Every Thursday, Booking Through Thursday asks a book-ish question. This week, the question was:
Do you ever feel like you’re in a reading rut? That you don’t read enough variety? That you need to branch out, spread your literary wings and explore other genres, flavors, styles?
When I get into a reading rut, it usually lasts months — sadly. I absolutely love reading and when I read, I read non stop. I was one of those students growing up that always had a book in my backpack. I was always reading and usually you wouldn’t see me with the same book more than a day or two in a row. However, when I am in a rut, I may not pick up a book for a month or two. It’s sad, really.
I am not sure what causes reading ruts. I think it starts with “life” (kids, responsibilities) that overpower their normal obligations. The past reading rut I was in (as it was obvious on my blog) was caused by my postpartum depression. While some people read more when they are upset, depression (no matter the cause) can make many not feel like doing activities they normally love. For me that was reading.
Another thing that puts me into a reading rut is reading too many book requests in a row. Sometimes, because of my blog, I feel like I don’t have a huge choice about the books that I read. I get a lot of requests to read this and that and I feel obligated to accept (I am learning to say “no” better, though). When you begin reading as an obligation, it takes the fun out of it. Usually to correct this, I will stop reading requests and read my own choices for a week or two until I feel better and then I will return to author or publisher related requests.
I’ve been reading a LOT of ARCS lately, but they were all ARCS I requested via NetGally so it doesn’t quite count. Though the one thing that bugs me about NetGally is that the book expires. That stresses me out knowing that I have only so many days to read a book before it gets wiped off my iPad2. (But that was a random vent.)
So, what causes you to get into a reading rut? What do you do to get out of it?
BTT: Suffering from a Reading Rut http://p.ost.im/p/3kuH4
I hate that Netgalley expires too mostly because I keep missing books because I just cant get to them so frustrating!Here is my <a href=”http://www.lisasworldofbooks.com/2011/05/booking-through-thursday_26.html“>BTT</a>.
Twitter: laurelrainsnow
says:
Yes, I definitely have to restrict the review books. My review policy is clear, so I don’t feel guilty about saying “no” to a particular book request. If it’s not my cup of tea, I probably won’t say that, exactly…I might mention “time constraints.” So saying “no” is hard for me, too.But I have to include books I want to read, along with the review books, or I feel like I’m “working.”Here’s
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<a href=”http://accidentalmoments.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/thursday-memes-booking-themes-may-26/”>MY
THURSDAY MEMES POST</a>
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You’re dead right about obligatory reading. I don’t think I could do it.
Holy crap, I didn’t know NetGalley had an expiry, guess I have missed 2, sigh, I just requested another yesterday, guess I need to read next, uggh.I agree reading to many books that are not your choice can put you in a rut for sure. Verse Novels are my simple pleasure and help me get out of a reading rut.
I find there are a couple of things that can set me off into a non-reading rut. Either I read way to many books in a short period of time and burn myself out. Or there’s a book that I am really struggling to get through but won’t pick up anything else until I’ve finished and it really slows me down.Sally.http://theelifylop.blogspot.com/2011/05/booking-through-thursday-19.html