Musing on a Monday: Reading Transitions

[Theresa]

Over the last few days I've been reading crime fiction. Not just because it is the October theme, but because I had quite a huge TBR Tower of them stacked up. Since I've been reading many different genres, or Proust, or very short reads as a relief from Proust, I have not been reading my favorite genre - mysteries - much at all for months.

What's interesting is that I'm having a little trouble transitioning from one to the next. When I finished Tularosa, I picked up 3 different books before settling on The President Is Missing. I'm now reading The Word Is Murder, but it took me a bit to get into it, it was such a different style, different crime fiction sub-genre from Clinton's thriller.

This has me musing about how I and others transition from book to book. If you pick up a book and it doesn't grab you from the beginning, do you automatically discredit the book? Do you consider what you just read and perhaps change the direction of what you will read next? Do you pick up a collection of short stories or essays to read a few to 'cleanse the palate' so to speak? Or do you easily transition?

For me, I rarely blame a book for not grabbing me right away if I've just finished a really engrossing or fun book, or a book like Proust which has a distinct style you sink into for periods of time and need to ease yourself out to read more contemporary books. I just move on to a different style, and if that doesn't work, I have collections of short stories and essays that I use. One collection of essays I've had as 'currently reading' for 2 years or so now. I find reading one or two of them at a time is enough; more than that and they lose their impact. Books of essays generally are collections from prior publications and were never meant to all be read 'in a sitting.'

If I'm reading cozy mysteries, or other books similar to each other in style and genre, I can usually just go one to the other until I just get weary of the same style and need to move on. It's then easy to move onto something else, with no hiccup.

I also find that if a book has been emotionally draining or in any way a tough read -- or a really bad read -- I immediately have to go to something at the opposite extreme, such as very well written, light and entertaining, exciting edge of your seat thrills, etc.

I ended up persevering with the Horowitz and am really enjoying it, but the first 40 or so pages I was a reluctant reader. It just took me a while to get into the right head space for it. And i'm being rewarded!

[LibraryCin]

Or do you easily transition?

I transition pretty easily. I have lots of monthly challenges, and I pretty much know what's up next.

I finish one, so bring on the next one!

[Jgrace]

I do have frequent book hangovers. Nothing feels as real (including real life) as the book I just finished. It makes me reread the best parts of the book I just finished, check out any PBT reviews for the book, and eventually I'll write a review.
This is just fine if I'm home or if it was an audiobook that I can re-listen to in the car. But if I'm out and about, I have to have an audiobook, especially if I'm stuck in traffic. That's why I have a huge audible library. I go back to old favorites until I'm ready for a new one.

[Karin]

Most of the time I make the transition easily, but not if I have just finished a book that I really loved or that I found really powerful.

[Theresa]

Jgrace wrote: "I do have frequent book hangovers. Nothing feels as real (including real life) as the book I just finished. It makes me reread the best parts of the book I just finished, check out any PBT reviews ..."

This reminds me that I do that too. Sometimes if I finish late at night, I go back in AM to reread end while fully awake. I also read intros and such before moving on...especially if it is a classuic.

"Book Hangover" a great description!

[Joanne]

I always have books from different genres going at the same time-and I hope that I transition well between them....?

Having numerous books going, normally, helps me to decide the next book to be added to the rotation. After 2-3 chapters, if that "next" book does not seem to have the same pull as those I already have going , no matter the genre-out it goes. There have been the odd times, where I continued on with something I thought not so great, and had my mind changed. But normally
my first gut reaction is the right one.

Like LibCindy I have challenges lined up each month and usually just carry on to complete them. For most of my challenges though I always have 4-5 lined up to pick from-that way I have something to replace the book I threw back if needed.

[Holly R W]

I find that I have trouble with beginning a new book. Unless it's beautifully written, it takes me awhile to get into it. I try to give each new book a good chance. However, if I find it to be boring (or fall asleep when reading it), then I'm on to a new book.

[Meli]

I usually stick with a book and just the past few months with all my book club commitments I have finally started to DNF books that don't grab me.

Transitioning genre to genre isn't so much a problem but I think your idea of short stories or essays to break things up is smart. I have been reading a short story a day for the month of October and found I love short stories more than I realized and I also discovered I have a ton of short story collections! So I think I will incorporate them into my routine more from now on.

Book hangovers I don't get so much, luckily, but every once in a while. If it's really bad I have to take a break from reading. This hasn't happened in a while though. I find switching to a completely different genre helps a lot.

[NancyJ]

Theresa wrote: "Jgrace wrote: "I do have frequent book hangovers. Nothing feels as real (including real life) as the book I just finished. It makes me reread the best parts of the book I just finished, check out a..."

Transitions are harder for me after finishing a really good book or a really tough/long book. I can usually juggle 2-3 books with different formats (e.g. morning kindle, bedtime audio), unless one is so engrossing it won't let me go.

I often have to reread the ending of a book the next day too.

I also use short stories as palate cleansers sometimes. Lacking those, I might read a bit of non-fiction or watch TV.

I don't mind a book hangover, as long as it started with a "book high"! Some book highs last 2 or 3 days, and I love them.

This month I had some depressing books that gave me a sad hangover feeling, even before I was finished. I had two other audios at the same time, which should have helped, but I kept falling asleep. I've had to take out Orchestra of Minorities several times already. I was finally making progress when the loan period was done, and the digital file went "poof" with only a few chapters to go.

I had to try several different books this week to see what would grab me. I finally found one that immediately perked up my energy. It had a positive link to one I just finished, and I loved the first chapter (set in an art museum).

[Jgrace]

NancyJ wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Jgrace wrote: "I do have frequent book hangovers. Nothing feels as real (including real life) as the book I just finished. It makes me reread the best parts of the book I just finis..."

Do tell. First chapter in an art museum sounds good.