Do you ever lose that loving feeling?

[Scheherazade]

I do.

I am not a very fast reader but I read regularly and stubbornly. Even though I can read only an hour or so during the term-time, when it is holidays, I read 2-3 hours a day - or as much as my daily commitments let me - but sometimes (maybe once a year) I find myself unable to get into any books, almost falling out of love with reading.

At the moment, I am going through one of those patches.

I have finished reading five books so far in August but now all of a sudden, I cannot read.

Now, I have started various books (five, I think); even though they are considerably good ones, I cannot bring myself to stick with them.

Do you experience anything like this?

If yes, what is your remedy?

If not, how do you manage to avoid falling into such a pit?

[clumsy angelle]

Actually, I have missed a lot of reading lately... I started writing but I figured that I could not really write much if I don't read much... I just guess reading will always be there as long as it's within your heart all the time... We just need to do some things other that that but books will always be there and so is the entusiasm to learn some thing from intelligent people

[aBIGsheep]

That's how I am. I'm definitely not an avid reader, but usually I only read for those books that I know that I will enjoy. I'm always on that constant search for that book that will entice and entrap me and won't let go.

You'll never find that book if you don't search for it, so just stick in there. If you don't like the book that's fine, just move on. There's no point in holding onto something when there is little to no use for you, right? Just remind yourself that there's another book out there waiting for you to read, something that won't let you go and you wouldn't want to let go.
Those certain books are what makes reading worth while.

To me at least.

[Annamariah]

Every now and then, yes. Especially when there's too much schoolwork or something else, I'm often simply too tired to take a book and read, and sometimes it may be several weeks that I don't read anything just for fun.

As long as I'm stuck with the books I own (even though there's a lot of them I haven't read yet), it's not probable that I'll find my reading mode very easily. You know, when the books are there in your shelf, it's far too easy to postpone reading them. What it takes is one trip to the library and suddenly I find reading very nice again.

[wilbur lim]

I am appalled,literally,when you cited you read FIVE books in August at one shot.Great Scott! I do not read books at all,but at least I read newspapers,that is a great perfection.Newspapers are wondrous and spectacular,of course it needs a approbation for putting lots of effort to edit and plan newspapers.

There's no reason you must read FIVE books at one shot,compelling thyself is unproductive.If you want to compel me,I will not sleep and eat,but just continue reading and die of fatigue and hunger.I WILL do it.Unless I know what the author of the books mean of this passage,etc.You should read newspapers,even past ones.

[papayahed]

I'd take a break and perhaps focus on prettying up your profile page.

[Virgil]

Five books a month is a lot. Perhaps you just need to slow down. I would be overwhelmed and saturated at that rate. Scher, I hope you have some out dorr activity that you can mix in. Getting a little sunshine does imrove one's mood.

[Scheherazade]

I'm always on that constant search for that book that will entice and entrap me and won't let go.

Most of my friends are like that too but I will read almost anything... Try to finish all the books I start.

I am appalled,literally,when you cited you read FIVE books in August at one shot.

I read 4-5 books every month on average.

I'd take a break and perhaps focus on prettying up your profile page.

I know you are just jealous!

Five books a month is a lot. Perhaps you just need to slow down. I would be overwhelmed and saturated at that rate. Scher, I hope you have some out dorr activity that you can mix in. Getting a little sunshine does imrove one's mood.

Out doors??? Activities???

But... but who is going to take care of the Forum if I am not at home???

I spend a lot of time outside as well... Go for walks or parks regularly but I cannot say much sunshine is involved. We are having an especially dull summer this year.

Having said that, you might be right about having to slow down, Virgil. I read those books with great eagerners and maybe I just need to take some time to digest those.

Thanks for all the replies.

[Equality72521]

Original Posted by Scheherazade
I do.

