It occurred to me the other day when I was making my reading summer list how much over the past few years my tastes in books and genres have changed.
There was a time when I read nothing but mysteries and while I still love a good thriller or mystery, it seems more often than not, if I do make time to read one, it isn't strictly a mystery anymore. It has some supernatural or paranormal element to it. I use to read Mary Higgins Clark like it was crack, now, not so much. Is it because her writing has deteriorated or it is because my tastes have changed? I still love mysteries so what is my problem?
Same goes with romance. I think we all go through a romance stage. For me, it was Nicholas Sparks and James Patterson, I read every single romance they had and would be on edge waiting for their next release, now...I can't even remember when I last read one of their books, let alone a book that was strictly a "romance novel".
Isn't it funny how our tastes change and grow over time?
I also think over time, as I've read more book I've become more picky. I know books that I read even two years ago that I gave five stars to, today if I read them I would only give them four. Why is that? Did my taste change or did those really good writers some how sway other work for me, as in, I don't think it was/is as good as theirs therefore I wouldn't rate it as high now. Have I become a book snob?
Ahhh the great mysteries of life.
So what about you? Have you noticed a trend in your reading habits? Do you still read the same genres you always have or have they changed? Have you branched out or do you stick with what you like and love?
Along with genres, I can say the same about authors too. I use to read anything Charlaine Harris and Jeanine Frost wrote and now I don't even get excited when they get a new release. Is it the vampire thing and being so over it or something else?
I will say this though, no matter how much my reading habits have changed and how much I have branched out and tried over the years, especially since blogging, I am thankful that there are so many genres and new authors to try.
Even five years ago, I never would have imagined I would like historical romance so much or UFs or PNR but here I am, reading them like crazy. And my once YA phase...not so much now. With a few exceptions of series and authors, I don't read this genre as much as I once did. Heck, there was a time when there was nothing but YA on here and very little anything else.
Anyways, apparently these are the things I think about when I should be writing a review and am stalling for time. ;) But I really am curious how much your reading habits have changed over time, either since you started blogging or just because, share with me, curious minds want to know!
I do think my reading tastes have changed. I have little tolerance for super angsty straight romances. Instead I seem to gravitate toward Romantic Suspense, UF, paranormal or mysteries. I hardly ever pick up YA anymore and that's all I used to read when I started blogging. Before I started blogging, though, I used to mainly read mysteries with a bit of romance. Maybe I just go through phases then.
ReplyDeleteI do think I'm pickier. Some books I've rated 5 stars, five years ago I'd probably rate 3 or DNF now. Lol! :)
Yes I've noticed that so much about myself as well. It really is strange how we go through phases and things change isn't it?
DeleteInteresting thoughts. I believe my reading genre has pretty much stayed the same, mostly mystery, science fiction, realism, and self help books.
ReplyDeleteLove that yours has stayed that same, that is fun and you read some great genres so I can see why. ;)
DeleteMy changes have changed for sure - especially with certain authors. I used to read a lot of NA type stuff but I now tend to YA or Women's Fiction with some thrillers and memoirs mixed in. I do try to keep an open mind for other genres though. Great discussion!
ReplyDeleteI forgot about NA, I use to read a ton of that as well. I hardly ever pick them up now, in fact I can't even remember the last time I did. they got way too drama and angsty filled for me.
DeleteKindlemom GREAT POST! I think liking new and different genres, authors etc.. is not so much a change but a maturing of tastes. The longer you read the better you get at it and the better you get at choosing things that suit you. I love all genres but I do tend to love Romance of all sub genres most of all. Thanks for the post and for sharing. Have a great summer reading season can't wait to see what you like, love and can live without! xo
ReplyDeleteThanks Debbie! I have picked some fun ones so far this summer so I have high hopes it willbe a good reading season. ;)
DeleteMy tastes have changed over the years. I used to read lots of romance but now I read mysteries and thrillers more. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI use to read a ton of romance as well. I wonder why I'm not as into as I once was?
DeleteYeah my tastes have changed a lot, especially over the last few years. For years I just read YA books but now the majority of what I read is adult romances. Sometimes I think it might be because I'm older now and I just don't relate as much to YA? I don't know. It makes me a little sad because there were some epic books in my YA phase and they don't quite release books like that anymore!
