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Books for Thought is where I post a discussion topic related to books, reading, writing, or something pertaining to one of the three. I hope you’ll join in, and discuss today’s topic of

reading slumps

Now, I don’t actually know if there’s a definition out there for what a reading slump actually is (and right now I am too lazy to open a Google tab and find out), but I think there are probably two types.

Type One: where reading just isn’t your jam at a particular time, and you don’t want to pick up a book. Instead, you lie in an irritated state because what do you do when you don’t read?

Type Two: where everything you read is “meh”. You can’t remember the last time you read a book that was above three stars, or if you do remember, all you remember is that it was a very long time ago.

I’ve never experienced the first type of reading slump, which is good. I’d hate not wanting to read. Or feel like it.

But the bad news is that I am currently experiencing the second type of reading slump. The last book I read that was above three stars was over twenty books ago. That is a long time. That is far too long a time, in my humble opinion.

I’ve tried reading books I want to read, books I’m excited about. Finishing off series. And nothing. Is. Working. Everything just seems subpar to me at the moment, and it is super painful. I love reading (no shit, Sherlock), and I hate the fact that I’m not particularly enjoying it at the moment. Reading should never feel like that. And it never has before.

It’s official: I hate reading slumps, because they take my favourite thing away. I don’t know what to do to fix this, to be honest. Because I want to get back to loving books. I mean, I don’t have to love EVERY book, because that’s unrealistic. But I do want to enjoy books again, instead of walking away going: oh, yeah – that was okay.

humph

(source)

I NEED SOME GOOD BOOK MOJO ASAP. SEND HALP.

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What about you? Have you ever had a reading slump? Which type was it? What did you do to get rid of it?

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Posted on: November 6, 2015 • By: Chiara

32 Responses to My Current Reading Slump

  1. I have experienced both types of reading slumps. And to be honest the second one sucks more.

    With the first, you don’t feel like reading so you don’t miss it. But eventually a book comes into your life that sparks your interest and triggers a binge read. After that all is well.

    The second type is SO IRRITATING. Because you’re trying to get out of it but it’s not you, it’s the books. You could keep picking up and putting down different books until you find one that grabs you, but that requires a lot of time and effort. These are the times when I re-immerse myself in an old favourite. The comfort of the character and world and plot usually restores faith, and after that you might have better luck picking up some good books.

    • Chiara says:

      I think the second one sucks more, as well! Because you WANT to read, but the books are being so shitty, and everything just feels like crap.

      If I ever fall into another reading slump – which I really hope won’t happen for a VERY LONG TIME – I’ll try reading a favourite. I read These Shallow Graves, and it managed to pull me out of the slump because it was so awesome!

  2. Tasya says:

    I always got the first type of reading slump. And it sucks because what could I do when I’m not reading books??? Well usually reading fanfiction/watch tv series helps me. Hope you get out of your reading slump soon!

  3. I also loathe the slump of reading -_- I have felt both types, and they SUCK. Maybe try re-reading a favorite book? I hope you get out of the funk soon! <3

  4. I am at type 1 right now and it’s so haunting. I hate not even wanting to read right now. But, it’s not just reading. I love watching Netflix and that doesn’t even reach out to me right now. I don’t know what it is but everyone is going through this at the point in time. It’s upsetting to see all of us go through reading slumps. They just need to go away! :D

  5. Maraia says:

    Yikes, I’m sorry to hear this, Chiara. Maybe it’s related to Uni having just ended, and you will magically discover an entire stack of 4- and 5-star books. *crosses fingers* I’ve never experienced the first type of reading slump, and I’m not sure about the second type, either. Every time I think I’ve run out of books to love, I find another one. My suggestion is to read Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier. If that doesn’t work, you really are doomed. (Kidding, I’m sure this will past. Hopefully sooner rather than later!)

    Question, though: Do you ever read books without reviewing them, and if not, maybe that would be a place to start? Maybe reading a book without having to analyze it in any way would help.

