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If you're on the ASD spectrum (or suspect you might be).... have your reading tastes changed over time?

26 replies

ContessasGulagSpaDay · 28/09/2018 21:42

This just occured to me. I have quite a few traits and so did my mother/so does my sister - we also had a sibling with diagnosed ASD. I was a very awkward child, socially, and didn't really 'get' a lot of nuances of social interaction until I was in my 30s many are still unattained.

As a child and teenager, I loved science fiction and fantasy - massive Star Trek fan, Pratchett, anything 'other universe'-y. As I've got older, I haven't found myself absorbed to anywhere near the same extent by new examples of the genre, and the old books I used to read are enjoyed more for nostalgia than anything else. I don't think I could stand reading a Star Trek novel now, and I used to own at least 40 of them Blush. My tastes have changed a lot - it's mostly literal science books now, or works based on classic literature (which tbf I've always loved).

I was pondering the matter, and thought that maybe it's because when I was younger the real world and fantasy worlds were similarly mysterious and unintelligible to me; as I've aged, the real world has become more understandable and easier to navigate maybe 'cos I've learned some social skills. The real world is also, I've realised, bloody fascinating on its own terms - I don't need to escape to fictional intricacy any more when there's so much of it in real life.

Of course, this may be nothing to do with ASD but just a natural process of getting older. Seems like a decent place to start a discussion though Grin I welcome your thoughts on the matter!

OP posts:
StandardPoodle · 29/09/2018 20:00

Undiagnosed but pretty certain I'm autistic as was my DF.
I've always been a voracious reader, can reread childhood books for comfort. Sci-fi has always been strongly represented, with mysteries and thrillers and paranormal mystery/romance.
I used to read quite a lot of romances but it was more to see how people managed to keep up a conversation (something I'm woefully bad at).
Now I rarely read a romance - it's obvious what will happen - and am more into thrillers.
Or if someone could find me decent adult horse stories which I haven't read - heaven! (Have been through all the Dick/Felix Francis ones).

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