Top Ten Tuesday: Ways My Reading Habits Have Changed Over Time

Written by Anna M.

Ever since I was a little girl, I have been an avid reader. Both my parents are avid readers, and my mom basically raised me in the library. Nevertheless, as I have grown through the human experience, my reading habits have changed almost as much as I have. 

1. Allowing myself to have DNFs. The reality is there are billions of books in the world, and millions more are being written. No one is going to be able to read every book, and our time is incredibly valuable. Do not waste your time on a book that simply is not good (obviously a subjective but still very valid opinion). Not all books are created equal, and not every book is going to be your cup of tea. I’ve learned that that is completely okay. Don’t be in a toxic relationship with the book you’re reading!

2. Number two goes hand in hand with number one: Allowing myself to not read. Reading slumps are real and that does not make you a book hater. Some days your brain needs the TV adaptation. 

3. Opening my mind to let myself be changed by the stories of life. You don’t have to agree with the author or the character. Regardless of who you are or what you believe, reading will make you a better person if you think critically and embrace openness. 

4. Reading nonfiction. It can be fun too! I used to be a stickler for fiction. After all, how is Atomic Habits going to compete with the adventures of Harry Potter, Lane McEvoy, or Christy Miller? I would make fun of my dad for reading so much nonfiction. However, the older I get, the more I see the value in reading nonfiction. It’s not for everyone, but there’s so much real-world information waiting at our fingertips.

5. Audiobooks are books too! I will always prefer to hold in my hands a hard copy of a novel, to grasp the pages between my fingers and feel the pattern of the words. Nevertheless, sometimes there is not enough time in the day, and your reading should not have to suffer. Audiobooks are great on a walk, on a run, or on a drive. You can listen to them while cooking or cleaning or both. They are such an accessible way to read, and the opportunity they give readers are endless.

6. Re-reading is still reading! While I love finding new stories and characters, often the best way to get out of a slump is to re-read a favorite. There are novels I regularly go back to because they genuinely make my day better. The re-reads should be treasured and celebrated. 

7. Fall in love with the classics. They have stood the test of time for a reason. Whether you are forced to read them in school or are not allowed to read them in school, read these books. Don’t Sparknotes them!  

8. Spoilers still are NOT allowed. Regardless of how I change as a reader and how my habits change, it will never be okay to spoil a good book. Don’t fix what isn’t broken. This rule is never going to change.

9. Reading with others and finding fellow booklovers. For one’s reading journey, this is so important for growth: Having people in your life that will encourage you in your reading and geek out about your favorite novels with you. Finding a book club or community (Shoutout to my amazing Teen Book Guild) is vital to one’s success as a reader. Don’t surround yourself with people who hate books and reading! In my experience, they almost always discourage one’s pursuit of reading. It’s a cautioning tale I could tell time and time again, but the moral of the story is simple. Find a solid community that supports your love for stories and motivates you to pursue your goals.

10. Habit two, Part two: It’s okay to not read. I love stories and the ways novels tell them. I will always love to read. Still, it is important to recognize life’s various seasons. Some days you will binge read book after book; other days you might not even make it through one whole chapter. Like any other healthy relationship, my relationship with reading is not the same as it was when I was just beginning to read at four or when I lived for novels in my early teens not should it be. It’s okay to put a book down and finish it later – and later looks different for all types of people. Allowing oneself grace to grow is the more significant action one can take. I am still a lifelong reader even on the days I don’t read, and I am so thankful that no matter where I am in life, there is always a good book by my side to make my life even better. 

In conclusion, there are probably even more ways my reading habits have changed and will continue to change. Nevertheless, the most important thing will always remain constant: my love of reading and my gratefulness that I am surrounded by people who celebrate storytelling.

5 Questions With...Mazey Eddings!

Written by Luke M.
Grade 12

Welcome to another addition of 5 questions with…, where teen library volunteers get to interview their favorite YA authors and ask them 5 questions about their books, careers, or even both. Today I had the privilege of speaking with Mazey Eddings. While she mostly writes adult literature, she made her mark in the YA market last year with Tilly in Technicolor, a story about two neurodivergent teens who form a connection with each other over a chaotic summer.

Q: When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in writing?

