Any author can attest to the mystery of what they write and when—a little mix of muse, book contract stipulations, market trends, and desire, I presume.
But what about how readers choose which of those books to read?
Most days of the year, I choose what I read by impulse or nudge. A new book by a favorite author might catch my attention or I may hear a title mentioned on a public radio program that I simply must explore. Sometimes, life circumstances may lead me back to a book I’ve already read because I need to hear its message again.
Normally, I’m not one to match a book to the season. I’ve read books set in snowing climes while stretched out on a blanket by the beach. I’ve read beach mysteries in the depths of winter. I’ve read small town stories while languishing in a high-rise. And I’ve read westerns while enjoying the bright lights of a big city.
Despite that, I do understand the desire this time of year to read stories that, like our movies and music in December, capture that special time leading up to Christmas and then into the New Year.
We’re on the downhill holiday slide as of today, with New Year’s right around the corner. Here’s hoping this final week of 2016 brings you time to read that one choice book you’ve been meaning to read all year.
—Jeanne Devlin