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| Le sigh |
I can’t remember the last time I felt so blah about books. I’m slumping you guys. Hard.
I’m reading two enjoyable books. In fact, I’m still enjoying them, but I just don’t care.
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?
Theories? I have two.
- This is the first time that I’ve read more than one book at a time. My brain feels split in half.
- I’ve let my review pile get ahead of me and I’m feeling the pressure.
In other words? It’s my own damn fault.
This won’t last long. Right? Tell me I’m right!
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| Blah |
Do you have any tips? Tricks? Suggestions? How have you gotten over your own reading slumps?
The Relentless Reader 
You're so right about that 😉 And I have only myself to blame. I will NOT let this happen again. Thanks for visiting Trish!
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This works for me, too — not necessarily children's books, but anything I've read multiple times and just love.
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Pressure can definitely put me into a slump, whether it's pressure from my freelance job or knowing I have too many ARCs and review copies to get through. I agree with the suggest to read something well-loved and familiar, preferably something you can get through relatively quickly (like a children's book, or a mystery. I also have some romances and fantasy novels I use for this purpose.)As for reading more than one book at a time, some readers are more comfortable with that than others. I usually have at least two going at a time — a print or ebook, and an audiobook. If I'm working, I've also got whatever nonfiction book I'm creating the index for. Sometimes I can handle adding another print or ebook or another audiobook, but not always. And sometimes even one of each is too much.
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I can't remember feeling this way before and I really don't like it one bit. I'm sure it's a combination of things. And that combination is something that I have to stay away from from now on! I can see how certain books can work when read in conjunction. I don't think I've found that balance quite yet 😉
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You can take a short break! I do push through most of the time when I get into a slump. Sometimes I resort to reading just a small bit at a certain time each day. Eventually I finish the book, even though I don't feel like reading.
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I'm allowed to do that?? 😉 I'm trying to push through because I have obligations to do so. Sadly, I think that is part of the problem.
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I'm in a slump too and when it happens I tend not to want to write reviews – which then makes my review pile worse. It's a vicious cycle!
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Ah yes, I know just what you mean. Then begins that never-ending feeling!
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It happens, but hang in there!
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Thanks Chris 🙂 I'm riding it out! It can't last much longer, right?? 😉
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Whenever I get into a reading slump – I simply stop reading. I know this is difficult because you have a book blog, but possibly try audio books or a book completely out of the norm for you? It's hard when something we enjoy so much turns into an obligation (for short periods of time). Just try to shake it up a little and you'll be feeling bookish in no time!
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That's nearly what I've done. I've been reading in dribs and drabs over the past few days. I have a feeling that this slump is almost over! Thanks!!
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Ughhh reading slumps are the worst. They tend to happen to me when I'm reading too many things at once, even if they're good…and since you've not read 2 at a time before, maybe that's the culprit? I hope when one of them finishes up, you get your mojo back. 🙂
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I'm fairly certain that's the problem. I don't think that reading more than one book at a time is for me.
I feel like I'm cheating on the first book! And it didn't help that one of them wasn't exactly my cup of tea. Thanks Kelly!
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Oh this is me right now!! I have too much work that I'm too tired to read in the evenings. I do pick up a book, but hardly get through the first 50 pages before I fall asleep! I need to get some more reading done, because my blog can't come to a standstill. I feel your pain! I am also \”reading\” two books at the moment, I don't think that's working out for me though. I have no tips for you, because I'm looking for some myself 😉
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We talked about this, and I totally slumped, too. My issue for sure if the review book thing. . . luckily, I spent this past week reading those books like crazy to get those books out of the way!
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Good luck with the whole 2 book thing. I don't think it's going to be something I'll be trying again anytime soon, lol.
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I'm glad you got them out of the way. Onward and upward for both of us!!
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I feeling like this a bit myself right now—probably the two-at-a-time thing too for me. Also, I'm reading \”Under the Dome\” which of course you're familiar with, and the other one is \”Under the Banner of Heaven\” by Jon Krakauer. I love Krakauer, and the subject matter of this book is fascinating and enraging me, getting me all riled up, so it's exhausting my emotions a bit. I think I need a fun, happy read after this, but I just checked out two more horror/sci-fi books from the library… oh my! sigh.Also I have to concur with another commenter about the weather—it's just so beautiful outside! Wanna go out an play in the sunshine!
