Reader's block- and how fantasy holds a special place for me.

[Armand]

Hi all; this is just something that occurred to me recently. It's about how I fall out of the reading habit sometimes, and how fantasy novels help me get my reading mojo back.

I am an avid reader across many genres. I mostly read fiction, but that includes fantasy, sci-fi, classics, modern literary, Westerns, you name it. I also occasionally delve in non-fiction, short stories, essays, plays, graphic novels, magazine articles and newspapers, and- every once in a while- poetry.* I have to admit that I don't read much in the romance genre and rarely touch murder mysteries (although I think I would probably like a well written mystery). But, overall, I read a lot of different genres.

The funny thing about my reading, however, is that I tend to read very heavily for a year or two and then suddenly stop. Sometimes, after I stop, it might take a year or two to really get started again. That doesn't mean stop reading all together, but I tend to only read newspapers and maybe, a couple of books while on vacation. It's almost like a version of writer's block. Let's call it reader's block. Does this happen to you?

Anyway, after reading a lot in 2019, I ran into another episode of "reader's block" this year. How can I describe reader's block? It's like books are almost too heavy to pick up. It starts to feel like reading a book has become more of a job than a pleasure**. It's like dating when you are a single introvert. It's like when you decide to take up jogging, realize how healthy it is but also realize that you can't stand it. You just can't face it.

Anyway- I know this is a long, rambly post, so thanks for bearing with me; we're almost done here!

The point here is that I have recently been in the funk of reader's block, and I was thinking about while I was taking a walk (but not jogging!) and it suddenly occurred to me that I needed to get my hands on a good fantasy novel. But why a fantasy novel? That question popped into my brain.

It's hard to explain, but I feel like fantasy (and science fiction) stories have some power over us that other stories (no matter how great) don't quite have. I remember reading an essay once that attempted to describe why there were always Star Trek Conventions and Star Wars Conventions, but no MASH Conventions, nor Friends Conventions***, nor Miami Vice Conventions. There is some draw or connection in that which is fantastic and (somehow) we see ourselves in those different universes with different rules.

For me, growing up, fantasy and science fiction were my first literary loves. In retrospect, a lot of it wasn't even very good, but even the most corny, unoriginal, stupid story could open the door to a whole new universe to get lost in. That sense of wonder (The wonder of seeing "what might be") has always carried me back to reading. And as much as I love literary fiction, it does not contain that element of "what might be".

So I can't think of a better place to write this than right here; it's the fantasy novels that most often pull me out my reader's block and get me moving again. It's like meeting an old friend who invites you over to their house, or invites you out to a pub. Somehow, getting back to fantasy of sci-fi takes me back to my roots and allows me to start reading again.

Best wishes all and happy reading!

Armand


footnotes:

*I have to admit that I sometimes have trouble "getting" poetry. Not to say that there isn't some poetry that I've really enjoyed, but some of it is abstract enough that I have a hard time following it.

**Having a book feel more like work than pleasure always reminds me of 8th grade.

*** Was there a Friends Convention? Maybe there was one.

[CBRetriever]

**Having a book feel more like work than pleasure always reminds me of 8th grade.

reviewing a book feels like that to me

I read multiple books at one time, so if one starts to feel like work, I switch to another

[Tony]

I can relate.

Reading can be like marriage; sometimes you have to intentionally work on it to get back into a positive rhythm.

I think this is especially the case in today's environment where there are so many interesting things (and distractions) vying for one's attention. It certainly helps when you become aware of the sort of books that can pull you in quickly.

[Sandy]

I have never had a reader block, I would call it more like reader funk. Usually this last a week or a month. When that happens I turn to an audio book. Usually it is a fantasy but sometimes a mystery will do to because I know in the end the good guy will win.

I think the reason there are always Star Wars and Star Trek is because inherently people want to see the good guys win, they want to see that people are more good than bad and self serving. People who struggle in fantasy for the most part seem to struggle for the good of the people around them. When all you see in the news is every man for himself (no slur intended there - could be woman too), we all seem to need that reminder that there are people not doing that.
Anyway, I think that is why I read fantasy and why it usually gets me out of a reading slump.

