“Thoughtful Ramblings” is a feature where we discuss bookish subjects. These posts are just our own thoughts about certain topics that may get us hot under the collar, and we need a good rant, or just things we want to share with fellow bloggers and readers.
Do you suffer from reading slumps?
You pick up a book and you can’t get past the first couple of chapters, so you try another. But the same thing happens again, and again. You have a TBR pile that’s threatening to topple over and crush you, so you don’t have time for this nonsense! You want to pull your hair out in frustration, even your favourite author isn’t doing the trick. What the hell is going on?!
Does this sound familiar?I seem to suffer from reading slumps on a regular basis. They could be weeks long or just a few days, but either way, it’s still really disheartening. As well as it causing me personal anguish, it gets me behind on my reading for the blog. Sometimes I can barely manage a few books per month.
Sometimes I wonder what causes the sudden onset of a reading funk. Do they start with a book that’s not very good? Or is it just because of what’s going on in my life at that particular time. There are moments when I just want to escape and books help me do that, they can be such life savers, but other times my mind is so full of other things that my concentration is virtually non existent and I can’t seem to get through one page – grrrrr.
In April I had a pretty bad slump with only managing to read three books the entire month. Luckily I had read enough books the month before to have review content for the blog. In July and August I managed to read twenty two books in total, which is amazing for me – I was on such a roll and it felt great…
But then October happened… probably the worst reading slump I’ve ever had *now known as Black October* I didn’t read at all – not one book!
I have noticed that in most cases there is an upside – usually when I come out of a reading slump I feel rejuvenated and go through a mad reading frenzy as if to make up time. One particular genre that has the most success for pulling me out of my reading funk is zombies! It doesn’t work every time *and didn’t during Black October* but I find the shuffling, decaying, putrid undead just the ticket a lot of the time to help me claw my way back towards the light.
Occasionally reading a favourite author has helped *although didn’t during Black October – I even tried Nalini Singh but nada*
Thankfully, while you are reading this, I am semi-back reading, well it’s better than no reading at all, but I’m also nervously anticipating when the darkness of a reading slump will hit me again…
So, do you suffer from reading slumps? What do you do when no matter what book you pick up you just can’t get into it? Is there a particular genre or author that pulls you out of your funk or do you just give up and take a break?
32 Comments
I'm having a reading slump with my current book. The book is great and has many favourable reviews so it's most likely not the book that's causing the slump but me.
So I'm just taking it easy for now, reading a chapter or two each time and doing other things in between to clear my head.
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From time to time, i go through the same phases where no matter what i try to read, i just can't get into it. Usually this is when I'm reading a few in the same genre or i've finished a book that sets the bar high. I end up switching genres completly (pnr and uf are the genres that get me in a funk.) so i either go for historical fiction or a romance book. other times i take a break and play my PS3. Right now my abcession is batman arkham city!
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Black October must have been contagious, because I only managed 1 book all month. I usually average 1 or 2 books a week!
For me, I walk away for a few days and don't even try reading when I feel a slump coming on. That usually gives me enough of a break that I can come back and finish whatever story I started.
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I get this too. I've even blogged about it a few times. Usually, I've ended up either doing something completely different for a few days (spinning, crochet or something like that) or going over to one of the books I call an "old friend", something by Mercedes Lackey or something similar. Not that that always works either.
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I suffer from reading slumps and I'm in one right now. I'm in a bit of a blogging funk too though and can barely manage to bother myself to post anything. I haven't had any real luck pulling myself out of either funk yet. I'm still reading, just very, very slowly. I'm lucky if I can manage one book a week – my usual is about 3 books per week, so I'm seriously falling behind on everything blogging-wise. Hopefully I can pull myself out and hopefully you can as well.
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I generally go through a reading slump in the fall and winter. I like to read outside where there aren't as many distractions, but if it's too cold, I'll probably just do pointless things on the computer or try to read while the TV is going, which gives me a headache. Then I get cranky and I decide I don't want to read the book anymore.
