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It’s not a reading slump, only that there isn’t much in my reading that is sparking my interest lately. I loved Ongoingness and I am reading Notes from Walnut Tree Farm and loving that too. But the fiction, it’s not doing it for me lately. It’s not that any of the novels I am in the middle of are especially bad, I’m just not interested in them. It’s me, not them. Mostly. I have about eighty pages of Dance with Dragons (book five in the Game of Thrones series) left and thank goodness for that because between it and the TV show of it airing right now I am burnt out on it and finding it increasingly difficult to care what might happen next.
Also, I have so many other things to occupy my time right now that anything less than stellar feels precariously close to a waste of time. Why read something mediocre when I could be out working in my garden? Why read a novel with a plodding pace when I could be zipping down a bike path on Astrid? Maybe I am just grumpy this evening because it is windy out and my allergies are bothering me and as a result I am not going on my first real group bike ride and will have to wait until next Wednesday to join.
Whatever the reason, I have the reading blahs. It is the second time this year, the first time was in January/February. I’ve gone two or three years without having the blahs and then it’s happened twice already in one year. What’s up with that?
Maybe if I’m having trouble with fiction I should just stick with nonfiction and not worry about it, just wait for my fiction slump to pass, which it will eventually. Maybe I just need to start a different novel to add something fresh to the mix? I dunno.
I got an email from the library that Lumberjanes is waiting for me to pick up. It is a graphic novel that has gotten lots of raves and looks like fun. Perhaps that will help me over the slump hump and get me back on the fiction trail? I just have to get myself to the library tomorrow or Friday. And then, well, I hope it’s as good as people have been saying it is. I’ll let you know! Until then, I suppose I will just keep going with what I’m in the middle of however unenthusiastic I am about it at the moment (wow is that ever and Eeyore thing to say!).
don’t worry–it happens. just sit around
reading other people’s blogs—or time to
check out a magazine–or your gardening books
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booksandbuttons, yeah, I know I just need to relax and not worry, I always tell that to other people, but it’s easier advice to give than it is to take! 🙂
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I hate the reading blahs but they happen. Hopefully something totally different will help. Usually when I get in a reading slump I have to go back to a favorite mystery series. Something that’s not requiring a lot from me.
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Iliana, usually reading a book about books or a page-turning plot-driven novel helps but when I think about picking one up none of them sound appealing. Ack! It will pass I know, I just have to be patient.
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Aw, good luck busting the slump! A really dear book is often enough to pull me out of it — I sometimes resort to a reread, particularly a reread of something I liked on first read but haven’t read since the first time. That can be a wonderfully salutary experience.
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Jenny, thanks! I have got- slump books but even those aren’t appealing right now. I’m in a strange mood and will just have to wait for it to pass.
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I wouldn’t worry too much but I do wonder if you are reading the “wrong” fiction. I’m probably the wrong person to ask but I’d find it hard to stick to a series of books like Game of thrones. I’d just get bored – I do just get bored. Didn’t get past book three of Harry Potter. I think this is particularly the case for me with plot driven novels. One series I remember devouring, several in a long weekend, was Maupin’s Tales of the city series. But they are character driven. A different kettle of fish for me.
So, if you are really bothered by the “blah” I’d look for different fiction!! Maybe even some short stories?
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whisperinggums, it’s just not the Game of Thrones book. I am also reading a new book by Elif Shafak and one by Matthew Pearl and neither of those are holding my interest either. I’m doing just fine with nonfiction though so I just have to try and not worry about it, especially since any “new” novel I consider doesn’t sound appealing right now.
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I know how that feels. I buy books that I know are interesting, but after a while, I sometimes don’t feel like reading them. I hate it when I’ve just finished a book and can’t decide what to read next because there “aren’t any interesting books” despite having a ton of them lying around 😦 I’m currently in one of those moods.
Hope it passes for you!
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misanthropologist, oh yes! I’m in one of those “there is nothing good to read” moods so even the usual comfort reading is making me wrinkle my nose. Nonfiction is going ok so perhaps I will just read that and not worry about fiction until the weird mood passes. But it’s so hard! Sorry to hear you are in one of those moods too!
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Reading non-fiction for a while is a good idea…I’m thinking of doing that myself, if the mood doesn’t pass soon.
Good luck!
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Good luck to you too!
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I was wondering HOW you would fit in reading with all your extracurricular activities! Gardening, biking & soon Chickens! HOW will you do it all? Well, you only live once, right? 15 to 20 mile long bike ride with a pace of 15 to 18 mph…very ambitious….Hoping that is a FLAT ride!
