Book bloggers have a tight schedule when it comes to reading. Sometimes we have more than 1 book on the go, some have to be reviewed by a certain date and others have been sent to us by authors or publishers requesting a review so it’s more than a slight inconvenience when we find ourselves in a reading slump. Even for those who aren’t book bloggers, it’s mildly frustrating when you can’t seem to find anything that’s catching your interesting or keeping your attention!
The reason for this post is because I’m in a reading slump at this very moment. I’ve read 2 books in the past few weeks, both of which I thought I’d love but I didn’t and I’m currently reading one now which I expected to be right up my street but it turns out it took the wrong turning and ended up down someone else’s. By the time this post gets published, I’ll probably have come out the other side (hopefully!) but for now I thought maybe talking about it might help me get out of it. We’ve all been there. We pick up book after book, get a few chapters in and are just uninterested and most of the time, it’s probably not the book that’s not drawing us in, rather our frame of mind at the time of reading it because I know in the past I’ve picked up a book and put it straight back down only to try it again a few months later and not be able to let it go. For people who love reading, being in a reading slump can be a right pain in the backside, especially when reading brings you so much pleasure and enjoyment so I thought I’d share with you some strategies to help bring you out of your reading slump.
Lose the expectations
I find the more expectations I have of a book, the more likely I am to not enjoy it as much. Of course there are a few exceptions but try to avoid reading lots of 5 star reviews of a book right before reading it so you go in with an open mind not wondering whether you’ll love the main character or cry as much as so-and-so did.
Stop reading
Probably the opposite piece of advice here but giving yourself a break from reading might be just the thing you need to bring you back. Book lovers have to have a book on the go at all times, so not having a book on the go for a few days should make you realise how much you enjoy and miss reading.
Try something new
I sometimes find I end up in book slumps after I read too much of the same thing so if nothing is interesting you, but everything you’re trying is the same genre/same writing style/same kind of story line, mix things up a bit and explore something new and totally different to what you’re used to. It might surprise you and become a new favourite genre and even if that’s the only book of that genre you ever read – at least it got you out of your reading slump!
Go back to what you know
A point made by Lindsey from Book Boodle although I just mentioned trying something new, it could be equally as helpful going back to one of your all-time favourites. That book that started your love for reading. For example, if you’re a huge Harry Potter fan, reading your favourite book in the series in the middle of your reading slump might help you remember how important reading actually is to you.
Have any of these tips worked for you in the past? Do you have your own way you get through a reading slump? Let me know!
[…] sounding like you – don’t panic. There is hope. I wrote a post a while ago on how to get out of a reading slump (Reading slump: when nothing is interesting you or keeping your focus) and a lot of the same […]
[…] Again, these were excellent responses! I think I’ll definitely try and pick up an old favourite to lure me back into the craze. Or, as Jackie from TheReadersRoost said, just ride it out until I’m ready to dive back in to it. I suppose forcing myself back into reading isn’t really what it’s all about. It’s supposed to be a hobby and a source of entertainment rather than a chore. I recently read an excellent blog post from Jenny (at JennyInNeverland) and she gives a ton of great advise. You can find her post here! […]
you’ve got some great ideas here!! I always find myself in a slump after I’ve read a really really good book a few weeks before because it’s like nothing compares to it!!
p.s I love your blog:-)
I completely agree, I get that too! Reading an amazing book is all very well and good until nothing lives up to it afterwards! Haha thank you very much 🙂
Your ideas are great here. I’ve been in a slump at times, too and instead read a magazine or two to take in smaller pieces of writing. There is a rare occasion when reading to much of one thing can start to feel like staying too long at a party you should have left two hours ago!
Thanks! Reading a magazine or short story is a great idea too, never even thought of that!
That is an amazing way of describing it! Spot on!
I hate reading slumps. They always seem to hit me when I have a whole pile of books I need to get through by specific deadlines and I always find myself scared to read them in fear that I’m going to hate them just because I’m in my slump.
