Bookless
Thursday May 17, 2007
in books | meme
From Booking Through Thursday:
It happens even to the best readers from time to time… you close the cover on the book you’re reading and discover, to your horror, that there’s nothing else to read. Either there’s nothing in the house, or nothing you’re in the mood for. Just, nothing that “clicks.” What do you do?? How do you get the reading wheels turning again?
It’s happening now. Help.
After a really good run I’ve suddenly become unsettled with my reading. Nothing is clicking. I tried and failed with Love in the Time of Cholera; it’s a decent enough book but I always found myself staring out of the window whenever I attempted to read it. I also abandoned American Psycho. I just didn’t like it, no matter how much the blurb on the back of the book tried to persuade me otherwise. All this – just in the last week – has send me into a downward spiral, scared to pick up another book in case I make it three failures in a row.
I’ve been here before but thankfully not very often. The mood will suddenly change and I will spot a couple of books on the shelf that grab my attention, read an enthusiastic review or succumb to a spending spree. I might even draw the blinds and get back to Love in the Time of Cholera.
The wheels will turn again, I’m sure of it.
I hate those moments of complete discontent, where nothing resonates. Good luck getting out of your slump.
Marianne Thursday May 17, 2007
Yes, I’ve been there.
Chris Thursday May 17, 2007
Exactly—it doesn’t happen often, but it’s so frustrating when it does. Like how, when you have a bad cold, nothing tastes right but you’re craving a good cup of tea, or your grandmother’s chicken soup, but . . . even if they’re right in front of you . . . have no savor.
Ugh!
--Deb Thursday May 17, 2007
I know what you mean with American Psycho. It took me about four goes to read past one rather unpleasant bit… and then when I got to the end I wasn’t convinced it had been worth it anyway.
My advice is to re-read something sat on your shelves that you know you’ve already enjoyed, just to break the cycle (I generally employ Pratchett for this purpose). Once you’ve done that, you’re free to experiment again.
JackP Friday May 18, 2007
I’m the kind of person who just turns to something else for awhile—maybe take up a hobby I’ve been neglecting because I was on such a reading tear. It can be really hard though when you really want to get through a book you are sort of enjoying, but it’s just not holding your attention quite the way you had hoped it would . . .
Literary Feline Friday May 18, 2007
Marianne: ‘nothing resonates’ – yes that’s a good description.
Chris: It’s not nice being there is it?
Deb: Good analogy!
Jack: I didn’t even get as far as any unpleasantness!
Literary Feline: Good advice, although I’m useless with hobbies.
I think it’s time to look on the shelf for something familiar and reliable. I fancy some H.G.Wells…
The Book Tower Friday May 18, 2007
I hate it when this happens. And I also think that re-reading an old favourite is a good way to get out of a ‘bookless’ mess.
verbivore Friday May 18, 2007
I would find something familiar to read. It does not have to be necessarily anything you have read before. Just choose a familiar author or try reading non-fiction for a bit. That normally does the trick for me.
Juan Saturday May 19, 2007
Well a couple of things have caught my eye lately to drag me out of the depths. Watch this space…
The Book Tower Sunday May 20, 2007
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