The Reading Challenge Group discussion

You have two hours. Discuss :-P

So, what do you guys do when you get into a reading slump? I've been stuck in one for the past two weeks and I hate it! Any advice on how to deal with it? Does that happen to you?

I've picked up 5 or 6 different books in an attempt to try and spark up any interest, but nothing seems to be working. Do I keep picking up books until one of them works or do I just wait for the reading mood to come back?

What sort of books have you been trying to read recently as the issue could be two fold.

are you playing it too safe with your book choices? Not experimenting, therefor not really experiencing any new, different literature, diluting interest in reading all together. Or have you drastically altered what style books you go for, and therefor, potentially challenging yourself too much, or plainly you have debated too far from what brings you enjoyment in reading.

My own opinion, is to commit to a book, put up with it, and power through, I remember quite recently the time I spent reading was decreasing, and I picked up Disclosure by Michael Crichton. For the first maybe 5 chapters I was still not that interested in reading, but I persevered and actually found it one of the most enjoyable reads in a while.

Keep us posted with how you do.

I hate when a reading slump creeps in! What always works for me is going to a lighter, funnier genre (sometimes even going straight to a children's book) because I really enjoy the humour genre. Once I've found my groove there I tend to get out of my slump. Perhaps try re-reading a favourite novel? If you know you already love it then it might make you more inclined to stick with it.

I hope it works out, and soon, for you!

Thanks for your answers.

B. Marshall wrote: "What sort of books have you been trying to read recently as the issue could be two fold.

are you playing it too safe with your book choices? Not experimenting, therefor not really experiencing an..."

I tried several things.
I got a non-fiction book on the go, a book in a series I enjoy reading, a historical novel (my favourite genre), a classic (Virginia Woolf) and another fiction book. I read about 20 pages and then get bored. I've tried different genres as I know it could help, as you advised, but nothing seems to work.
I think I'm going to just power through, I don't really know what other genre I could try!

Kassandra wrote: "I hate when a reading slump creeps in! What always works for me is going to a lighter, funnier genre (sometimes even going straight to a children's book) because I really enjoy the humour genre. On..."
I think I'm going to try re-reading a favourite novel and power through it.

Will let you know if it works :-)

Camille, my main recommendation would be to cut down the number of novels you're reading. The main reason I get into reading slumps is because I start too many and can't decide which to read, so I never get any reading done. Therefore, I strictly limit myself to one book at a time. Then again, I know people who can read loads of books at one time. Perhaps if you just majorly focused on one, and pushed through and got it read, your reading might pick up again.

I can also second the previous mentions of a light-hearted, or 'easy' read. I always go back to young-adult novels or a simple crime novel to get me going. Usually I can get through these really quickly, and then I'm off again.

Ultimately, don't beat yourself up about reading slumps. Personally, I think they're natural, and happen probably to everyone in this group. You'll get through it eventually. :)

I'll go on a reading splurge one week and the following week nary a word. Depends on how busy I am during the day and like Holly said about having too many books going at one time, sometimes I just get myself overwhelmed. And again, does it really matter, we can define our own reading terms. :)

You could try a few audio books, they are great to unwind to.

I've been in one for more than 2 months. :(

I think I'm slowly crawling out of it, though. I read that short C.S. Lewis autobiography, and that got me in the mood to read his other stuff, so I read one of his novels and now I'm reading a collection of snippets from his various works and letters and whatnot. I'm finally interested in something again!

I still don't feel like reading as often throughout the day as I used to, though. Maybe it's not what you're reading that is boring you but the act of reading itself? I've felt very restless lately in general, so to force myself to stop whatever I'm doing, both physically and mentally, in order to read is difficult.

Well, I did manage to get through that reading slump by forcing myself to finish a book in my favourite genre. It worked :)

I also need to accept that it's ok if I don't read 10 books a month...

Faye, I agree that sometimes it's the act of reading itself that bores me. I don't even know why. So when it happens, I go watch some stuff on Netflix, which ends up boring me pretty fast, so I then want to get back to books!

Maybe that's how I've been coping this month with the reading slump, alternating between reading and Netflix!

Sounds like good times to me. :D

I did the same this month, Camille. :)
Thanks to reading a lot for uni I kinda lost the motivation to pick up any books so I spent the time playing video games, but I soon realized that it's boring and since yesterday I'm back to reading again. I'm still a bit in my slump, but I slowly recover with a good mix of playing video games and reading. At the moment I just pick up one of the books I'm reading and as soon as I don't feel like continuing anymore, I pick up another and keep on reading that. That actually worked pretty good yesterday. :)