I’ve been in a terrible reading slump, a valley or trough really, for the past two months. In fact, I don’t remember ever feeling this much disinterest in romance (or any books, really) in years. J.D. Robb’s In Death series releases are autobuys for me, and I usually devour the book within a couple of days of its street date. I was busy this week, so my copy sat on my desk, waiting patiently for me…but now that I have time, I feel no great urge to pick it up. Mount TBR looms, but nothing appeals enough for me to pull it out, risking an avalanche of precariously stacked books. On Saturday afternoon, I wandered around the bookstore with money burning a hole in my pocket – I was determined that a new book of some sort was going to go home with me, but which? Sadly, no books left the store with me, because nothing I picked up shouted Take me home!
Looking at my reading log for the year so far, the number of books read is down in comparison to same period last year. And there are more than 10 books on it marked DNF since the first of the year. Some of them are, to borrow Kristie’s phrase, It’s Not You It’s Me books: well-written, but not working for me, so I put them aside with a vague intention of perhaps trying them again at some later date. Some of the DNF books are just stinkers, though, abandoned out of frustration or irritation; if I stuck with them to the end, they would receive D grades, but I did not want to spend anymore of my limited reading time.
What’s wrong with me, I wonder.
Every so often message boards have a thread about the terrible slump that’s going on. One reader vents and others chime in. Usually the posters feel as if nothing authors are writing (or maybe it would be more accurate to say that nothing publishers are publishing?) suits their tastes. Either too many paranormals are being released when they are looking for meaty historicals, or there aren’t enough historicals now that so many authors are switching sub-genres. To my mind, that kind of reading problem is a drought rather than a slump, the lack of desired reading material being akin to a lack of rain. But a book drought isn’t my problem. There is good stuff out there. There is good stuff sitting in my TBR pile. How can I get over this slump?
One of my romance reading friends goes on a romance fast when she hits a slump. She gives up romance for a month or so, then returns to it with a clean slate and an open mind. Another friend breaks out Gone With the Wind, book and movie, which together contain enough drama to jolt her out of the reading doldrums.
Normally, I pick up an old favorite and re-read in order to break out of a slump. L.M. Montgomery’s Rilla of Ingleside is guaranteed to cheer me up – after I cry my way through the middle of the book, of course. Lois McMaster Bujold’s The Curse of Chalion always engages my imagination, and her Vorkosigan books fascinate me. Austen’s Persuasion; Neil Gaiman’s American Gods; M.M. Kaye’s Far Pavilions; Irene Hunt’s Across Five Aprils. Fantasy, space opera, classic, epic historical saga, and YA historical. The thing that strikes me about my list is that none of them, strictly speaking, are romances, except Persuasion. [I know, Persuasion is Classic Literature according to critics, but it really is a romance. Anne and Wentworth get their HEA, and that letter he writes to her? Swoonworthy.] Rilla has an HEA, but the romance is a very small part of the novel. Romantic threads appear in each book, but usually aren’t the focus of the narrative. So when I’m in a romance-reading slump, the thing that breaks my slump isn’t a romance read. I suppose these non-romance books cleanse my palate, like a lemon sorbet between courses.
That realization makes me curious: what do others read to break out of their slumps? Something new? Something old? A romance? Another genre? Do you have any recommendations, titles that are your personal, guaranteed slump-breakers? I’m also wondering, how many ~meh~ reactions to books does it take for you to be in a slump?
Inquiring minds want to know. [And not just as an academic exercise -- my usual solution isn't working and I'm feeling quite desperate! 
]
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Amanda
JMC
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Kristie(J)
Meriam
RfP
Robin
Rosie
February 26th, 2007 at 7:53 am
I usually read something non-romance to break out of it. Something completely different like a SF or thriller. Right now I’m not so much in a slump, but am reading Bujold’s Vorkosigan books and don’t know when that will end. They are just too engrossing.
February 26th, 2007 at 9:09 am
well, this is not really going to help, but when I’m in a reading slump, I just keep buying and reading ^^; I’m bound to get out of it sooner or later right? sometimes, I’ll re-read some of the good books I’ve read lately. Of course, during reading slumps, I’ll just be reading less and watch more TV or be on the internet more often.
February 26th, 2007 at 9:55 am
I just blogged about being disenchanted with romance for the last couple of months, so when you figure out how to break out of your slump please let me know–LOL.
I think I’ve parnormaled myself out and am finding myself drawn toward other genres, mostly women’s fiction with a hint of romance, I’ve decided to go in that direction. If that doesn’t work I’ll try rereading some old favorites.
February 26th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
I find reading something ‘improving’ works for me. Keeps me reading, good because I’m such a habitual reader it frustrates me if I don’t have a book to hand, and yet, because I’m not reading primarily for enjoyment, the I-don’t-know-what-I-want-to-read-but-it isn’t-this factor doesn’t kick in. Somehow once I’ve read a book or books that I’ve had to be disciplined to get through, or books that have been a bit of a stretch for me, I can get back to reading for fun afterwards.
