Today’s Top Ten Tuesday Topic (hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl) is Books to Get You Out of a Reading Slump. I don’t know if I’m the best person to write about this topic, since I don’t really think that I experience reading slumps, but I’ll try to take on this topic anyway. More than specific books, I’ll recommend some ways to get out of reading slumps.
Listen to an audiobook: most of your favorite books have been made into audiobooks, and a lot of them are available at your library (okay available might not be the right word for it, because there’s usually a waiting list for most popular YA books at my library, but you know what I mean). Caraval is available in audiobook, as an example.
I’m not big into audiobooks myself, but I was thinking about checking one out from my library to listen to while I’m at the gym… but then I realized that there’s a waiting list for almost all the books, so maybe not today, at least. Maybe in six months.
Read a graphic novel. I’m not really a graphic novel person either, but if you’re in a reading slump, then maybe a graphic novel might help. Doesn’t this Legend graphic novel look cute? And can you believe that I don’t have these yet? I might have to go out and buy them now… or maybe I’ll just ask for these as a Christmas present. Otherwise they might have to excommunicate me from the Marie Lu fan club.
Read a magazine. One magazine article might only take a few minutes to read, and doesn’t take a ton of your attention span. There are tons of good magazines; Wired is one of the magazines I subscribe to via Zinio.
Read Short Stories. So I realize that summer is quickly fading away (where I am it feels like it’s been fall for weeks already) but I haven’t read too many short story books, so Summer Days and Summer Nights it is. At least if you want a short story recommendation from me. Short stories might be able to break you out of a reading slump because you don’t have to get too invested in any one particular storyline.
Read Something Useful. Maybe you’re in a reading slump because you’ve just gotten bored by stories that are meant to entertain. Perhaps you can read something useful instead. A book like Friction can help you learn more about attracting customers (which is useful if you have a blog, run a small business, or are in some sort of management position). If, perhaps, you don’t have a business, surely there’s something else you can learn that would be useful to your life. You can keep on reading, yet not feel the expectation of being entertained.
Read Something Light. A few months ago, I had just finished reading the first three books of the Ember Quartet, then I read a book about the Holocaust. Those definitely weren’t light reads! Plus, none of the couples were together at the end of the book! So I needed to read something a little lighter. That’s why I downloaded The Kiss Quotient. So if you’re in a situation where everybody that you’re reading about seems to be dying or getting injured, perhaps you might want to try something a little lighter.
Take a Short Break. Maybe you just need a break from reading in general. It’s okay to take a short break, for an hour or two, at least. I mean, let’s not go crazy and leave our collection of books at home when we go on vacation (or to the doctor’s office, or to work) or anything silly like that, but the books will still be there when you’re done taking a break. Sometimes you need to do something other than reading for a while, right?
Learn Something New. Maybe you’re just bored with fiction in general for the moment. If you still want to read, you could always learn something new. Like why the Apple logo was designed the way that it was. Or what was Thomas Edison like? Dreamers and Deceivers was a pretty interesting book that talks a little bit about those two subjects and more (I particularly found the story about Alan Turing to be interesting, but maybe that’s because I majored in computer science and love my Apple products).
Read Something Popular. A few weeks ago, we had a Top Ten Tuesday post about books that were hyped up a lot. I wrote about Popular YA Books That I Loved instead. I found out that week that some people are afraid to read popular books because they’re afraid that they might not be as good as some people say they are. A lot of times though, books might be popular because they’re good. If you’ve been afraid of reading a popular book and you’re in a reading slump, maybe you should try one out instead. The Red Queen series is pretty popular.
Try a New Genre. Maybe you just need to read something completely different for a change. If you’re always reading young adult, or fantasy, or whatever you normally read, maybe you just need to try something different. I really liked the story of Louie Zamporini, Unbroken. Maybe I’m just biased because he went to the University of Southern California (I don’t think so, but I do like the fact that he’s a Trojan like I am) but this is a really good story about a runner who was captured during World War II and eventually ended up forgiving his captors that tormented him.
So these are my ten ideas of how you might break out of a reading slump. Do you get into reading slumps? What are your ideas of how to get out of them? Next week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is “Back to School”, so I’ll be posting ten of my favorite nonfiction books.
I don’t do well with audio, only because I get distracted so easily, but they do seem like they would be a good way to get out of a slump! Short stories and anthologies are good too, I think, since they’re quick, and it’s nice to try new authors that way too. Same with graphic novels.
