Reading Slumps

diamondlil · Post by **diamondlil** » Sun October 19th, 2008, 3:31 am

Chuck mentioned in the Site Suggestions forum that he is in a bit of a reading slump. We've all had them, so the question is how do we get out of them? Or how do we avoid getting into them? Any suggestions?

SonjaMarie · Post by **SonjaMarie** » Sun October 19th, 2008, 3:34 am

I've rarely had a reading slump. I've had times when I was sick where I really didn't feel like reading but that was because my eyes were usually hurting. I've had times I didn't have a book in the house I wanted to read, but that usually drives me nuts, which is why I increased my BF account from 4 books to 6 books out at a time.

SM

Divia · Post by **Divia** » Sun October 19th, 2008, 3:49 am

The only way I get outta them is try and find something thats good, which is sometimes easier said than done. I was in one last summer I think. Man I couldnt find a good book to save my life. Nothing interested me. I just didnt care. Sometimes ya just have to ride it out. Don't read something for a while.

The average person doesnt read as much as we do. So they may only read one book a year. If you think about us we are reading book after book after book. I have to say that takes a toll on a person. Sometimes ya need a break.

SonjaMarie · Post by **SonjaMarie** » Sun October 19th, 2008, 3:52 am

Yeah sometimes I do feel like "how can I keep this up", I've already read 50 books this year, that's more then I've read in any year past I think.

SM

Divia · Post by **Divia** » Sun October 19th, 2008, 3:53 am

My god woman! I'm surprised your eyeballs havent fell outta your head!

SonjaMarie · Post by **SonjaMarie** » Sun October 19th, 2008, 3:59 am

[quote=""Divia""]

My god woman! I'm surprised your eyeballs haven't fell outta your head![/quote]

Sometimes they feel like they will!

But Marg and Becky have probably read more then I have.

SM

Ash · Post by **Ash** » Sun October 19th, 2008, 4:02 am

I get them now and then, doesn't seem to be a reason for them, but nothing I pick up seems to work. So I get busy doing other things; if the weather is nice I do gardening, I might catch up with some friends, or work on a school project, or just clean out that darn closet thats been bugging me for a while. Doesn' take too long to snap back into reading.

Another thing that works for me is to reread a favorite book. I have Hitchiker's Guide and Good Omens memorized, because I've used them in this way so many times. Sometimes reading travel books, one of my fav non fiction genres, helps as well.

Leyland · Post by **Leyland** » Sun October 19th, 2008, 11:52 am

I try to use my fict or non-fict reading slumps productively by cleaning the house, doing some yardwork, going on hill and waterfall hikes, being more social on late nights out or playing the piano.

When the reading compulsion is on, none of the above gets done, so I take advantage of the situation when compulsive reading wanes for a while. It will most definitely strike again and again.

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Sun October 19th, 2008, 12:35 pm

I usually read something really light and easy going, a bit of chick lit or perhaps a fun mystery, if I feel I'm having a reading slump, which isn't very often. Something to take the weight off the brain!

Telynor · Post by **Telynor** » Sun October 19th, 2008, 1:47 pm

I tend to mix up my genres a bit so that I don't get into slumps. Toss in the fact that I have an absolutely obscene Mt. TBR to get through, and so far, for the last few years, I haven't run out things to read. You guys keep introducing new authors for me to try -- like EC and BoswellBaxter!

OTOH, I've been a spate of very good, 5 star novels lately, and I know that it's going to be awful when the bubble bursts, and I'll find myself saddled with several really lousy reads...