And in that I’ve learnt something, or read some classic that I wouldn’t otherwise have read, the time isn’t wasted.
I tend to read classics for my ‘improving’ books, but I think that’s because I’ve a bit of an inferiority complex about what I do enjoy reading. Somehow I feel better knowing I’ve read all the right books as well. And sometimes they’re great books. But I think anything that was a bit of a stretch would work - it’s just about using different reading muscles for a while - a bit of serious non-fiction does the same job.
Last autumn’s improving book was Don Quixote and in the last couple of weeks I’ve read Dracula and Frankenstein. (Wish I’d read Dracula before The Historian, I have a feeling I’d have enjoyed it more.) Now I’m happily reading genre books again.
February 26th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
I’m the same as Nath. I just keep reading. It maybe not fair to the books that I read before I get out of the slump, but I can’t imagine doing anything else during my commute time everyday!
February 26th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
My reading slump started a month ago, and I’m still in it. I have read a few books since, but they seem to be taking me longer and longer to finish. I’m basically reading more crime books, and less romance. That strategy has always worked in the past, but I’m not so sure if it’s going to work as well this time. I had a slump that lasted four years once. I’d hate to go back to those days.
February 26th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
Reading outside the genre helps alot. I also enjoy going back to old favorites. I recommend Juliet Marrillier’s Daughter of the Forest. It’s a very romantic retelling of the Six Swans story. I also loved Dark Moon Defender by Sharon Shinn.
February 26th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
I hate it when I’m going through a slump. While the sane and rational part of me knows that this too shall pass, I always panic a bit and think “what if it doesn’t come back?” When I’m going through one, it’s like a part of me is missing and I don’t know where to find it.
I don’t find it helps to read something new, I know I’m not doing it justice, so I just look at my spreadsheet and find the highest rated books and tackle them again. At least I’m reading something until the reading book blues are gone.
February 26th, 2007 at 6:09 pm
I have actually been amazingly slump-free the last year or so (knock on wood). I think it has to do with starting blogging and having so many new people to get recommendations from.
But I do burn out on Romance sometimes–so I switch up and read another genre. Mysteries or historical fiction mostly. I’m also trying to read one “good for me” book a month (like Marianne). We’ll see how that goes…
February 27th, 2007 at 6:49 am
Switch genres, read something “improving” (either a classic or nonfiction) or just grind on through seem to be the common cures. Putting it that way makes it sound like the slump is an illness to be cured.
Kind of like feeding a cold, starving a fever. Or is it the reverse?
A four year slump? I can’t even imagine.
I’m beginning to feel like this slump will never end. I just finished Innocent in Death, but even that, aside from a few passages that I really liked, felt ~meh~. I don’t think it’s the book, I think it’s me. :sigh:
Another question: for those of you who aren’t primarily romance readers, or who read a lot in other genres, do you have the same kinds of slumps in those genres? I’m wondering if fantasy or sci-fi readers have the same problem. It can’t be specific to romance, I think.
February 27th, 2007 at 7:50 am
Wow, I thought my two year slump was a nightmare!
Because of that slump I start to get antsy when find myself unable to enjoy reading. It will affect me in many different ways including emotionally (just had a nice crying jag) because I think for me at least, there is more going on.
Have there been any big changes in the last few months? Are household chores sitting in the front of your brain begging for your attention? Are you more stressed than usual?
Any of the above can throw off my reading mojo. Right now, I am reading a book that I should be sitting and enjoying without looking up but instead I’m thinking about the fact my floors need to be washed or that I haven’t been out of the house enough. It’s to the point when I know I might as well put the book down until I deal with what my brain is playing on.
So I cleaned those damn floors and still, I can’t sit still to read. I think my mind is cluttered with too much stuff.
So here’s another question - is a reading slump something that makes you anxious or is it just something that happens and most readers shrug it off? Obviously, my answer is that it makes me anxious
Sorry, I don’t have any methods to get out of a slump although like others mentioned, to get out of the two year slump I decided that I would finish any book that I started. Had to be read from start to finish before I was allowed to pick up anything else. That got me chugging along again but now I get anxious if I decide to not read a book to completion - makes me think I’m about to slump again
CIndyS
February 27th, 2007 at 9:01 am
I usually go with the option of trying something completely unrelated to romance. Mine have so far been mini-slumps, of only a few days, and apparently easily cured.
February 27th, 2007 at 11:25 am
Unlike everyone else who’s posted, the only way I get out of a slump is to stop reading altogether. Well, I guess I should qualify that, since school and work force me to read every day. But I stop reading “for pleasure,” because clearly it’s not pleasurable at that point.
