Have You Ever Read a Book at the "Wrong" Age That Affected Your Perception of the World?

Books often come with age recommendations, usually to ensure readers fully grasp their themes and messages. But sometimes, we might read books at an age where we don’t yet have the perspective to understand them fully, which can lead to some interesting (or even troubling) interpretations.

When I was recommended Memoirs of a Geisha in 6th or 7th grade, I absolutely loved it at the time. I even glamorized certain aspects of it that, looking back as an adult, I now find horrendous. It gave me this viewpoint of what being a woman or being in love should be like. Since I didn’t know much about human relationships in that regard at the time, I had this idea that love was this special and magical feeling (don’t get me wrong, it still is), and it could be with anyone, no matter their age, status, or whatever. I don’t know if I would’ve been more vulnerable if someone had approached me with bad intentions, but I guess I was a bit naïve. While the book definitely shaped my worldview at that age, I don’t think it had any lasting negative effects on me—just a perspective that evolved as I grew older.

Have you ever read a book at an "inconvenient" age? Did it shape your thinking in a way you later reconsidered? Do you think reading books too early can have irreversible effects, or do our perspectives naturally evolve over time?