I must admit that my reading is all over the place these days. It used to be that I’d only read romance novels. Seriously. I wouldn’t read anything else. Not even on a bet. That slowly shifted to only reading erotic romance novels, particularly paranormals. Oh, wow, I ventured far there. Didn’t I? Snort. Luckily, that all changed the day I hit a reading wall. I’d been sprinting head-down, eyes-closed for a while. It was only a matter of time. I’m actually surprised it took so long.
Smashed. Bug-like. No identifiable body parts. All that remained was a pile of yellow and greenish goo.
I couldn’t seem to concentrate on any book for more than a few seconds. To say that it was frustrating is an understatement. I missed reading. I craved books. My TBR piles were mountainous and threatening to bury me in an avalanche of words. Yet, every time I picked out a title and began to read I felt like tossing the book against the wall. Nothing could keep my attention. Not even my comfort reads could save me from the malaise. (Cue growls and groans here.)
Out of desperation, I ventured out of my ‘reading’ comfort zone. Like an explorer discovering the New World, I was in awe of my surroundings. Who knew so much flora and fauna existed? Certainly not I. And you know what? In this pristine foreign wilderness, I found joy in reading again. No one was more surprised by the revelation than me.
But one taste was not enough. No. I needed more. More. MORE, I tell you. I dove in feet first and started devouring everything in sight. So many new flavors, aromas and textures. It was too much. I was in overload. At first, I didn’t know where to begin. The covers and teasing blurbs that once frightened my sensibilities now enthralled me. Did I dare act upon these impulses? Abso-friggin’-lutely! I didn’t hesitate. I was desperate. In need of a fix. Preconceived notions—be damned.
I recently feasted upon Jim Butcher’s ‘Fool Moon’ and Tess Gerritsen’s ‘The Mephisto Club’, then licked my fingers clean. I’m currently dining on Disappearing Nightly by Laura Resnick, Greywalker by Kat Richardson, 30 Days of Night by Steve Niles, She’s No Fairy Princess by Christine Warren, Watchers in the Night by Jenna Black, The Traveler by John Twelve Hawks, Rahab’s Story by Ann Burton, The Bone Collector by Jeffrey Deaver, The Edge by Dick Francis, and Stefan’s Salvation by N.J. Walters. As you might have noticed from the above list, I do not read one book at a time. I juggle and play with my ‘food’.
My TBR pile has morphed into a perfect amalgamation of material. No longer will I limit my preferences to one genre. I realize now that I caused the bottleneck in my joy of reading by continuing to force feed it, when I knew it was already bloated from past glut. I should never have limited my scope to such a narrow view. Lesson learned. Perhaps the next time you are in a reading rut you’ll remember my words and heed my warning. Sometimes all it takes is stepping out of your comfort zone to regain your passion. Trust me, it’s not as scary as it looks.
What have you found effective for breaking out of a reading rut? Have you ever tried reading outside of your preferred genre? If so, what happened?
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II always have at least two different books on the go from completely different genres, and then I try to pick up something completely different when I finish those books, so that I don’t get in a rut too often…thank goodness!
I always get perplexed when someone says they’re in a reading rut, or that they can’t find anything to read, because that never happens to me, and I think that’s why–because I vary my reading so much. The various forms of romance make up a bit over half my reading, and with the help of some friends, I’ve started doing a quarterly reading challenge to expand my horizons even more–for fall, it’s a book by a Nobel Prize-winning author, and I’ve been both pleasantly surprised and reenergized for my usual reading fare.
I think this may be my problem! I just blogged about my inability to finish reading a book lately – everything I pick up seems to be a wallbanger. I’ve been dining on a steady diet of romance and haven’t ventured out of my genre for a while. I think it’s time to dig deeper into my TBR pile and pick something that will help get me out of my rut and give my inner editor some quiet time.
I’ve done that before–overdosed by reading too many historicals or too many cozy mysteries. And chick lit gets old, fast. Sometimes a dip into my daughter’s YA shelf helps to cleanse the palate. I’ve learned to read from a variety of genres, although women’s fiction remains my predominate one. I guess the old cliche says it best. Variety will spice up your reading.
I don’t think you broke out of a rut. I think you simply matured as a reader. One thing I’ve noticed as an outsider coming in is that romance readers and writers are the rabid and widely read readers out there!:mrgreen: And good for you!:wink:
I’ve never hit a bad reading rut. I think it’s because when I am deep in my own writing (my genre is historical romance) I often need to read out of genre or at least out of sub-genre. So I return to historical romance between drafts or while on vacation, refreshed by outside reading, and I still love it. It also helps that I’ve discovered some favorite authors whose work I always enjoy.
I tend to pig out at times on a certain genre or author but since my taste varies widely/wildly never get in a rut – just a groove – so a switch in types is automatic.
I have to agree that a steady diet of just romance does burn me out as a reader, and it took me awhile to figure it out. I find myself reading other things that interest me, like history, or N.O.W. – No Opportunity Wasted. I’m working on my own list LOL.
I like biographies, especially about the old movie stars of the 40’s and 50’s, where there was that aura of mystique. A lot of non-fiction. Lately the reading slump has taken longer and longer to get over. Don’t know why that is exactly, but I try to fill the time with other things.
Break out? I’ve always read all over the map.
Alice
I did switch to Mystery once with a whole load of books someone handed me. I enjoyed one or two but the rest got donated quickly.
