This week's question: Do you read books “meant” for other age groups? Adult books when you were a child; Young-Adult books now that you’re grown; Picture books just for kicks … You know … books not “meant” for you. Or do you pretty much stick to what’s written for people your age?
When I was in middle and high school, I read a lot of adult books. I feel like lately (as in the past 5 years) that young adult books are a lot better or at least there are more of them or something like that. But when I was actually in that age group, I felt like there weren't a whole lot of young adult books that I was interested in so I read the adult books (I read almost the entire list of Oprah's Book Club books when I was in high school).
When I first started reading book blogs (which has really only been in the past year), I saw a lot of bloggers around my age (I'm in my mid-20s) were reading young adult books and they seemed to have really cool story lines and more unique than many adult fiction books. I was apprehensive at first to start reading young adult books mostly because I was wondering what other people would think of me. Would they think I couldn't read at an adult level? Did they think I was weird? Would they think I was immature? So on and so forth.
When I moved about 6 months ago, I went to my new library and saw many adults picking up young adult books. It took that to get me over my kind of, sort of fear. Now I feel free to read whatever I want from any section of the library that I want. Getting over that fear has really opened me up to reading a lot of good books that I probably wouldn't have had the chance to read before because of my own fear!
What about you? Do you read outside your age group?
Great answer! I love how honest you were!
ReplyDeleteHere is my answer: http://www.lisasworldofbooks.com/2011/05/booking-through-thursday_12.html
You have a good answer and I'm glad you were able to overcome your fear. If we never branched out of our reading comfort zone we might not have found some great reads! :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a teen I read a lot of adult novelss. Now since book blogging I read the occasional YA novel.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for getting over that fear "what will they think?". Courage, girl, courage!
ReplyDeleteI also agree, YA books are better nowadays than they were many years ago.
Your answer was great! I think it's important for us NOT to be controlled by what others think.
ReplyDeleteI must admit that YA books, especially those with vampire characters, do not appeal to me. But I wouldn't rule out the whole genre. I am curious about a few of the books I'm noticing on the blogs.
Here's MY BTT2 POST
An excellent answer. I think over recent years many authors have taken writing for a younger audience much more seriously, and thus books for them have improved.
ReplyDeleteGreat answer! My experience pretty much mirrored yours exactly. I agree with Anthony North - and now there are some great YA authors out there (John Green, Suzanne Collins, E. Lockhart, etc).
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your answer. I read a lot of everything. The genre, rather than age appropriateness, is a greater determination of what I select to read.
ReplyDeleteMy Bookshelf
I forget how old I am, where I am, who am I when I'm reading! So of course I read a bit of everything!
ReplyDeleteYes, I like mixing it up, it makes for interesting reading.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing, that when I was younger there just weren't that many great YA that weren't sci-fi, fantasy or high-school drama (not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just not my cup of tea). I started getting into YA when I read Before I Die by Jenny Downham and I realised that there was all this new fiction out there that never existed when I was that age, that didn't condecend and was well-written. I find that the lines between YA and Adult fiction are blurred these days, anyways.
ReplyDeleteAs I say in my own BTT post, many YA books are so well-written and enjoyable, I have no qualms about reading them even at my advanced age! Hopeyou'll stop by and say hello...
ReplyDeleteCindy's Book Club
I do! Depends on my humour, what I feel like reading..I get bored easily!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend, Meg!
I feel that way too. There just wasn't that much choice in YA when I was around that age. I am actually a little jealous of all the kids growing up as there are so many amazing books now available for their age groups. That being said I'm also glad it gave me the chance to read beyond my age.
ReplyDeleteI was lucky. I worked with books when I went back to reading YA and just about everyone did the same. A few were actually more judgemental if you read genre (not that I let that bother me). Glad you were able to get over your fear.
@readingromances Haha, yeah, I get bored too when I read too much of one kind of book!
ReplyDelete@Karen I'm wondering if more adults would be interested in reading now if they had access to some of the books that are out for young adults now!
ReplyDeleteI know there are probably people out there who do judge on the genres that people read but I'm sort of over being bothered by it (luckily)!
I was the same way growing up; I jumped from Goosebumps to Rebecca and Wuthering Heights (both of which I loved!)
ReplyDeleteI'm not as much into YA literature because the overwhelming amount of paranormal things. I avoided the whole Harry Potter and Twilight crazes like the plague and now there are so many other books following suit.
However, I did just buy If I Stay. You also commented on my post about Sarah Dessen... she is fabulous! You should definitely read her as someone who is newly interested in YA books.
@JP I think I'll try to pick up something by Sarah Dessen when I go to the library tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteAdmittedly I do like Harry Potter and Twilight but the copycat-ish books don't thrill me.