“Can I be blunt on this subject? If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that. Reading is the creative center of a writer’s life.” - Stephen King, ON WRITING
I have that quote on the sidebar of my own blog. Right beneath it, I have a list of all the books I’ve read in 2006. There are four titles there. Yep. Four. 4. Cuatro. Quatre. Vier. How pathetic is that? And what kind of writer am I that I don’t read?
It is commonly accepted among authors that our writing schedules often require sacrifices. I’ve blogged about mine more than once. What I find to be a phenomenon is how many of us sacrifice reading time when it is probably the last thing we should give up - for a variety of reasons.
Since turning in my most recent manuscript on June 30th, I’ve picked up 5 books to read. It took 5 before I found one that sucked me in. There isn’t a thing wrong with the other ones. I want to read them all. But my current frame of mind wanted something in particular.
What I needed was gore and grit, and I got it all. (I’ll be blogging about the book I read soon on my own blog - and giving away a copy there!) I needed something totally different than what I’d just written. Even though I’d written a book that is labeled romantic suspense, it was not a bloody high-concept thriller - as was the one I wolfed down in two days.
I don’t even want to know why I would *need* to read something as violent as this book was, but I did. Similarly, I read and blogged about a book this time last year that also managed to take me away. I wonder if that’s it. I needed something so far removed from my normal life, and even from the type of suspense I’d written, to clear the cobwebs from my mind.
So, here’s my question to all of you. How often is your choice of reading material dependant on your mood, your mindset, your level of stress? Have you ever started a book, hated it, picked it up again and sucked it down? Do you often go through several titles, trying them out, before settling on a book that captures you, or do you just read what falls from the TBR pile into your hand?
-
My mood definitely dictates what I will read. When I’m at the beach or on vacation I can read a pile of light hearted romances. At other times I need more intense stories. If I start a book and am not thrilled with it I just put it aside until the time is right
by Maureen
on July 14th, 2006 at 6:54 am
-
Oh I agree. There are several books in my tbr pile, all ones that I want to read, but it all depends on my mood (and whether a fave author has a current release out). Sometimes I enjoy a gritty, edgy story like one by Suzanne Brockmann or JD Robb, other times I want the hot and steamy stuff found in Ellora’s Cave, and yet others I crave a more traditonally romantic story, one that tugs at your heartstrings, such as a story by Lisa Kleypas. Or something funny - MaryJanice Davidson. Something funny and sexy - Erin McCarthy. Mood truly dictates what I read.
Right now I’m getting ready to read the JR Ward stories, so once I finish my current read, that’s exactly what I plan on doing. Not that I’m not enjoying my current read because I am. It’s just that I know what I want next based on how my mood has been this week (plus a few people have raved non-stop, so I really want to know what all the fuss is about)
(Btw, I’m reading HelenKay’s Viva Las Bad Boys, and I’m having a lot of fun with it. She has a different sense of humor from some of the other Bravas, more subtle, dry, and I really like how it plays out in her stories. I’ll definitely be reading more of her stuff).
by Stacy ~
on July 14th, 2006 at 7:20 am
-
I definitely pick a book based on my mood. There are books I have started, then set aside, and picked up two years later and loved.
Certain seasons provoke differen moods for me as well. Fall is my favorite season for mysteries, suspense, and psychological thrillers. Summer, I like more family dramas or change of life dramas.
by Sandra M.
on July 14th, 2006 at 9:28 am
-
Sometimes the books I choose depend on my mood. I may prefer a mytsery, suspense, romance, historical, humorous, serious, ect….or a great holiday read. Although, I think I can read a Christmas romance any time of the year during any mood:D
by Kathleen
on July 14th, 2006 at 10:01 am
-
My mood often times controls what I pick to read; other times it is what is handy.
I have started to read a book and found that I could not ‘get into it’ at that time
and I put it away to be read later.
by Robyn
on July 14th, 2006 at 10:34 am
-
no at all. i read when new books come out and i like the authors. sometimes if the book does not interest me in the first few pages i put it away. love romance
by KIM H
on July 14th, 2006 at 11:43 am
-
There are some books that I am always in the mood to read. Those usually fall into category by author rather genre, though. What happens to me is if I get too stressed, my concentration goes to hell in a handbag and I cannot relax enough to read. So I don’t read anything. I hate it when that happens. 
