Reading is the best! I know I have probably said that before, but I just love it, and I hope you do, too! But sometimes, as bookworms, we get into a reading slump and can’t seem to find the books we want to read. Even when our TBR list is growing, sometimes we just aren’t in the mood for the stories piling up. That is why I have decided to create a guide to books based on mood! While this is based on my own moods and what I like to read during each one, you may find inspiration to read or even create your own Moody TBR List! Enjoy!
Joyful
My favorite thing to read when I am in a good mood and want to enjoy that good mood are the books on my re-read list! These books are all the books that I just flat-out love! This includes the Vince Flynn novels about Mitch Rapp, the Thrawn novels from Star Wars, some old Louie Lamor Westerns, Mara Daughter of the Nile, and yes, some children’s books such as Encyclopedia Brown. This list is continually growing (I just added one called Echo North, a great book; you should totally check it out!), so this re-read list is always changing and growing!
Excited
When I am excited, I love searching for new Star Wars books I have not read. As you might have figured out by now, I love Star Wars books! I have never engaged much with any other sci-fi series, but a good Star Wars book gets me in the best of moods and can make a great day even better!
Absent Minded
When I am absent-minded, I love to find more introspective audiobooks that don’t require a lot of listening power but have a combination of funny moments and drama. The need for books to listen to when I am feeling absent-minded is growing, as I tend to be mentally worn out after editing a novel. So, I just want something I can listen to while I color, draw, paint, or otherwise just kind of zone out. Usually, this consists of slow-moving mysteries or mysteries I have heard a million times and still love. One collection of mysteries I listen to when I am absent-minded is the Sherlock Holmes mysteries. Because I am familiar with these stories, I do not need to pay as much attention as I used to, and I can just float in and out of listening and focusing on something else. The new list I compiled for this mood is the Jane Austin books. This collection is one I know a lot about but have never read. However, I am not a romance person, so I expect these books to have many moments where I simply lose interest. This is great for when I am feeling absent-minded as I usually focus on many other things and am not really in the mood to dedicate all my brain power to following one story.
Sad/Depressed
When I am sad and depressed, I like to go for a simple book. Something fun and easy to read, sometimes a YA novel or a short book like Mara Daughter of the Nile. However, the series I go back to often is actually a collection of children’s stories called Hank the Cowdog. This may seem odd to some people, mainly because these books are definitely geared towards a younger audience. But their lighthearted vibe, simple stories, and comic storylines always put a smile on my face and remind me to enjoy the little things. However, if you don’t like songs that get stuck in your head, watch out for the musical numbers if you listen to the audiobooks. I still have one stuck in my head from sixth grade when I first listened to it.
Emotionally Drained
When I am emotionally drained, I just want a book I can check out with. For me, this is Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie! There is something about listening to someone else solve everyone’s problems that takes some weight off my shoulders. Agatha Christie’s books are sometimes a hit-and-miss for dealing with being emotionally drained. Still, for the most part, they pull me out of my tired state and give me something to focus on while I try to solve the mystery. I also like to listen to the Bible, specifically Proverbs and Psalms! The other books I love when I am just drained are The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings!
Bored
For me, when I am bored, I need an action-packed book. This is where my favorite spy thrillers usually come in. Vince Flynn is my absolute favorite, but I am always adding to my spy thriller book list, and I recently added Clive Cussler! So far, so good! Another excellent genre for being bored is Epic Fantasy! My favorite fantasy series when I am bored is Redwall! Redwall is a blast to listen to and is always fast-paced and packed with adventure! The audiobooks are often read by an entire cast, and great music as well, adding to the experience. My library does not have these books, so one day, I hope to collect them all, but for now, I am on the hunt for a great place to access the audiobooks. Do you know of a good place?
Irritated
When I am irritated, I read the Bible. It’s just chock-full of wisdom and offers a great perspective on struggles of all kinds. I also love behind-the-scenes books on movies. One of my favorites that I go back to repeatedly is the behind-the-scenes book on how the first Star Wars movie was made! I know, more Star Wars. But for me, that is one of my happy places, so it always comes up when I need a mood enhancer.
As I read more and more books, this list will probably change and get bigger. I hope to one day gather all the books I have read into one extensive list and organize them into various smaller lists based on mood and other topics (I love lists!). I also hope to find new series I can enjoy over and over again, like I do some of the series I mentioned in many of the categories above. Have you ever made a book list based on your mood? I would love to hear what is on it! Like this post and share some books in the comments!
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