Welcome to the Feature & Follow Hop, hosted by Parajunkee’s View and Alison Can Read!
If you’re here for the first time, I’d love if you could follow via email, RSS, LinkyFollowers or Networked Blogs. Just let me know your follow method of choice in the comments, and I’ll be happy to return the favor.
And if you’re not new, welcome back! Repeat visitors are better than the cool side of the pillow on a hot night.
This week’s question:
Do your reading habits change based on your mood? Do you read a certain genre if you are feeling depressed or happy?
Totally. Of course, my default setting some form of fantastic speculative fiction. Those are my manufacturer settings, and they cannot be altered.
However, sometimes my brain malfunctions and I know I can’t handle complex world-building or intricate mythology. I just need something straightforward and simple. Then it’s contemporary or chick lit time.
Other times, when my emotions get strangely violent (oh come on, you know you have those moods too), I pick up an epic fantasy with lots of swordplay and rousing speeches. Or maybe a crazy sci-fi with explosions galore. The main point is that sometimes I just need carnage.
If I’m feeling sad and abnormally weepy, I can go one of two ways. Either I need to read something super upbeat and cheerful to snap me out of it, or, more often, I read something super-sad to push me over the edge, like The Book Thief or The Fault in Our Stars. Sometimes it takes being pushed over the edge for me to finally snap out of my doldrums. It’s amazing what a good ugly-cry can do.
Then there’s times I just need to mellow out, and I go to my “comfort books,” like Harry Potter, Ender’s Game, and the Farseer series. These are books that aren’t actually comforting — each one is complex and action packed — but books that I know I love so much, and am so deeply familiar with, that the act of reading them is soothing, in spite of the craziness in the pages.
So basically what I’m saying here is it’s a good thing that there’s lots of different types of books in the world.
We all have violent moods 🙂 A rousing fantasy sounds pretty dang good!! 🙂
The Brunette Librarian Blog
Brunette Librarian recently posted..Follow Friday – Moods?
Oh thank god, I thought I was the only one who read sad books when I’m sad! You worded it perfectly, once it pushes you over the edge it almost just goes away- like a release. (: Love it ~
Here is my FF :
http://cheerfulreviews.blogspot.com/2012/08/feature-follow-4.html
Oh & I’m a new follower 😀
Karen recently posted..Feature & Follow (#4)
oops :/ Sorry ! Didn’t mean to double post. D: ah !
Karen recently posted..Feature & Follow (#4)
Fixed it 🙂
I have my “comfort books” too and my over the edge novels! Sometimes I just need a huge girly cry moment haha.
New follower via NB 🙂
p.s. Love your blog name btw!
-Sonnie at http://www.litgirlreviews.blogspot.com
Sonnie @ Lit Girl: Confessions of a Future Librarian recently posted..Follow Friday #8
Totally agree- if there weren’t a large amount of books in the world I would go nuts! New Network follower 😀
My FF
Caitlin recently posted..Feature and Follow Friday {3}
Hopping through. Harry Potter is my comfort choice too. That and Twilight. What is the Farseer series?
My Hop
Alison (AlisonCanRead) recently posted..Feature and Follow Friday #108
It’s a high fantasy series by Robin Hobb. I linked the first book in the series above. Fabulous, amazing characters and world-building. Can’t recommend it highly enough.
Amen sista! So very well put and such an in depth answer! I can’t believe I wasn’t following you before (haha, repeat visitors better than the cool side of the pillow) but am now!
Here’s a link to mine, Scarlett at Books Before Bed!
Scarlett recently posted..Feature and Follow Friday
I tend to gravitate to favorites when I am depressed.
My FF
A nice answer! I’ll have to check out a few of the books you mentioned for when I am feeling a particular mood 🙂
My FF, http://obsessionwithbooks.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/feature-follow-friday-3rd-april.html
Have a nice weekend.
Sharon @ Obsession with Books recently posted..Feature & Follow Friday (3rd April)
It seems like we’re all a bunch of moody readers. Must be something in the water.
a.n. lewis recently posted..Let’s Keep On Hopping!
Interesting anwer! I think it depends on the period for me not really my mood.
here is mine
melliane recently posted..Bienvenue au palais de l’amour ! (One shot) de Mayu Shinjo
Great reply. We now have insight into your soul! I LOVE Ender’s Game and Harry Potter too – my best books. I’m a new follower via Network Blogs – I like it when nice blogs pop up in my FB feed. You can find me at: http://todayinshenaya.blogspot.com
Gwynneth White recently posted..JUSTICE is served: Meet the characters
Awh, I really love your answer! 🙂 Very interesting to read ^^ thanks for sharing and happy friday!
Old follower ^^
Mel@thedailyprophecy recently posted..Feature & Follow (8)
Great Answer!
I hope you have a great Friday! New Follower..
Ashley @ #BookNerd
I feel the same way. Gotta change it up depending on your mood. I love the picture at the end. That’s why belle was my favorite as a kid lol
Just blogging by, have a great week-end.
http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2012/08/feature.html
Tribute Books Mama recently posted..Feature&Follow
Great answer! And I love Belle! 🙂 Huge Disney fan here!
New follower!
Nina recently posted..Feature & Follow (Friday)
OOooh I looooove your Beauty and the Beast clip! Especially of that luscious library! I so want that one to hold all my books!
Here’s my Friday Hops
Have a GREAT weekend!
Old Follower 🙂
Great answer! Old email follower.
Jennifer @ Feminist Fairy Tale Reviews
http://feministfairytalereviews.blogspot.com/2012/08/follow-friday-36-and-tgif-24.html
Jennifer @ Feminist Fairytale Reviews recently posted..FOLLOW FRIDAY (36) and TGIF (24)
My go-to is To Kill a Mockingbird. But I like to read something funny when I’m feeling sorry for myself. But most oft en, I’ll pull out my copy of the movie Steel Magnolias when I just need a cathartic cry. I absolutely love to stop by your site and have awarded you the Liebster Blog Award. Have a terrific weekend and keep up the great work 🙂
Angela @ AJ Arndt Books Blog recently posted..My First Blog Award. Yeah!
Oh goodness, during the semester I barely read anything that doesn’t sound like a quick read. With all the sloshing through textbooks, I don’t want to have to wade through a personal read too.
Melanie recently posted..Get Daughter of Smoke and Bone for Free