It’s summer. Beach season. Well, okay, maybe not so much for those of us in the middle of the country. For us it’s wish-we-were-at-the-beach-instead-of-the-public-pool season. Nonetheless, we tend to read more in the summer than we do the rest of the year due to vacations, lounging poolside, ect.
My reading habits go through phases. Sometimes all I’m in the mood for are historical romances set in Scotland. Other times all I want to read are paranormal romances, or urban fantasy. I become burned out on one genre or sub-genre and need to switch. My To Be Read pile has books of many different genres/sub-genres in it. Some have been there awhile–just haven’t been in the mood for them yet. (This drives my non-reading husband nuts.)
Right now I’m in a heavy historical fantasy reading phase. I want thick books (700 pages, please) of fantasy novel set in some faraway place in some faraway time. I’m glomming all the historical fantasy I can that sounds good to me. Unfortunately, there’s not tons of it. The market for this sub-genre doesn’t seem to be huge. A pity.
I don’t think I’m alone in this. Most readers, I think, tend to go through phases like these. So, how about you? Are you a dedicated romance reader, or do you stray to other genres sometimes?
July 7th, 2009 at 9:26 am
I’m a dedicated romance reader, but I DO mood read within the sub genres. I’ll go through a romantic suspense phase, the grittier the better, then I might get hung up on all paranormals for a while. I noticed recently that I had been reading VERY few historicals, so I’ve making sure I read at least one a month, and new to me authors. I am also a seasonal reader….in the summer I like to read books that take place during the summer, or in the heat, I love Halloween reads and books like your’s, they get me in the mood!! And Christmas….I have a whole list of books and anthologies I pull out every year for a reread. Yup, every year. I’m such a creature of habit!!
July 7th, 2009 at 10:20 am
I am what I call a “binge” reader LOL. I eat the same way. I get in moods and read that genre until I am burned out and then I go on and read something else.
Renee’
July 7th, 2009 at 10:55 am
I’m am a dedicated romance reader!! There are so many sub-genres witin romance it’s easy to select something to suit my mood. I try to mix up my reading choices so I don’t burn out on one type of genre.
July 7th, 2009 at 11:12 am
I like all different genres. I am on a James Patterson kick right now.
July 7th, 2009 at 11:49 am
I’m a dedicated romance reader, now that I have found my niche in this wild world of fiction. I go from one sub-genre to the next so I don’t get saturated by any of them.
You might want to try Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander. It is more than 700 pages. I couldn’t see myself hauling it around so I went to the library and checked out the audio cd, so I could listen to it in the car and by the pool. Its an outstanding read.
July 7th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Hey Anya! I love romance, paranormal, been on a historical kick as well. But I also enjoy YA and love, love, love Patricia Cornwell books, love real life crime books too!
July 8th, 2009 at 7:22 am
“My To Be Read pile has books of many different genres/sub-genres in it. Some have been there awhile–just haven’t been in the mood for them yet. (This drives my non-reading husband nuts.)”
My TBR stack is the same, and it drives my husband nuts as well, but he IS a reader. He just happens to buy a book, read a book, by the next book, read the next book. I wish there was some way to get The Husbands to understand I *need* I pile of books to choose from because I never know what kind of mood I’ll be in.
July 8th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
I’m a binge reader. Right now I’m glomming YA. The thing I like about YA is I don’t have any expectations. Every new book is a new adventure just waiting to happen. Out of all the YA books I’ve read in the past I’ve only been disappointed by two. In contrast, just about all the paranormal romance I’ve been picking up has left me going blah…I think I’m burned out on that end.
July 16th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Good info and will put it into practice on my niche video website.