I just recently got out of one (thank god!) and I think the thing that did it for me this time was that I picked up what I refer to as an ‘easy, no need to think’ type book. It was one of those rom-com type books that we have all read a hundred times before, but it was cute and funny and allowed me a chance to clear my head from all the deep and full on books I have been reading recently. After reading a heavy series, especially dystopian or fantasy, I always make sure to read something light and fun after just to give my head a break.
Glad you are out of your reading slump, it is the worst thing ever to be a book lover and not want to read. Our poor books! 🙁
That’s a good idea! Fluffy rom-coms are much easier to “get into” that Fantasy or Crime because they require a lot less thinking – which definitely isn’t a bad thing and makes a nice change every once in a while! It’s terrible, what our books must think of us! 🙁
Thanks for the mention Jenny – a really helpful post 🙂
I hope you find your reading mojo soon!
Thanks for your input Lindsay! I did find my reading mojo shortly after I wrote this post, thank God!
Great post! The worst reading slump I’ve ever had was 2 years (after I finished university) and I just couldn’t bring myself to read anything. I feel your pain!
JESUS CHRIST! 2 Years?! I’d die. I don’t know how you managed that! Out of curiosity, what was the book you read that brought you out of that?
I know! What can I say, university REALLY put me off reading literature for pleasure :/ ha!
Do you know what? I can’t bloody remember and I wish I did! I know that one of the first books I read after my “break” was A Clockwork Orange. Very random!
That’s such a shame! Might have made a good blog post to write about the book that brought you out of your 2 year reading slump! A Clockwork Orange is pretty random haha. I started watching that film once but it made me really anxious so I stopped! Eeek!
I seriously don’t know how you find time to plough through so many books, I really admire your ability to do that. I dip in and out of books so much these days, miss being at uni when I could just stay up all night reading 🙂 I know exactly what you mean when you say there are loads of books that don’t tickle our fancy. I hate wasting my time with books I don’t love and I find often that I choose such huge chunky books that my interest drifts in and out because of how long it takes to read them.. I find going for completely different books each time really helps. For example, my last book was a journalist’s study, written in a narrative following the various characters and viewpoints, of drug smuggling and life in jail in Bali – just brilliant and gripping. Now I am reading a biography of Houdini – totally different and I have no idea what will be next 🙂 xx
Haha thank you! I don’t really realise how many I read but thinking about it now, it is quite a lot! I suppose when it’s something you love to do there’s never too many! 🙂 I hate wasting my time on books I don’t enjoy too especially as there’s so many out there that I will enjoy. It’s just awkward if it’s a review copy that’s been sent to me – I can obviously tell the publisher that I can’t finish it but I feel obligated to give it a fair review, even if it is only 1 or 2 stars. Since making my TBR jar, it has helped SO MUCH with things like this because it’s more than likely that you’ll be picking out a different genre each time so you don’t get bored. Those books you’re reading would go right over the top of my head! Haha but they do sound very interesting and extremely different! 🙂 xx
You’re so right, loving it does make it so much easier 🙂 Yes I can totally understand, it must be difficult to say that you don’t really like it without outright saying it’s rubbish 😛 Oooh the jar sounds like a great idea, bet that keeps things fresh for you 🙂 haha I have very bizarre tastes in books but as long as we enjoy what we read – that’s all that matters 🙂 xxx
It does! When picking up my next book, I’m so inclined to go for the ones I REALLY want to read, the ones with the nice covers, the new ones etc. and the books that have been sitting on my shelf for months never get read! At least this way I have no choice. Just finished a book that I didn’t think I’d ever get around to and it turned out to be one of the best books I’ve read this year!:)
And absolutely, it you like weird books, so what?! 😛 xx
Glad you’re out of it 🙂
Thank you 🙂 Me too!
I’ve been in some terrible reading slumps and a combination of some or all of the above have worked for me. I find that the best thing is re-reading a favorite book. Works pretty well for me.
All the best with your slumps. It’s no fun reading books for review when you are in a slump.
I’ve glad these things have worked for you as well! I’m out of my slump now thank God! 🙂