Reader's Block - Page 2

SteveEisenberg · 12-05-2019, 09:42 PM

I have TV block. I don't have patience to watch shows at the pace set by human actors. That's true even though I'm sure many shows are more edifying than lots of books.

Partial cure for this is to watch movies in theaters, where there are fewer distractions. An even stronger cure is live theater; we don't go a lot, but I've never walked out of that.

Is it somehow more moral to read than watch? Not that I can see.

As for what to do if blocked on books, but you really want to read, why not read shorter works? I still like newspapers. There also are good magazines.

gmw · 12-05-2019, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwalker8

There was an interesting essay in today's Tor newsletter called Reader's Block, i.e. what to do when you have lots to read, but don't find any of it particularly appealing. [...]

What say you? Have you had the problem with Reader's Block? If so, how do you get past it?

When this happens I tend pick up some non-fiction, or failing that, some short stories. (I'm not usually a big short story fan, so I tend to treat them as filler ... but every now and then I get surprised by something truly out of the ordinary and that possibility keeps me buying more collections.)

Luffy · 12-06-2019, 08:46 AM

I was recently rereading an old favorite, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and I got reader's block from rereading it. When I tried to read other books, I found myself to be underwhelmed.

Apache · 12-06-2019, 09:09 AM

When I have reader's block sometimes rereading a book will suggest a book I have never read. For example I reread The Commodore by P.T. Deutermann and in his afterword he mentions Neptune's Inferno: The US Navy at Guadalcanal. I started reading this history book and it is a very well written look at the US Navy and their steep learning curve against the Japanese in the early days of WWII. So far a 5 Star read.
Apache

pwalker8 · 12-06-2019, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache

When I have reader's block sometimes rereading a book will suggest a book I have never read. For example I reread The Commodore by P.T. Deutermann and in his afterword he mentions Neptune's Inferno: The US Navy at Guadalcanal. I started reading this history book and it is a very well written look at the US Navy and their steep learning curve against the Japanese in the early days of WWII. So far a 5 Star read.
Apache

I've got that one (Neptune's Inferno). Very good book.

Tomk2 · 12-06-2019, 11:43 AM

For severe readers block, I read some short stories until I want something more. I already vary genres to keep from getting readers block, and so that I dont let same genre books blur together when I think back upon reading them.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

JSWolf · 12-06-2019, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

I admit I'm stymied. The other old friends I get, but the only Rochester I can think of is the one in Jane Eyre, a wife abuser, would-be bigamist, philanderer, possible father of an illegitimate daughter and all-around nasty fellow. That Rochester? With friends like that....

How about Rochester from Jack Benny?

JSWolf · 12-06-2019, 11:51 AM

Books by any of the Brontës are once I cannot read. Not at all. I cannot stand them.

I do sometimes have Reader's Block. It happens sometimes after I've read a really good book and cannot think of what to read next.

cfrizz · 12-06-2019, 07:53 PM

I grab a favorite series or some favorite fanfiction and start reading.

rcentros · 12-06-2019, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwalker8

What say you? Have you had the problem with Reader's Block? If so, how do you get past it?

I just don't read until I feel like reading again.

Apache · 12-06-2019, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcentros

I just don't read until I feel like reading again.

I am unable to do this.
Apache

ekbell · 12-06-2019, 10:52 PM

When I'm not feeling like reading any particular book I poke through the list of books I've been reading. Usually I'll find one or two of them interesting enough to read a chapter/short story or two.

If I'm really feeling uninterested then I start poking through a random assortment of my books until I find one interesting enough to read a chapter/story from and if the book is reasonably interesting I'll then add it to the list of books I'm reading (assuming I've not finished it).

Before I was buying ebooks I'd have piles of books I was in the process of reading, now that I buy mostly ebooks my piles have become much smaller.

rcentros · 12-07-2019, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache

I am unable to do this.

Until recently I couldn't either. Same thing with writing. I felt like I had to read and/or write something every day. Then it occurred to me I didn't. I read more now than I have in a long time. Meanwhile I haven't written anything (much) in the last six months. That might all turn around in the next six months. I'm not going to worry about it one way or the other any more.

mikeayers · 12-07-2019, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

I admit I'm stymied. The other old friends I get, but the only Rochester I can think of is the one in Jane Eyre, a wife abuser, would-be bigamist, philanderer, possible father of an illegitimate daughter and all-around nasty fellow. That Rochester? With friends like that....