For whatever reason, sometimes I need to be off the books, perhaps so that I can experience that actual craving for reading once again, that only its absence makes me conscious of. I don’t put any set time limit on my break, nor do I think about when it’s going to end, because it always does (in other words, I never worry that I’ve lost the passion forever). Sometimes I come back to reading with a craving for a lot of books at once, and sometimes it’s one book that brings me back into the fold. But I don’t start reading again until I feel that hunger for the experience of reading, regardless of how many potentially great books I’ve got sitting on my shelves or in my various piles around the house.
February 27th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Unlike everyone else who’s posted, the only way I get out of a slump is to stop reading altogether.
I’ve actually done this too. I stopped reading in general for about 18 months - 2 years back in 2000 and started reading again in 2002.
Now, that really worked, but I wouldn’t recommend it, it was during my pregnancy and new mommy thing. I was too busy obsessing about my pregnancy thanks to my “What to expect when you’re expecting” book and keeping a daily journal and then I was busy obsessing about my beautiful little baby boy, but at least the pregnancy books taught me to avoid baby books like the plague–LOL.
February 27th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
[...] But there are many topics in blogdom that are more expansive than specific books. I.e., how to get out of a reading slump by JMC; finding sweet without the saccharine by Wendy; appeal of European v. American historical by Karen S to name a few. [...]
February 27th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
I just read what I wrote–LOL.
I would recommend having a baby, but I’d not recommend obsessing about the pregnancy to the point of only reading pregnancy books–LOL.
February 27th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
I popped over here because I read the comment at DearAuthor.com and reailzed it is true. I think most authors don’t want to appear to be judging readers or offending folks who might after all be buying their books. You have to realize that just about anything an author says has the potential to offend somebody. Authors often feel it is safer to hush up. But that doesn’t mean authors don’t appreciate readers discussing their work, whether the comments are glowing or not. I’ve learned the most about how to improve my writing from accurate criticism than gushing reviews, anyway. Gotta run, but glad to know this forum is here.
All the best,
Dee
February 27th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
I’m like Cindy. When I’m in a slump I get stressed about it and one of the things I do????? Buy more books! Nutty because then I’m adding on to the stress because when I do look at them when I get home I get even MORE stressed. It’s a vicious circle I tell you!
February 28th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
I’d never had a reading slump until sometime late last year. When it hit and I had four books in a row I couldn’t finish, even books by authors I normally LOVE, I really started to panic. A lot of authors (who are first and foremost READERS) feel that they are unable to read without critiquing in their minds. I’ve never had this problem, but suddenly I did!
I actually panicked. I was terrified I’d never find another book I liked. But I persevered and I finally broke the streak and fell in love with a book.
Sadly, I have no advice as to how to get out of this. I think I realized, for myself anyway, that it took a book that so captivatived me that I COULDN’T critique it. It was so wonderful that I just fell into the book and the characters became so real to me that there wasn’t room to stop and think about the book.
The book that broke my latest slump? Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh. Fabulous book!
Shannon McKelden
March 1st, 2007 at 11:57 am
Now, that really worked, but I wouldn’t recommend it, it was during my pregnancy and new mommy thing. I was too busy obsessing about my pregnancy thanks to my “What to expect when you’re expecting” book and keeping a daily journal and then I was busy obsessing about my beautiful little baby boy, but at least the pregnancy books taught me to avoid baby books like the plague–LOL.
OMG, if I was pregnant every time I stopped reading I’d be in Guiness! I’ve never worried I would lose my passion for reading, even though the time between the beginning of my longest slump and its end spanned several years. Now I tend to recognize the slump symptoms early on — that malaise with which I approach the possibility of any book and the way I scan my shelves with no discernable draw to anything — and just stop reading right then and there. Usually within a week I start craving the books again, a few at the very outside. The key, for me at least, is not to push yourself into thinking you have to be reading at any particular moment or that therre’s something wrong if you don’t feel like it. That pressure is worse than not enjoying what you’re reading, IMO.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:34 am
I’m wondering if fantasy or sci-fi readers have the same problem. Absolutely. My first choice is usually fantasy written by women. But almost 3 years ago I could find nothing to read in the fantasy genre and picked up a romance on a whim. I’ve had a wonderful time reading every new release that anyone recommended - didn’t matter whether I thought I would like the book or not; if the review was “joyous”, I wanted to read the book. I glommed backlists, I became a regular at the UBS. But at the moment I’m in a romance slump. If I read a great review, I laugh/sigh because 6 months ago I would have been at the bookstore and now I’m not.
So how am I dealing with my romance reading slump? I’m reading fantasy, mystery, mainstream, biography, dance criticism, … And if I ever find myself in a complete reading slump, I think I will take up video games - or maybe the old interactive text games like Zork. But I don’t think this solution will work for everyone.
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:53 pm
I just came out of this sort of slump. I’ve tried reading other genre’s but I find movies are actually what make me get back into books. I sort of go into a movie phase, then I end up craving a deeper stories and go back to more books.