  6. UGH READING SLUMPS SUCK. Before Illuminae I was in an awful reading slump that was BOTH of the ones you listed – everything I read was shit and I just couldn’t be bothered reading (but that was also due to being crazy busy). I really hope you get out of it soon!!!

  7. I frequently ran into Type 2 this summer unfortunately. I think I was getting too caught up in the various deadlines for ARCs and review copies and so reading became a bit of a chore. I suppose you could classify that as Type 1 but I still really wanted to read, I just wanted to read a really good book.

    Normally, I read a contemporary New Adult novel (usually one of a non-tragedy / dark theme) to get me over my slump. Usually I get tired of reading books of the same genre (ex High Fantasy) because they have so many similarities and by changing genres I get a fresh story.

    • Chiara says:

      Deadlines and review copies can be such slump instigators! I feel so bogged down with them sometimes, and the guilt of getting them read on time overtakes me, so all I do is read ARCs and review copies. Which just isn’t really the best thing to do.

      That actually worked! I read a mystery/thriller historical novel (which really isn’t my usual genre/s), and I ended up LOVING it! I think I will keep this in mind when I have my next slump (which I hope will not be any time soon).

  8. Valerie says:

    ACTUALLY, I usually suffer from the first reading slump! Because I rather be playing video games, or doing something else….ugh mostly it is because of how stressed I am from all the work I have. BUT THEN I READ SOMETHING, and I just get sucked right back in. So my problem is the whole “starting to read a book” process. It takes a long time to start reading, but then once I do, I AM SUCKED IN.

    I recommend Illuminae. Yes.

  9. Slumps suck. I’m in the ‘type 1’ camp at the moment and JKDFWKGWJ. I’ve been pushing myself to keep reading for a while now and it’s come back to bite me. No interest, nothing. It doesn’t help that I have blogging commitments and I just don’t have the energy in me and I FEEL BAD. This sucks. *climbs into hole and continues watching TWD* I think everyone’s just over it tbh. Tired and weary and with the year ending, everyone just wants a break. Maybe just don’t push it. Do something else. Maybe if you’re not reading as much, it’ll make you appreciate it more and the next book you read will be 5 stars! Who knows.

    • Chiara says:

      Ah, I really hope you’ve found your love for reading again, lovely <3 I think that reviewing and blogging can sometimes bog us down when it comes to reading. So I hope your break is helping you!

      It was actually a review copy that got me out of my slump :O It wasn't my usual genre, so it was a surprising and refreshing read, which might have helped!

  10. Oh no! I do hope you find some good reads soon Chiara :'( I think the only solution is to not force yourself to read, it’ll come back to you when the time’s right.

    • Chiara says:

      I picked up a review copy that I thought I wouldn’t enjoy, and it ended up being so fabulous that it pulled me out of my slump! But, yes, I definitely think that forcing yourself to read in a slump is not the best thing to do D:

  11. I’ve experienced both types of reading slumps. It’s absolutely dreadful, isn’t it? And your last 5-star read was 20 books ago?! I just ran to my Goodreads to see when I read my last 5-star book and it was nine books ago, but I’ve read three 4-star rated books in the meantime. Okay, moving past that… Sometimes rereading books is a way to get out of a slump, I’ve found. Pick up a quick, favorite book of yours you haven’t read in a long time. Or just wait for the slump to end on its own by doing something else (like binge-watching TV shows; that’s what I did during my reading slump last month, haha). I feel your pain and frustration–you’re not alone!

