November 2024 Monthly Question

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Do you read books to correspond to the seasons, for instance Christmas books in December, beach books in summer, scary books at Halloween? Or other methods, like taking on really long books over summer vacation, reading short books at the end of the year, etc?

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa)]

I do! I don't strictly read based on seasons, but I do like to throw in some books related to the season or time of year. I try to read winter books in the winter months, beachy books during the summer, spooky or witchy books in October. I don't know why, but I love a seasonal activity when it comes to reading.

[Joanne]

No. I am very much a mood reader. I would, more than likely, read a book about Antarctica in July rather than December

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

Joanne wrote: "No. I am very much a mood reader. I would, more than likely, read a book about Antarctica in July rather than December"

Yes, I like the change. That's why I never buy calendars whose pictures match the season. Why have a picture of snow when I already see it out my window? If I read a book for a holiday, it is generally because a GR group or challenge chooses it.

[Sue]

I do sometimes read Christmas books around Christmas time, but they're often northern hemisphere stories that don't match my hot and dry Christmases (in western Australia) at all! I often read very long books during our long summer holiday because I have more time then, and I try to fit them into my challenges. Otherwise I only read books for holidays if a challenge requires it, as I do read the AtY challenges in order, in the relevant week.

[Sherri]

I do seasonal reading & heritage month reading.

[Jamika]

No, I don't. I just read whatever is interesting or comes up next on my Libby queue but I'm always fascinated when it just so happens that the book I'm reading coincides with the same month or time of year etc.

[Denise]

I might read a Christmas book at Christmas time. My book clubs usually choose horror/spooky reads in October but I wouldn't do it on my own. I try to tackle one big book every summer during vacation but that has gotten harder the last few years since my school keeps lengthening the school year and shortening the summer to so it's now down to like 6.5 weeks

[Dubhease]

Rarely. But I do try to read one spooky/scary book in October.

[MJ]

I do not. I am very much a mood reader. In some years of this challenge, I have looked for shorter books to fill prompts when I realize I’m lagging too far behind. I have only finished ATY once though, even with trying to be more strategic at year end.

[Yesica]

Sue wrote: "I do sometimes read Christmas books around Christmas time, but they're often northern hemisphere stories that don't match my hot and dry Christmases (in western Australia) at all! I often read very..."

Same here in hot Argentina! I like Christmas books but they don´t relate to my Christmas at all...

[Pam]

No, not intentionally. Sometimes I’ll read a horror book in October, if it’s a group read. I tend to read shorter quick reads in January to give myself a jump start on the ATY challenge.

[Jackie, Solstitial Mod]

I am very much a seasonal reader - I like mysteries all year long but I want my snowed-in mysteries in winter, my spooky lake mysteries in the summer, my haunted houses in the fall, etc.

[John]

I do not specifically read seasonal books within their respective seasons.

[Kathy]

Jackie wrote: "I am very much a seasonal reader - I like mysteries all year long but I want my snowed-in mysteries in winter, my spooky lake mysteries in the summer, my haunted houses in the fall, etc."

Same here, Jackie. You summed my reading up perfectly. I'm already looking for my Christmas and snow books.

[Misty]

No. I read whatever appeals to me at that moment.

[Jennifer W]

I would like to, but it rarely works out that way. I do try to get in a spooky book for October, lately I've been tackling classics, Jeckyll and Hyde, Poe, this year I read The Yellow Wallpaper. I would like to read a Christmas book at Christmas time, but it's so hectic, that I basically read nothing during the month of December. And at other times of the year, I just feel weird reading about Christmas.

The one thing I do usually do is read a chunky book in the winter. Long, dark, cold nights in NY seem like a good time to curl in with a big book. Last winter I started The Brothers Karamazov, but it fell by the wayside in summer and I haven't gotten back to it. As we just set the clocks back this weekend, I'll have lots of dark evenings to get to it!

[Demetra]

I generally read what sounds good and what pops up in my library queue.

[Book Concierge]

I do usually read a couple of Christmas-themed books during the holiday season, as well as one or two for "Christmas in July" (a fun 'challenge' in another group). Other than that, I don't generally choose books that match the seasons. I happen to have two from the library right now that are Halloween themed ... but of course we're already in November...

