“Why are you reading that?”
Part I
I have always been an avid
reader. I will, and often do, read just
about anything. I will admit that I was
never big on science fiction or fantasy.
I’m one of those people who need a foundation, a bit of reality. I always say, ‘I need a place I can put my
feet.’ In the world of fantasy, some of
the scenarios are just a little too ‘out there’ for me. Same with science fiction. A very good friend tried hard to get me into
fantasy and had pretty much given up on me.
Then Cassandra Clare came up with her Mortal Instruments series. While reading the first book, City of Bones, my friend came to a part
and thought to herself, ‘This is where Randee would put this down.’ We laughed about this, especially after I
finished the book and gushed about how much I enjoyed it. Yep, I was pretty surprised and yes, I went
on to read the rest. As the years have
progressed, I will occasionally pick up a fantasy and she will pick up whatever
I think to recommend to her. In the
department I worked in at the library, we had a great staff. We each had a genre we favored and could go
to that person if we couldn’t help a patron looking for something in
particular. One person was good at the
romance, one with the realistic fiction and fantasy, and one that read
mysteries, ghost stories and horror.
(hummm, wonder which one I am) Though we all read across our favorite
genre we still read practically everything in our favorites.
I have always been a big fan of mysteries
and paranormal genres. They are a great
escape and were a wonderful way for a child who wasn’t very outgoing to spend a
summer afternoon. I will admit that I
did read the early teen romance novels, Jean and Johnny, Sweet Sixteen. After
those however, there weren’t a whole lot of books out there for teens to
read. During the preteen or tween years,
I was witness to a neighbor cleaning out her recently married daughter’s room
and dumping a huge pile of books into the trash can. Nosey Nora that I am, waited until she went
back into the house and proceeded to go through the books in the can. Needless to say, I pulled them all out and
brought them home. They were an early
printing of the Nancy Drew mystery series.
I was SO excited. However, I was
discovered by my mom who made me go over to the neighbor’s house and admit what
I had done and ask for permission to keep the books. She gave me a few more. I read them all several times over. As I grew tired of rereading them, my mother
then handed me some of her paperback mysteries.
I became hooked on Mary Roberts Rinehart then moved on to Victoria Holt,
Phyllis A. Whitney, Mary Stewart and even Taylor Caldwell. Believe me, I have read my share of the
romance. I jumped into the bodice
rippers in my twenties. One of the
things I enjoyed about the historical romances was the actual historical facts
that surrounded the ‘searing heat of two hearts beating.’
I married a man who is a great lover
of science fiction, especially Robert Heinlein.
He tried to convert me but alas, no luck. During my years in the library, especially
Youth Services, I have jumped into a few titles that were science fiction. They were good and had a place for me to
‘plant my feet.’
As I continued to work with the teens
in our community, all I read was Young Adult.
The trends were so noticeable.
The paranormal ran through YA fiction like wild fire after the
publication of Stefanie Meyer’s Twilight series. Don’t laugh.
They happen to be very good books and managed to set a fire under the
publishing business. Meyer’s Twilight
books awakened reading in teens just as Rowling’s Harry Potter series got everyone
reading. Many adults started reading
Young Adult soon after the Twilight publishing.
There are many very good books in the YA area. I was very happy to see so many make this
discovery. Just because they are in the
Young Adult or Teen area doesn’t mean they aren’t well written and interesting
novels.
