Random Book Musings: How long have you been reading books? Have you always read or started reading as an adult? #travelingsistersread #BookBloggers

Posted on by mycoulee

Hi everyone! Hope everybody is having a great Thursday!

I always have these random bookish questions that I’m curious about so I ask our Traveling Sisters a weekly (sometimes more) book related question. We thought it would be fun and interesting to take some of those questions to our blog and see what you all think or do. I hope that you will also join in on the discussion with us.

Norma’s random book question:

I just finished watching two episodes of The Haunting of Hill House recently and I am really enjoying this show! Anyone else watching it or has read the book? Is the book better or the Netflix series?

Anyway, here is my book question for this week……….

How long have you been reading books? Have you always read or started reading as an adult? Do you read the same genre now as you used to or has your tastes changed over time? 

img_6531Norma’s Answer

I have been reading since Elementary school and have had little breaks &/or reading slumps throughout the years. I used to read quite a bit of horror and that used to be one of my favourite genres as well as thriller novels which I still love. I haven’t read too many horror books since my earlier adult years though.

I used to read horror when I was pregnant with all my children. Not sure what was up with that but I sort of loved it! But, people thought I was a little weird.  LOL

My teenager years my absolute favourites were witches, ghosts or anything with a supernatural element to the storyline.  Paranormal romance was a favourite too.

I think a few of you know this of me but I have been recording all of my books that I have read since I was 16 years old. When I started Goodreads I added all my books in that I have read except for some of my favourite authors where I have read all of them. There are a few authors that I have read every one of their released books. I now record all my reads on Goodreads and no longer write the titles in my journal.

Brenda was always the historical fiction and general fiction reader. And I was always thriller, chick-lit, romantic suspense & mystery novels. My tastes have changed somewhat since starting our Traveling Sisters groups but my first love is still thrillers &/or mystery novels. Brenda and I have always passed books onto one another and she pretty much knows which novels I will like and necessarily not enjoy all that much. I don’t do well usually with slow-moving general fiction. I do need something within the storyline that I find relatable or interesting enough.

I’m really interested in hearing your comments!

Web_L521-3_brunette_green-eyesBrenda’s Answer

I used to read romance in my late teens for a short time.  Then I went through a horror stage until my husband said no wonder you have nightmares.  Like Norma said I have always been a historical fiction and general fiction reader.  That’s my favorite genres.  I read a few thrillers before starting the Traveling Sister group but I really struggled with the darker ones.  Norma needed to read them first to filter out the ones I would find too dark.  Now, the darker the thriller the better.  Just recently I have ventured out and have read a few books that were not my normal and I have really enjoyed the change of pace.

Web_L515-1_blonde_blue-eyesLindsay’s Answer

Another fantastic question Norma!

I have been reading for as long as I can remember. I remember being in elementary school and my mom taking me to the bookstore to buy Babysitters Club and Fear Street R.L. Stine chapter books. I would be able to delay doing chores because I would tell my mom “just one more chapter please”. She was very supportive of my love of reading even though she isn’t much of a reader herself. Now I have my 3 and 5 year old imitating me by carrying around books in the house and “reading” them. They love reading and I really hope that it stays that way!

I used to read Women’s fiction and chick-lit type books, then switched to mainly New Release fiction. Now my most favourite genre is Historical Fiction, but the Traveling Sisters have done a great job in opening up my eyes to the excitement of thrillers/suspense. I like switching up genres every now and then to refresh myself and try something new.

 

 

Now to the best part. Your answers. Please join in our discussion and let us know your answer. We would love to hear from you!

