DD15 still reading dork diaries

[philomenacunky]

My dd turned 15 in feb. Shes a perfectly normal 15 year old and doesn't enjoy childish things. The other day though I saw her reading a Dork diaries book, is this normal for her age? If you're not aware these are books aimed at much younger children. I know she is capable of reading much more mature books than this, she reads things like Of Mice and Men, Macbeth, Christmas carol etc for school.

I haven't told her off for this I'm just very confused, why is she reading these books at her age? Aibu for thinking it's weird?

I have an English degree. I love read

Malory towers, Enid Blyton, Harry Potter etc are great works. Dork diaries is sexist, dumbed down childish bs

Why on earth would you tell her off?

She's reading a book she enjoys? Leave her alone.

What do you read in your spare time, OP? I'm assuming it must always be a literary classic so you are not dumbing down your brain?

She's not vaping or getting drunk .. she's reading a book! My 17 year old DD (who is planning to study English at university) happily re-reads childhood favourites and says you should not judge a book by its supposed age range. She also recommends exposing your DD to a wider range of books - perhaps make reading and discussing books something you do together?

You really need to get over yourself, and again leave the poor kid alone.

Dork diaries, Shakespeare, Dickens and Steinbeck

Dork diaries by the way which is award winning including an award for outstanding litetary work

Yeah she really sounds dumb

Honestly I would be more concerned about some of the Stephen king books the 14 year old is reading.

Unless you are only reading and watching highbrow stuff then you are just being hypocritical

Enid Blyton contains some extremely questionable attitudes. I'm surprised that passes your rest of quality.

*test of quality

Let's face it @philomenacunky she doesn't have enough parental guidance when it comes to literature, because one of her parents, at least, thinks that Malory Towers and Enid Blyton are great literature (and possibly also doesn't know that Blyton wrote Malory Towers. Have you ever looked at Dork Diaries?

Nothing wrong in what she's reading. The only Shakespeare I read was at school and I've never read any 'classics' (Dickens, Brontë etc) because they're not what I want to read. Even Agatha Christie books annoys me with the language she used. Give me a thriller/horror and I'm as happy as a frog on a lillipad.

let her be herself and read what she wants
And as others have said don't tell her for reading the books she enjoys

Totally normal OP. its the nostalgia. Its actually quite sweet in my honest opinion. We all visit those things that brought us this safe feeling, the feeling of joy, and she is most likely doing this too. When was the last time you picked up your favorite children's book and read it?

Dd 18 reads the wimpy kid books still, I'm in my 40s and am re reading all my Enid Blyton faves from childhood.

Telling her off for what she's enjoying would be the weird thing.

I'm nearly 40 and have a First in English lit. I wrote a thesis on Dryden, FFS. I reread stuff I loved as a child all the time.

Jesus, just let the kid read and relax. I'm 35 and can and do read the classics as well as lots of thrillers and none fiction. I also re read a bunch of the Point Horror series from my teenage years last year and loved it. Not everything has to be serious or for development, sometimes it's nice to just read/watch/do something... For fun?! Shock horror. You sound very critical and intense.

Reading should be for pleasure if that's what she wants to read then leave her alone. You sound way too controlling.

If it reassures you at all, I’m 30. I’ve had a successful career, am happily married to a very successful man and raising two lovely children … and I’m still reading Harry Potter fan fiction.

I think your DD will be ok, everyone likes what they like 👍🏻

While EB had fantastic imagination and has inspired many people... a lot of it very repetitive and no better than modern childrens authors.

Reading for pleasure is supposed to be pleasurable.

Me too 😂

I agree - comfort reading and totally normal. I'm 34 and still re-read Louise Rennisons "Georgia Nicolson" books now and again because they take me back

I would love to know what the OP is reading for relaxation whilst judging her child

I mean when I was her age I was reading flowers in the attic and other questionable books by Virginia andrews so I know what I'd think more appropriate

She is reading outside of the books school sets, this is brilliant. Lots of children stop reading at secondary schools. It doesn't matter what book it is. Perhaps she finds it comforting, amusing or just enjoyable.

Along with a lot of posters on here I also read young adult books, sometimes they are just comforting easy reads. Not every book has to be a classic or challenging. Comparing her to her sister, wow. It doesn't matter what her sister is reading.

My Mum read Mills and Boon, every book they probably ever wrote. She also read really hard hitting books too. I didn't judge her on her choice, she liked it, that was all that mattered. Some of my favourite memories are going to the library with my Mum. Maybe you could actually talk to your DD and hopefully without derision ask her why she loves the book so much? Open a conversation about it.

Remember the "create your own story" ones? Loved them!

You're calling Dork Diaries sexist yet are proud of your younger child reading Stephen King? The same Stephen King who regularly appears on the MenWriteWomen twitter account for his sexist writing?

"Her breasts swayed like ancient, cracked, punching bags."

"His mother was also tall, but too thin. Her breasts were almost nonexistent: token numbs"

"Her body was lean enough so the desert and grit and grind hadn't been able to sag everything."

"Sometimes you just wanted to show somebody your tits."

Criticising her for her choice of reading matter seems like a great way to,put her off reading altogether, @philomenacunky! I still resent my mum for banning all Enid Blyton books when I was a child, and I am nearly 60.

What you could do is to encourage her to read other books - buy her new books, or talk about books you enjoyed at her age, perhaps. But whatever you do, please don’t make her feel judged or belittled for her choice of books, or for reading different books to her sister (though I am surprised you think Stephen King is a sensible choice for a young teen).

I do reread children’s books - I have all the Chalet School stories, and love rereading them. Same goes for books like the Anne of Green Gables books, or the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, or the Harry Potters.

She is reading - be happy with that.