I need a sunroom or something.
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THANKS FOR STOPPING BY GUYS – I'M GLAD TO SEE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE.
@HEIDENKIND – I'D LOVE A SUNROOM, WHAT A GREAT IDEA
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Hmm, I don't suffer so much from a reading slump (more a perfume one as the content is shared on my blog) but sometimes it happens that I can only read a favourite book and nothing else. Nothing holds any interest except, for the moment, Harry Potter.
So I guess I'm in a reading slump for new books but I need to read regularly or my stress levels rise so in that case I go back to my favourites.
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I do suffer with them but I have to push through it in a couple of days otherwise I would have no reviews. Mine tends to happen when I agree to read a book by a certain time and I am trying hard to stop doing that as I put myself under too much pressure and then it doesn't happen.
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I do. When it happens I usually fall back on my drawing, painting or crafting. The worse times are when you are in a reading AND creative slump. Like at the moment. It's dire!
Like you it's usually zombies… or an art/craft book that pulls me back out.
Maybe it's like that old saying – you can have to much of a good thing?
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Sadly, I think it's more common than not to experience a slump. Fortunately for me, it doesn't happen often. When it does happen, I usually will change reading format (switch from paper to digital or audio) and a complete genre change will often do the trick. Nothing like a gritty suspenseful Patterson to kick that slump in the behind…
)
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I'm totally in a reading slump. I've not read for 2 weeks. Which is weird because all the books I've read lately have been fantastic!
I think sometimes our brain just needs a break. It needs us to get back to real life. Then we can get back into the imaginary world. I don't let it upset me anymore. I just read when I want to.
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I have had a couple of reading slumps this year and have not been able to read much even though I love books and reading. I have pulled myself out of it by reading a good old fashioned romance or 'chick lit' book. I then seem to be able to get back to normal.
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I was in a slump back in September. I had about 40 books on my Nook to read but just couldn't get up the energy to start one. Instead of pushing myself, I went and read a little fanfiction for two of my favorite series. Sometimes they made my eyes cross, they were so bad. But other times I was absolutely amazed at how pretty the author's words were. After a couple of weeks, I was ready to start reading real books again!
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Oh, yes! The reading slump! Actually, I have this problem right now.*head desk* I've only read 2 books (and started 5 or so) in almost 3 weeks! And though I thought this was happening because I was overwhelmed by the number of books I have to read and I didn't know what to read next so I just procrastinated, while reading your post and writing this comment I realized what's the real problem: I read one of my most anticipated book of the year and I was disappointed by it.:( It didn't live up to my expectations – at all. So I guess now I'm (subconsciously) afraid that whatever I pick up next will disappoint me. Huh, imagine that!:))
Anyway, usually re-reading one of my fav books helps: it reminds me why I love reading and certain authors in the first place. But I think I need a new favorite, my books are worn out already!:))
Sorry for the long comment, but it felt good to put that out there!:))
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I think everybody has reading slumps! What does the trick for me is re-reading an old favourite! Because I already love it and know what happens I don't need a lot of attention and in the end I feel great, loving books all over again!
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I'm in a slump right now. I've got two books from the library that I've really been looking forward to and I just can't get into them enough to read them. I've been on page 70 in the one all week and the other hasn't been opened. I usually read a book a day so 70 pages in a week is unheard of for me.
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Yep, reading slumps are part of a book lover's life. I've had one this year already, it lasted only about a week, though.
I love to read but sometimes I think I just read too much and get tired of it. I take a break because I don't want to review books unfairly just because I'm not in the mood to read. ^_^
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I get into reading slumps about every two months. I find they hit when I've either been reading and blogging almost non stop or when work has been rough. I try to spread out my reviews and schedule in advance so that I'm covered when a slump hits.
I've found the only way to get over it is to get out of the house, do fun stuff, and just wait for the need to read to hit.