ReplyDeleteI think that could be it Nick, I think you do tend to grow out of them plus like you said, YA for the most part is pretty generic now, not as unique or original as they use to be which is just sad.
DeleteI think our tastes change a little as we go. My taste of reading long before I blogged was more YA with a little PNR. I haven't picked up a YA in four years, though I have several on my TBR to try. Now I read PNR and UF all the time, but this summer I've been diving into Romantic Suspense and really liking it.
ReplyDeleteThat's the funny thing about YA, even though I'm not into as much as I once was I still add the books to my TBR pile. I think it's nostalgia more than anything that makes me do it. ;)
DeleteI think it's a combo of tow things: reading tastes that evolve as we read outside of our comfort zone (at least that's with me. I would have never ventured into PNR if I hadn't read Twilight) and publishing trends- every book is pitched as "the next (insert bestseller)" and for me that gimmick doesn't intrigue me anymore.
ReplyDeleteOh I agree, I forgot about the "hype" books. I've been burned by them too many times to count which definitely has put me off of them unless I get a lot of recommendations from people I trust, I tend to overlook them now.
DeleteI think it's completely normal to have your tastes change. There are very few things that you love forever, like doughnuts. I will forever love those deep fried balls of dough dipped in sugar.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard not to love doughnuts. ;)
DeleteWhen I read the first book for my own pleasure I was 15 years old and it was a Horror book. I read nothing but Horror for years, well into my 20's. Then my mom brought over a huge box of about 50 romance books. They were all Historical romance and I really didn't think I would like them but I picked one up and started reading it and was hooked. I've read romance since then. I read a lot of historical for years and then I read a PNR and that was it for me. I've been reading primarily PNR now for 20 years or so.
ReplyDeleteI went through a horror book phase as well Mary, mainly Stephen King. As an adult I can't pick him up now, I can't stomach it for whatever reason.
DeleteMy tastes have definitely changed especially since I started blogging. I read more contemporaries now and this year especially I've been reading a ton of psychological thrillers. And I like my mysteries to have a supernatural slant too.
ReplyDeleteI used to be mostly fantasy/ SF and while that's still a focus, I've really enjoyed trying YA and thrillers and even urban fantasy. I agree, there is so much!
It is funny how, for most of us, our tastes do change and evolve.
DeleteI think my tastes have expanded, more than they've changed. I still like the things I used to read, but I definitely have more of a diverse taste in books. I read more mysteries/thrillers these days than I ever used to. I think it freaked me out too much when I was younger, but now I don't mind as much.
ReplyDelete-Lauren
I've always liked them but seldom read them. I do need to read more of them because I do still really like them.
DeleteWell I am 5*cough* and can attest to change. I went through the historical romance phase, the medical thriller phase, hated contemporary romance, only horror phase, cozy phase and the Oprah Winfrey phase. I was late to paranormal and UF. Let's not even get started on my dystopian and apocalyptic phases. I would OD on genres, burn out and then move to another. Now I mix it up, for example WF is totally working for me right now.
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to have options. I do try to change it up as well otherwise I do get burnt out now easier I think than I use to when I would devour genres or authors like crazy.
DeleteI read very little of it anymore and then only authors that I really love.
ReplyDeleteYeah, my tastes have changed a bit too. I used to love sci-fi and like fantasy but somewhere along the lines it switched. Haha I think we've all had a YA phase. I also completely agree about PNR!
ReplyDeleteIt is funny how they change and grow isn't it? At least there are a lot of genres out there to keep us busy!
DeleteI don't think I've really changed but for sure after so many books in a genre I'm a bit more difficult but I like to read everything so it helps.
ReplyDeleteHaving a wide spectrum that you read from definitely does help.
DeleteWell, I think it didn't changed. I think I just branched out. You see, I used to only reading Suspense/Thriller books, and now I'm already exploring Dystopia and even Fantasy that I didn't think I would 5 years ago. Thanks ofcourse to blogging and to fellow book bloggers :)
ReplyDeleteIt is fun when our passion leads to other things for sure. I know I've meet so many people I wouldn't of before blogging and of course tried so many other new to me genres I wouldn't have otherwise as well.
