We all have them: reading slumps. I’ve been experiencing one for months now. In fact, I wouldn’t call it a slump—it’s more of a passed-out-and-under-the-table kind of thing. I tried reading in different genres. I even quit reading for a while because I’d lost the joy of it, something that has never, ever happened before. But lately, my interest in reading has gotten a recharge.
It started with the TBR shelves. I picked up one of the books I’d been saving for a metaphorical rainy day. Written by a favorite author, it was one I was pretty sure I would like. I picked it up thinking I would give it a try. Why not read something from the TBR shelves? I read the first chapter, then the second, then stopped noticing the chapters.
In short, I loved it.
I closed the book thinking how nice it was to truly savor a book, to turn the pages and get lost in the story.
I got that feeling again with the help of my local library. I was there to pick up a hold, and I noticed the second book in a series. I read the first one last year and liked it well enough. And since it was a library book, why not try it? It turned out to be another thoroughly pleasurable read.
I’m not saying I’m completely out of my reading slump, but now I feel there’s hope. A recharge is always welcome.
Do you have books you save for rainy days? If so, what’s on your rainy-day reading list?
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I can’t say I’ve ever experienced a reading slump, but I know when I have several books lined up, I will often save the one by a favorite author until I know I have a guilt-free stretch of time so I can savor it.
It’s kind of the way I always used to eat my vegetables first, to get them out of the way, so I could enjoy the rest of the meal.
I have, on occasion, saved books aside that I knew I would savor because I wanted the anticipation to last a little longer. I’ve also experienced the reading slump and until recently I was really at a loss to pick up any of the books in my TBR pile. I cured that by going hog wild in a new genre and picking up some mysteries and I’ve been reading avidly since then.
I have never really gone more than a week without reading. Of course, I have read some books that I wish I hadn’t because I picked up anything off the shelf just to have something to read. LOL
I can honestly say I have never saved a book for a rainy day. I have a TBR pile, but if I have been anticipating a release or it’s by a favorite author it goes to the top and gets read immediately.
So what was the book that got you out of your reading slump?
I have never had a reading slump. I have to deny myself books so I can get other things done. After finishing a certain project I always reward myself with something special I’ve been saving on the TBR shelf.
Good question readerdiane! I’ve noticed lately that on the various boards I frequent, someone will say (paraphrasing), so and so has jumped the shark, or hasn’t updated her website in a year even though she has a new book or so on and so forth. This is the first time I’ve seen someone not share good — or at the very least — encouraging news. It’s like we’ve all been afflicted with an attack of the Nice Grrrrl Syndrome — not terribly helpful on review boards, imo
So if we’re kissin’ and tellin’ … slumps for me are cured by Balogh or Heyer or another Tried and True author (for me).
When I was in university the last 5 years, I avoided reading much of the year because once you get sucked into a good fiction book… forget homework! So the few books I did read, or read in the summer between semesters, I remember so well… they had that same cozy-oh-God-I-missed-this feel to them. (Sense and Sensibility, Mr Norrel, some Evanovichs, Poisonwood Bible, and Jilly Cooper’s Polo come to mind.)
As for rainy days, yes I do save books. I have a Jennifer Crusie I haven’t cracked yet, and a Connie Willis. I’m in no rush… they’re there for when I need a Guaranteed Read.
I thought I was the only one who “suffered” with reading slumps. I get them every once in a while, it sucks. I love to read, but it happens.
I have a lot of books that I save for rainy days, but the one that I am anticipating reading the most is Faefever by Karen Marie Moning. I bought it when it was first released, but I haven’t read it yet. I know it is going to be good, because she never disappoints, but I need to be able to savor every single word.