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I suffer really back reading slumps. Between Jan and June I was reading non.stop and kinda burned myself out now I'm Lucky if I get through 5 books per month. I go weeks without reading just to see if it helps usually it does but if it doesn't I bring out the big guns. I reread Twilight lol. Yip that is my go to series for my reading slumps they always bring me out. Now I'm slowing coming out my current slump thank god because I'm like 2 months behind on review books. Lol.
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What a terrific topic! I at one point felt I was the only one to hit a slump(subconsciously I knew better) but I sure felt like it). I hit one not too long ago and I believe because I was just reading nonstop and got burnt out.
I even tried to read my favorite author and it didn't(which it usually does) so I walked away for about a couple weeks I think , caught up on my fave tv show and then picked up my favorite author again and it worked.
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Each and every time I have gotten into a slump it is because I read a book I was looking forward to that just didn't deliver. Seriously, I have a hard time rebounding from books that disappoint me. I don't know why—it might be that I am scared the next one will do the same or that my "bad" attitude to will spill over to the next one no matter how good. Great POST!
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I suffer from reading over load… I get overwhelmed by my reading pile and therefore get nothing done! I'm anti productive!!!
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I get these all the time! The last one was beaten by Dearly Departed so I suspect you're onto something with the putrid undead!
I hate them so much. Reading is 'my thing'. I tend to turn to gaming when I have a slump and just try to push through it with a couple of easy reads and hope for the best, but it gets stressful when you have a blog to keep up on and a bundle of review books that were overwhelming you before you were struck down with the almighty mehs!
Currently I'm struggling to get through much at all, but it's not so much of a slump as my reading time is now being taken up by nano and blogging, and I'm lucky if I can read else-times with all of the noise coming from downstairs. (get me out of here)
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Yikes black October sounds bad
I suffer from them, but I usually push through. I find if things in my personal life are bad or hectic this affects me the most. Th best cure for me is going back and re-reading an absolute favourite, it's a bit like picking up a comfort blanket. I'm quite a fan of re-reading, which is hard when there are so many new books to read too!
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I get that way when there is too much on my plate or if my kid is sick/not sleepy well. I'm just too tired so when I sit down to read the eyelids just droop!
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I do suffer yes! I had a big one this summer which is usually a key time for reading lots of fun books. Instead every book I picked up just lacked lustre. Eventually I just had to take a break for a bit and then read an author I knew I would love and that finally gave me my mojo back.
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I think that I sometimes get into a slump when I just don't have enough time for reading or because so many other things are filling up my head. Right now I work 30 hours a week and I am taking 4 upper division health classes in college so a ton of my time is gone before I even know it.
I think once this semester is over I will have more time to calm down and focus on reading.
Thanks for the great topic.
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When I'm in a reading slump (like now!) I go for audio books. I figure, I have to clean the house and run errands. I need to workout too. So why not "read" while I do those chores that I don't necessarily love?
So far, it's really helped me. I listen and at least get something accomplished. I also try to listen to "Series" books, so that once I've finished the audio, I'm anxious for the rest of the series and I can read much faster than I can listen so it usually gets me back into reading!
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This definitely happens to me every once in awhile- I've noticed if I tend to get bogged down with work or whatever, then I tend to not be able to focus too much on whatever I'm reading. I've learned to just relax and try some of the tips you mentioned- I get my groove back eventually!
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Great discussion! I find that I tend to slump when I have too many "must reads" and deadlines. I usually get out of them by reading something fast & fun or an old favorite.
If that doesn't work, then I take a break for a few days. So far, I've been ready to dive back into a book within the week.
Sorry to hear about Black October. Hope November is kinder to your reading!
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THANKS SO MUCH EVERYONE FOR STOPPING BY! IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. SOME OF YOU HAVE GIVEN ME A FEW TIPS FOR THE NEXT TIME I HAVE A READING SLUMP, SO THANKS
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