books books books
Come set awhile. Let’s enjoy a l’il chitty chat about how we read and why.
We’ve all heard the phrases “I love to read!” and “I read voraciously!” and “I couldn’t put that book down!” and even receive regular book recommendations, yet rarely does the opportunity to discuss how we create our TBR (To Be Read) list crop up. Well, I’m here to change that because I want to know how you choose what to read next. And why?
Ok, and of course to share my rhythms too. Sooooo seasonally, right? And special month themes. And how about new releases and ARCs (advanced reader copies sometimes referred to as galleys) if you can get ‘em?! Mmmm Ooooo AND location based for when you’ve moved somewhere new or want to savor where you recently traveled to or from!
There are a million reasons. What is yours? I’ll list mine below so we can compare and borrow from each other. I think I’ll begin with seasonal since spooky mystery season is here. Without further ado, my Fall reading style…
photo credit: alex geerts
“I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.”
Seasonal aspirations
People relish Autumn and all that it brings—golden days, crisp evenings, colorful leaves, sweet concoctions in mugs to wrap your hands around, pumpkin everything, spiced and nice—including the draw to settle in with a good book. This is the time of year I enjoy mysteries, ghost stories, spooky tales, and books set in this particular season.
While everyone curls up to binge watch the latest shows, I’ll be delving into my TBR Fall specific genre list. One time, I picked up an ARC based on the Fall foliage decorating the cover. How do you find your cozy books?
I choose the following ways:
Author Specific, such as a spooky tale by Rachel Harrison:
Try Cackle. I definitely want to read it again. How does Rachel Harrison write so fittingly for this season?! And with depth, vibrant characters, and gripping pacing. I try to read one each Fall during the season of receding daylight.Book Group Selections:
My book group is currently reading Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom for the month of October. Sometimes books are chosen for us by the Universe. What better way to acclimatize to your area while also learning from locally set books. Bonus: It doubles as my book to honor Indigenous Peoples month.
Obviously, I have a stack of approximately 7-8 books on my nightstand, but I want to share how I choose genres not list out my extensive stack. Within this stack is a children’s spooky story that I hope to someday create into a children’s ballet. I revisit it this time of year to remind myself of that goal. Other types of novels in the stack are gothic (Mexican Gothic is a must read!), non-fiction about why we are fascinated with ghost stories, and fiction with a setting occurring during Autumn. I’m also loving the romance novels coming out in Halloween fashion along with their clever titles! I may begin adding Fall themed cookbooks too. What are your go-to authors, genres, or styles that you select in the Fall?
“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”
WINTER HIBERNATION:
Curled up by the fireplace with tea (or wine!), I read books with winter settings, nonfiction that I have more time and focus to spend settling into, fantastical reads that border magical realism and speculative fiction, tales that unwind at a slower pace like my body unfurling from bed on a cold winter morn.
The Winter version of my TBR stack includes the likes of:
Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
Author specific tales such as those by Leif Enger or Fredrik Backman
SPRING FLING:
A time when I fling myself out into the world with abandon! The excitement of the coming season stirs within me and I aim to match that intensity of my renewed vigor with the books I opt for at the library. I really don’t apply “reading season” feels to Spring since my mind links the concept of getting outside as more pertinent. However, I tend to select themes along the lines of travel adventure, biographies, and self-help categories. Examples include Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert, Wild Rescues: A Paramedic’s Extreme Adventures in Yellowstone by Kevin Grange, and Mountains Wild by Sarah Stewart Taylor.
photo credit: Perfecto Capucine
SUMMER:
Romance! Beach reads! Easy to read commercial fiction! Location based tales where I plan to travel to! Although the summer is frenetic leaving me less time to read in the sun like I want to (I spend almost all my time exploring trails and taking advantage of the extended daylight), I squeeze in rest time with a delightful book.
Also, I leave behind nonfiction and more dense writing styles during the season of languishing in the sun to give my brain a break and relish the listlessness I’m fortunate to have the time to experience. What do you gravitate towards during your travels or during your vacations?
THEME BY MONTH:
Working as a book seller taught me how to read multiple books at once so I dedicate at least one book a month to recognizing and honoring heritages around the world. My Libby app offers a plethora of reads each month by these themes so it’s easy to pluck one off their compilation.
January = Winter Safety month
February = Black History month
March = Women’s History month
April = April Fools themes, Earth Day, World Health Day, Gardening
May = Asia Pacific Islander Desi month
June = Pride month
July = National Grilling month
August = National Picnic month, August 9th is Book Lovers Day!
September = Banned Books Week
October = Latinx/Hispanic Heritage month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15)
November = Indigenous Heritage month, Non Fiction November
December = Holiday themes
Genre Preferences:
While I strive to remain open minded and read any genre, I do gravitate towards a set grouping of genres and styles. Speculative fiction. Literary fiction. Poetic prose. Lyrical writing styles. Depth, relationship building, and character development rank highly on my requirements. It’s not that I think less of surface level writing styles, it’s that my brain and emotions simply crave more. And when I need a break, I opt for light hearted and simple narratives. Do you prefer lighter reads or deep dives? Well developed plot lines or predictable reads?
Location Location Location:
Everywhere I live, I read works by local authors. When I moved to the Jonesboro area of Georgia, I read Gone With the Wind, which was the setting of the plantation in the book. When I lived in Bremerton, WA I read Snow Falling on Cedars and when I lived in Salt Lake City I read The Monkey Wrench Gang between artfully skimming all my textbooks for grad school.
This is my favorite way to choose books. I adore all things local and making local connections. I savor learning more about where I live through the experiences of others and reading is such an imaginative way to do so. I could chat for hours about the various reads I’ve poked my nose into but I’ll save that for the comment section below. Where have you lived and what local authors have you enjoyed reading the most?
“I think books are like people, in the sense that they’ll turn up in your life when you most need them.”
Reading expands our world. It enlivens our daily living, strengthens our synapses, and relieves stress, provides opportunity for professional or personal growth, and stimulates creativity. I recently read there is a decline in reading for pleasure. While I don’t know the accuracy of that bold statement, it does seem that television and social media are winning the battle for our time even though reading is a significantly healthier habit to hold. Is this how our society is losing the ability to think critically? Hmmmm
Ultimately, whatever I choose to read ends up being precisely what I need in that moment of my life. I’ve always wondered how. Reading is a gift. Having the time to read is a luxury. As gratitude season swirls around us, don’t forget to show appreciation for the freedom we find in reading. The best way to do so is to indulge in that freedom. So pick up something that interests you or has a fabulous cover (you know we all do it! :-) and let me know about it. What do you recommend I read next?