I came about it in a roundabout way, I think. As an undiagnosed autistic and ADHD only child of divorced parents, I spent a lot of time on my own. Social interactions didn’t come naturally to me, and I was always left feeling like I was looking through a window at my peers as they forged friendships and I sort of just… didn’t fit. But my greatest solace and source of relationships came from reading. I read everything I could get my hands on, and every book was this portal into understanding human nature better, safely going on adventures, and finding connections with characters. My love of reading really put authors on a pedestal for me, and writing a book was kind of unfathomable in my mind. I did take a lot of creative writing classes in middle school and high school, and I was even in this club called Power of the Pen where we would travel to different high schools and participate in writing competitions (essentially like a sports team for writing nerds lol). But, like I said, the idea of having an actual career as a writer seemed outside of my realm of possibilities, so I pursued a degree in my other love— science. I then went on to dental school where I had a bit of a quarter life crisis and was desperate for a creative escape to deal with the stress of my program. I rediscovered my love of reading and, for the first time in a long time, I started writing again. And I realized I couldn’t stop. I completed my first full length novel, A Brush with Love, while in school and was so in love with the characters and story, I decided to pursue publishing it because I had nothing to lose by trying. Eventually, the right people said yes to my work, and I now get to call myself an author and I still pinch myself that I’m so lucky.

Q: What inspired you to write Tilly in Technicolor?

My first three books were adult fiction, but my editor works on both adult and YA books, and she asked me if I’d be interested in writing a YA novel with an ADHD protagonist. My immediate answer was “YES AND HERE ARE ALL MY IDEAS FOR IT!!” I originally imagined the story to be singularly Tilly’s, a coming of age novel that normalized the fear and anxiety that comes with that transition from teenager to being technically an adult and not knowing what you want to do with your life. I think there’s so much unfair pressure on young people to know exactly what they want to do and have an iron-clad plan on how to get there that we end up stressing them out during their teen years when they should be experiencing adolescence and learning who they are first before they have to decide what they want to be. I also intended the novel to be more focused on Tilly’s relationship with her sister, Mona. While the latter is definitely a subplot of the book, when I started writing Tilly, Oliver popped up on the page and refused to leave. He was such a surprise to me in the best way, and his love of colors and color theory as a way to navigate and understand the world felt so special to me. The novel ended up being about how to honor who you are, discover what you want from the world, and take time to enjoy life exactly where you are in it instead of rushing to have it all figured out. And, obviously, finding people you love and that love you along the way.

Q: Were Tilly and/or Oliver based on people in your life?

Tilly and Oliver are uniquely themselves, as are all of my characters. They ended up being two people I would have loved to be friends with in high school. They’re different, they’re oddballs, and they’re so unapologetically themselves; I know I would have been so drawn to them as friends in high school (and now!)

Q: If you had the opportunity to adapt Tilly in Technicolor into a film, who would you want to work with (directors, actors, etc.)?

Oh gosh, could you imagine?! Let’s collectively manifest that haha! I would love to see Tilly as a movie, I think the visual play with colors and the various settings could be so amazing to see on a screen, and I’d also just love to see autistic/ADHD teens portrayed in a happy, feel good rom-com that highlights their neurodivergence as beautiful aspects of their being. If I could have my pick of directors, I think I’d have to go with Greta Gerwig as the director. Everything she touches turns to gold, and I feel like she’s so intentional and thoughtful in the choices she makes in representing source material for the big screen. I’d trust her fully to show Tilly and Ollie in a way that’s celebratory and dynamic and honors their uniqueness. I also feel like it would be important and awesome to cast neurodivergent actors for the roles to really get authenticity in the portrayal!

Q: As a neurodiverse author yourself, do you think the future is bright for neurodiverse voices?

Yes! The future feels very bright. I see more and more neurodivergent stories popping up in fiction and getting the attention they deserve! I think part of this is due to more people feeling empowered to claim their diagnosis and speak on it—the good, the bad, and the beautiful—in a way that others can relate to and feel seen. It’s such an exciting time for neurodiverse representation in all forms of media, and I encourage everyone to share their stories however feels best!

Thank you to Mazey Eddings for giving very thoughtful responses to my five questions. Check out Tilly in Technicolor at the Winter Park Library today!