Everyone goes through it at one stage or another. That maudlin feeling. Something isn’t quite right with the world and that something is your relationship with books. You can’t seem to find a good book you want to read. Nothing excites you and then… then you start to wonder. Could you be going through a reading slump? Is that it? Here’s 10 ways to tell if you’re in a reading slump.
1. You reread the same old favourites over and over again.
2. You just can’t get into new books.
3. ARCs check in, they don’t check out.
4. You keep looking for a book but you never seem to find it.
5. Your cat is worried about you.
6. You aimlessly waste your time when you could be reading.
7. You constantly look at your growing stack of books and just can’t commit to anything.
8. Everyone is excited about new releases and you’re like, “Meh.”
9. You didn’t even set a reading challenge for yourself.
10. Your soul is withering and dying from lack of books.
Kate Copeseeley
OMG, I DON’T HAVE A CAT. HOW WILL I EVER KNOW IF I’M IN A READING SLUMP????
Btw- it really is too cruel of you to post that adorable baby pic and make my uterus want an adorable baby of its own. (bad uterus, bad!)
Krys
Twitter: taintedvampyre
You’re funny.
Krys recently posted…How Do You E-Read?
Natalie Monroe
Twitter: pinkatailmon
You’ll get out of it soon, Kat. Especially with The Winner’s Crime coming out soon. 😉
looloolooweez
Twitter: looloolooweez
11. You know you’re getting books for Christmas but frankly you’d rather get fuzzy socks or gift cards.
looloolooweez recently posted…Book Review | The Barefoot Queen by Ildefonso Falcones
Julie S.
Yea I am so in one. I definitely fall into numbers 6 , 7 and 8. I blame the move and baby.
Julie S. recently posted…That’s what HE said Thursday- Dec 18, 2014
Gretchen
I’m totally #6! These are so true!!!
Gretchen recently posted…Cover Reveal: Unraveled by Him by Wendy Leigh + Excerpt
Ani
Wow! Minus the cat and ARCs, this is what I go through every year during that holiday season, transition-y time from December to January… Except I DID set challenges earlier. But otherwise, the slump happens.
Ani recently posted…text: Top Ten Tuesdays: Books Read in 2014
Kyra
Ugh I hate reading slumps, I was in one last week for a couple of days but then I went to the library (seriously, go to the bookshop/library, it always helps) and now I’m out of it! I had to read a classic for school and I kept putting it off and I got into a reading slump, I then went to the library and it snapped me out of it. I’m now reading the classic and really enjoying it! Reading slumps are horrible, but luckily they always wear off! 🙂
Kyra recently posted…Stacking the Shelves #72 – Otherwise known as the edition where I broke my library/requesting/buying ban.
Bec
Twitter: AlwaysUpAndDown
I go through one of these at least once a year. Reading slumps are terrible! I also get into reading ruts, where I read from the same genre over and over.
I’m hoping I don’t get into a slump/rut this close to Christmas!
Bec recently posted…#33 “Murder in Mississippi” by John Safran
Missie
I love the cat one! LOL – I was in a bad slump so I started re-reading HP, that has totally helped pull me out!
Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings
Enter my blog birthday giveaway!
Missie recently posted…2015 Fairy Tale Challenge
Joy @ The Bookshelf Intruder
Twitter: akoposijoy
I go through some of these symptoms at least once a year but thankfully, never too long. There are many ways to get out of it but I usually just let myself be. I don’t force it, just wait for my appetite to go back while watching movies and TV shows instead. 🙂
Joy @ The Bookshelf Intruder recently posted…Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor will melt you heart
Monica M
Twitter: monicamileti
I tend to go through this after I’ve finished a particularly great series, and I get this “nothing will ever be as good!” feeling that I can’t shake. During such times I have been known to start up to 10 books within a few days in a desperate attempt to try to find something that is engaging enough to get me out of the slump. Of course, when I go back and re-read books that I have rejected during my slump, I often find that I love them! But my cat actually gets angry at me during these times because I start digging through the piles of books that he is sleeping on.