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Published by mycoulee

66 thoughts on “Random Book Musings: How long have you been reading books? Have you always read or started reading as an adult? #travelingsistersread #BookBloggers”

    2. Awe, thank you so much Christina! I am so glad to hear that you love reading all the responses. Sometimes it takes me a little while to come up with some fun questions. LOL

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  2. Hello everyone 🙋
    I’ve always read I think it started because when we were little my parents always read to us when we went to bed then as we got older we read to them so I think it started from there, it’s that bad I need to buy hand bags big enough to fit a book in😌

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  3. My mom used to read to me all the time when I was little. We visited the library regularly and I can still remember specific books we read together. I read a lot on my own growing up. Middle school and high school were big reading periods for me. I got to finally choose what to read for myself and that was sooo powerful. I started asking for books as gifts, it was a great time. Then I went away to college and while I still enjoyed reading, I ultimately stopped reading for pleasure. It just was not feasible for me to balance that and my studies at that time. I did binge quite a bit during the winter and summer breaks though. NOW I am reading all the time again. Actually, I find that I read almost obsessively, like I have catching up to do, you know? I find it so important to read to children from a very young age, and often encourage parents to do so. Even if they don’t end up avid readers, they almost always end up better off academically because they were exposed to stories and books as children.

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    1. Great points and thoughts Samantha! I completely agree on the importance of reading to children from a young age. Thanks for your comments! We love hearing from you!! 💜

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    2. I read to my sons when there were younger, but when they got to University the only thing they would read is textbooks. Now they won’t touch a book. lol

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      1. It is so hard to get back into reading after such a tiresome and grueling time such as university. Even if reading to them didn’t make them into avid readers, you at least gave them a better chance to do well academically because you read to them.

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    3. Loved reading your comment, Samantha! And I totally agree that reading to your children is a very important thing to do for them. It was a bedtime ritual to read to my kids. None of them really like to read though but my daughter will read the odd book here and there though.

      Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting! I absolutely love hearing from you! 🙂

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  4. I’ve been reading since before I can remember… my mum said I could read on my own by the time I was around three and a half, I even used to sleep with my favourite book instead of a soft toy! Haha! I’ve never had a time when I didn’t read, although during times of high stress I do struggle to read. I think I read more widely as I get older, I definitely read more non-fiction these days. This is such a great question to ask on your blog, it’s fun to think back about books 🙂

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    1. Oh my gosh! I love the fact that you used to sleep with your favourite book instead of favourite toy!!! That is amazing!!!! Thanks so much for your thoughts and comments! We love hearing from you!!!!! 💕🌸

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    3. I absolutely love that you slept with your favourite book! If I am reading a physical copy of a book it is right beside me on my nightstand and I have been known to pick it up in the middle of the night just to hug it or touch it. LOL I too cannot read if I am too stressed.

      I am so happy to hear that you thought my question for this week was a great one! That put a smile on my face! Thanks so much for sharing and stopping by! 🙂

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  5. Hahaha I so don’t want to tell you here… But I started at age 4 or 5, mom read fairy tales to me every night. Now it has been 4 decades since I am reading Hahaha 🙈🙈

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    1. Haha. That’s funny in my answer above I was going to say how long it was since I read a romance and then I stopped myself. lol I am almost a decade older than you.

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    2. I wish that I could remember what age I actually started reading on my own but I do know that I filled up all of those sheets that we brought home saying how many books we have read in a month. For the life of me I can’t remember what they were called. LOL

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    1. That is so great she loves to be read to. When my nieces come over they sometimes chat about their books with me. It’s like they know I love to talk about books.

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      1. In mine, we all read different things, different genres. But reading is an essential part of our life. My country being the land of God’s and goddesses. One of them my mom has emphasized upon is the goddess of learning and knowledge, so reading is a must. So books used be everywhere till kindle came about. Now we all have our tablets but we still buy books. Go figure.
        Sorry, added a bit of culture and mythology

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  7. I don’t remember a time when I didn’t have a book to read. My memory goes as far back to when I was just a tot and my mother took my sister and I to the library every week to check out books. I even was going to be a librarian (worked in my high school library) but changed my career path at the last minute. Nothing’s really changed in this respect…I ALWAYS have a book with me as I carry my iPad everywhere (I read using the kindle app) and my audiobooks are on my phone.

