Chicks On Lit discussion

I read a book once every two weeks during the summer; sometimes even managing one book a week. Now I don't feel like picking up a book although I have three new books staring at me from my desk. Three wonderfully recommended books that I want to read. But as soon as I pick up any of the books, I get ill with a headache. Is this reader burnout? If so, how long will it last?

May be burn out. I've been experiencing the same thing. No headaches but I pick up a book that (in theory) is really interesting to me and I want to read but I just can't get into it.

It ebbs and flows for me. Sometimes it lasts a week or so, sometimes it last a week or so, sometimes a few months. But my reading bug always comes back. :)

Thanks for the comments. I will be patient and wait for the reading bug to return.

I know what you mean! I will eat through several books in a few days, and then abruptly will loose my desire to pick anymore up. I will have books that I WANT to read, but just can't get more than a few pages into them. Then, suddenly a few days later, I'll get my "appetite" back again and start reading again.

I can also relate! Seems like lately I've spent more time on here adding "to read" books to my list and reading about books...than actually reading. I go in spurts as far as reading (devouring) books and that also holds true for watching tv.

I go through that, too. I read a lot, a lot, a lot and then I'll go through a period where nothing interests me (book wise). I just need a book break is all. I'll pick one up again when I feel like it or when one book screams "READ ME NOW". Can't predict how long it will last though.

Here's a question? Do you read the same genre of books? As in do you read all Romance, all Crime, etc? Maybe you can mix it up a bit. I used to read all chick lit for awhile and then got so "feed up" with all the same type of plots and stopped reading. Then I realized I needed to branch out from chick lit and try other genres again. Now I'm all over the map with my books.

Ex: I'm currently reading

Blaze by "Stephen King" (well his alias really) - listening on CD in the car

Holiday's on Ice by David Sedaris - listening on cd on lunch hour while walking

Kingdom Keepers II (just finished) it is a Disney teen series. Cute. Fluff. I like the concept.

Really reading East of Eden by John Steinbeck.

With all that going on, it is keeping my interest to keep reading. I won't even tell you the types of books I have on backup (too many to tell). I'll just look over the bookshelf, pick one that intrigues me and go from there!

I feel burnout sometimes as well. It usually has to do with how much other stuff I have going on. For me, it comes when I've read a lot of heavy stuff, and then I need to pick up something light and fun to clear my mind of all that weight. The issues that authors tackle in their books, especially the really good ones, really hit us. It can be tiring facing that all the time. Maybe you need another kind of book? Or, waiting is just fine, too. We all need a break sometimes, from everything. Moderation, moderation, moderation!

it depends on what's going on with my life at the time, as well as how many and what type books i am reading. i read 13 in august, and 7 in october. so yeah, it fluctuates.

Yup yups, ebbs and flows here too. I'll go through a period where I will finish a book in the am and pick up a new in the pm. No problem. And then BOOM I hit a wall. Even a book I've been waiting to read will NOT get my attention, be almost painful to read.

How to cure it (it never lasts too long) 2 ways...
- wait it out
- try a different genre (ex.: if you usually read mystery try a chick lit instead)

I think every one experiences reader burn out at some point.

My sisters and I used to race to be the first to read 52 books over the course of the year. Now I barely read a chapter a night.

I find that if I read complete brain candy for a while it helps get me back in the practice and before you know it I am a reading fiend.

i'm right there with ya. i get burnt out too and find that the cure is usually switching up the genre of book. i get in a rut where i've read nothing but chick lit and then i have to read something else (like suspense or cheesy romance)to break it up a bit. and sometimes i'll read so much that i won't be able to pick a book up for days. i had set a goal for myself to read 100 books this year - but have only made it to 60. i try to read 1-2 books a week, but the burnout gets me on occasion. i find that i will start reading three of four different books until i find one that will keep my interest and get me out of the rut. then i'm full speed ahead again :) it's supposed to be for fun and stress relief and sometimes i put too much pressure on myself to get through my growing stack of books!

Wow, Brandie, that's an amazing goal! Good job!

Yes, reading it supposed to be fun. It's not your job and you don't "have" to do anything. (although that would be cool, but then would it be as much fun?)

thanks! :)

you're right...if it was my job - i wouldn't enjoy it as much. i'm glad it's a hobby instead. i find myself trying to read what people give me instead of reading what i want. so i've stopped doing that - now i just read for me!!

I believe in the burnout. I go for a long time reading multiple books and then something just happens and my focus is lost. I try to switch up genres and change books but sometimes it is just my brain needing to focus on something else for a bit. I like to run out to the library and grab up a bunch of movies and sometimes that distracts me from life long enough to then get back to reading.

LOL Anglea! brain candy! I like that!

Great suggestion! I was reading only chick lit and nonfiction self-help in addition to the mandatory third grade reading with my daughter. Now I've decided to go into something "meatier" to see if a change in genre will get me out of my funk. I picked up Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. I've only read a couple of pages but already I can tell it is different enough to grab my attention. Thanks again for your help!

Real. I go through several bouts of crazy read, read, read, read, then I have a period of a week or two where nothing can hold my interest. It cycles throughout the year.

I found that setting a lower than normal #goal is a good way to shake off burnout . I used to try for 50 every year then a couple of years ago I changed to 35 and haven't had burnout since .

I think it's totally real. I experience it. Sometimes, I'll read a lot of dense books. Then I'll look at the pile next to my bed and really don't feel like picking up something. When I feel like that, I find "lighter books". A biography on a celebrity I like or some YA, that's not intense or even a graphic novel. If that doesn't work, I sometimes go back to my favorites, like The Hobbit or LOTR. With LOTR I've read it all so much that I can pick up any of the books and just randomly pick a chapter to read to clear my head.

I agree that it's real. I'm trying to do 52 books in 52 weeks this year (I tried last year but only set the goal in like, September, so I totally failed) and it's getting to the point where I just don't WANT to read a book that week, or where I pick up a book with a sequel/in a series and read more than one that week.

I agree with Tina that reading lighter books really helps, too. If you want to read for a goal but don't want to have to really think a lot about it, it's much easier to pick it up and start reading!

I don't know that I experience burn out per say. I find it hard to keep up with self imposed goals. So I stopped setting those kinds of expectations which guilt me into meeting a quota, or determine what I read because I have to reach some arbitrary number. Sometimes I'm in the mood to work at some long non-fiction history book, inspired to look up other information. Sometimes it's something I want time to reflect on the content. Other times I want a good mystery or need something light as you say. I used to try and keep up with discussions but family and work demands are too erratic and I was tired of apologizing. I'm less stressed about what and how much I read if I just go with the flow.

I usually take a few days off between books. If I read too many in row, I get them all mixed up in my head.

I can totally relate. Sometimes it takes a few days of binge watching BBC and PC games to get me out of my funk.