Do you ever get the reading doldrums? I have them right now, and it’s making me sad.
I started a book last week Friday and I’m only about halfway through it as of this morning. To be fair, I did set it down on Saturday so I could finish another book I was in the middle of, but still….I just don’t seem to be in the mood to read.
The book I’m reading now is wonderful. The pacing is wonderful, the characters well developed, the world building fascinating, the dialogue witty. I just don’t want to read it. I keep getting distracted by news articles online (did you know texting is the way of the future?) and Gene’s Jewels, and HGTV (Seen House Hunters lately?). Not to mention kids and friends and family. Oh, and the Lolcats.
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Basically, I can’t focus. And nothing I’ve got TBR seems to be pulling me in enough that I can block out all distractions. Including re-reads of my favorites. I just did a re-read of Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie, one of my all time favorite novels, and though I finished it (and enjoyed it just as much as always), it took me 4 days to read and didn’t drown my doldrums at all.
What do you do when you have the reading doldrums? Do you set your reading aside for awhile and focus on something else instead? Do you push through it, hoping if you stick with it you’ll get over it?
Help!
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(((Holly)))
Sister, I feel for you.
I have two strategies, the first of which takes one of two forms (perhaps it’s three strategies?)
Anyway–first I try to change my reading genre. I usually go for the long books, but if I can’t get into any of those, I switch to novellas / anthologies. If that doesn’t work, I read in a completely different genre (or non fiction) for a few days. A way to cleanse the palate, so to speak.
If that doesn’t work either, I do something else for a couple of day–from movies to gardening to knitting to carpentry to… whatever. Something entirely different from reading.
After a couple of days of not having a book in my hands, I’m usually cured of the reading doldrums.
I hope you find your own ‘cure’ soonest!
I know exactly what you mean and how you feel.
It really sucks that we’re both going through this at the same time. lol
For me, it’s really depressing b/c I have some really great books on my shelf, I just don’t feel like reading them.
*sigh*
I am the same as Azteclady in that I try to completely change genres and see if that helps.
I hate it when that happens to me, especially when I have a bunch of books to read. I just concentrate on something else for a wee while until I get that urge to read something.
Or I’ll reread a favorite book, although that might not always work.
Changing genres definitely help!
LOVE LOLcats. Hehe. It always makes me smile.
Love House Hunters too.
I thought I was over my reading slump but it appears not, and not even my trusty YA books are bringing me out of my funk.
Le sigh. No advice here love.
Holly, just take a break 😀 It’ll come back soon and naturally 😛 What book are you trying to read?
I miss reading when I have the doldrums which I guess is sort of an oxymoron. I’ve done lots of different things some of which are mentioned here, but usually taking a break for 2-3 days is the best thing. (for me anyway) I end up missing reading so much that it revs my engines again.