A Reading Funk – what’s a blogger to do?!?
It’s a bird…. no, it’s a plane… no! It’s a post from ME! Sound the alarms… bring out the donuts! *grin*
I know – it’s like I disappeared off the blogging planet. The truth is, I’ve been in a reading funk. But the first step to fixing it? I hear it is admitting it! or something. With the help of a little poking from a friend on twitter, I decided today would be the day I step back into my blogging shoes… or fuzzy slippers as they may be and just write what I have been thinking. Basically.. how did I get into this funk!??! I think I have read may 4 books over the last 2 months…. I was reading 2-3 books a week at one point.
The first thing to consider when questioning why a blogger may be in a funk…. what is going on in my life? Is something I am doing causing me to be in a funk? But really.. the answer is no. Life is pretty much the same as it always has been… the exception that I actually have had more time to read over the summer and plenty of opportunity since I find myself at the gym quite a bit. The kids may drive me batty with their bickering, but they are easy enough to send to their room and let myself cuddle up with my Kindle.
Is it just me? Maybe I need to take a break and stop reading and recollect myself? Maybe I burnt myself out reading 300+ books since I got my Kindle? I took a good hard look at this one, because its possible! Yet, I don’t think its the number one factor. Yes, I read a lot and needed a break.. I’ve taken a bit of one by reading less… by not accepting every review offered to me so I don’t feel obligated. Yet some books I’ve picked up lately, I just felt “meh” about anyway. At the same time, at least one book I picked up over the last 2 months I absolutely LOVED.
What all this rambling comes down to is this…. I think my tastes as a reader have evolved. I have read some really fantastic books over the last year. Moira Rogers, Jim Butcher, Ilona Andrews, Shiloh Walker… all authors that have absolutely blown me away in one way or another with their work. The more I read from them, and other authors of their caliber, the higher I set my standards for a book. At first, I thought maybe this is a bad thing? Maybe they are artificially inflating my expectations for their respective genres?
But really, how could expecting great reads be too much? Why should I settle for things that are “meh” or good when I know there is better waiting for me? The more I think about it, the more I feel this is where I am at. Will I eventually want to spend my time on the just “good enough” ..? I am sure I will. But for now, I want to be completely captivated and blow away when I pick up a book. I want that feeling that you get when you can not bear to set a book down, splashing cold water on your face at 3 am because you do not want to sleep til you get to the next chapter. Maybe this is too much to ask… but then I have to ask you… why would it be?
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15 Responses to “A Reading Funk – what’s a blogger to do?!?”
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I’ve been in a kind of reading funk lately as well. I don’t think it’s too much to ask for a great read like that, though sometimes going through the muck to get to that great read makes it worth it.
We all get in funks. I was in one that lasted 5 years! It would take me 3 months to finish a book and that’s cuz I’d read it only while waiting on my dd’s at their tennis lesson on Saturdays.
Expecting a book to knock you off your feet isn’t a bad thing, it won’t happen all the time, but when it does, don’t you finish it feeling this warm sense of something special just happening!
Paula
Tomes Devotee
Awesome post KV! And I agree, I get into funks as well when a book doesn’t captivate me to stay in it until the end! If we could only know which ones are really incredible and weed out the meh ahead of time! Hopefully you will be defunked soon!
Oh I think every reader gets into a funk. The I say just take a break, and then maybe try something out of your reading box. Once upon a time I went for a long time without reading at all. Just couldn’t do it. Then I discovered PNR.
Before that I was not interested at all. I hope you kick the funk soon though. I miss your reviews and posts. 
It might be you…. lol
I think you might be on to something with the too-savvy-reader theory. Some people may be happy to think that Laurell K Hamilton is the height of Urban Fantasy – but those are readers who haven’t yet discovered Patricia Briggs and Ilona Andrews. We know better and we aren’t satisfied unless we read the best
As book bloggers, we’re a bit more ‘in the know’. It also means we anticipate book releases – so, for me, I look at the months of June, July & August and see that there aren’t all that many books coming out that I’m *dying* to read… but wait until September. Gail Carriger. Diana Gabaldon graphic novel. Ilona Andrews. Jennifer Estep. Carolyn Crane… now *that’s* a month of reading I’m looking forward to!
I’ve been in a reading funk lately too. I think the reason for my funk is my being overwhelmed lately. I have some catching up to do on review requests which has caused me to put a hold on accepting new review requests. I also want to get thru my own TBR pile (the books I’ve bought but haven’t had a chance to read). Then there’s work. I have a full-time job and the past week has been hectic. And it will continue to be hectic for me until the end of the month. I’m trying to stay afloat until September; that’s when I’m hoping things will ease up
Maybe you need a little Nicholas Sparks to bring you out of your funk…? If you need a recommendation, let me know
Maybe you need to try something totally different.
Or not.
I don’t know…I think all readers go through funks. You just need that one book that shows it is worth it to come out.
Girl! I miss your posts…get out of your funk already! Miss you!
I was in such a reading funk that I shut my blog down lol. I found that I needed time to just do what it was I wanted to do. Sometimes it felt like reading was something I was forcing and when I sat back and just let things fall where they may, I found that what was on my mind wasn’t reading at all, it was a whole batch of other things and now that I have those taken care of, slowly but surely, I’m reading again. Now, getting something that snags my attention and doesn’t let go…that’s a whole different subject!
Hope you get out of your funk soon! I love this blog!
WOW… I’ve learned that this is really going around lately. I too was in a funk last month for a while. It was like you – every book was taking forever to read… I wanted one that I couldn’t put down! I finally got out of the funk by reading books outside of my usual genre. It made coming back to paranormal a nice change of pace. I read a couple historicals (which I never thought I would do) and a couple YA. Also, maybe try a completely new author. OR… just walk away for a bit. Good luck!
Maybe it’s summer doldrums, or something, because I’ve been feeling it too. The urge to just stop reading, stop blogging, and then, lo, something will hit me and wham. Ready to babble about it again.
I echo the “try a different genre” sentiment. Maybe that will help, if a break alltogethetr doesn’t I hope you beat it! I look forward to whatever you post next. 
…”I want that feeling that you get when you can not bear to set a book down”… I know how you feel! Definitely not a lot to ask
I know what you mean. I was reading a book every 2 or 3 days…then all of a sudden one day I didn’t feel like reading…then the same thing happened the next day and then the next and then a whole week went by and then another, etc. where I didn’t read. I was so scared that I lost my love for reading-but then I started my blog and the funk went away. I’m glad to know that I’m not the only person who went through a funk (not glad that these funks happen but glad to know I’m not alone)…
Anyway, I love my kindle and am glad to have found a kindle book blog. Have a great weekend
By the way, your header looks great!
Hey Kindle Vixen, new goodreads friend! It’s actually a relief to hear that book bloggers go through a reading slump now and then because I can’t believe y’all can read 2-3 books in a week in the first place. It does seem hard to finish a fantastic book and then start a book that’s not quite as awesome.Hope your break has been rejuvenating.
Good post however , I was wondering if you could write a litte more on this subject? I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit more. Cheers!