What are you reading to combat S.A.D.?

[wvcherrybomb]

Originally Posted by abookreader

Pull down The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls - just to remind me that at least I don't have to twist hay

I used to read that every winter, when I lived up north, for the same reason.

Since we have year round sunshine and nice weather, I don't have S.A.D. but still have bouts with depression when I like to read humor ... and Laura Ingalls.

[Lutraa]

Polls show about 75% of my fellow Alaska residents get it. (The other 25% are lying.) Right now we have only six hours of daylight/day and it never gets bright enough to turn the lights off. By 12/21 we'll be getting less than 5.5 hours. It's a little like living deep underwater with only the occasional glimmer of light getting through. Motivation is low and the urge to eat carbs and sleep the hours away is high.

The best therapy is outdoor exercise, not sedentary activities, but when I'm not hiking, snowshoeing, skiing or eating I like to read travel literature and non-fiction at this time of year. That and plan my January escape to southern Baja . . .

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Phogg

I read that this spring (trade paperback). I liked it.

I finished reading Sara's Key today and I thought it was very good. I could kind of guess where it was going after it ended.

[theducks]

Who dunit's of all types (5 this week)

[Pomtroll]

I voted other. I've been reading a lot of cozy mysteries lately. Sometimes light paranormal. I'm just not in the mood for a lot of violence or sex in books right now.

[Asawi]

Other.

I read a lot of crime novels. At this time of year I need easy reads though, so I read more Swedish books than I do the rest of the year.

(And Sweden this time of year is not fun! Not much daylight, and this year we haven't had any snow yet, so REALLY dark! Me and doggy want some snow now!)

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by jersysman

I am usually affected by this. I normally don't read much during this time, but if I do, it is usually some form of historical fiction with some classical music in the background (I know... pretty boring!). I do not read for long periods of time, but just in little snippets until I get bored with it and move on to something else.

Please bring on the spring!!!

Interestingly, I tend to avoid Classical music this time of year. (No, not boring at all, by the way.) It tends to make me too introspective, which can be a bad thing when SAD hits. I find myself listening to more pop, rock, and alternative. Annoyingly, my own music seems to be drying up, which stinks horrifically because I had that project I REALLY wanted to get moving on, but I just can't get anything working right in that area.

As for the poll, I chose all of the genres listed, and I do read some of everything this time of year, but I notice that I tend to go heavy on the horror and fantasy. I guess those take me out of myself more fully, which make them more effective in combating the heaviness of life during these times.

I also watch more movies and TV, but that could also have something to do with staying inside more and avoiding the cold temps. My bones aren't fond of cold. (I'm too young to have all these stupid problems. Curse genetics.)

I hope we get some snow. Snow always cheers me up.

[jersysman]

Classical music really cheers me up. I love it! The other music all seems to bring back too many memories for me. Now Christmas music I can deal with!

[Daithi]

You also missed Non-Fiction as a category. I'm currently reading Running the Table: The Legend of Kid Delicious... by L. Jon Wertheim, and it's great.

As to S.A.D., I actually like this time of year. I'm a night-owl by nature, and I'd sleep all day and stay up all night if I could get away with it.

[Todd Young]

You missed crime/thriller/suspense, which aside from what I write is what I most like to read.

[SCION]

Originally Posted by Daithi

..
As to S.A.D., I actually like this time of year. I'm a night-owl by nature, and I'd sleep all day and stay up all night if I could get away with it.

Same here!

[Sweetpea]

I never have problems with S.A.D. I love the dark, dank and damp winters! I usually have that S.A.D. in summer... I never liked summer. You're expected to do stuff outside, while I maybe only want to read in a shady corner. Or, when I actually feel like doing something outside, it's raining or so blasted hot and humid that you can't do anything...

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Lutraa

Polls show about 75% of my fellow Alaska residents get it. (The other 25% are lying.) Right now we have only six hours of daylight/day and it never gets bright enough to turn the lights off. By 12/21 we'll be getting less than 5.5 hours. It's a little like living deep underwater with only the occasional glimmer of light getting through. Motivation is low and the urge to eat carbs and sleep the hours away is high.

I think that most people in the US shouldn't even complain! I mean, the US-Canadian border is on the same height as the northern part of Switzerland and Austria! Which means, fairly 2/3d of Europe is more northern than the most of the US! (not including Alaska, those live on the same lattitudes as the people in Fenno-Scandinavia)

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I think that most people in the US shouldn't even complain! I mean, the US-Canadian border is on the same height as the northern part of Switzerland and Austria! Which means, fairly 2/3d of Europe is more northern than the most of the US! (not including Alaska, those live on the same lattitudes as the people in Fenno-Scandinavia)

Congratulations: You have discovered that disabilities are not necessarily tied to specific geographical locations.

[ScalyFreak]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I think that most people in the US shouldn't even complain! I mean, the US-Canadian border is on the same height as the northern part of Switzerland and Austria! Which means, fairly 2/3d of Europe is more northern than the most of the US! (not including Alaska, those live on the same lattitudes as the people in Fenno-Scandinavia)

I grew up in a Swedish town that is as far north as Mount McKinley in Alaska. The few hours of daylight this time of year were more than compensated for by the never-ending daylight in summer.