21st Century Literature discussion

If you've ever hit a patch where nothing you pick up speaks to you, or you're not finishing anything you pick up, or you're just too distracted to engage with a book, you've probably experienced a reading rut (sometimes called "reader's block"). How did/do you get out of it?

Such a good topic and this happens to me some. What works for me is either rereading a favourite or pick up something from Annie Ernaux, her short works always manage to pull me in and reset.

Marc wrote: "If you've ever hit a patch where nothing you pick up speaks to you, or you're not finishing anything you pick up, or you're just too distracted to engage with a book, you've probably experienced a ..."

I watch Kdramas instead!

Funny you should ask, I'm in the midst of one right now ;( Books that should make me happy leave me cold, or even worse, annoyed. I read 99% fiction, so I'm going to go back to the non-fiction book I turn to when I get in this mood - She Has Her Mother's Laugh: The Powers, Perversions, and Potential of Heredity. t's really long, so it will last me years! Hopefully it works again.

I get regular reading slumps and a few years ago I finally found something that works for me. Whenever I'm ready to try and emerge out of a slump, I read single short stories from online magazines. I have a big list of bookmarked stories: stories my friends have raved about, authors I've been meaning to try, award nominated stories, etc. I aim for just a couple a week so I don't get overwhelmed. They work because they only take 15-45 minutes to read and they gently remind me of all the things I love about reading.

I think in general it's good to have multiple reads going at once, so if something is not gelling then there are other options. It's fun to pick up some other things and see if they spark interest.

I read mostly fiction. If I feel that I'm having technical issues with the writing, I switch to some old favorites (Brian Evenson, Joy Williams, Joel Lane etc)

If I feel I'm just in a bad mood, I stop reading and watch movies, listen to music etc.

Great question . I'm with @Frankie . Always have several books on the go . If all else fails watch a Shakespeare play for a factory reset . Got bogged down in Proust and three versions of King Lear over three nights reminded me of the privilege of being exposed to genius .

I think sometimes you are just not in the mood for a particular book. There are some I have struggled to get into and put aside. A few months later I’ve not been able to put the book down. So my advice, if it isn’t working for you right now, put it down and come back to it in a month or two.

Many great techniques here! I believe what is important is to not force it if you're not feeling it at that time, then revisit it later. A favourite reread and short stories always works for me. If nothing helps, perhaps read the book with a companion audiobook (or even reread a favourite this way).

Marcus wrote: "I think sometimes you are just not in the mood for a particular book. There are some I have struggled to get into and put aside. A few months later I’ve not been able to put the book down. So my ad..."

I am trying this with Han Kang's Human Acts, which I was not getting along with at all in the fall. But sometimes I find a book gets "contaminated" by my mood. I am still glaring at it on the shelf and considering getting rid of it, but holding off because it is supposed to be so good and I hardly got into it...

I often find that audiobooks can help. This is especially true if my problem is feeling agitated (for example by the state of the country) and so lack of attention span. I used to consider this cheating in a way, but then most of the 19c novels were designed to be read aloud, serialized and taking their own glorious time. George Eliot and Jane Austin have been carrying me a long way recently!

Jenna wrote: "I often find that audiobooks can help. This is especially true if my problem is feeling agitated (for example by the state of the country) and so lack of attention span. I used to consider this che..."

Audiobooks are definitely not a cheat. I find it even harder to retain info only by listening. But then when I couple it with the book it can be magical! I remember getting out of a reading slump reading Unfinished Tales narrated by Sir Christopher Lee. May he rest in peace.

I agree . Audiobooks of nineteenth century novels are such a delight . During the pandemic I joined The Trollope Society and have listened to a score of novels this way .

Yes, I agree also about audiobooks. Great points made. Totally agree about finding some vintage classics from other eras and finding a good reader. This can make a world of difference. I'm currently reading The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe on Audible and it is making it such a more interesting, engaging experience! It would have been vastly different had I been just reading "on my own."

@Carl's point about audiobooks not being "cheating." I don't know why people think that it is. The Christopher Lee read sounds pretty epic. I read one of Poe's stories narrated by him and it was phenomenal!

I have been in a rut. I have not done any reading. The last couple books I picked up I read about 1/2 way and just stopped. This happens over the years. I tend to go back and read something that is dear to me. I will probably go and read The Book of Morgaine or Moon of Three Rings. Ihave read them so many times and they help get me out of my reading ruts.

Jennifer wrote: "I have been in a rut. I have not done any reading. The last couple books I picked up I read about 1/2 way and just stopped. This happens over the years. I tend to go back and read something that is..."

So far I haven't tried that for fear that I'll be in such a poor reading mood that I won't like my favorite books!

Nadine in California wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "I have been in a rut. I have not done any reading. The last couple books I picked up I read about 1/2 way and just stopped. This happens over the years. I tend to go back and read ..."

I find that I can go back to my old reads specifically the 2 I mention and can dive right in and helps me out of my rut. I fall into ruts periodically over the years. This one has been long. But I have had lots of life changes. So I am not letting it bring me down and I know I will get back into my books.

The most recent books I attempted were
Baby Teeth and In the Woods
I got futher into In the Woods but reached a point and was like... I am bored and realized where things were going and I did not feel the need to finish it. Same with Baby Teeth.
I hope people found them more enjoyable that me. They are not bad books at all, and I understand that it's just me.

My worst rut was in late 2020 (I was pregnant and that was definitely part of it). I had to spend the last month of the year reading exclusively Jane Austen and fairy tales, and actually had to get rid of the books I had bought before my rut, as I just couldn't stand looking at them.

That might have been a bit desperate times, desperate measures though!

Reading Vonnegut usually gives me a kick-start....

Bill wrote: "I read mostly fiction. If I feel that I'm having technical issues with the writing, I switch to some old favorites (Brian Evenson, Joy Williams, Joel Lane etc) ..."

Bill, I love your list of old favorites!

Lark wrote: "Bill, I love your list of old favorites!"
Glad to hear you're a fan as well, Lark!

Bill wrote: "Lark wrote: "Bill, I love your list of old favorites!"
Glad to hear you're a fan as well, Lark!"

Brian Evenson especially. Some of his stories are free listens in Google Play’s free series of horror anthologies, called “Come Join Us by the Fire,” and one of those stories, ‘Black Bark,’ is so masterfully written imo that i can listen to it on autoplay like a favorite song. I keep trying to figure out how it works. I wish I had written it!

Lark wrote: "‘Black Bark,’ is so masterfully written imo that i can listen to it on autoplay like a favorite song. I keep trying to figure out how it works. I wish I had written it!..."

Instant add to my tbr. Thanks!