Seriously, I am bored with reading. No matter how hard I try, I can’t get up the enthusiasm, nor the energy required to finish a book. I’ve had more DNFs in the past month and a bit, than I’ve ever had. Something has to give.
Even Kleypas’ Mine Til’ Midnight, failed to keep my interest. Not to say that what I read wasn’t good, it’s just that I am going through the worst reading slump ever at the mo.
Anybody empathise with me? Anybody know a cure?
bettie
October 19
8:20 pm
> Anybody know a cure?
Daytime television.
I wasn’t in a very read-y mood, until I caught a cold and got stuck at home all day. Daytime TV, it works for me.
Holly
October 19
8:31 pm
I wish I knew a cure. I’m in the same boat right now. Used to be movies or t.v. would fix it, but not this time. I don’t even want to watch t.v. Half the time I end up staring at the walls.
·:*¨¨*:·.Mad.·:*¨¨*:·.
October 19
9:35 pm
Also movie watching…I tend to watch a lot of movies to DVR’d shows when I’m in a slump.
Eve Vaughn
October 19
9:43 pm
Making mad wild love?
katieM
October 19
10:07 pm
Marvel Comics. Reading online comics like The Order of The Stick or Schlock Mercenary.
Angela
October 19
10:08 pm
All I can say is take a break from romance novels. I had reading slumps but was convinced that I couldn’t enjoy anything without a romantic sub-plot, but out of sheer frustration with this current slump, I picked up a thriller by Ken Follett and am glomming an author for the first time in my life.
Kat O+
October 19
11:37 pm
Facebook. And what Eve said.
Ann Bruce
October 19
11:50 pm
I pick a favorite from shelf and reread scenes I love.
Or I pop BAD BOYS into my DVD player and spend a couple hours with Will Smith.
Ann Bruce
October 19
11:54 pm
Oh, wait. Scratch BAD BOYS. I bought TRANSFORMERS (2007) on Tuesday, and, oh, baby, is it ever be-yoo-ti-ful!
Watched it twice already because Peter Cullen as Optimus makes everything right in the world.
vanessa jaye
October 20
12:07 am
Switch it up. I’ve been reading mysteries lately. J.A. Konrath, then when I needed a break from all the extreme violence and gore in his books I flipped the script and started up with some of M.C. Beaton’s cozies, they’re light/fun reads with a whiff of romance (the Edwardian has stronger romance thread than the Hamish MacBeth books). She’s great with setting and character but her plotting is a little, uhm… random. lol.
Aside from trying another genre/subgenre, just watch some movies/tv, or get a great series on DVD. Or go out more with friends, etc.
Sotheara
October 20
1:31 am
I’m with you on this one Karen. I haven’t read a romance in months. I bought Elizabeth Hoyt’s The Serpent Prince and Nalini Singh’s Caressed by Ice – both highly anticipated mind you – and still haven’t opened them once. I’ve been slowly reading (here and there) Sherlock Holmes: the Complete Novels and Stories Volume I for the past month. (And that’s the only book I actually want to pick up right now.) I’m hoping JD Robb’s Creation in Death will help kick start my reading again. Until then, I’m watching the complete series of The Vicar of Dibley. Best of Luck to you!
Giselle
October 20
1:59 am
Pick a fave and re-read. I just got out of one of those awful slumps by re-reading Kleypas DiW. If not the making the beast with two backs like someone mentioned isn’t a bad idea either 😉
Rosemary
October 20
2:26 am
Karen:
Have you read Robin McKinley’s Sunshine?
Try it. Might just get you reading again. 🙂
kirsten saell
October 20
3:18 am
Sudoku: the devil’s puzzle.
I go through phases where I can’t even read the letters to the editor of my local paper. During these times, I worship at the altar of the Demon Lord Sudoku. I’ll even go back through the last month’s papers in the recycle pile and do those. I know I’m on the mend when I graduate from numbers to crossword puzzles.
If that doesn’t work, watch Dr. Phil til you’re ready to stick your head in a blender. Gives you a whole new appreciation for well-written dialog and believable conflict.
You do have Dr. Phil there, right?
Kristie (J)
October 20
3:37 am
Rereading an old comfort read – one that got you real excited, like say Dreaming of You might work.
And sometimes after a kind of big change like moving might throw you into a bit of a slump. I think the important thing is too just relax. The urge to read again will come back when you’re ready.
Slumps though – gotta hate them.
Seressia
October 20
4:00 am
I haven’t read a romance since my Rita packet earlier this year. I’ve been reading (too many websites) scifi and fantasy instead. David Eddings’ Belgariad series, Brooks’ Knight of the Void, Weis and Hickman’s Deathgate series. Oh, how I’ve missed these authors.
Sancre
October 20
7:42 am
Karen,
I am in the same boat. Most of my fav authors have either gone off the scene or are only publishing once a year. I can’t seem to make an effort to spend good money on any new authors that are just so-so. If it hadn’t been for Queen Nora, I would have had very little to read new this year.
What’s sad? I just looked at the coming soon list for the next 2 months. Nothing. Nada. Zip.
Maybe we could do a list of anticipated books to keep our spirits up?
Melany
October 20
11:37 am
I just had this happen a few months ago. Coudn’t finish a romance book for the life of me. It wasn’t the book, it was me.
What worked for me was reading books that aren’t in the romance genre. I read a Stephen King book and discovered Tess Gerritsen’s medical suspense books of Rizzoli and Maura (which are AWESOME). I’m now reading a romance along with Mary Stewart’s Crystal Cave.
Michelle
October 20
2:02 pm
I agree switch genres. I am currently on a fantasy kick. I highly recommend Megan Whalen Turners series. It starts with The Thief. The audioversion is excellent too.
Bonnie Dee
October 20
6:29 pm
Don’t read. Watch.
I’m terrible. I much prefer to have images and storylines flashed at me than to have to fix my increasingly dodgy eyesight on a book. I really need bifocals. But mostly, it’s just that I like the visual stimulation of watching a movie, seeing the actor’s expressions in response to the material without being able to go inner POV like one does in a book. It’s all in the eyes.
Jackie
October 20
7:12 pm
Count me in the “switch it up” camp. I just read all of the Dresden Files (Jim Butcher) back to back, following all of the Weather Wardens (Rachel Caine). Good times.
Jenyfer Matthews
October 20
7:34 pm
Must be the moon because I’m quickly approaching that point myself.
I’d suggest working in your garden but it’s probably too cold in England to do that now (??)
Switching genres is a good suggestion. Or else take up a hobby – drinking, gourmet chocolate or trashy TV will work (or preferably all at the same time)
Jennifer B.
October 20
9:43 pm
Same here Karen. Switching genres worked for me. A Regimental Murder by Ashley Gardner brought be back, followed by Barefoot from Elin Hilderbrand. Whew! I was ready to give up.
Anne
October 21
10:39 pm
I’m with you Karen. I have such great books I know I’ll enjoy on my shelf, but I can’t work up the enthusiasm to read them. Sigh. And some of them are from fave authors and some Highlanders. WTF? Sigh. I can only hope this will pass quickly.
lysrian
October 22
12:39 pm
take up anohter hobby for a while…OD on bad tv…go though your stash and donate a chunk to the library.
Misa
October 23
3:13 am
I say read a different genre for a little while. Watching tv or movies is always helpful when I’m off books or for me, I’m a BIG video gamer so, I’ll concentrate on a game for a while.