I've recently found myself in a terrible reading slump. I didn't finish 1 single book for an entire month!! The thing is, I really really wanted to be reading... I just couldn't get myself to actually do it. But let me tell you, throughout this month I've definitely learned some things about myself as a reader:
Why I Was Wrong:
I thought that when Winter by Marissa Meyer came out, it would be the magic I've been needing to pull me out of this. I read about 100 pages of it, and it just WASN'T. And that was so disappointing. I'm not trying to be overly dramatic, but I was really sad about this book NOT making me want to read. And it's totally not the book's fault! Right now I'm in this space where I need to be completely engulfed in a story... and with Winter, I already know the story. I'm just reading Winter to find out the conclusion to the story. Basically what I'm saying is I think Fairest would have pulled me out better than Winter did because in Fairest we're learning about a character's backstory, we're learning about how the world of Luna works. In Winter, I already know how the world works. I already know what needs to happen. I'm just reading to see it finally happen. But that's not working for my reading slump.My Attention Span Right Now:
While I love books of all types (ones that start off slow, ones that build into something, etc.), right now what I want to read is something that catches me from page 1. So this is what I did: I read the first 3 pages of every book I've bought/been gifted throughout the last year and none hooked me. That's right... I spent a good hour or so reading the beginning of every book on my unread bookshelf. Then I read 1 page of The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu, and I finished the book in a single day. Like I said, I previously had not finished a book for a full month. I have 4 half or less read books sitting on my nightstand that I really want to read. I don't dislike the books. The stories are good, the writing is good. But what I need right now is a character with a strong voice that feels like they are speaking directly to me. I need to read that 1st page and feel like I want to KNOW. That's what Alice did for me and I need to find that again soon because...This Not Reading Thing Sucks:
I feel like I'm failing at the one thing I'm supposed to be good at. Also, I know it sounds kind of silly for me to say that I'm "good" at reading... but reading is my thing. Without being a reader, I'm having a hard time finding my identity. Basically, I feel lost and unfulfilled. People keep asking me what I'm reading and I'm having a hard time figuring out what I should say??? I mean, I want to say I'm reading Winter so that I can recommend that amazing series. Because The Lunar Chronicles series IS amazing. I just don't feel like reading it right now :(After Alice:
I have read 1 book after I finished Alice. I'm not sure if I'm out of the slump or not. I was REALLY into Alice... like, could not put it down. But then I read another book after it, and although I finished it, I wasn't racing through it. I'm not sure what to read next. I'm feeling really up in the air about it. I guess my good old Book Anxiety might be back.So what about you?? Have you ever been in a reading slump? Do you have any thoughts of how to get out of it?? And once you're out of it, how do you choose books to make sure you don't get back in? Can you recommend me any books that hooked you from page 1?
I hate reading slumps!! Pretty much what I do is just put down whatever I need to finish or that I feel obligated to read sooner and I pick up something small and easy. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteSmall and easy definitely worked for me!!
DeleteAww I hope it gets better for you! If I find myself in a reading slump, I normally just start doing everything except read. I catch up on tv shows and just life in general :)
ReplyDeleteI feel like I might be in a life slump as well right now :( I feel motivation for very few things.
DeleteI feel like I am going through a reading slump right now. Although I've managed to finish some books, nothing is really impressing me. It's the worst feeling. Someone mentioned above to read something small and easy. I think that sounds like a great idea. I'm currently trying to read Graceling, and even though I like it, I am finding it so hard to get through. Fantasy and reading slumps never seem to work for me.
ReplyDeleteSarah
Fantasy and reading slumps are a no-go for me as well. I'm figuring out that I have to find those hard to find Contemporaries that speak to me to get me out of this slump.
DeleteI am not sure I have gone through a giant slump but when I am not into reading as much I take a break, binge a show then find a quick easy read to get me going. I totally get when you say you are good at reading. I feel like it is my thing too :)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds dumb to say you're good at reading... but that's what I'm good at LOL!! I've tried to binge watch Netflix, but they need to put some new shows on there. I feel like I can never find anything addicting that I haven't already watched on there anymore!
DeleteI hate reading slumps! I usually just do something else for a while, like catch up on Netflix. Then I surround myself with bookish things, like I visit a lot of other blogs, I go to the epic reads website and take silly quizzes and stuff, I read book review magazines, read random goodreads reviews and then I either go to the bookstore or the library and look around until I've found something that gets my interest and holds it. I know this is a lot to do, but for the toughest reading slumps it usually works. I've also noticed that when I do manage to find something I want to read, it will be in a completely different genre than what I usually read.
ReplyDeleteI really should try going to a library or book store and just LOOKING for something random. That sounds like an excellent idea!
DeleteI hate reading slumps! I usually just do something else for a while, like catch up on Netflix. Then I surround myself with bookish things, like I visit a lot of other blogs, I go to the epic reads website and take silly quizzes and stuff, I read book review magazines, read random goodreads reviews and then I either go to the bookstore or the library and look around until I've found something that gets my interest and holds it. I know this is a lot to do, but for the toughest reading slumps it usually works. I've also noticed that when I do manage to find something I want to read, it will be in a completely different genre than what I usually read.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm in a reading slump right now. At the rate I'm going, I'm only going to finish a single book during November. And while I'm one of the most distracted readers of the world, I can still tackle more than a single book in a month. I've been having a hard time verbalizing what it is I am looking for in a book, and like you, I keep sampling the books that I own and nothing seems to keep my interest. Usually, this is about the time I turn to a graphic novel just so I can say that I read SOMETHING, but I don't even want to do that!
ReplyDeleteHonestly though, I just sort of have to wait for them to pass. I might have to binge watch a series on Netflix this week, or decompress with spending too much time playing video games. Then, I usually bounce right back to reading.
I wish there was something on Netflix I was into right now :( I'm having a hard time finding shows on there that I haven't already watched :(
DeleteUh... I'm really glad you said that about Winter because I feel exactly the same way. I read a few chapters and just couldn't feel excited, so I stopped reading. All the reviews I've read have said that all the couples get their HEA so maybe I should just read the ending?? I have a short attention span and often have issues with series that are that long/that many pages.... Holding that enormous book just made me tired. ...
ReplyDeleteJen @ YA Romantics
Winter is a huge book. 800 pages!!! I mean, woah. Also yeah I don't know WHY I can't get into it right now... it seems perfectly good from what I've read. It's just my mood. I'm positive there will be a day soon that I can get into it :) I hope you can too!
DeleteSometimes a break really helps. I always tend to slow down at the end of the year, due to the holidays and NaNoWriMo, but it always sucks a bit to have to go through it.
ReplyDeleteI am struggling a bit with Winter right now. I think it is the size that is scary for me. I dunno.