Otherwise, I’ll pretty much read anything at anytime.
But for the most part if I start a book and I can’t get into it after 3 chapters, out it goes. I figure if the story hasn’t captured my attention by then, it ain’t happening. Although I will admit on occasion to slogging through a book to see how it turns out even though it was a tedious process! I get stubborn like that at times! Every once in a while I will pick one back up and give it another go…after all something drew me to it in the first place!
The only thing I am rarely in the mood for is straight out horror. I used to read Stephen King religiously, but I just can’t get into it anymore. Although I don’t mind gore in a thriller…go figure! 
by Angie
on July 14th, 2006 at 12:13 pm
-
I was reading a book by Carl Haissen and I put it down because of animal abuse. I’ll probably finish it but I’m in no hurry. And I won’t read another book by him again.
My mood has an affect on what I read. I was mad a week ago so I read a book about a serial killer.
by Melissa
on July 14th, 2006 at 12:46 pm
-
I often pick a book based on what kind of mood I am in. Sometimes I feel like reading the light-hearted books and other times the intense, long books.
I organize my TBR piles based on genre for that reason. I pick what is next in the genre I am in the mood for.
by Jennifer Y.
on July 14th, 2006 at 1:14 pm
-
I arrange my TBR pile in genres and pick what I read as the mood strikes.
by Estella Kissell
on July 14th, 2006 at 2:44 pm
-
yes, yes, and yes. So much depends on what mood I’m in. So I always have several books going at once. It takes me forever sometimes to decide what to read because of this. I’ll read a few pages, decide I’m not in the mood, then pick up something else. Sometimes I’ll move back to that other one soon, but sometimes it’ll be months before I pick it up again. not because it’s bad, just because I wasn’t in the mood.
And ooph, my tenses are all over the place today.
by Nicole
on July 14th, 2006 at 2:45 pm
-
Yes, mood and stress level affect what books I choose. Right now, we’re in the midst of packing to move and showing our house for sale and things are absolutely crazy and I’m having a hard time really sinking my teeth into stories. I’m bouncing between a Jenny Crusie bubbly romance and a uber-gritty but spectacularly, almost poetically written adventure/thriller by Adrian McKinty. By the way, if you’re into gritty, underworld, edgy thriller type stuff, definitely look into McKinty. I picked up Dead I Well May Be a year or so ago because I can’t resist an Irish title, and while I usually dislike mob stories, gritty or bloody type stuff, I was absolutely blown away by the lyrical writing. The character’s intelligence and dry humor… it’s just “wow.” I’m hoping the sequel will grab me the same way and help relieve some of the tension.
by Laure
on July 14th, 2006 at 3:31 pm
-
My mood almost always dictates what I will read. I keep looking through my books until I find just the right one for the way I’m feeling. I also need to vary the type of books I’m reading. I can’t read too many of the same kind for too long.
Thanks, Melissa, for telling us that about Carl Haissen. I could never read a book like that either so I will put him on my DO NOT BUY LIST!
by Carol
on July 14th, 2006 at 7:14 pm
-
Funny you mentioned Carl Haissen. 2 people have highly recommended Skinny Dip. I have not read him - but to each his own.
I love reading new releases. Love romance, particulary romance with some comedy.
Also read romantic suspense and there is no mood really to dictate what I read. I try to vary story type to give me a chance of pace.
by Pat
on July 14th, 2006 at 7:35 pm
-
I have large TBR pile, but I can’t just grab the top book. My state of mind (mood) determines what kind of book I read next.
by Joyce
on July 15th, 2006 at 3:19 pm
-
I definately have reading moods! Sometimes for me, I need comfort reads, that is, authors I read before. And too I need a comedy read when times are difficult for me. So those two genres - like, I will pick up for those reasons, otherwise I read whats been recommended or what I’ve been planning to read, and so on.
by Cathie
on July 16th, 2006 at 5:13 am