    My love of mysteries started with Nancy Drew and exploded from there. Over the years, my tastes have broaden to embrace just about every genre (still struggle with horror). Mysteries are still my default but I’m now an eclectic reader. Every month I’m reading books in at least three or four genres. And that makes me happy.

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    1. That’s so great you read different genres a month. It so nice to try something that’s not your normal and then soon you have no normal. I love that.

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    2. My love for mysteries definitely started with Nancy Drew & The Hardy Boys! I used to have the whole set of both series, back in the 70’s but I lost them in a fire that we had. I was so terribly sad and still am actually!!

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  8. Great question! I have always been a reader! I like Jonetta loved Nancy Drew! I had the collection of the entire hard back series ( hmm am I showing my age here)?! Then as I got older I liked Stephen King and then Chick-Lit and now I am solid on thriller/suspense type books. Although One Day in December has swayed me….I may be picking up more feel good books and mixing them in. It seems like my taste has changed as I have gone through different phases in my life.

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    1. I love that One Day in December swayed you! It really surprised me and now I really want to keep stepping out of that normal. I am glad we get a chance to try different ones together.

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    2. Hmmm after reading your comment, I was like wow that sounds just like me! LOL
      Brenda & I had the whole Nancy Drew & The Hardy Boys collection as well. Although, I do enjoy the odd romance here and there! LOL

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  9. Great question!
    I have never been a reader, until Brenda kept handing me books. Grateful for that, I am reading everyday. Whenever I can sit and read its the best time of day for me.

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    1. Lol T! I am so glad I have turned you into a reader and makes so happy it the best time of the day for you! I have a couple more to give you. I should have given them to you the last time I saw you. Silly me.

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    2. Oh, Tiffany that makes me so happy to hear that Brenda turned you into a reader! That is pretty awesome! Reading is so relaxing.

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  10. I remember my grade 2 teacher, Miss Lukasavich, really encouraged me to read. I read every book in the class library. I have always loved to read, books, magazines, newspapers. As I grew older my genres have changed. I used to read historical romances that included some erotica, not now. I like various genres and try to be adventurous at times. I really try to model reading with my grandchildren. It is so important to read to our little ones.

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    1. That’s so great when a teacher can make that impact. I remember a teacher too who encouraged reading and had a big influence on me. She would have us record every book we read, and then we did a short book report on one, the next one we had a one on one discussion with her and I think the third one was a free one to record. I did many discussion with her. I kept her very busy. Maybe that’s where my love of discussion comes from.

      So great you read to your Grandkids. My boys Grandma read them all the time too! It was such a special time for them and they looked forward to it.

      I think of all the readers I know you read the most variety.

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    2. I am so glad to hear, Carla that you have always loved to read! I loved my magazines growing up as well as my books. Mom & Dad would take us to the corner store and instead of a candy treat we would always get a book or a magazine. I remember those times so fondly! I too believe it is important to read to those little ones. I’m not a Grandma yet but I will definitely be reading to her very soon! 🙂

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      1. My grandpa was a “druggist”, now called a pharmacist. He used to bring home Archie comic books from his store when I slept at their house, then after I read them, he took them back and put them back on the rack to sell. That was one of the things I loved about sleepovers at their house. 😉😉

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    3. Oh wow, Carla that is definitely a special memory to have of your grandpa and the time you spent with them when you were young! I just love that he brought home Archie comics for you to read and he must have known that you would take good care of them while you were reading them. 🙂

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  11. Norma, fantastic question!!

    I have been reading since I can remember. When I was in middle school, I had the reading level of a college student. My grandfather got me started on my love of horror/thrillers (Stephen King/VC Andrews). I discovered romances, mainly historical romances, in high school. My young adult fascination didn’t start until my late 20’s, when I got my Kindle.

    I have never stopped reading. I had a sizable library of over 200 books when I was in my 20’s (they disappeared in a moving snafu :(). Then I got my Kindle, discovered free books and have been happily reading ever since.