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You might be stuffing yourself with too many bad vibes by reading those books at the same time! By the way, that Krakauer sounds fantastic. And more spooky books coming up…eeek! You'll have to stick some mindless something in between all of those as a literary palate cleanser!
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This is why I severely limit my ARCs. Review pile pressure kills my mojo every time!
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Hahaha, I love the Marie gif too. That was one of those lines my siblings and I quoted at each other FOREVER after watching the movie. I can't do two books at a time myself, unless they're very different (perhaps fiction and non-fiction) or one is an audiobook. Usually a break will shake me out of a slump every time. Good luck with yours!
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The pressure! Blech. I'm going to be doing the same. I need to be even pickier and choosier than I already am!
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I'm going to get through a couple of obligations and then READ WHATEVER I WANT!! 😀 Ahhh, that sounds so good! 😀 Thanks!
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I hear ya. I'm currently in the midst of a blogging/reading slump too. I've read a few good books lately, but it took me too long to focus and sit and read them. And have you seen my blog lately? I've been MIA. I think it is because I've got too many reviews pending, it makes me not want to read at all sometimes. Depressing eh? lol. I think setting a goal might help. That's what I'm doing anyway. I've set a goal of reading as many review books this month, then I'm taking the entire month of July for 'just for me reads'. No review books next month and I'm not scheduling any tour stops, interviews…etc. Just books that are for me. I might even re-read an old fav. It'll be like a book reviewers vacation, expect I'll still read of course…lol. I hope your slump ends soon.
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Yes, I have seen that you've been MIA! I love your idea to get the obligations out of the way and then read for YOU in July. That sounds great :)I think my slump came about for a few reasons but I've got some strategies in mind to prevent it from happening again. 🙂
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\”I don't think that reading more than one book at a time is for me.
I feel like I'm cheating on the first book!\”Exactly how I feel! I can't do it. I also feel that inevitably I'd give up on one book.
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Yes! I can't seem to wrap my little mind around more than one book at a time, lol.
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Unfortunately yes. This is part of the reason why I don't focus all of my energy on reading anymore–I got so burned out with blogging and reading a few years ago that it became more of a chore than a pleasure. Now I really try to focus on reading from my shelf and on whimsy (or readalong) rather than feeling the pressures of ARCs. I don't know how some of the bloggers do it with ALL THE REQUIRED READING FOR ARCS! I'M STRESSING JUST THINKING OF THEIR OWN READING SCHEDULES! 😉 Keep it fun–take a break if you need to. It's so easy to get bogged down and let it feel stressful. And maybe just focus on the one book. Or maybe switch it up to something completely different like a fun graphic novel? Good luck–I know how frustrating that feeling is.(not that ARCs are bad…I just can't read fast enough for them to feel like fun…)
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I seriously do NOT want to burn out. I don't think I will, but I'm going to change some things to make sure that it doesn't happen! I love ARCs. I didn't even know that was a thing when I started blogging, lol. BONUS! But I can't keep scheduling myself to death. That leads to yucky pressure-filled feelings. I've got a few strategies in mind. Like learning how to say NO. (I'm awful at that!)Thanks Trish 🙂 I'm going to keep it easy and breezy around here from now on.
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I'm also in a slump! I just finished The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy and loved it, and thought that reading a more serious, adult book would be best – so I broke out my copy of The Cider House Rules. And sure, the writing isn't bad and the story might look promising…but I just don't care! I have half a mind to go read another book in between this one, but I'm afraid if I do that, I won't come back (like I didn't come back for The Birth House). UGH. Like you, my list of review books is piling up high, but I'm feeling like I want to read my own books first, before I tackle the books publishers send me. That's bad, isn't it? TERRIBLE!
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I'm finally out of my slump but man oh man do I feel your pain. Hey, if those books are unsolicited don't worry about them! Read what you want 🙂 They'll still be there when you feel like getting to them. I hope your slump ends soon. It's the yuckiest feeling!
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