I do have to switch up genes once in a while if I feel like I’m hitting a rut.
Great tips!
Greg recently posted…Top Ten Books To Pull You Out Of A Reading Slump
I get easily distracted with audio too. With the printed page, that’s all I’m focusing on, but if I’m listening to something, I want to be doing something else too. The same thing with TV and movies. If I’m not at a movie theater, I’m usually doing something else when I’m watching TV or a movie, unless I’m watching something with subtitles (I don’t watch too much TV though). I can do audiobooks if I’m exercising though. I listened to The Great Influenza and a couple other books while walking laps around my backyard at midnight at this place I used to live.
I’ve really wanted to read the Legend graphic novel but I keep putting it off. I think its because I never actually finished the trio yet. I am going to have to give it a shot regardless though. Great list!!!
Amber ♥ The Book Bratz
<a href="https://thebookbratz.blogspot.com/2018/08/top-ten-tuesday-books-to-pull-you-out.html" My TTT
Maybe reading the graphic novel would get you motivated to read the rest of the series!
Fabulous list! I don’t do well with audio books as I get distracted. I do enjoy reading lighter things though when I’m feeling slumpy!
Looks like getting distracted with audio books is a thing, LOL. I think I could do them if I was doing something else at the time, like exercising.
How did I not know Legend had a graphic novel??? I feel like such a fake fan haha
I’ve been seeing The Kiss Quotient on a lot of lists today, so I guess I should save that one for the next time I’m in a reading slump!
Great suggestions 😀
Haha I didn’t even pre-order Warcross because I didn’t know about it until after it had been out for a couple of months! But I guess I’m making up for it this year because I am caught up with reading all of her work in English now (except for the Legend graphic novels) and I’ve written about 500 pages of Legend and Young Elites fanfiction since February, LOL. I guess that should count for something!
I used to love audio when I was a kid, but I haven’t read an audiobook in a while-I prefer physical books as I can listen to music or podcasts whilst I read. I like either reading a book by a favourite author or reading something short to get out of a reading slump.
Jo recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday #173
Wow, you must have an amazing multitasking ability! I couldn’t imagine being able to listen to a podcast while reading a book. When I’m on my lunch break and my coworkers sit at my table and want to talk to me while I’m reading, I can barely concentrate on my book then.
I just recently read Legend by Marie Lu and immediately put the graphic novel on my bookish wish. 😀 Here is my TTT + a link for FREE 60 days on Scribd to get unlimited audiobooks and ebooks 😀
Life After Legend II is one of the pre-order gifts for Wildcard! My latest blog post (http://www.brookereviewsnsweeps.com/2018/08/wildcard-pre-order-info-and-my-wonderful-day/) has information about the three gifts and a link to get them!
I’m really looking forward to The Kiss Quotient! I love seeing it on lists – it makes me even more excited to read it! Happy Tuesday! 😀
Maggie recently posted…Slump Stumpers
It’s a great book! Especially if you want to read something where the guy and the girl actually end up together and happy!
So excited for The Kiss Quotient! I love seeing it on so many lists today – tells me that it’s an amazing book! Happy Tuesday! 😀
I think taking a short break from reading is really the best way to get through a slump. I’m really interested in picking up The Kiss Quotient. Every has been raving about it.
Breaks can be good, especially if you’re really busy and are feeling pressured. I might end up reading mostly graphic novels and short stories in November since I’m probably going to be über busy with NaNoWriMo, LOL. Although I tend to write my reviews a few weeks or more in advance, so my blog in December might be full of graphic novel and short story reviews!
Great tips! Reading a new genre is helpful for me. Sometimes I get obsessed with a topic and read a bunch of similar books. Then I burn myself out.
Aj @ Read All The Things! recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Slump-Busting Classics
Stories that are light and have an HEA are my go-tos when I am in a reading funk. TKQ is a spectacular example of this sort of book. It was a amazing and my favorite romance of 2018 by far.
I really needed that book after reading the Ember in the Ashes books and then a book about a girl who survived the Holocaust!
Some good tips, especially take a break! I think sometimes it’s just something that’s needed, to completely refresh yourself and not feel pressured to read something. I quite often take a few days where I don’t read anything and I don’t feel guilty about it! Or like I should be reading. That break makes me more enthusiastic to dive into something after a few days
It can sometimes be hard to do when you have a blog schedule to keep up, but we can always miss a post here and there!