Tag Archives: discussion

Reading Certain Types of Books During Certain Times of the Year

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I’ve talked about being a mood reader before, so today’s topic is along those lines but it’s more about reading certain types of genres during certain times of the year.

I think for a lot of people their reading is affected by their mood. I know that when I make a TBR for a month I don’t stick to it because when that month rolls around I’m no longer in the mood to read that book and therefore it would most likely affect my reading experience.

But do you ever feel like you read a certain type of genre/author/book during a certain time of the year?

For a lot of people, I know that they like to read contemporaries during the summer because they’re light hearted and they feel like they match the tone for the season (carefree, relaxed, romantic, etc), and that some people read horror books during October, fantasy during the winter months, etc.

But why do we do this? Are we drawn to certain types of books during the year because that’s the trend or do we feel within ourselves that it matches the kind of tone we want to feel for that time of year?

I’ve recently been in a contemporary kick where all I want to read is contemporary because I’m struggling to read fantasy books. They’re fast, they’re fun, and they don’t require a ton of thinking to build up the world in my mind or think of the plot and possible twists and turns and such.

And then it got me thinking: am I wanting to read contemporaries because of the season? Is it because I want light hearted reads for the summer months, or do I just want to read a lot of cute romantic types of books?

I mean, most definitely I always want to read cute romantic things, but I think it actually does have something to do with the summer.

My days of summer vacation have long since been gone, but I still remember that feeling of freedom and being able to hang out with friends, have fun, and just relax for a while. I think I’m trying to relive that feeling through lighter reads. That isn’t to say that I won’t be reading fantasy books or books in different genres that might be heavier, but I struggled with reading over the summer last year because of the types of books I was reading, and I don’t want that to happen again.

Overall, yes, I do think that the season affects how and what we read. We feel more sluggish and tired in the winter, so we’re easily ready to curl up with a good, large book and just take our time with things. In the spring and fall I feel like it’s a transitional period, because now that summer’s practically on our doorstep I really just want to read fast books.

Let’s Chat! ≧◡≦

Do you find yourself reading certain genres or books during certain times of the year? Are you more drawn to contemporaries during the summer months or do you follow a strict TBR? Does it even matter to you what you read, when you read it?

Am I A Reader?

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amiareader

Recently there was a lot of drama going around the book community, mostly on the Booktube community, where a content creator made a video belittling Booktubers because they “wear makeup” and that they go to events like Book Expo America (BEA) and Bookcon, and that they don’t read certain kinds of books or book titles, or that all of them only go to get the same eight books. I’ve seen a lot of rebuttle going around, as well as some positive vibe hashtags floating around Twitter, but I watched a video by JBookLover who touched on this topic of am I a reader?

So, let’s start with the basics of what makes a reader:

  • You read books.

That’s it. Quite simply put in the very basic scope of things, this is what makes you a reader. You read books. Many of us in the book community are extremely passionate about books and, yes, it can and often does become more than just a hobby for some of us.

Some people get it in their minds that you have to read a certain amount of books to be declared a reader, or that you have to have read all of the great classics, or that you have to own a certain number of books, or only read a certain genre, or any number of things.

But really, you don’t. You can do whatever you want when it comes to being a reader.

You only like to read mystery books because you love the thrill and trying to figure out who did what on your own? Awesome!

You like to organize your shelves by color and even double stack because, let’s be honest, you don’t have shelf space and you need to fit them somehow? Do it!

You prefer to read eBooks and listen to audiobooks over reading physical books because of the ease of space and the convenience of carrying around a device that can hold thousands of books? Super!

You enjoy going to book signings, book events, wearing makeup (or not), doing Booktube, Bookstagram, Booklr, tweet about books, AND you have a book blog? Great!

All of these things do make you a reader, but also so, so, SO many other things make you a reader. It doesn’t matter if you’re male, female, or however you identify yourself. It doesn’t matter if you like wearing makeup or not or whether or not you read a lot or a little.

