It’s frustrating, and can even end up being exhausting. There are so many reasons why progress reading a book can slow down. This post is actually inspired by my current read: Children of Blood and Bone. Yes, I know. How can I? It’s a book that is currently receiving so many praises. So, it’s even more frustrating that I can’t just finish it once and for all and enjoy it just as everybody else.
Time
This one is a no-brainer, and what I think is going on here with me and CoBaB. Each time I say, ‘alright, today when I get back from class, I’ll read for a while’, the world goes like ‘hell no’, and throws some really important thing for me to do. And there’s no escaping from it because, priorities. So, one keeps putting it off, thinking there’ll surely be time the next day, and that’s how weeks go by without you so much as reading a page.
You’re simply not that into it
Or, maybe, there’s a deeper, darker reason… It’s not as good at you’d hoped, not entertaining enough and it’s just… you’d rather do the math homework than read. Not because it’s more important, but because it’s more stimulating. I seriously don’t think that’s what’s happening here, because I do like my current read. I’m not bored at all.
I did have this happen to me with Nevernight, by Jay Kristoff though. I ended up DNFing because I tried 3 times, and 3 times I couldn’t get past the first few chapters. I haven’t completely given up on it, but it was stressing me out to berate myself for not being able to read it, so I decided to shelf it for the moment. Because I had time. I just wanted to use it to read other things, which wasn’t a good sign.
Eventually time makes your interest start to diminish
And this is the last nail in the coffin. I know I’m in a dangerous situation right now. If I let more time pass, I might just give up altogether and start with something new. Sometimes, I may really like something, but if for example, the lack of time, has made me take too long to read it, I start to lose interest. Most of the time, I’m able to panic and quickly sneak a few hours to read so I can get back into the swing of things, but there have been times where that hasn’t been possible.
How can I fix it?
Okay, based on my picking apart the reasons why I might be taking too long with this book, the answer would be to make some time this weekend and make some progress so I can feel better again. It has its challenges, but I think it’ll be possible for this weekend, if nothing else happens.
But what if the problem isn’t a lack of time? Should you ditch the book, or forge on and see if maybe you can keep reading and then find something that will be worth it?
There are readers who live by the code ‘don’t force yourself to read something you’re not enjoying’, and I 100% support that. I can admit I have forced myself to read things and sometimes I have found them interesting and worth it in the end. But that depends on so many things! On the book, the author, my mood, if I’m hungry, and if there’s something better that I want to read next!
So, we’re basically picking apart that which we know as reading slump. What do you do when you hit a bump in your reading mojo? Do you force yourself to read for the sake of finding a hidden gem, or move on to better things? Maybe you just take a break from reading altogether?
Great post and very relatable too! I often find myself starting books and then losing interest, I mostly blame it on being a mood reader. So it’s always about timing, I usually finish books no matter how much I dislike them. But with timing, I usually put down the said book and then pick it up another time when I’m more in the mood for a certain genre or subject.
Great post! ❤
Being a mood reader does complicate things from time to time. There are many books we want to read but, if the timing is off, then we just don’t enjoy them as much as we would in another time. I finally finished Children of Blood and Bone, but it took me two months to really get into it. It was amazing, and I’m relieved that my mood and the book finally aligned.
Aaaaah that’s such a hard decision… I feel like every book slump is different in their own way, and you really need to go with how you feel like at that moment. I’ve gotten past book slumps by forcing myself to read, but at the same time, I’ve also gotten past them by taking a long break from reading. 🤔 If you really have other things to do, then I would say it’s totally fine to take a break from reading. Make yourself miss reading! That way, when you pick up a book again, you’ll feel even more fresh and inspired to devour stories. 😊
I hope you find a solution soon, Pam! 😊
You’re right. I’ll work on that then, and keep trying. I feel like maybe for me right now, forcing it is not working because it’s been so busy lately, so I’ll go with your suggestion instead! Thanks so much!
I’m a bit schizophrenic here 😀 When asked that question and thinking it through, I would say I feel like our time is more important, it’s too small to read (or do) anything we not truly enjoy. But… I’m just too much of a little OCD devil to do so 😀 I can’t simply put away a book I already started. I just…can’t. It’s not-read, or completely-read for me. Even when I hate myself for it.
Sorry to hear it’s hard for you when you’re not enjoying your read. Don’t beat yourself up for it though!
I’m the former option, I guess. When I’m in a reading slump, I read a bunch of books to see if there’s anything that can get me out of it! I don’t want to waste my time reading something I’m not enjoying, though, so if a book is absolutely THAT boring, I give myself until 30% (just to see if it gets better) before DNFing. D:
Oh I’m so sorry to hear you’ve been struggling a bit, Pam! Sometimes there are moments where we just can’t seem to read, or to make time to do so as we used to before. Some things that work out for me is, not to try and force myself to read, because that would make me hate the book even more, I think 😂 I like to take time to do other things, watch movies, etc. Maybe let the book for a while and try another book altogether, a different genre, a graphic novel, an old favorite. And sometimes, even if it’s hard, I think the best thing to do is just to take a break altogether. Might be a couple days or a week, but that love for reading will come back little by little and it’s the best when it does <3
If I can’t get some time to read it this weekend, maybe I’ll try that and read a quick romance ebook to get things going. Thanks for the advice! <3
After I finished my course, I was having real trouble with novels. They just weren’t grabbing my interest, so I moved onto graphic novels for a bit. It seems to have worked, since I finished a novel today. 🙂
Ah can so relate with everything. When I hit a reading slump, I take a break and consume other media like tv series or the movies. This way, I make myself miss reading and I will be back in it with renewed enthusiasm. If a book is not working for me, I drop it with the thought of coming back, but almost always I forgot about getting back to it so it ends up DNFed for so long.
Same with the DNFs! Most of the time I tell myself it just wasn’t the right time. And sometimes it’s true! But there are so many books to read that it’s too easy to favor those instead of ones you have already tried and failed to read.
When I’ve got a reading slump, I’ll re-read my favourite book series and it works every time.
Thanks for the advice! What’s your favorite series? <3