Monica M recently posted…Review + Giveaway: The Letting by Cathrine GoldStein
Weekly Recap| Dec 14-20, 2014 | Oh, the Books!
[…] Kat shares ten signs you’re in a reading slump. […]
Rosie
Twitter: eatreadglam
This is how I’m feeling at the moment! September through November were great reading months for me but so far in December I’ve only finished one book and I feel like I’m wandering aimlessly.
Rosie recently posted…Guest post: What I listen to when writing – Mary Waibel
Fangs for the Fantasy
I find an old favourite is a great way to overcome a book slump – and not a bad thing. I think as reviewers it’s easy for reading to become a job, you read because you think you have to – and if you get a string of “meh” books it can become a rather tiresome one as well.
I say find something awesome and revel in it – or find something truly dreadful and snark away – both are very revitalising
Fangs for the Fantasy recently posted…The 100, Season Two, Episode Eight: Spacewalker
Alex / AnimeGirl
True!!
It’s all true!!
😛
Alex / AnimeGirl recently posted…DNF: Love and Other Theories
Kezia
#6 and #8 are definitely true to me! I’ve fallen to reading slumps a lot this year so I’m sooo behind a lot of new releases. Heck, I don’t even know a majority of them!! And even though I was anxious that I cannot tackle my TBR pile for some reason, I just didn’t care because I ended up watching a lot of anime. Good thing that school break starts and now I can read more than I used to 🙂
Morgan @ Gone with the Words
Twitter: morganameridius
Yesssss I feel like I’ve been in a slump since Thanksgiving 🙁 I’m reading two books I really like but…. I’ve been reading them for weeks. I sleep or watch tv or go on twitter instead of read… and I just stare at my bookshelves constantly. Sigh. Hoping to break out of it in the new year.
Tabitha (Not Yet Read)
Thankfully I got out of the slump last month it was awful and lasted several months!
Tabitha (Not Yet Read) recently posted…Review: The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan
Lyn Kaye
Twitter: heartless_lyn
Question: What if your blackened soul has already withered away??! Am I still in a reading slump? If my cat tried to kamikazi with a pile of books, is this a sign of times to come?!
Lyn Kaye recently posted…Nest n’ News: December Wrap-Up
Weekly Recap| Dec 21-27, 2014 | Oh, the Books!
[…] Kat has 10 ways to tell you’re in a reading slump. […]
Madiha @ Symphony of Words
Twitter: symphofwords
AAA no. Book slump = horror story. I hate the feeling. I had it after City of Heavely Fire (yes, yes, I’m aware of your evil thoughts on Clare books, BUT GIVE ME A BREAK ITS FANTASY AND JACE) and thus have read only 41 books out of my intended 75. I am a bad person.
Will read more books this year. NO READING SLUMPS FOR ME I CANNOT AFFORD IT AND YOU’VE A CAT GIMME.
Madiha @ Symphony of Words recently posted…2015 TBR + 2014 Favorites
Terri @ Alexia's Books and Such...
So true! I’m trying to claw my way out of a reading slump, but can’t seem to commit to any one book. I’ve signed up for a few reading challenges, but think I just need to randomly pick a book and dive in already.
Terri @ Alexia’s Books and Such… recently posted…What’s In A Name Challenge 2015
Christina @ Christina Reads YA
Twitter: chbreadsYA
I’m sorry that I’ve just commented on your post about not being able to finish books lately, and then noticing that this reading slump post is from December 20 :(. I hope that the slump will end soon! I’m still facing the remnants of #3. This month I’m posting reviews of titles from July/September/etc. Couldn’t be bothered then — and sometimes I do just reread the old favorites (did that and #6 just this weekend and last night actually – I hope I don’t meet the other signs soon too :O). #9 I’d say is no great loss :P. Reading challenges are so hard to follow!
Anywho, I love that baby picture and Kate’s comment at the very top. Good luck with getting out of the slump!
Christina @ Christina Reads YA recently posted…Review: In a Handful of Dust – Mindy McGinnis