The Vintage Book Addicts Blog

There are almost as many reasons people collect books:

• Love of a particular subject or author and a way to support the author.
• Passion for refined printing and binding
• The enjoyment of beautiful objects, some collectors love being surrounded by stacks of books.

It's officially fall, and we are starting to notice the seasons changing at this time of year. Have you ever seen how your moods shift with the seasons? Everything is picked up by our senses. The weather strongly influences how we eat, dress, read, and socialize.

What is seasonal reading?

Seasonal reading is the practice of changing the type of books you read according to the season. 

The seasons impact your mood, health, and overall well-being. You may have noticed a shift in your mindset as the seasons changed from hot to cold. People may feel more upbeat and adventurous in the summer. In contrast, the long winter months lend themselves to quieter, more reflective moods. So who's to say that the seasons don't affect what you're reading?

The impact of the seasons on our brains.

While there is no scientific proof that celestial bodies impact our personalities, the planet's alignment with the sun does. Another way to phrase it? Seasonal changes influence our moods and even our comprehension. So, naturally, this will affect what we will want to read.

It's a natural instinct in many ways; the idea that our needs and tastes change with the seasons is neither controversial nor unique. Varying levels of sunlight influence our biochemistry, not just our mood, and entire spiritual and medical systems are based on our seasonal mental and physical cravings for different varieties of entertainment.

How Do the Seasons Influence What We Read?

If you live in an area where the seasons are not drastically different, you may not notice these changes as much. However, these changes are more pronounced in climates where winter lasts several months and nightfall falls around 5 p.m. daily. With these shifts, readers frequently find themselves in the mood for specific genres or themes. To help keep people engaged, fiction comes in various forms that reflect the changing weather outside, the amount of time spent indoors, and how one's body adjusts to the lack of sunlight.

Summer beach reads.

Summer typically means beach reads, romance novels, and light-hearted adventures on everyone's shelves. These sorts of stories are great, light reading for warm days. 

Snuggle up with a blanket and a good book.

In contrast, winter usually brings over longer and heavier books, with darker themes and longer plot lines. These books are great for curling up beside a fireplace or under a blanket with a cup of tea. These seasonal reads overlap with the cozy mystery novel type in the fall, slowly getting us out of the summer reads and into our winter reads.

Book stores match displays to the changing seasons.

Book stores often use this seasonal shift to keep customers interested in reading all year. Of course, if you spend more time outside than inside, you'll want a lighter book to carry around. But if you're spending more time indoors, there's no reason not to pick up that series with massive books if you have the time to read them. These factors and more are considered when bookstores are stocked, all to tempt you.

Read exactly what you want to read wherever you want.

At the end of the day, we read what we want when we want, and seasonal reading is only a tiny part of why we choose a book. Whatever the weather, we need a diverse selection of novels to keep us entertained and captivated. Make sure you browse the latest new old, vintage books I have added to Reading Vintage, whatever the season.

Happy reading,

Pam of Reading Vintage

“A book should be a garden that fits in the hands. Word-petals of color. Stems of strength. roots of truth. Turn a page and turn the seasons. Read the sentence and enjoy the roses. ”
― Max Lucado

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