Good morning! Welcome to another Booking Through Thursday event, in which we ponder bookish questions…and then link up.
Today’s Question:
Do you read books “meant” for other age groups? Adult books when you were a child; Young-Adult books now that you’re grown; Picture books just for kicks … You know … books not “meant” for you. Or do you pretty much stick to what’s written for people your age?
When I was a kid, I did read many adult books. I loved dreaming about being grown-up. I liked books about careers, romance, and historical events.
Nowadays, I still prefer adult books, although I have occasionally dabbled in books for the younger set. When my children were young, I enjoyed reading picture books to them. In fact, in college, I took a course in children’s literature and read Caldecott and Newberry award-winning books. They were fun!
I know that YA books are popular with many bloggers, and I am curious as to the appeal. I have The Carrie Diaries on my stack, and plan to read it soon. I also read a middle-age book by Joyce Maynard, called The Cloud Chamber; it was great! But I enjoy that author. So that was my primary reason.
So…my rather convoluted answer leads to “yes and no.” It completely depends on the situation, the author, and the book’s storyline as to whether or not I’ll “cross over” into younger age groups (at my age, that’s the only direction I can go!).
But then again, since I enjoy and frequently read books about people in their thirties and forties, and they are not technically in my age group, maybe I am already “going younger.” LOL
My main draw to a book is whether or not I can relate to the characters, and sometimes that takes me way out of my age group.
What an intriguing question! I think that it has touched on some issues that I have been pondering. What about the rest of you?
AN INTERIOR JOURNEY 
I like your comment about relating to characters outside of our age groups. This is so true! I’m always surprised when I’m able to relate to a teenage protagonist in YA lit. That’s when you know the book is very well-written! I enjoy your blog, Laurel!
LikeLike
Thanks, Salmeida, and I’m glad you could stop by. Happy reading!
LikeLike
Our answers were pretty similar! I also mostly enjoy books for adults — with the odd YA by an author I like. Nice post.
LikeLike
Thanks, Col Reads…it’s really important to select books to which we can relate, whether younger or older. There are so many books and so little time! Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike
You’re right, it does seem like there are a lot of grown-up YA readers out there. Sometimes when those books don’t click with me I wonder what am I missing? Glad I’m not the only one. 🙂
LikeLike
Ludy, since I’m a writer as well as a reader, I’m very curious about what draws readers, and since I write “adult” books, I don’t want to turn off a whole group of readers. Most of my books have characters of all ages, though.
Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike
I agree that it can be yes or no really depends on how good the book is.
LikeLike
Thanks for stopping by, Shannon…the characters are the most important ingredient for me.
LikeLike
When I was a kid I read adult books too. Now I still read adult books but also children’s books, middle grade and YA, partly because I read to my kids but also because I am a writer and I love reading a good book in any age group.
LikeLike
Yes, Laura, it’s important for us writers to see what readers are enjoying these days. Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike
So long as one can relate to and enjoy the content, I think age appropriateness isn’t so much a factor. It’s what we enjoy that determines what we read. As book bloggers, we often delve into different genres and come out surprised and enlightened. That is one of the true joys of reading, to be sure!
My Bookshelf.
LikeLike
I agree…enjoyment and a connection to the characters and story. Thanks for stopping by, Shirley.
LikeLike
i agree its all about the story, if its good yay, if its not, some one else will like it,
thanks for stopping by
The Book Mystress, xx
LikeLike
Very true, and an important ingredient…thanks for stopping by, Book Mystress.
LikeLike
Your response is really interesting about reading characters of a specific age group. Usually age correlates to a certain maturity level and that’s why we can relate to someone. I don’t like YA with characters who seem immature (not in a bad way but because they haven’t had many life experiences yet) but then sometimes I love a character who is 17 (for example) but thinks like me and I can relate to them. I also prefer reading adult fiction with younger main characters in my age range. I can’t really relate to characters in their 30s or 40s with children or going through a divorce because I haven’t experienced that. So perhaps that’s one deeper issue regarding this topic.
LikeLike
I agree that the experiences we’ve had often dictate which characters we’ll relate to…thanks for stopping by, Book Nympho.
LikeLike
I read more adult fiction than novels aimed at children and youth, but experience does make a difference. I can relate to adults raising children, to people going through a divorce, to characters trying to get through the death of a loved one — because I’ve been there. Now I often look for books about older women, maybe retired, maybe wanting to try new things in retirement, maybe having to deal with children and elderly parents at the same time. The older I get, the broader the range of books I can relate to.
LikeLike
I agree…every age group that we’ve lived through already (most of them, now, for me!) is a “demographic” to which we can relate.
Thanks for stopping by, Bonnie.
LikeLike
Great thinking there. I gess we’ll relate to different type of characters depending on our mood, a special moment you’re going through..loads of factors.
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
LikeLike
Yes, lots of factors go into our reading choices…thanks for stopping by, Romance Reader.
LikeLike
Yes, I like to mix it up sometimes, it makes reading more interesting.
LikeLike
Thanks for stopping by, Mary Ann.
LikeLike
I like adult books, I guess that is what they are called. To find books in my age group, I wouldn’t find much to read, except maybe AARP magazines. : )
LikeLike
Ha-Ha, Gigi Ann…I was thinking the same thing! Actually, I just finished a book with an “older” character…Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand.
Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike