One moment, you’re full steam ahead and ploughing through your TBR. And then… nothing. The dreaded book slump has plagued you and before you know it, you need a remedy- and you need it fast.
A 'book slump' is a colloquial term used to describe a sudden and uncharacteristic lack of love for reading. I would describe it as a period of time where stories become just ink on a page, and the mind wanders away from the book, becoming disengaged or uninterested. Book slumps are very normal, and are unique to each reader- but it is important to note that book slumps are not a reflection of the credibility of a reader.
Trust me, we've all been there.
This blog post will cover both, the types of common book slumps, and a couple of cures! In order to find the remedy, we must first identify some possible causes. A couple of common ones include:
1. Pressure.
When you read out of obligation, it becomes less fun. This is because it is the escapism, or desire to be mentally transported to another world for a little while, that ignites the feelings of freedom and happiness felt by readers... So when one begins to read for external reasons (such as school, deadlines, work, assignments or expectations of other people), one may feel tired and reluctant to pick up a book.
2. Burn-out
Bookish burnout is all too real and leads to the dreaded lack of desire to read. As far as I can tell, there are two different types of reader burn-out.
I call the first type the 'Classic Case'. This happens when readers do too much 'heavy lifting' and engage with- often almost exclusively- extremely long classic literature. Don't get me wrong, I love a good thousand page classic as much as the next girl, but they can definitely be hard work and if you never give yourself a rest- reading can begin to feel u.
Then there is the second type, I call the 'It's not you, It's me!'
This is when readers engage with literature that does not connect with or resonate with them at all, but continue to read and finish the book just to get it over with. (I've been there a few times!)
It is so important to read for joy, and there is absolutely no shame in 'DNF-Ing' a book that doesn't make you excited to read it.
3. The juggler
As the subheading suggests, this particular strain of Book Slump occurs when one is trying to read too much at once. This is something you should try and avoid, because it is so easy to get over boarded and overwhelmed. I would recommend setting yourself a limit reading three books at a time maximum, so that it is easier to keep focus.
4. Planned to a T
Many readers like to plan out the books that they will be reading, in a specific order and timeframe. This causes frustration and annoyance when the plan goes off track or gets de-railed, but I think that whilst it is good to have a schedule... it is perfectly okay to let loose and read whatever you want to, whenever you want to. Be spontaneous!
SO! Now that we have outlined some common causes of the Book Slump, it is time to create the treatment plan...
SET REALISTIC GOALS
It is okay to take a break! There is such a huge pressure on members of the book community to read hundreds of books in a year, but for many people this is just not possible- and that is perfectly okay! There is a very big over-consumption problem being promoted online right now, where readers are encouraged to buy new books every week. This is very unrealistic! It is important to focus on goals that are sensible for you, and ignore the condescending attitudes of those few readers who like to look down on people to help them feel good about themselves.
READ A SHORT BOOK
Repeat after me: There is no shame in short books. Say it again!
I don't know where the idea came from, that longer books are more superior to short ones, but it is one of the silliest judgements that I have ever heard in the book community. I adore getting lost in a nice long book... but I can say exactly the same thing about short ones, too.
Some of the most enjoyable books to read from my collection are under two hundred pages, some great recommendations include:
- 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
- 'Coraline' by Neil Gaiman.
- 'The Time Machine' by H. G. Wells.
- 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell
- 'Of Mice and Men' by John Steinbeck
RE-READ A FAVOURITE
Whenever I find myself within the unforgiving grasp of a Book Slump, I re-read a book that I know I am already passionate about. That was I can re-ignite my reading spark, but also stay within the safety net of a story that I know I love. Re-reading a book, in my opinion, is one of the best things to do when in a slump- this is because you can learn and discover new things about your favourite characters and worlds. Maybe I just like the power of knowing what is going to happen.
LISTEN TO AN AUDIO BOOK
Audio books are such a great way to let yourself fall back in love with books. Especially if you feel like you just don't have the time to sit down and read. They are so versatile in the way that you can be doing literally anything whilst you listen to them. I think that choosing a good audio is a great way to break a Book Slump because you can lose yourself in a story- whist still being productive. It's a win-win!
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