[Anastasia]

I try to read something during Halloween and Christmas, but it depends on what is available at the library. So many others do the same thing that they are usually not available during that time.

[Trish, Annular Mod]

Anastasia wrote: "I try to read something during Halloween and Christmas, but it depends on what is available at the library. So many others do the same thing that they are usually not available during that time."

I'm a book buyer, rather than a book borrower, but I do usually leave seasonal books to at least vaguely near the season, especially quick and easy cozy mysteries.

There are some I read every year, like A Night in the Lonesome October in the run-up to Halloween, and A Christmas Carol some time in December.

[J]

My first response was no, but the more I think about it, I do tend to read Halloween themed books in September and October. I don't go out of the way to read anything thematic the rest of the year, but somehow any book that takes place at Christmas seems wrong to read at any other time of the year, so I have done Christmas books at the right time (and there are a few more on my TBR).

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

I have read A Christmas Carol on several Christmases and always find something new. And I like to watch stage or screen versions. Weirdly, I think the Muppet version is the closest to the original text, even with the singing vegetables.

[Shelley]

Do any of you have some recommendations for Southern hemisphere Christmas books? That could be a fun read for next month.

[Robin P, Orbicular Mod]

The Women in Black is charming and short, and takes place at Christmastime in Australia.

[Ciara]

I don't, but I do read a ton of new releases, which are often timed to correspond with the seasons. So lately I've been reading a lot of books set in fall/winter, & a lot more horror than usual, because that is what's being released right now. There also might be something subconscious happening with what I choose to read when, but I don't consciously seek out holiday- or seasonally-themed books unless I'm doing research about a specific sabbat or something.

[Amy (Other Amy)]

My only seasonal reading is Spooktober (which generally starts in September and lasts through Christmas for me LOL), but honestly I could read ghost stories all year round, so October is just a reminder to get back to my pile of hauntings, really.

[Lin]

Jackie wrote: "I am very much a seasonal reader - I like mysteries all year long but I want my snowed-in mysteries in winter, my spooky lake mysteries in the summer, my haunted houses in the fall, etc."

Same for me. In south Louisiana we don't get snow, but I love reading about in during December/January.

I did a full-on beachy summer, which is very extended here - May - September.

The library's display of the current month/theme is right when you walk in the door. I always get pulled in by a nice book cover.

[Dixie]

Robin P wrote: "I have read A Christmas Carol on several Christmases and always find something new. And I like to watch stage or screen versions. Weirdly, I think the Muppet version is the closest to the original ..."

I couldn't agree more. It's brilliant, and while I cycle some other holiday films, I never skip that one. (Also I'm always in tears at the end. Darn you Muppets!)

[Dixie]

For several years I read A Night in the Lonesome October every October. I skipped it this year since I was out of the country the last part of the month but will probably take it up again next year. At Christmastime my thoughts turn to my childhood favorites, and I always read through Father Christmas (the crabby British Santa is perfect for me) and Christmas Nutshell Library (4 Volumes in slipcase) Including : Angels & Berries & Candy Canes; A Firefly In A Fir-Tree; A Christmas Stocking Story & The Night Before Christmas. That's about it for holiday reading. I don't deliberately read books related to the four seasons at the appropriate times, just whenever I feel like it.

[Sue]

Robin P wrote: "The Women in Black is charming and short, and takes place at Christmastime in Australia."

I love this book! Back in the 70s I worked at David Jones in Sydney (which the shop in this book is based on), so I connected with the book on so many levels. I had forgotten it has a Christmas connection.
I recently bought Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret - a mystery set in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney. Will read this during December!

[[deleted user]]

I try to sometimes, and it's easier if there's a related readathon or challenge. I'd never read a holiday-specific book any other time of year, but besides that, I don't worry about it too much.

[Tammie]

I do try to read holiday books at Christmas. Besides that, I pretty much read books that fit my challenges and book club.

[Valerie]

No, I read based on my challenges, my book club, and my mood.