Hosted by The Book Date.
And…the slump continued for the third week in a row. Sigh. I really have never felt this disconnected from reading before. And from writing…I’m finding it really hard to muster up words to describe my feelings about anything I’m reading. I did have one bright spot last week, but it was sadly short lived (0nly 200 pages). So, I started throwing the figurative spaghetti at the wall and praying for something to stick.
I finished reading…
Quiet by Susan Cain (January 24, 2012)
I’m really glad I read this, but it was looong-winded. There were some fascinating insights about introversion that shed some light on my own life, but I did skim some parts that didn’t interest me as much. I’m planning to write a post sharing some of the things this book got me thinking about re: introversion.
Why They Run the Way They Do by Susan Perabo (February 16, 2016)
So far, the only bright spot of February! This collection was just my kind of short stories and I recommend it to anyone who thinks they don’t like short stories or would like to try them for the first time. Mini review to come.
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I’m currently reading…
A Manual for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin (August 18, 2015)
I’m only about 17% into this one and am kind of reading a story here and there, so I may be reading this one for awhile. I’ve liked most of the stories I’ve read, but so far, nothing has knocked my socks off.
Be Frank With Me by Julia Claiborne Johnson (February 2, 2016)
My husband sent me to get a pedicure for Valentine’s Day (aka reading time!). I wanted to read something I could just sit back and let wash over me, so I downloaded Be Frank With Me (thank you, Catherine!) and it’s actually sticking! Maybe all I needed to turn this slump around was something a little easier on the brain.
I’m trying to push through (but toying with abandoning)…
Forty Rooms by Olga Grushin (February 16, 2016)
I’ve heard such good things about this one, but I’m really having trouble with it. Imaginary friends, long tangents about poetry and literature and philosophy…I’m just not into it. I’ve only read 30% and I’d like to push a bit farther, but I haven’t been able to make myself pick it up since Friday.
Upcoming reading plans…
Tender by Belinda McKeon (February 16, 2016)
I’ve been anxiously awaiting publication of this novel about two Irish college students in the late 1990’s from Lee Boudreaux Books.
Sorry to hear your in a reading slump – no fun in that. I’ll be interested to hear more about Be Frank With Me.
It’s just what I need right now! A little lighter…and easier to get through…don’t feel like I’m slogging.
Tender is SO GOOD. I’m absolutely loving it and feeling like it’s breaking my slump. Here’s hoping yours comes around, it can be so frustrating!
Yay! Hopefully it will break mine too! I just pre-ordered it so it will be on my Kindle first thing tomorrow morning.
Hope your slump comes to an end soon. Aren’t those awful? I hate them because I don’t feel like myself at all. I sometimes do a reread of an old favorite when I get one of those or even just don’t read at all for a bit (TV, anyone?). You’ll have to figure out what will work for you. Good luck!
Haha – I’m watching The Bachelor right now! I’m going to start Tender soon, which I’ve been really excited about, so hopefully that will do the trick.
Everyone’s loving Be Frank With Me. I hope to read it soon.
I’m enjoying it! It’s just what I needed!
So sorry that you are in a slump! When I’m in one, nothing usually clicks unless it is easy on my brain, so hope your current audiobook helps in that regard!
I feel your pain, my friend. Neither of my books are grabbing me right now either. I’m hoping to make some progress this week, but my schedule doesn’t exactly promote oodles of reading time. We’ll see how it goes, and I’ll let you know re: Forty Rooms!
Sending you good vibes! And, I think I’m probably done with Forty Rooms…Tender is coming out tomorrow and I’ve been so excited to read it. Can’t see myself trying any harder with Forty Rooms.
I feel your slump and raise you a book. I can’t believe (this person who is learning to DNF) that I DNF’d two last week after a huge book hangover; I’m hoping for a better week this week. I’m not sure that Forty Rooms is calling me at all, and you’re the second person I’ve seen on the iffy side of it. I’m glad to hear that about Be Frank with Me because it has held my curiosity for a while.
Oooh – the hangover will do that! And congrats on your new DNF habit – I just picked it up about a year ago and it’s so refreshing!