You mean you are not talking about Jack Benny's valet, Rochester?

Bookstooge · 12-07-2019, 08:34 AM

I have a reading rotation on my kindle that I cycle through. It has a mix of SFF, classics and nonfiction. I don't pick and choose what I feel like reading, I just read whatever is next. I have found that taking the "choice" out of prevents a reading slump for some reason.

However, when I do get in a slump, I tend to stop reading until my head is back in the game. So a lot of Stargate SG1 watching and checking youtube for magic the gathering videos

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12-05-2019, 09:42 PM	#16
SteveEisenberg Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,422 Karma: 43514536 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: near Philadelphia USA Device: Kindle Kids Edition, Fire HD 10 (11th generation)	I have TV block. I don't have patience to watch shows at the pace set by human actors. That's true even though I'm sure many shows are more edifying than lots of books. Partial cure for this is to watch movies in theaters, where there are fewer distractions. An even stronger cure is live theater; we don't go a lot, but I've never walked out of that. Is it somehow more moral to read than watch? Not that I can see. As for what to do if blocked on books, but you really want to read, why not read shorter works? I still like newspapers. There also are good magazines.

12-06-2019, 08:46 AM	#18
Luffy Wizard Posts: 4,464 Karma: 429063498 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Mauritius Device: Kindle Paperwhite 4	I was recently rereading an old favorite, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and I got reader's block from rereading it. When I tried to read other books, I found myself to be underwhelmed.

12-06-2019, 09:09 AM	#19
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,277 Karma: 90000484 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	When I have reader's block sometimes rereading a book will suggest a book I have never read. For example I reread The Commodore by P.T. Deutermann and in his afterword he mentions Neptune's Inferno: The US Navy at Guadalcanal. I started reading this history book and it is a very well written look at the US Navy and their steep learning curve against the Japanese in the early days of WWII. So far a 5 Star read. Apache

12-06-2019, 11:43 AM	#21
Tomk2 Groupie Posts: 151 Karma: 123456 Join Date: Sep 2019 Device: none	For severe readers block, I read some short stories until I want something more. I already vary genres to keep from getting readers block, and so that I dont let same genre books blur together when I think back upon reading them. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

12-06-2019, 11:51 AM	#23
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,792 Karma: 146391129 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Books by any of the Brontës are once I cannot read. Not at all. I cannot stand them. I do sometimes have Reader's Block. It happens sometimes after I've read a really good book and cannot think of what to read next.

12-06-2019, 07:53 PM	#24
cfrizz Wizard Posts: 1,570 Karma: 36389706 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Quincy, MA Device: Samsung 54A, Kobo Libra H2O, Samsung S6 Lite	I grab a favorite series or some favorite fanfiction and start reading.

12-06-2019, 10:52 PM	#27
ekbell Guru Posts: 627 Karma: 12345678 Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Canada Device: none	When I'm not feeling like reading any particular book I poke through the list of books I've been reading. Usually I'll find one or two of them interesting enough to read a chapter/short story or two. If I'm really feeling uninterested then I start poking through a random assortment of my books until I find one interesting enough to read a chapter/story from and if the book is reasonably interesting I'll then add it to the list of books I'm reading (assuming I've not finished it). Before I was buying ebooks I'd have piles of books I was in the process of reading, now that I buy mostly ebooks my piles have become much smaller.

12-07-2019, 08:34 AM	#30
Bookstooge Member Retired Posts: 805 Karma: 2091358 Join Date: May 2019 Device: Kindle Oasis 1st Gen, PB Era	I have a reading rotation on my kindle that I cycle through. It has a mix of SFF, classics and nonfiction. I don't pick and choose what I feel like reading, I just read whatever is next. I have found that taking the "choice" out of prevents a reading slump for some reason. However, when I do get in a slump, I tend to stop reading until my head is back in the game. So a lot of Stargate SG1 watching and checking youtube for magic the gathering videos