Reading Slumps
Oh reading slumps and all their evil glory. We all know the feeling I'm sure. Where every book we read just drags on and on and you just don't want to read. And you want to just ask the book gods of the world...
Well I am stuck in this wonderful condition and I apologize for not getting out so many blog posts. But I thought I might use this opportunity to ask you how you deal with reading slumps, and if you ever take a break with reading.
I don't take reading breaks. I don't know why, but I feel really strange and uncomfortable if I'm not reading a book. So while I might go a few days without reading, I won't take breaks between books. I don't know, is this a bad thing? I feel like if I did, I wouldn't forget so much that is happening in the book and when I get into reading slumps, I'll be able to take a quick break and then move right back in.
Reading slumps are not fun. At all. And yet I tend to get into them really badly. I won't get into them often, but when I do, it's hard to find a really good book that can get me back into the world again. But I've discovered these tactics work:
1) Go back to the basics.
Any Harry Potter book can make me feel good about reading. For others, it's Jane Austen, or J.R. Tolkien. Try rereading something you know you'll enjoy.
2) Take it easy on the blogging.
No need to crazy blog when you're on a reading slump. And don't discourage yourself by looking at a ton of posts on other blogs. Just relax for a bit until you get back in your routine.
3) Leave time to read.
Force yourself to do nothing before bed, or when you get home, and you'll start to read again. Works real miracles to read before I sleep.
How do you deal with reading slumps? Do you take breaks?
This is exactly the post I needed! I literally just got out of a reading slump -- what got me there was BURIAL RITES by Hannah Kent, which was just fantastic. But I love the idea of going back to Harry Potter, because that usually works for me too. I just get so stressed about reviewing and keeping up with my blog that sometimes I forget it's supposed to be fun!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear you're in a slump, Kate, and I hope it breaks soon! Great post!
Definitely. I used to reread a lot of the books I had, and now I don't because I feel like I could be spending my time reading other books that I could review. The blog can be fun, but also a bit of a pressure. Thanks! I think I'm okay now haha.
DeleteI've had a fair share of reading slumps, and what's always brought me out of it is to read a really easy book. Something like Harry Potter or The Selection, is what I always go to. Hope you get out of your slump, Kate!
ReplyDeleteYeah, something I can cruise through and I know will really hook me. I think it works better with books I've already read as well. Thanks!
DeleteI really really hate reading slumps !! for me I think the only writer who makes me feel good about reading again is John Green, I don't really like the fault in our stars but paper towns and looking for alaska are really good books and I love his writing style.
ReplyDeleteNejoud @ NejoudIsCurrentlyReading
That's really interesting and cool. I tend to reach for more adventure-y books, to really get me excited about the book. But to each their own, I think.
DeleteI'm not currently in a reading slump but I have certainly been in them before. Great advice. What I usually do is just put the book away read something easy to digest and then maybe try again another time.
ReplyDeletehttp://bookishstateofmind.blogspot.nl/
I'm so bad at putting a book away. It might be my greatest flaw as a reader. I think I waste a lot of time on books I could just DNF.
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ReplyDeleteIn a reading slump I usually set aside the book. I have multiple of those set aside right now (A Dance with Dragons, The Agony and the Ecstasy, Les Miserables (I know right?), and Ironside mostly because it's the 3rd book in a series that I have only read book 1).
ReplyDeleteI then try to grab a book I know is simple and I love. Harry Potter certainly works. I usually grab the Hunger Games since it takes hardly any time to read and can get me back into a reading mood. I did this after finishing Allegiant. That book about broke me and I didn't ever want to read another book again. Alas, Hunger Games saved me.
Hope you get out of the slump!!
Haha Les Miserables is a bad bad book to read during a reading slump. It takes a lot of effort to contemplate. Thanks! I think I finally did.
DeleteI hate reading slumps! Usually, I take breaks because whatever book I pick up, I can't seem to get into it. I hate stopping, though. I feel as if I SHOULD be reading, but I don't want to, just like you said!
ReplyDeleteRanu @ The Bookish Life
YES. I get really guilty when I don't read, especially now that I have a blog and people actually are depending on me to get something out.
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