It’s funny how things change within
a lifetime. No, I’m not talking about my
hair color. Although, my hair colorist
does amazing work and I keep her quite busy.
No, what I’m referring to is how I once found certain things important, I no
longer value; or what I originally believed to be boring, I actually find
exciting. Sound familiar? So, I guess it’s more accurate to say my perception
of things change over time.
Well, let me start with the example
of seasons. I remember how I loved the summer
time. It was my favorite season of the
year. When I thought about it, I
realized my infatuation with summer came from school being out of session. Now, my favorite season is most definitely,
fall. I despise the heat and humidity
from the summer time. I love the leaves
changing colors during the fall season.
Watching football is a plus as well. But the thing I love most about the
fall…cooler weather. I much rather wear
layers of clothes and have the luxury of taking something off or putting it
back on in case I get too hot or too cold.
When it’s the summer time, you’re pretty much stuck with taking clothes
off to a certain point unless you want to get arrested. If you’re a nudist, I
guess taking more clothes off isn't a concern for you; however, I am not a
nudist and don’t plan to be either. With
that being said, I really don’t want to spend my summer vacation in a nasty
jail cell with other hot, sweaty people because I over heated and stripped
down. No, not happening and I’m sure you
all are silently thanking me as well.
Anyway, what I’m trying to convey
is how our likes and dislikes change over time.
Our reading tastes may change along with other things in our lives, too. At one
time, inspirational stories bored me to tears.
Yet now, they offer encouragement when I need it most.
When I was a child, I loved reading
Dr. Seuss and Nancy Drew. As I grew up,
my love my books and reading matured along with my reading material.
When I was a young teenager, I
remember reading the young teenage romances from Sweet Dreams and First Love
from Silhouette lines. I believe those were my first dose of romance. Later on, I learned to appreciate the
classics such as ‘Pride and Prejudice’, ‘The Scarlet Letter’, and
‘Dracula’.
During my late teen years and early
twenties, I focused more on my social life than any recreational reading. Sadly, the only time placed on reading was within the academic field. I put aside any reading for
fun and relaxation for almost five years.
Then one day, I picked up Susan Johnson’s, ‘Golden Paradise’. It sparked a deep desire within me for
romance again.
Now, it seems I read depending on
my mood as well as my taste. For
example: During this time of the year, with the cooler weather and earlier sun
set, I love reading fantasy, paranormal, and epic tales more than other stories. When I read stories such as ‘Lord of the
Rings’, ‘Harry Potter’, and ‘Black Dagger Brotherhood Series’, they definitely
set the stage for me on a dreary fall’s day.
As the time gets closer to
Thanksgiving and Christmas, I tend to reach more for holiday ‘feel good’
romances or general fiction. One of my
favorites is John Grisham’s ‘Skipping Christmas’. Each time I read it I double over from
laughing so hard. Another favorite is
Charles Dickens, ‘A Christmas Carol’.
I mentioned earlier about Dr. Seuss
and Nancy Drew. Although they were
childhood favorites, at times when I am feeling nostalgic I find myself going
back in my collection to read one of those.
That’s one of my favorite aspects about books. No matter when or where I’ve read it, I have
the opportunity to enjoy the story repeatedly if I so desire.
So how has your reading tastes
changed over the years? Does your mood determine
your reading choices? I love to hear if
and when your taste in book genres change.
