Let’s talk about anything bookish!
It’s not surprising when your reading tastes have changed. In fact, I am one of those whose reading tastes have changed significantly over the years. I wrote a post listing a genre that I don’t read anymore. I also wrote a post explaining why my genre preferences have changed. But I haven’t really explained the whys. Which brings me to today’s topic – a map of my reading tastes through the years.
It’s hard to explain the change that each individual goes through throughout their life. I don’t want to be profound or anything, but I did notice that my changes tend to happen during milestones in my life.
I have been reading since I was very young. My genre of choice was fairy tales. I was obsessed with them. In fact, I had this book of classic tales that don’t really have pictures in them that I love so much! I am a fan of fairy tales. I guess it’s because when the Disney Rennaissance started in 1989 with The Little Mermaid, I was 5 and I was captivated by it.
As I got older, I started to become fascinated by Jule’s Verne’s books. Specifically A Journey to the Center of the Earth, and Around the World in 80 Days. I also started reading Greek Mythology books – my favorites were Prometheus and Epimetheus, Jason and the Argonauts, and Hercules and the 12 Labors. After that, I started getting fascinated with Edgar Allan Poe and his tales and poems! The Telltale Heart, The Cask of Amontillado, The Fall of the House of Asher, and his poem The Raven were my faves.
It was also around this time that I started reading Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys and of course my favorite childhood series Sweet Valley (I wrote a post about it)! I discovered Sweet Valley around the time I was in 4th grade, where I was still fascinated by the macabre. When I was in 6th grade, I was already reading Sweet Valley University, and quickly outgrew this shortly.
I also went through a phase where I was feeling so “adult.” I read a lot of Michael Crichton and was obsessed with his books! This was also around 1997 when the movie Jurassic Park came out, so this was my first book to movie experience! My favorites written by him are Jurassic Park, Lost World, Sphere, Congo, and Timeline. All of these books were made into movies!
When I discovered Harlequin Historicals in 6th grade, I was hooked! I LOVE Historical Romance and these books were my gateway drug to the genre! I also want to note that in the Philippines, we don’t have middle school and our elementary school ends in 6th grade.
It was around this time – that summer after 6th grade and before I entered my Freshman year in high school, that I started reading romance! And I honestly haven’t looked back since! I just recently reread Mistress of the Seas by Ruth Ryan Langan and while my thoughts about the book have changed, these still hold a special place in my heart.
Let’s also not forget that I read a bunch of old school historical romances by the great Johanna Lindsey and Elizabeth Elliot! I didn’t read a lot of the old school historical romance because I was really limited with what we had available and there was a lot of the old school Harlequin Historicals that I was able to sink my teeth into.
My very first “modern” historical romance was discovered the summer before my Freshman year in college – I was 17. That book was Secret Ways by Kat Martin. I then discovered Lisa Kleypas’ Again the Magic and I was officially hooked! I think she is one of my most read (and reread) authors ever!
Around this time, turmoil entered my life and of course, a certain on-again-off-again, forbidden romance happened. Let’s just say my life around this time was pretty angsty. I was in nursing school during this time so my reading wasn’t as great as it is now. I mostly read books that I could purchase in this one bookstore in my hometown.
I also picked up the Harry Potter books in the late 90s – before the movies came out and I LOVED it so much. I feel like this book recaptured my childhood and I felt the magic of this series. Of course, Pierre and I read the books and watched the movies, too! I think the first couple of movies were date night movies for us when we first started dating. LOL
After Pierre and I got married in 2008, there was a new phenomenon that popped up. It was this little book called Twilight that got me reading Young Adult books. I also picked up Fallen and Firelight which I loved. And while I started reading these books, I still went back and read my favorite historical romance books.
In 2015, I listened to this awesome audiobook narrated by Tavia Gilbert and I got obsessed. The Night Huntress series, The Night Prince series were the books that got me reading paranormal romance. While this is not my preferred genre, I still read a few books here and there.
This was also the year when I started reading a lot more contemporary and new adult romance! Contemporary didn’t use to be my favorite since the earliest ones I read with Harlequin Presents and I wasn’t a fan. Beautiful Bastard, Sweet Filthy Boy, Searching for Beautiful and Wait for You are probably the books that really got me hooked to this genre!
I currently read any sub-genre of romance now. I also read a few YA sci-fi and fantasy and I do tend to avoid YA contemporary romance. I’ve noticed that I have started trying to read other genres of romance at least once.
How have your reading tastes changed throughout the years?
Are there any genres that you don’t read anymore?
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