Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week a new theme is suggested for bloggers to participate in. This week’s prompt is Atmospheric Books (The Novelry explains this concept as: “A novel feels atmospheric when the setting and the narrative are deeply involved with one another; when characters and plot are physically embedded in their surroundings, and a near-tangible mood lifts from the pages and wraps itself around the reader.” Study.com explains that, “The atmosphere is how a writer constructs their piece to convey feelings, emotions, and mood to the reader. The atmosphere in literature might be tense, fast-paced, mysterious, spooky, whimsical, or joyful and can be found in poetry, stories, novels, and series.”)

Hello Readers! We had a weekend of large family gatherings, which was a lot of fun, but also a little draining on this introvert. I don’t mind Mondays after a busy weekend. 😃 We’re supposed to get some much-needed rain over the next few days, and we’re just hoping the forecast holds up. 🤞🤞

Another great topic this week! I think atmospheric books are my favorite. And the definitions Jana included are spot-on. When I think of atmospheric stories, I think of being consumed and enveloped in the story, a reading experience that bleeds out into my daily life. In other words, I think about the story even when I’m not reading it. I chose 10 books that took me to new places.

Let’s see what I picked!

(Link to Goodreads synopsis through book title.)

1. Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young – If you’re a seasonal reader, my first two are perfect for the fall season, and the two books I thought of first for atmospheric reads. (My Review)
2. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater – Set around a magical race on the first of November, this novel was just as good when I read it for the second time.
3. One Night on the Island by Josie Silver – One of my favorite books in 2022, the setting on this remote island in the winter had me reaching for a cozy blanket and a warm cup of tea. (My Review)
4. The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane – Another book set during the winter, specifically a winter storm that locks down the town, I was surprised by how much this novel consumed me. (My Review)
5. Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson – This book set in the redwoods of Oregon during the 1970s was heartbreaking, but stuck with me for days. (My Review)
6. My Last Continent by Midge Raymond – I still find myself thinking about this novel set in Antarctica.
7. Enjoy the View by Sarah Morgenthaler – Probably my favorite novel in this series, it combined my current favorite reading obsession with my past: romance and mountain climbing. (My Review)
8. Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell – I try to reread this each fall, and last year we actually attended a fall festival that was very reminiscent of the one in this story, which only enhanced both experiences.
9. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater – Stiefvater is an author I turn to for an atmospheric experience, so it’s no surprise to me that she appears on this list twice. While this entire series is atmospheric, I think it’s the first book that is still my favorite.
10. The Soldier’s Wife by Margaret Leroy – It’s been several years since I read this WWII book set on Guernsey, but it has stuck with me, especially the vivid setting.

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Did I include any of your favorites? Let me know in the comments!

Happy Wandering!