Reading Rhythms through the Seasons
Written by Caitlin Bootsma
Most people know I love literature, but I have to admit I get some raised eyebrows when they find out that I also love espionage novels, historical fiction, psychological thrillers, and many books on the best sellers list.
I’d say that my taste is eclectic and that may be true, but mostly, I just really, really love a good story.
And I’ll be honest—and perhaps you relate—there are days or months when I’m up for a tome like The Hunchback of Notre Dame or East of Eden and other times when I’m happy to dig into an entire mystery series, one after the other. What I’ve noticed is that there are seasons to my reading rhythms and those seasons often support one another.
In the fall, I’m full of that sharpened pencil and shiny apple back-to-school energy. I’m more than ready to focus on the Well Read Mom reading list (this is my 7th year) and I find that I’m craving some meatier classics with plenty to ponder.
This intensity certainly lasts for a few months and it’s when my life-long pursuit of reading as many Great Books as possible picks up the most steam. As the weather cools here in Richmond, Virginia, however, and the busyness of early fall is replaced by more solemn tones, I find myself drawn to more spiritual works.
When I’m in the swing of things, I wake up early and start the day with Scriptures and spiritual reading. I find that contemplating life and death during the month of ‘memento mori’ prepares me well for Advent. During that season as well, I return to old spiritual favorites and new works that prepare me for Christ’s birth at Christmas.
Then, comes the New Year. I have a very type A personality and I greet the new year with a LOT of enthusiasm. Goals, word of the year, new planners, you name it, I’m there with vigor for the new calendar year. Fortunately, that bleeds into my reading life too with some renewed energy to dig into the classics.
With the winter comes some more time indoors, so I like to complement classics with plenty of familiar, plot-driven reads. You’ll find me alternating between books for Well Read Mom and another podcast that focuses on the classics and lighter, but well-written, historical fiction (my favorite genre). I recently posited to my husband that I’m not sure there is a World War II novel with a strong female protagonist I haven’t read.
Spring. Ah, spring. I inevitably get distracted and, yes, sometimes even fall behind on the reading to which I’ve personally committed. The sunshine and the hint of warmth call me away from the pages I so love to read. That said, there is something about Lent and Holy Week and Easter and New Life that bring back all of the things I have learned through the stories I have read.
Like a kid freshly out of school, when early summer hits, I long for something FUN. Putting together a summer reading list is an annual event. I search new release lists, find recommendations, and combine those with my TBR (to-be-read) pile. I’m not ashamed to say that I reach for page turners.
Summer is also the time where I step away from my normal genres and read whatever appeals to me. Romances (clean) are not my go-to, but on the beach you might just catch me with one. The non-fiction memoir or topic everyone is talking about? That’s making it on the ‘place on hold’ list at the local library.
During the summer, I read and read and read. I read on our annual trip to the lake. I read at the pool with kids (yes, I’m watching them!). I read on the porch during those late summer evenings.
But when August comes and the school year looms before us, I find myself sated on my fast and furious pile of summer reading. I begin to long, once again, for the fall. Fall when the schedule will pick up, but my reading life will focus in, once again, on the classics and to the Well Read Mom theme for the next reading season.
About Caitlin Bootsma
Caitlin is an author, an editor, and a mother of 5 who lives in Richmond, Virginia. Her love of reading has led to a love of writing. You can find her children’s books – How Edith Found Jesus and the Detective Thomas series at orderosv.com.
About Well-Read Mom
In Well-Read Mom, women read more and read well. Our hope is to deepen the awareness of meaning hidden in each woman’s daily life, elevate the cultural conversation, and revitalize reading literature from books. If you would like to have us help you select worthy reading material, we invite you to join and read along with us. We are better together! For information on how to start or join a Well-Read Mom group visit our website wellreadmom.com