DeleteI definitely have noticed changes in my reading trend, not only over the years but even just over seasons. My summer TBR is def different than winter, haha. I remember when I fell in with romance and dystopia around the same time, still totally addicted to romance but fell out of dystopia.
ReplyDeleteGreat discussion!
I have season changes as well, that's funny! I never really thought about it but I definitely like horror and ghost stories in fall and summer and more romances in spring and summer. Too funny!
DeleteTotally. I guess, though, I'd say mine branched out more. I used to read like 85% horror and mysteries when it came to fiction, then that gradually changed over the years.
ReplyDeleteI can see that. ;)
DeleteI have never not read so my genres have changed a lot over the years. I've read way more of my share of serial killer books, romantic suspense/woman in jeopardy type books. I went through a Stephen King phase in my twenties and thirties. I even spent a couple of years addicted to the little romance books-Harlequin type books. Romantic suspense was about all I was reading when BDB got recommended to me a few years ago and then all I was reading was paranormal and UF. Still am, only now I read contemporary romance and YA to keep from burning out.
ReplyDeleteI think we all do go through phases, that is for sure.
DeleteGreat topic. I think our tastes do change. I started off my reading with horror (Stephen King) and vampires (Anne Rice). While I'm still in both of these genres, I think my choices in those genres have changed. I'm reading more thrillers and suspense. I'm reading way more romance than I ever thought I would (even though still sorta in the same genre with romantic suspense and PNR). I do think some big name writers also change their styles. I used to read everything by Anne Rice, J.R. Ward and Laurell K Hamilton and now I have no desire to ever read anything new by them ever again. I'm curious about going back and revisiting some of these authors to see if it is me that changed or their writing. One thing I noticed with my most recent listen (from a series that I've loved for a while now) is how much things that never bothered me about that author's writing style, is now driving me nuts (sex scenes with characters that have tourettes and too many sex scenes). I've gone through the YA thing and still read some of it, but I'm really picky about what I try now. Again, great topic.
ReplyDeleteMelanie @ Hot Listens & Rabid Reads
Thanks Melanie and I agree, it is fun to go through different phases and changes and still have a wide variety of genres and authors to choose from. I think as I've gotten older, I've definitely gotten pickier.
DeleteMy reading tastes have expanded rather than changed. I used to read romance and the occasional mystery. Now I find that I will almost every genre as long as the story is interesting enough to keep me engaged.
ReplyDeleteI like how you put that, expanded not changed. That is a good way to look at it. ;)
DeleteI've always cycled through various genres, mainly fantasy, mystery, and romance. I used to binge on one for months, then abandon it (temporarily) for another genre. Now my reading is more mixed; I'll read a few romances, a romantic suspense, a fantasy novel, a couple of mysteries... but much of that is driven by review copies I need to get through. Left to my own devices, I would still be a genre binge-reader. I have noticed my tastes changing and expanding, though. I never used to read contemporary romance, for instance, and now I have a few favorite authors in that subgenre. I don't seem to read as much fantasy as I used to, either (but I want to get back to it.)
ReplyDeleteI do try to mix it up as well so I don't get burnt out, always a good idea and it makes it nice to have variety sometimes.
DeleteThis is such a great post! When I started blogging I would almost exclusively read fantasy and now I read a lot of romance (am definitely in a historical romance phase rn) and so much more contemporary than I ever imagined.
ReplyDeleteOh I definitely have been reading more historical romance than any other romance too, I just love it!
DeleteI burned myself out on urban fantasy and went to romance. I'm still firmly stuck in romance though our opinions on what constitutes a romances are so different lol I've fallen off on some authors but mainly due to their writing or getting to know them on social media and realizing I just don't like them as a person so won't be reading them anymore. But other than that I think I've stayed somewhat the same these last few years.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I had to stop talking to authors on social media for that very reason. It's so sad when you realize you don't love them as a person and it ruins their books for you. :(
DeleteIt is. I have probably 10 now that used to be favorites that I can't read anymore. I've left dang near every author group on FB and unfollowed many of them. It's disappointing.
DeleteIt really is sad when you have to do that but I know exactly what you mean. I've done it as well in the past which is why I hardly am ever on Twitter or FB in that way now.
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