[DivaDiane]

Every once in a while I have what I call a reading hangover. It only lasts a few days, though, and is a result of finishing several books all within a short period of time (1 to 3 days). I read several books at once in various formats, so it happens more often than you would think. In fact, I just finished 2 big books within days of each other, but I didn't get a hangover this time. I decided to read a short novella and that seems to have done the trick. I also started an even bigger book than the one before on audio almost immediately.

But to comment on your assertion that Fantasy is the best type of book to get over a reader's block; that resonates with me. But then, I read almost exclusively genre unless I'm reading a newspaper, magazine, blog or whatever. So, who knows. I do find that if I'm struggling (like I have been lately) that reading a book different to the norm, that it functions as a kind of palate cleanser and then I have an easier time getting back into my usual.

Does any of that make sense?

[CBRetriever]

mysteries are also a good way to get past "reader's block"

[Alina]

I really like your term "readers block", Armand :). I don't think I ever used to have it until the first coronavirus lockdown that happened in spring. It was weird because books have always been my escape, rest, entertainment, you name it, all the best things. Even when I wanted to do nothing else, I wanted to read. But then, I suddenly lost all interest (to be honest, I lost interest in everything that I enjoyed back then, and acquired an unexpected taste for computer games; that was the only thing I wanted to do). It returned after a while, when I managed to escape life in the city and spent some time in the mountains, later becoming a nomad.

I surely share your passion for sci-fi and fantasy (it's more sci-fi than fantasy for me, but both genres are great!), even though I can read almost anything. There is just something about them... you've described the sense of wonder and adventure really well.

Anyway, maybe reader's block is natural for you, and you shouldn't fight it, and instead, just wait it out, doing something else in the meantime? Maybe you go through a reader's cycle with periods of dormancy :)

All the best!

[Michelle]

I understand what you're talking about, but in a slightly different way. Usually it's a major life event that is the cause in my case. My older sister suddenly left this world last fall, and I wanted an escape in the worst way. Reading is my official escape, and always has been. After Anne died I couldn't concentrate on any thing I tried to read. I must have picked up twenty books, and didn't finish any of them! I stopped trying to force myself to read for a bit. I did crossword puzzles. Played Bejeweled. Cleaned. And sometimes I did nothing at all. Finally I picked up one of my comfort reads, (of which I have many!), because (1) it didn't take much work on my part to understand what was going on in the story since I had read it so many times, and (2) because it have me some familiarity and comfort to read the story. That helped me to get back into the reading habit again. If there's a beloved book which you've read in the past, maybe you could try reading it again to see if it helps. Comfort books are reading block busters sometimes!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

<3 <3 hugs Michelle

[Alina]

Sorry for your loss, Michelle, hang on there <3

[DivaDiane]

I join the others in hugs for you, Michelle ❤️

[Sandy]

It is so hard to loose a loved one. Hugs and prayers for you Michelle.

[Michelle]

Thank you all for your kind words! And Sandy, your prayers are most welcome!

[Cheryl]

Reading hangover might be the term that fits best for me. I often retreat to children's books. Which is awkward because I'm host of Children's Books group and so read a lot of them anyway, but hey. Rereads of favorites help, too.

But the main point that I want to make is that I absolutely loved the original post, the way it was written, the information in it, the footnotes.... Thank you, Armand.

[Sarah]

I’ve always called it a reading slump- but if it goes on for a year I think readers block is a good way to describe it!

I’ve struggled with it a lot this year. I’ve only logged about fifty books in my goodreads challenge (about half of what I read last year, and of those 50 a good chunk are short stories which I don’t even really count.)

This has more to do with the state of the world I think than anything else. It’s just hard to concentrate.

I was going to say maybe fantasy draws you back because it’s ultra-escapist (okay some fantasy books are, some are scarily lifelike).

Either way- I think all readers can sympathize!