I am not a very fast reader but I read regularly and stubbornly. Even though I can read only an hour or so during the term-time, when it is holidays, I read 2-3 hours a day - or as much as my daily commitments let me - but sometimes (maybe once a year) I find myself unable to get into any books, almost falling out of love with reading.

At the moment, I am going through one of those patches.

I have finished reading five books so far in August but now all of a sudden, I cannot read.

Now, I have started various books (five, I think); even though they are considerably good ones, I cannot bring myself to stick with them.

Do you experience anything like this?

If yes, what is your remedy?

If not, how do you manage to avoid falling into such a pit?

Yeah, I go through it all of the time. It's like what I do with my writings. I read a lot during the summer, but sometimes I'll just not want to pick a book up anymore. I also find that school reading kind of takes the fun out of reading, even if its reading for English/Literature classes. For school classes I force myself to read them, even if I dread the fact of doing it (yes, I have cried before because I HAD to read a book, multiple times, not something I'm proud of but it was just a miserable book/period).

If you're just falling out of love with reading in general, I always find that if you just have a small period of relaxation, maybe a day or two to a week, even if you have work, just kind of take everything with little careyou should get back into your old self. (At least that's how it is for me). I will do some meditation and breathing exercises as well, usually loosing interest in reading comes from a lot of stress, so those really do help. That's all I have to offer for you. I can only hope that that will be of help.

[kasie]

Do you think you just have mental indigestion? If you have read five books so far this month that's an average of a book every four days, give or take a bit. Perhaps you just need to take a mental breather. The urge to read will come back - usually when you have something really pressing and urgent you should be doing instead....


What were the five books, btw?

[manolia]

Do you experience anything like this?

If yes, what is your remedy?

If not, how do you manage to avoid falling into such a pit?

I do let's say once or twice a year. Most of the times it's just a sign that i am not happy with my life (working long hours, not enjoying myself etc) in general and not just books . Usually i try to pick a really light book..let's say Stephen King..something that doesn't need effort or try to have a break, go out more, meet my friends on a daily basis etc..

[Shalot]

I've been out of love with reading for the longest. It's been years actually since I've been that girl with the book under her arm all the time. I can't really give a good answer as to why. It just happened that way. I have a hard time reading fiction anymore unless it's a short story. I've managed to get through some popular beach reading titles such as the Harry Potter books, Secret Life of Bees, Five People You Meet in Heaven, and there are a few others I can't think of right now. But I think the last book I read that might be included in some literature class was Les Miserables several years ago. And I've read and re-read the LOTR books in the last couple of years.

Nowadays, if I'm going to read anything, it's probably going to be a memoir. I really enjoy David Sedaris and Mary Karr.

I also like reading books about writing such as Bird By Bird and On Writing Well. Again, there are more titles I have on my shelves in this category that aren't springing to mind but that I've read recently.

Right now, the three books in my rotation are Ghosts Among Us, Do Dead People Watch You Shower, and a collection of short stories by Kurt Vonnegut. The first story in the Vonnegut book is called Thanasphere, and it's about ghosts in space...

Is that a coincidence?

Anyway, the short stories comprise all the fiction I've been reading. As far as not reading at all -- that doesn't happen much. I at least read the silly little articles on MSN about the latest health crazes and financial tips. But it's hardly brain food.

I don't have any tips to offer. All I can say is that I'm not a big literature reader these days. That alone should inspire you to get back on the book bandwagon.

[JBI]

Reading for me is like a hunger. I can't settle for Big Macs, and I cannot ever quench my thirst. When I am not reading, I am flipping through my memory bank of poetry, and cutting at things at new angles.

[wilbur lim]

Reading newspapers would inevitably suits me the best.I conceive that everyone here is too intelligent,and surpassed me!
I am falling down to nowhere!

[Shalot]

Reading for me is like a hunger. I can't settle for Big Macs, and I cannot ever quench my thirst. When I am not reading, I am flipping through my memory bank of poetry, and cutting at things at new angles.

well, bic macs do suck.