Reading moods...

It's been a few weeks since I last posted, so I figured it was time for me to share some more of my reading thoughts.   I've been having trouble getting into and enjoying my most recent novel selections lately, even those I figured I would enjoy.   For instance, I just finished reading Winston Graham's Ross Poldark, the first novel in Graham's well-known, and well-reviewed, Poldark series.   This book just didn't do anything for me.  I detested the main character and just couldn't get into the story.   Given the overwhelmingly positive reviews this book has received, and that it falls within the historical fiction genre - my particular favourite - I was quite surprised that I was never able to 'connect' with the book. 

I also starting reading Matthew Lewis' The Monk, which I thought would be a perfect book to read at this time of year.   Unfortunately, it turns out I'm not at all in the mood for it so I've had to set it aside for another day. 

I think part of the problem is that I have too many reading commitments and, as a result, can't fit enough novels into my reading schedule of my complete own choosing.  I'm in one local book club and several online book groups, all of which have reading selections every month.   I'm a very moody reader, and don't like to be 'forced' to read something I'm not in the mood for, which is what may have happened with the Poldark book, and definitely has happened with The Monk.   I think the only solution is for me to take a break from book club reads for the time being, and focus only on those books I truly want to read.    With this in mind I've now turned my attention to Margaret Campbell Barnes' The Passionate Brood: A Novel of Richard the Lionheart and the Man Who Became Robin Hood.   I love novels about the Plantagenets, and am a lover of the Robin Hood legend, so I have high hopes for this one. 

Who else is a moody reader?  Do you think your enjoyment of a novel is dependent upon your reading mood at the time you start a novel?

Spooky Reads....

It's now October, and as we approach Hallowe'en I thought I'd get into the spirit of the season by reading a few spooky tales!  Right now I'm reading Hilary Mantel's Beyond Black, which is described as a great ghost story.   So far, so good.    I'll follow this up with Matthew Lewis' The Monk, a work of Gothic fiction originally published in 1796.   I've been looking forward to reading The Monk ever since finishing Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, where it is briefly mentioned - one of these days I'll tackle Ann Radcliffe's The Mysteries of Udolpho for the same reason.   Maybe I'll save that one for next October. 

What about you?  Are there any spooky reads on your to be read pile for October?