    • Chiara says:

      They are both truly awful things! And I hope I don’t have another reading slump for a VERY LONG TIME. 20 books is massive, right? And so many of them were two and three star reads *crying*

      I managed to get pulled out by a really great book that came as a surprise! I was so thankful to finally be out of the slump D:

  12. Ugh, I know exactly what you mean! Thankfully, I’ve had a total of like three reading slumps ever since I started blogging, and none of them lasted for more than two weeks…I shudder thinking about it. *Shudders*

    I AM SENDING YOU HAALP. IF YOU HAVEN’T READ IT ALREADY (IN WHICH CASE YOU SCARE ME BECAUSE WHO HASN’T?) Cinder by Marissa Meyer is an absolute book turn-on. Its…BAE.

    • Chiara says:

      This slump was my first ~real~ slump – before, they’d only been really short! But this one lasted so long D:

      Ah, Cinder is so lovely! I still have to read Cress and Winter, though :O

  13. Romi says:

    Reading slumps are the worst for bookish people like us. I tend to get one… about every year or so, and they do fluctuate between these two. For me, getting over them is about rereading a favourite, or being surprised out of it by how awesome something is- when I read Heir of Fire, though, it sent me into a slump because nothing compared to my love for it. I might possibly be in one at the moment, possibly the first. Which is a total bummer of bummers, but with editing I’m not surprised- my own writing is taking up my mind and my current read isn’t so fantastic. BUt I have Fruits Basket, and manga seems always able to be discounted in reading slumps.
    In January, a week before Kasta was due to fly down from Byron Bay (it was supposed to be a 10 hour flight, the poor baby) I went swimming and sliced my foot open (no idea what on. I tell myself it was probably a dead cow, but don’t ask) and had to get stitches and was on crutches for a couple days and it was awful, and I read this contemporary series that I hated (with, like, 8 books) because it was all I could get through. I finished Daughter of Smoke and Bone and loved it, but having to think about everyhting going on and being on Panadol constantly for, like, three weeks made things difficult. So that was another kind of reading slump, I guess. NOT NICE.

    • Chiara says:

      THEY ARE. And the fact that you get one every year is horrible D: This was the first real slump I’d ever been in, and I really don’t ever want to be in another one – especially one so long. Ah, I think that’s called a book hangover – where a book was so good nothing compares. I was actually pulled out of this slump by reading a really fabulous and surprising book! Which was lovely.

      OH. I know this story, haha XD But I have done the same thing – read a series even though I DID NOT LIKE IT. Sometimes our brains do weird things, yes?

  14. Sending you some good reading mojo! Sometimes this happens when I consistently read review copies which I didn’t know anything about. What helps during this time is to pick up a much raved about 5 star read that everyone is recommending, or a book that I know I’d love from a much loved series! I think you’d love Carry On by Rainbow Rowell – hope you get out of your slump soon Chiara!

    • Chiara says:

      Yeah, almost all of the books I was reading were review copies. So now I try and mix them up with books I’ve been really looking forward to. It’s not worth the pain! Ohmygosh, I really want to read Carry On! :D

  15. Shannelle says:

    I’d say The Summer of Chasing Mermaids, but you don’t have that in Australia. But yeah, I’m the exact opposite of you right now, because I haven’t read fiction in so long. Uni is killing me.

  16. I’m currently in Type 3: I want to read (and write) ALL THE THINGS but homework says no, so I’m forced to weep and pound out essay after essay. But Type 2 definitely sucks a lot because it’s really not in your control whether the books you read are good! Maybe try rereading an old favourite to help you get out of it?

    • Chiara says:

      OH NO. I hate that kind of slump D: I have experienced far too often in life T.T

      I managed to read a wonderful book that pulled me out of my slump! Although I definitely would have tried reading an old favourite.

  17. I’ve definitely been in both types of reading slumps before. In fact, I’m in a bit of a type one slump right now :( I think type one actually tends to be the slump that I am more likely to experience; I haven’t had too many of type two. Hopefully we will both get out of our slumps really soon!

    • Chiara says:

      Book slumps are the worst! I don’t know which is the more awful type, though. I think maybe when every book you read is average? Because you still feel like reading, but nothing is working out D: I hope your reading slump is well and truly over! And sorry for the late reply <3

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