An Unexpected Hiatus

Hello Everyone,

It's been kind of quiet around here for the last week due to an unplanned and unexpected hiatus brought on by a massive reading slump. I don't have reading slumps often and I've never had one that has lasted this long. But this is how all new to me books are making me feel right now:

It's rather terrifying because while a normal reading slump for me lasts a few days, I've been feeling this way for almost two weeks now. To snap out of my slump, I started reading Every Breath which so many of my book loving friends have adored. I've been reading it for three days and am only half way through. It never takes me that long to read a book of that length. But I am not invested in it or the characters.

Every book I've tried to read to get out of this slump has failed me. Now I'm terrified to try any new books because I don't want to hate them due to the weirdest reading mood I've ever experienced.

It really is my worst sort of nightmare. Books are not supposed to fail me. Books are always supposed to be there. I'm actually to the point where I'm kind of scared to even reread my old favorites. What if this terrible mood I'm in makes me hate them too??? This slump is spilling into everything else. I haven't even wanted to touch the blog because I write about books and right now I hate all the books. Also books have kind of always been my outlet for stress and frustration so without them....I'm feeling kind of overwhelmed and shut down.

Anyone out there have any suggestions? I know plenty of other bloggers have experienced slumps. What are some tried and true ways of getting out of really bad ones? This is my first experience with a truly bad one and I'm not enjoying it.

Comments

Betsy said…

:-(.

I go on nonfiction binges periodically (usually once-twice a year during May and December for some reason). But it helps reset the fiction barometer somehow. I'll be heading that way when my committee work is done in a month. I don't hate what I'm reading right now, I'm just not wowed. And many of them are books that I'd happily put down mid-novel if the book suddenly becomes UN-nominated. I don't hate them, but I'd rather be reading other things. And I'm finding that lots of books are sounding AWFULLY similar. Case in point: Absolutely Truly is essentially the same plot/themes as The Way to Stay in Destiny. Reading them back to back makes them both a little less fun/good. You know? These are the sorts of things that drive me to interesting nonfiction (I have one waiting about a catastrophic train crash/avalanche that sounds interesting.)

May 20, 2015 at 1:20 PM

Katie said…

This was my suggestion, too. Sometimes another genre I don't often read also works. Just something completely different than my usual read.

May 20, 2015 at 1:44 PM

Ava said…

I think the suggestion above is a really good one. But, maybe, re-read a book you love? And maybe really focus on why you love that book in a serious, meditative way. Maybe that'll help get what you love in other fiction books into perspective.

May 20, 2015 at 5:09 PM

Melissa said…

I was going to suggest re-reading a favorite book. Or maybe listening to something good on audio. Or embracing it and just binge-watch Parks & Rec again. :-) Either way, I hope you shake it soon!

May 20, 2015 at 6:05 PM

Brandy said…

Reading a different genre seems to be the popular suggestion. So non-fiction it is since I pretty much read everything else regularly. Now to work up the enthusiasm....Though Emma Barry gave me a rec yesterday on Twitter that looks awesome.

May 21, 2015 at 10:54 AM

Brandy said…

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm kind of scared of the books I love at this point too. But I think I will read one after I try a non-fiction and hopefully that will set me straight.

May 21, 2015 at 10:55 AM

Brandy said…

Oh I already binge watched Parks and Rec again. Possibly twice. But who's counting? (My husband is actually.) :)

And thanks, Melissa!

May 21, 2015 at 10:57 AM

Rachel Neumeier said…

Ouch, that's awful. I do hope that completely avoiding fiction for a month might help. I suspect that's something that helps me keep out of slumps. When you get to the point that you're dying for something, anything, with a plot, maybe you'll be in the right place to try re-reading a favorite.

May 21, 2015 at 12:16 PM

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