Analyzing My Reading Habits As I Age

I write poetry, science fiction, and paranormal material. I read all that and much, much more.

However, I can't just pick something up at random and read it. I can't make monthly TBRs and follow them. I'm a mood reader: I experience most success in finishing books when I read something when I'm in the mood for that specific book or genre.

I've always been like this, and I discovered as a kid trying to plow through all the Harry Potter books that I can only read exactly two and a quarter books in a series consecutively, because that's when the mood for another book will emerge. With age, mood reading hasn't changed at all. But, some of my reading patterns have altered as I've grown into adulthood.

Let's analyze.

1. I'm craving more genres of fiction, and my genres of focus are shuffling. As a teen, paranormal fantasy dominated my reading (sparked by the Twilight obsession, no doubt) but I had a soft spot for science fiction that's never died. Now, I find I've been searching for more horror, mysteries, and poetry collections. A couple of fluffy contemporary romances have also been catching my eye. I also sought out more classics than the average teen, but I took a break after reading so many for my degree. I'm only just getting back into the swing of reading some classics and literary fiction.

2. I'm reading more nonfiction than ever. I barely read nonfiction as a teen, and I think that's because on the rare occasion I did, I'd try reading an autobiography or memoir. As I've learned more about my reading tastes, I've realized I don't care for that type of nonfiction content. I'd rather read more informational books on subjects I'm interested in - usually psychology, spirituality, writing (craft), or theoretical physics.

3. I now actively avoid books that are too sad or triggering. You'd think the advent of trigger warnings would help me in this department, but it really doesn't. Sometimes people label any trigger that is briefly mentioned, when I'm fine with that level of heavy content. For me, it's about description, writing style, and emotional depth enmeshed with any triggering content. When I was a teenager, I found I was often drawn to heavier books because I admired a writer's ability to make me feel. Now, I'm just tired of crying and getting a cry-migraine. So, I'll never read A Little Life. I previously purchased A Monster Calls, and it's just sitting on my shelf untouched.

4. I now read a mix of print and e-books. I never had any interest in e-books as a kid, but now that I'm an adult in a small apartment, space is of the essence. I try to only buy books I'm absolutely positive I'll love. If I want to give something a shot that I'm curious about but I don't think it's a solid guarantee I'll like, I get an e-book from the library and read it on my Kindle. However, I find I dislike reading particularly large books on Kindle, so I'll buy those regardless or get a print book from the library.

5. Most prominently, I am reading more adult than young adult. I pretty much skipped middle grade as a kid: I went from "older" children's books straight to YA, and honestly, if I examine my psychological and emotional development, I don't think I truly had much of a "middle" phase, so it makes sense. From middle school all the way through high school, I almost always chose YA, with some occasional adult reads sprinkled in. But out of the twenty-one books I've read so far this year, only one was YA, and last year, most (if not all) of the YA books I read were rereads. I didn't necessarily expect this to happen, even with age, as there are many adults who read a ton of YA. It's a fun category and I still respect it: You get some heavier, more serious content in a faster-paced, less indulgent manner. I find I'm less drawn to it because I don't relate to it much anymore. Now, when I connect with YA, it's more of a fond connection to my past self rather than my present self. There are certain parts of being a teenager that are exclusive: All the "firsts," the high school setting as the whole world, and self-discovery. I no longer gravitate towards content that explores these topics.

It's natural for our tastes and preferences to change with age, and I think I've only been surprised by changes in my reading habits because I'm shocked by how much of my life has gone by. The ways I've changed have felt very gradual, in both reading and any other area of my life, so it's weird to look back and suddenly notice so many differences.

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