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Booking Through Thursday

Well, its been a long time since I last participated, but here goes:

Autumn is starting (here in the US, anyway), and kids are heading back to school–does the changing season change your reading habits? Less time? More? Are you just in the mood for different kinds of books than you were over the summer?

I'm definitely a seasonal reader. There are certain kinds of books that I can only tackle when its cold out, and others, like chick lit, that are better suited for the summer. Right now, I've got a lot of historical fiction on my plate: Sharon Kay Penman's new book, plus some historical Victorian England and medieval England. Fanny Burney's Evelina and Rebecca' West's The Birds Fall Down have been on my TBR bookshelf for months and months, so I need to get to them at some point, too.

As for the change in reading habits: well, things are going to change a little bit around here. Beginning this weekend, I'm going to be working as a docent at the New-York Historical Society, giving tours and attending lectures and all of that. I'm also taking classes in Latin and proofreading and alternately trying to decide if I want a career as a proofreader, or if I want to go back to school for medieval history.

Comments

Anonymous said…
That sounds fun to be working as a docent. I read an interesting short story about a docent in the south. I think it was called Docent and I remember not having any idea of what it meant when I started reading it.

I am not a seasonal reader by any means. I tend to read the same stuff on a consistent basis no matter what. Every now and then I might throw in something a little bit different.
SmilingSally said…
I change a bit with the season.
Anonymous said…
I really enjoyed Sharon Kay Penman's newest book. It felt long, but it was a good long that immersed me in the book. Better than Time and Chance, at any rate.

Your new job sounds awesome! I'm planning on pitching myself to all the museums in York, hoping to get a foot in the door, since I'm wavering between a career in academics or in a museum.
Katherine said…
I'm glad to hear that about Devil's Brood--it's a book I look forward to curling up with when the weather gets a little colder. It looks to be one of those thick, satisfying books that are perfect for fall/ winter.
Anonymous said…
I've been on the lookout for The Birds Fall Down since Francine Prose quotes the intriguing opening paragraph in "How to Read Like a Writer." I finally nailed down the book after months of frantic searching---I cannot wait to read it!

Hmmm...as long as I have a comfortable chair and a cup of tea, maybe hot apple cider for fall, I'm ready to roll! :)
Danielle said…
I've also got the West ready to read (eventually anyway)! I tend to read more Victorian Lit during cooler/colder months, but otherwise I'm not sure my reading habits change all that much. Have fun docenting. What sort of collection do you have at the Historical Society?
Iliana said…
Hope you enjoy being a docent - I bet it'll be a lot of fun! Like, Danielle, I was also wondering what kind of collection they have?

As far as my reading habits in the fall... I think they are the same except I may add some "spooky" books for Halloween reading :)
Anonymous said…
Yeah, I just love a light, airy book in the summer. Last year I vacationed in Jamaica and the guy sitting next to me was reading The Historian. It just seemed wrong somehow...
Amanda said…
Oh I am officially jealous of you! A docent for the historical society!!

I too am a seasonal reader. I definitely have to be in the mood for certain books and the seasons just put me in those moods.

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