Alice
Jordan, I almost started crying as I read your post. Not because I’m in a rut but because I have so many books I’m dying to read sitting on my bookshelves. Alas, I must read research books at the moment, which is good and also interesting, but I have fiction, my true love, waiting. I’ve never been one to read only one genre. I’m all over the map. Right now, I’m drooling over The Thirtheenth Tale, World War Z, I See You,Archangel, The Kite Runner, Trust Me Once. Damn, why do I have to write today????
Marg, It took me a long time to realize I needed to do that. I really did devour everything that was romance for a LOT of years.
Darla, I think a lot of it has to do with moods. (And how much I’m writing.) I have to be in the mood for certain types of books. Kind of like movies. Sometimes I don’t know what mood I’m in. When that happens, it’s difficult to settle down with any book. (At least it is for me.)
Bernadette, You’ll be amazed at what a difference it’ll make when you do. Seriously. It was exactly what I needed.
Deborah, YA definitely gets the old gray cells snapping. There is some really smart work out there in that genre.
Kimber, I matured. WAAAAAAA!!!!!!!! I don’t want to mature.
Elena, That’s good you’ve found something that works for you. I’ve read so little outside of the romance genre that everything is fresh and new to me.
Bernita, I did that to the point of gluttony. That’s probably why I couldn’t take another bite.
Stacy, I was a REAL slow learner in that respect. (what’s new? snort) It took me forever to figure out that was the problem. In fact, it wasn’t until I read a friend of mine’s blog, Beth Ciotta that I discovered what I was missing. She was in a reading rut and decided to leave the genre to fix it.
Jo, LOL! Sorry.
I think that’s the other thing I’ve noticed. When I’m writing, I have an extremely difficult time concentrating on anyone else’s words but my own. I hope you get to read for pleasure soon. 
I don’t get into ruts really. I didn’t start reading romance until I was in my mid-30’s anyway so I’ve always read cross-genre.
What helps keep my reading diet varied is that I can’t read whatever I’m writing at the time. So if I’m writing werewolve or vamps, no werewolves or vamps, etc.
I love to read a great story and so I’m lucky to have so many great books out there to read across genres – mysteries, horror, lit, erotica, romance, whatever. I’m always just hungry to hear something interesting.
Lauren, That does make a huge difference. I’ve been reading romances since my teens. Got sucked in early. *g* I do agree on avoiding whatever subject you happen to be writing at the time. Definitely helps.
I continually read cross-genre. Romance — specifically romantic suspense — makes up about 20% of my reading. Now. That figure fluctuates with time of year and reading mood. In fiction I read sci-fi and mysteries more than any other genre BUT over half my reading in nonfiction — biography, history, Sunday suppliment level science and of course spiritual and theological reading. As has been noted YA has some of the freshest and most engaging writing out there. I recommend it to anyone in a “reading rut.”
Luckily, I’ve never run into a serious reading rut. But in the last few years, I do credit the high school students I teach with introducing me to some terrific books that I might not have picked up otherwise: Secret Life of Bees, Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, Kite Runner, and everything by Jodi Picoult. Believe it or not, teens are still reading, and like crazy. Hooray!
A friend and I began a book club for just this reason. We wanted to read more, and read widely. We’re into our second book. The first was Zadie Smith’s On Beauty. Very great discussion book. Now we’re reading The Glass Castle, a memoir by Jeannette Walls. I don’t think I’d ever have picked it up were it not for the Book Babes.
Great post, Jordan.
KeVin, That sounds like a good cross section of reading. I wish I would’ve gotten started earlier with other genres. I think it would’ve made me a much better writer.
Allie, That’s nice to hear. Everyone makes it out like teens never read.
Misa, Good for you guys. If I was a faster reader, I’d do something like that, but I’d never make it in time to discuss any book. *ggg*
My TBR piles include Sci-Fi, Paranormal, romance, cozy mystery and horror (meaning vamps etc., by the way can’t we come up with a better designation?) I did notice one of my local bookstores has started a paranormal for the romantic vampire/others.
“I recently feasted upon Jim Butcher’s ‘Fool Moon’ and Tess Gerritsen’s ‘The Mephisto Club’, then licked my fingers clean. I’m currently dining on Disappearing Nightly by Laura Resnick, Greywalker by Kat Richardson, 30 Days of Night by Steve Niles, She’s No Fairy Princess by Christine Warren, Watchers in the Night by Jenna Black,”
I’ve been reading Jim Butcher, Tess Gerritsen, Kat Richardson and Christine Warren along with a few cozy mysteries-they seem to fit the drenching rain we’ve been having. By the way loved those books.
Diane, Yes, those authors do lend themselves to inclement weather.
As for designating areas for books, if I were only goddess for the day. *g*
Jordan…I’ve always been an extremely eclectic reader, both fiction and nonfiction, and have always looked for good, well-written books, regardless of genre. So I can’t remember ever being in a reading rut. If I can’t find anything new that interests me, I’ve always been happy to pull an old favorite down off the shelf, and there are some books I reread just about every single year.
For me, mystery came before romance – Nancy Drew before Betty Neels, so I’ve always loved mysteries. I’ve been reading horror, mystery, Non-Fic, and romance forever, so I’m never bored with what I’m reading. I’ve been reading Butcher since the first Dresden book came out. Love Harry Dresden.
Yikes, didn’t change the name. Ooops:oops: *waving*
Rebecca, I reread a lot of old favorites. I’m not sure if I do it every year, but certainly when nothing in particular strikes my fancy. Thank goodness for old favorites.
Eve, I always ‘watched’ mysteries, but I really never read many of them. I mean I’ve read a few Nancy Drew books. Was more of a Hardy Boys fan. *wg* Came to Dresden late in the game, but really enjoy the character.
Bailey,