How do you combat 'readers block'?

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by Darth_Bane

My way of getting out of a reading slump is to buy a new eReader. While not the most logical solution to a problem, getting a shiny new gadget with neat new features always works for me.

I normally average about 2 books per month, but lately, I haven't finished a book since end of May . . . time to upgrade to a Kobo Glo

now that's an expensive way to get out of a slump!

[Namekuseijin]

Since I don't have available time for all at once, I cycle through my hobbies, such as reading, gaming, piano playing, poetry writing, watching movies and, sure enough, discussing on web forums.

so, when I'm with reading fever, I devour books. it then subsides and I move on to the next hobby I feel most compelled... I don't worry, the sudden rush always comes back

[Meemo]

I think there's a disconnect between some of these comments and the original issue, which was "Am struggling to know what I'd like to read next" - not "I don't feel like reading right now".

I understand that dilemma - for me, it usually stems from having too many choices. I definitely want to read, and always have a book (or two) going, but sometimes I just don't know what I want to read next. That's when I let Calibre "choose a random book" - or use the "Shuffle" function on the Marvin app on my iPad to pick my next book. And I won't always choose the very first book that pops up - I'm just looking for the one that strikes my fancy. Some folks roll dice - first to choose a page on the "home page" of their reader, then to choose which one on that page. There are lots of ways to choose - assuming you really want to read.

[Mivo]

I actively combat the "too much choice" issue by not buying a new novel before I have finished my current book. This only works for fiction, but those are also easy to finish. Non-fiction books are often reference or work/text books that aren't finishable in the sense a novel can be completed. This is pretty challenging at times, and I slip now and then, especially with all the recommendations, both the ones that stores display and those that other users offer. But I know from costly experience with video games that if I have too much choice, I will feel overwhelmed, get frustrated and end up not reading at all.

If I don't feel like reading, I don't read. That doesn't happen often (I rarely stick to long series, and I frequently switch genres and authors, even languages, so it doesn't get same-y), but it is a hobby and not a job, so acting mood-driven is perfectly fine.

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by Meemo

I think there's a disconnect between some of these comments and the original issue, which was "Am struggling to know what I'd like to read next" - not "I don't feel like reading right now".

I understand that dilemma - for me, it usually stems from having too many choices. I definitely want to read, and always have a book (or two) going, but sometimes I just don't know what I want to read next. That's when I let Calibre "choose a random book" - or use the "Shuffle" function on the Marvin app on my iPad to pick my next book. And I won't always choose the very first book that pops up - I'm just looking for the one that strikes my fancy. Some folks roll dice - first to choose a page on the "home page" of their reader, then to choose which one on that page. There are lots of ways to choose - assuming you really want to read.

I think we all want to read. Occasionally like the OP I almost can't. I start a book and can't get a grasp on it mentally. So I try another and another. Long before ebooks I had this happen and usually had 20 or more unread books at hand that I wanted to read. Nothing helped overall but time. I found other, generally less pleasant things to do like housework

Probably the OP is over his/her reading slump by now. Hope so.

Helen

PS the thread title implies the OP is having trouble getting into reading anything, so probably that is where we are all going astray if indeed we are.

[jersysman]

The slump is very real. It is like a mental block that one has to work through. There have been some good ideas here. The next time I go into this state, I will try some of these. I do hope the OP is over the slump. I had one last year that lasted a few months. That is no fun at all!

[Anabana]

When genres I normally love just don't work for me, I usually find that something light -that makes me truly laugh out loud- works best. The two that come to mind are Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods and The 100-Yr-Old Man Who Climbed Out a Window and Disappeared. Just be aware that you may burst out laughing at a somewhat inappropriate time -- on an airplane; in the Dr's waiting room... 100-Yr-Old Man is the funniest thing I've read in years!