the Ramona Quimby books, Encyclopedia Brown books, The Babysitter's Club books, The Sleepover Club books, Nancy Drew...
When I was a tween, I read Sweet Valley High books, VC Andrews (hid those from my mom!).
As a teen, I started reading Danielle Steele, Dean Koontz, Stephen King, John Saul, Jackie Collins, Barbara Taylor Bradford,...
I took years off of reading when I went to school and studying for my accounting designation. All I read those years was boring textbooks.
Now that I am no longer in school, I can finally get back into my first love- reading books. What a great feeling it is!
Now I read loads of chicklit (Sophie Kinsella, Emily Giffin, Jennifer Weiner), Jodi Picoult novels, MC Beaton, Harry Potter series, Twilight series, Laurell Hamilton books. I will read just about everything except maybe westerns!

simplystacieblog at gmail dot com

Anita Yancey said...

I have changed a lot over the years. I use to read everything, but now I mostly read romance, mysteries, and thrillers. I really like Janet Evanovich, James Patterson, Karen Rose, etc. Please enter me. Thanks!

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Nancye said...

I have found that as I have gotten older (& more mature :) I am more open to a variety of genres. Something that I may not have liked in the past is something I am willing to give a try. On the other hand, I used to feel like I had to finish a book if I started it, but now if I don't like a book, I will just move on.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Post a Comment

Thank you for taking the time to comment. I love comments on the blog and do take the time to read them.