Aw bummer! Do you have a favorite book you could do a re-read of?
Tender is coming out tomorrow, so I’m super excited to try that!
Perhaps it’s Pat Conroy time for you again.
Has it occurred to you that maybe it’s not you but a lack of great books this season? I say this because I have yet to be blown away by anything I’m reading from this year.
Awh – did you hear about Pat Conroy today? He has pancreatic cancer, which devastated me 🙁
And, yes, that’s definitely occurred to me…especially since I know some others who’ve had slumps as well. Sorry to hear you also haven’t been blown away 🙁
Slumps are the worst! Especially when you have the gift of reading time and can’t enjoy. I haven’t been in a slump per se, but I definitely am on the hunt for the next book I can obsess over and devour. I might try Tender this week too.
Yep – I hear ya! And I’ve gotten a couple good reports about Tender!
Ugh. That dreaded s word. I hope you can get out of it soon!
Well, if I failed you on Forty Rooms I think Tender will hit the spot. Also Be Frank With Me is fun- and yet, a little bit more than that.
Sorry for the slump, but happy to hear about a pedicure! How nice!
I just pre-ordered Tender so it’s on my Kindle first thing tomorrow…but I might finish Be Frank With Me first! It’s working…
And the pedi was lovely…one of my favorite things b/c I can read and they remove all my running callouses…ha!
What is up with 2016 and the reading??? When did it become so HARD?
Actually…it was a slow start but I’ve been reading pretty quality stuff consistently (knock on wood) but the blogging part…disaster. I think about what I would write while I’m reading and then it’s time to sit down and actually get something down and it’s like “naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw”
Hoping your reading/writing gets back on track soon!
It’s such a weird feeling, right?! I really have never had words escape me to such a degree the entire time I’ve had this blog. I wonder if my brain is just tired.
Sending you good writing vibes, too!
I am sooooooo intrigued with Be Frank With Me, and I can’t wait to hear more about what you think! From your description, I don’t think 40 Rooms is my kind of book. Good luck with breaking free of the slump!
I’m really liking it so far – and I’m about 30% in now. Frank is quite a character and I’m curious to see where it’s going.
Quiet sounds like an excellent read! Thanks for the recommendation. // ▲ conundrumofcoitus.com ▲
Just finished The Golden Son (LOVED), Read The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach for book club (LIKED), Started Home Sweet Anywhere (VERY INTERESTING MEMOIR), About to read The ADMISSIONS (MY REALITY:-) #mondayreads #weekendreads #iamneverdonereading
I’ve heard great things about The Golden Son!
I’ll be curious about your full thoughts on Quiet! I’ve been trying to mentally draft a post for about a year on what it means to be an introverted mom–I think my least favorite part is birthday party season–especially since the kids are young enough that all the parents stay and hang out. Ugh…it’s painful painful painful. But I think the biggest struggle is constantly feeling like you are ON as a parent. By the time it’s bedtime, I’m desperate for some quiet time to recharge.
YES – to constantly feeling like you’re ON as a parent. There is rarely one second of the day when someone does not need something from you. I’m completely drained by bedtime (and I mean the kids’ bedtime, not mine) every single day.
I hope the slump improves and that you get your reading mojo back.
I think it’s back – started a new one today and I’m in love with the writing!
On Monday I was reading The Vegetarian by Han Kang, translated from the Korean. Tonight I will finish it. I love it. Dark but not quite like most of what I read.
I’m so sorry about your book slump! And I’m sorry A Manual for Cleaning Women isn’t knocking your socks yet (I’m holding out hope that it will eventually….) I’m also doing a lot of book hopping over here. I’ve heard really good things about Tender, but I don’t know anything about it!
I’ve definitely liked many of the stories I’ve read…just wasn’t over the top love yet. But, I’m only 13% in and had a lot going on in life the last 2 weeks, so realized I needed something that could easily wash over me.
Will definitely get back to it, though!
I hope you find something you like. I hate when that happens.
Here’s to finding a book for you. 🙂
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
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I finally have – as of today! Yay!