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Helen, So far I haven’t been having any trouble but now I am starting to feel the pinch. Last night’s ride promised 24 miles and a few hills but I didn’t go because of my allergies making it hard to breath and causing my skin to feel crawly. Next week though! I am determined 🙂
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This just perfectly describes how I’ve been feeling for the past week. I had my reads all planned out but now I don’t feel like any of them. It’s not like me at all but the ‘blahs’ is the perfect term for it. I guess we just fill the time with other things until the urge strikes!
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I guess that all readers get those ol’ blahs from time to time. I seem to be in a similar way with few books that seem to be essential to read. I know that this is just a period that will pass and some book or author unknown will soon fire me up. I have never really fancied the Game Of Throne books although I understand they are excellent – perhaps they mirror the modern world just too much!
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Ian, it seems there are several of us with a bit of the blahs at the moment. It will pass, it just never passes as fast as I want it to! The first three GoT books were fantastic, book four was meh and five is a bit better but is suffering from bloat which affects the pacing and makes it drag. Also there are now so many characters and so many storylines to keep track of that the whole thing feels a bit unfocused and rudderless.
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Audrey, oh no, you too? I think you are right to fill the time with other things. It’s hard though when you plan your days around reading to suddenly find yourself uninterested. And even though I know the blahs happen, it is still frustrating. Hope yours pass soon!
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I was having a pretty good run of books, and then hit the slump caused by books that failed to engage for one reason or another. When that happens, it seems that there will never be another satisfying read, and I am lost somewhere between depression and panic.
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jenclair, oh you have captured my feelings perfectly! I can keep going if it is only one book that fails but then when two and three fail, well, it feels like a big pile-up on the freeway and I am stuck at the back of the traffic jam. Something good will come along for both of us. Hope it happens soon! Until then maybe you have extra time to work on all your wonderful projects 🙂
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I’ve been having a problem with contemporary fiction as well lately. I think, like you, it’s just a matter of wanting to be outdoors and messing around in the garden or watching the hummingbird feeder. I’ve also started Zumba class and exhaustion keeps me from being able to sit and read for a long period. I fall asleep! But, fear not, your slump will pass. In the meantime, hop on Astrid and go, go, go.
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Grad, it has been such a fantastic spring this year, it can’t be wasted! I can relate to being tired from exercise, with all the biking I have been doing I am sleeping really well at night! I imagine once the hot and humid days of summer get here the fiction slump will indeed pass since there won’t be as many distractions!
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This definitely happens to us all – I had one in Jan/Feb. too. In your case, I blame it on the season! Spring is glorious. Wait until it gets really hot outside and then perhaps your reading slump will break. Good luck!
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Laila, yes, I am going to blame it on the season! This has been the nicest spring we have had here in years. It’s funny how that has such an effect on everything. I suspect you are right, once it gets hot and humid outside sitting indoors will be nice again 🙂
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Maybe some short stories might get you back in the mood? I never thought I would say that since I’m not a short story reader myself but I’m dipping into a collection by Chimamanda Adichie at the moment and enjoying the change of pace from full novels
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BookerTalk, thanks for the suggestion. I actually have the Margaret Atwood short story collection she published last fall on my reading table. Perhaps it is time to pick it up 🙂
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Hang in there! The Book Zen commeth soon! Have you tried re-reading some old favorites which are like comfort books? They usually get me out of what-is-the-point-of-reading zone!
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cirtnecce, comfort books are usually my go to when slumps happen but this time around none of them are appealing. I just have to not worry about, read nonfiction if that is what I find interesting right now and fiction will become exciting again eventually 🙂
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Bingo! Just go with the flow!!
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I’m also in a bit of a slump but started The Night Rainbow yesterday and get the feeling my slump may be over.
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Kate, oh I hope your slump is over! They are no fun.
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Good luck with overcoming the slump! Perhaps trying something entirely different would be enough, or a graphic novel, or something easy and funny.
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smithereens, thanks! I have a graphic novel waiting for me at the library that I hope will help kickstart things. Fingers crossed!
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A reading slump, horrors! I feel for you, and am subsequently trying to remember if I’ve ever experienced one myself… I think not, although I definitely have had times when quote unquote real life was so insistent that books seemed awfully beside the point. Contemporary fiction especially so (I read a few new novels every year, but really, most of what I read and want to read next is realllly old). Perhaps a visit to a good bookshop is in order?
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Sarah, I think part of it is because real life is keeping me busy with enjoyable things so it is hard to even want to sit down and read. I have so many unread books at home I definitely don’t need to go to a bookshop, I should just give my own shelves a good look!
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