    My 13-year-old hates to read (we have to force her) but my 11 year old loves it. He is an advanced reader that prefers paperbacks. His collection is sizable. Everything from Harry Potter to LOTR to The Spiderwick Chronicles and in-between. My 5 year old loves to read also. Her favorite book: I Hear A Pickle (in both English and Spanish). I read to her but she is already picking out words that she knows. I have a feeling she is going to be another reader!!

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    1. Sounds like she is going to be another reader. That’s so great. Interesting your 13 doesn’t like to read. Goes to show how different children can be.

      My boys were advanced readers too when they were younger but now they both will not touch a book. Both are in their 20s. I don’t get it. They grew up with books and seen me reading all the time.

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      1. We have gotten her books at her grade level or books that I think she would like and she won’t touch them. I figure that she’ll become a reader when she’s older (well, hoping she will be).

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    2. Oh my goodness V.C. Andrews…..LOL I read quite a few of those books!

      Thanks so much for sharing, Jolie! I love hearing from you!

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    3. Oh, I most definitely did too! I thought they were excellent and I still have quite a few of them. Flowers in the Attic isn’t in the greatest shape any longer but I still have my original copy though.

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  12. My mother took me to the library when I was 4 or 5 years old. My first two library books were Jot the Dot, which was about the dot over the letter J, and Drip Drop the Raindrop. I’ve never stopped reading on my own since that day. All of my kids are avid readers; the youngest is dyslexic so he uses audible. There is nothing greater than reading and I am sad and disheartened over the mass number of people who do not read for pleasure or for information.

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    1. It makes me sad that my kids don’t enjoy reading more. I have tried so hard to make them into readers without much luck though. They all definitely have different interests and things that they like to do and spend there time with. I think my second oldest son has read every mechanics book out there….so I guess that is some sort of reading. My kids all grew up on our ranch here and they spent most of there time outside. My daughter her horses, my oldest re-built a 1974 Charger when he was 16 and my second oldest son re-built himself a 1979 Ford Pick-up when he was 16 as well. Both of those vehicles were just the frame/parts and they managed to get them all running and on the road. Pretty proud of them for accomplishing that. Sorry for rambling but it just brought back some fond memories for me! LOL

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    1. I love that there are so many of us that have always remembered reading! 🙂 Reading is what I did for fun and still do. LOL

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  14. I’m a lifetime reader and really don’t read much romance anymore, but grew up reading those cheesy Harlequin Romance paperbacks!

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    1. Yeah I remember those romance paperbacks. There was a time when they were so popular and you could find them everywhere. They were the thing to read. That brings back memories.

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    2. I’m so glad you stopped by Holly! I could never bring myself to read those Harlequin Romance paperbacks but I did read a lot of Danielle Steel though.

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  15. I am with, Jonetta, as my first love in books was the Nancy Drew series. My husband tells me his first book love came from the Hardy Boys series. I can remember anxiously waiting for the next book to be available. I am still an avid, (somewhat compulsive ) reader. I sleep with the kindle in the bed and my glasses so that when I wake up in the middle of the night, I am all set to go.

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    1. Hahaha, Marialyce! I love that you have your kindle all ready for you just in case you wake up and sneak in a little bit more reading time! Even though I am up most of the night there is a certain point during the night when I physically can’t read anymore. My sleeping pills won’t let me! LOL

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  16. Great question girls! I’ve been reading for as long as I can remember all thanks to my wonderful mum who taught me to read before I went to school. She tells this story about how I was 3 years old and reading to a group of children in nursery and the teacher thought I was making the story up, looked over my shoulder and was shocked to realise I was reading the actual words! She took my mum to one side and said: “Did you know your daughter can read?!” My mum was like: “Erm….yes! I taught her!” 😂😂😂

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    1. Oh, Beth I absolutely love that! Such a wonderful memory and that is pretty impressive that you were reading when you were three years old! 🙂

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