The fact that you read is enough to call yourself a reader.

I know that sometimes you may feel pressured to read certain books because everyone seems to be reading the same books, or to read a certain number of books to keep up with everything being published that you’re interested in, or that you need to have already read and liked every classic ever, but really?

What you read is enough.

So am I a reader? Hell yeah I am. I’ve always loved to read. I love Young Adult, adult, fantasy, sci-fi, contemporary, first person perspective and third person perspective, and more, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I meant to discuss this earlier this week, but I’ve been crazy busy, so I apologize that this post is so late and that I’ve barely posted all week. But I thought that this topic was important to discuss, so here we are!

Let’s Chat! ≧◡≦

What do you think about this topic? Did you ever assume that you needed to read certain books or have certain requirements in order to call yourself a reader? Have you ever been to BEA or BookCon or any kind of book event? How were they?

Books & Humor: Why I Don’t Laugh Out Loud Often

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I’ve been thinking about this topic for a while now because I’ve noticed that as I’m reading I don’t laugh out loud very often. Sure, I can find books to be funny or characters will say something that will make me react in my head or give a little giggle, but I don’t full blown laugh out loud very often when I read.

And I don’t get it because I have a great sense of humor (or so I like to think and I’ve been told).

Only recently have I actually become aware of books that have made me laugh out loud or react in a more exaggerated way than I normally have, such as:

simonvs
nightofcakeandpuppets
whenwecollided

When I read Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda, I absolutely loved it for many reasons, and one of the main reasons being the humor. It was the first book that I actually physically laughed out loud to in a very long time, that’s why it sticks to clearly in my memory as being funny.

Night of Cake & Puppets was funny because I already had a preconceived notion as to who the characters of Zuzana and Mik were, and the fact that there is so much SASS in this book made my heart warm and me laughing during my lunch break at work (luckily no one was with me for me to be embarrassed by).

And I’m currently reading When We Collided, but so far I’ve laughed at the most ridiculous lines because I feel like I’ve been there and said those kinds of things, just not in that way. Or maybe I just really relate to Jonah. And Vivi is just too peppy for words, oh man.

So why is it that I don’t laugh out loud when I read funny books? Or rather, why is it that I’ve only noticed recently that it’s happened and not before?

I think that when it comes to reading it’s a very personal thing. Not everyone who reads the same book is going to experience it in the same way, and so some people might be extremely easy laughers no matter the situation. If they’re reading, watching TV, talking to people: they just laugh easily. Then there are some people who don’t laugh at all while reading, except maybe in their heads.

I fall somewhere in the middle. I love to laugh. I love to smile. But when I read I get so wrapped up in the world and the characters that I don’t always notice when or if I do laugh even if I think something’s funny.

I don’t think this is an inherently bad thing at all, by the way. But I’m curious as to why I’m like that when I know how I am outside of reading.

I’ve just been noticing more and more that I’ve been commentating to myself my emotions out loud (yup, I’m weird), and that I’ve been chuckling or giggling or making weird faces, or even full blown laughing out loud lately. Maybe I’m just picking up the right books? Or maybe this topic has just been so on my mind lately that I’ve finally picked up on it?

Either way, I love that books can make me laugh. It’s exhilarating and refreshing and I think it’s so awesome that books have the power to do that because you don’t hear the inflection or tone in the book, but you still get it and understand what emotion it’s trying to convey.

Let’s Chat! ≧◡≦

Do you laugh out loud easily when it comes to books, or do you keep your emotions inside more? Are you a giggler? A chuckler? A starer? I need to know I’m not the only one!

 

March 2016 Wrap-Up

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march2016

Another month come and gone. In terms of reading I think this month was more productive than the last, which I’m happy about. So let’s get into ALL THE THINGS!

P.S. What do we think of the banner? I might start having one in some posts, but not all of them. Just playing around with my formatting, but do let me know in the comments what you think.

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