I’m looking at my bookshelf and I noticed that my collection has changed quite considerably over the years. In my 20’s and through my 30’s, I had mostly Science-Fiction and Fantasy novels and a huge collection of Dean Koontz books.
Now in my 40’s, I have books like David Coppefield by Dickens, Lost Mission by Athol Dickson, Winter’s Tale by Mark Helprin, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath and The Pearl. I have gotten rid of most of my science-fiction and fantasy collection and I only have one Dean Koontz novel left, Cold Fire (that’s my favorite of his).
That’s created a question. Why has my book collection changed as I’ve gotten older?
Is it maturity?
Is it just that my tastes have changed? Or what?
Also, I just finished reading Stephen King’s Bag of Bones last week and read John Grisham’s The Testament and Sidney Sheldon’s Other Side of Midnight in the past year. I would never read those popular authors ten years ago…heck even five years ago. However, I enjoyed reading all three of those novels.
Hmm….so I’m wondering has anyone else experienced this as well? What does it mean and say about you personally.
I know mine has. I used to read a lot of fantasy books in my young teens but at about fifteen/sixteen I switched to my love of historical fiction, and now that’s pretty much all I read. I still read fantasy on occasion but it has to be something special. I think everyone does this, but yet, we will always have those books that we will always love. 🙂
Thanks for your comments, Hazel. That’s interesting. Maybe our tastes do change as we get older.
That has me wondering if the Science-Fiction and Fantasy genre is more for young people than any other genre.
Marion
My reading tastes have been pretty constant, except for a few changes. I used to not read mystery/suspense titles much when I was younger, but, I read more of those now. Also, I used to absolutely LOVE Danielle Steele! Around my mid-twenties, I felt that I “outgrew” her? I no longer enjoyed reading her books because I no longer thought they were written well. Granted, I hadn’t started writing at that point, but, don’t know why I suddenly started disliking Danielle’s writing. Maybe it was maturity?
Thanks Cecelia!
Maybe it is just maturity. Books that we liked in our 20’s…….aren’t the same as we get older. As you read my post, I have changed towards more literary fiction and even popular fiction like Grisham, King, and Sheldon.
Very interesting.
Marion
I find I’m reading more modern literature based on human condition. However, I’ve also returned to my roots, so to speak, and read a lot more fantasy these days – like I did while I was young. Perhaps, I desire to recapture those things that once captivated me. Retain a sense of what was, or just appreciate more the genre’s sense of freedom of imagination.
Thanks for your comments, Tessa!
It is interesting you wrote that you are reading things that once captivated you.
I’m actually putting this blog post theory into practice right now. I’m currently reading The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler. I read that book when it is first published in 1993 and I was in my early 20’s. Now, nearly 20 years later I have decided to read it again to see if it still captivates me as it did back then. I will post a review on the blog in the next few days.
Marion
I’ll be curious as to your second response to the title. Look forward to the blog post. I did the same thing recently in reading Meredith Ann Pierce’s novel, The Woman Who Loved Reindeer (1985). I actually think I appreciated it even more this time around. Hum.