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Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Ah, Fall - Jennifer Estep

Ah, fall.

My favorite time of year officially arrives on Sept. 23.

There’s so much to love about the season. Cool nights. Warm days. That crisp, earthy smell in the air. Pumpkin-flavored desserts. Showers of leaves that crackle pleasantly underfoot. Football, football, and more football. And did I mention the pumpkin desserts?

Ah, fall.

There’s also another reason I like fall so well. Because as the leaves and seasons change, so do my reading preferences.

Let’s face it. Summer is about sun and fun and surf and sand. During the summer, I want books that correspond to the hot temperatures and sunny days. Quick reads I can polish off while lounging by the pool or in front of the air conditioner. Humorous fantasy. Quirky chick-lit. Rapid-fire romantic comedy. A contemporary with a cool twist. An action-adventure with pulse-pounding scenes. Easy, breezy reads that are just plain fun.

But by the time fall rolls around every year, I’m ready for darker, grittier, meatier reads. Books I can curl up with on the couch and devour while chilly fall rains spatter against the windows. Urban fantasy. Some romantic suspense. A couple of hard-boiled detective novels. Maybe even a spy thriller or three.

I’ll stay in my dark phrase through the winter, although I might scarf down a few holiday-themed books to lighten the mood and get me through the Christmas shopping season. Everybody needs a break after a couple hours at the mall. And, really, what would the season be without some holiday stories to warm the heart?

When the weather starts to warm back up and sprigs of spring green appear, my tastes will lighten once more. I’ll go back to the romantic comedies. The light-hearted fantasy. A paranormal romance with a cute twist. A cozy mystery or two. Maybe even a frothy historical.

Summer will bring back the beach reads, and then I’ll return to my gritty books once again the in the fall. This way, I get all four seasons of books, along with the changes in the weather.

What about you? Do your reading preferences change when the weather does? Inquiring minds want to know …
Jennifer

10 comments:

Tam G. said...

I enjoy all kinds of romance reads. I do have to take breaks from one type and pick up another type of romance. So I guess I do change like the weather does, but my seasons sometimes last longer than others. I do have my favorites that last longer and others that I will only pick up and read maybe 1 book or 2 before I have to change again.

Karen H said...

I'm locked into historical romances. Got hooked on them years ago and don't plan to switch to any other genre anytime soon. But that's not to say that I won't throw in a good suspense story if one happens to strike me just right.

Lois said...

Nope, absoultely not. . . well, okay, I do tend to save Christmas themed books for December, but other than, doesn't matter what season it is, I read all the same stuff. LOL :)

Lois

Gigi said...

I also change gears as the seasons change. I love reading category romance, light hearted fun read during the spring and summer.
I sometimes throw in a Christmas book in July from my stack of holiday favorites.

I started out reading historical romace over 25 years ago. I still love that genre but I had to branch out so that I could have more choices of books.

Totebag Guest said...

Tam -- I alternate my reads too. I'll read a couple of paranormal romances, then pick up a detective story, etc. But I do like meatier reads during the cold months.

Karen -- I've read several historicals recently. One of my favorites is the "Wallflower" series by Lisa Kleypas, which, coincidentally, has a season in every title! ;-)

Lois -- I like to read holiday books in December too. It just seems weird to read about mistletoe in July.

Gigi -- Category romances are great to take with you for a day at the beach. Fun, sun, and romance. What could be better? :-)

Cherie J said...

I have some change in preferences. I love holiday themed stories but I feel weird reading at another time of the year. I have some Halloween books already lined up to start in mid-October. Then I will start Christmas themed books right after Thanksgiving. It always gives the holidays some extra emphasis for me and gives me something more to look forward to.

Cathy M said...

I don't really read many holiday themed storylines, so my book selections stay the same year round. Which for me is a little bit of everything, it just depends on my mood.

Totebag Guest said...

Cherie -- Yeah, I feel weird too reading Christmas books at any other time during the year. A Halloween book would be perfect for any dark and stormy night, though. ;-)

Cathy -- Mood plays a big role in what I pick up off my TBR pile. Right now, I'm reading "Goblin Hero," which is a fun fantasy novel by Jim Hines.

Edie Ramer said...

I don't think seasons make a difference in my reading. So far this week I finished a nonfiction book on life between lives, I read Jayne Castle's Silver Master yesterday in two long gulps. Now I opened The Reincarnationist by M.J. Rose, which is heavier than JAK's book. I like the difference in all the books.

Lily said...

I love historicals all year round, but light reading is always appreciated in the summer!