[Armand]

Diane wrote: "hat reading a book different to the norm, that it functions as a kind of palate cleanser ..."

I hear you! Sometimes, after an epic fantasy series, I just want to read something set in the 1970's.

[Kateb]

since retiring i spend a few hours every day reading. SO when i get readers block i change the genre. i love going to a humorous book , always clears the brain . eg Janet Evanovitch

then back to my fav fantasy or sci fi

if that isnt enough, then i go to books from an earlier year, OR a YA book.

Never in 60 years of reading has a block lasted longer than a week

[MadProfessah]

I have never forgotten what a teacher told me in 4th grade. If a book is feeling like a chore to you, there’s no reason you have to continue it. First try skipping ahead 1 or 2 chapters and see if it gets any better. If not, abandon it and move on.

There are too many EXCELLENT books out there I haven’t read yet to waste time reading ones I won’t enjoy!

[Alina]

MadProfessah wrote: "I have never forgotten what a teacher told me in 4th grade. If a book is feeling like a chore to you, there’s no reason you have to continue it. First try skipping ahead 1 or 2 chapters and see if ..."

I agree, though I try to give books that don't immediately captivate me a chance and keep reading for some time in case they get better. But if they don't, if I'm not drawn to the book but would rather do anything else, if it feels like a chore, I give up on it. When I was younger I thought it was my duty to finish every book I started, but I realized later that it didn't make sense :). Just like you, I'd rather be reading wonderful books I enjoy.

[V.M.]

Kateb wrote: "since retiring i spend a few hours every day reading. SO when i get readers block i change the genre. i love going to a humorous book , always clears the brain . eg Janet Evanovitch

then back to m..."

I don't think I've ever had reader's block. There have been times when I've not read much, but that's usually because I've been just too busy.
However, I do agree that reading a different genre does freashen the mind.

[CBRetriever]

I have a compulsion to finish most books and there's only one I've refused to finish that was written in English (some of the French ones have proven too difficult for me, but that doesn't mean I won't read them in the future.

[Alina]

CBRetriever wrote: "I have a compulsion to finish most books and there's only one I've refused to finish that was written in English (some of the French ones have proven too difficult for me, but that doesn't mean I w..."

What book was it and why did you give up?

[V.M.]

Alina wrote: "CBRetriever wrote: "I have a compulsion to finish most books and there's only one I've refused to finish that was written in English (some of the French ones have proven too difficult for me, but t..."

I rarely give up on a book. I've sometimes been tempted, but onyba handful of times in my life have I not finished one.
I, too, would ne interested to know what the unfinished book was.

[CBRetriever]

it was the one that had these stats

1st chapter

pushed her sweaty mane of curly brown hair back from her brow
tugged her wild hair behind her ear
annoyed at her unmanageable locks

in a mere 13 paragraphs and the next chapter mentions her hat 4 times ....

Shatter by Elizabeth C. Mock - I mistakenly purchased it thinking it was by Elizabeth Moon. Read the negative reviews as they pretty much explain why I didn't finish it, especially this line in one review:

"I'm talking about entire sentences that thud against the reader's eyeballs like rotten fruit hurled at a bombing performer."

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

LOL!

[V.M.]

Love the review sentence. I Wish I'd said it.

[Alina]

CBRetriever wrote: "I'm talking about entire sentences that thud against the reader's eyeballs like rotten fruit hurled at a bombing performer."

This is serious :D

[S.]

I tend to drop books more easily these days. I used to always finish books and kinda pride myself on it, but now I'm of a mind that life's just too short to read books I don't like. Just because I don't like them doesn't mean they're bad, but it does mean that there's likely a better book out there for me, and the sooner I look the sooner I find it.
When I have those times where reading feels hard, I either read something for kids (and honestly, those kids' books can be deep!) or I go back to one of my favorites for a comfort read. Those are my best two strategies for jumping back into reading.

[Kateb]

i have found that i cant just stop reading a book, if it doesnt appeal i skim it quickly to find out what happens, just enough to pick up the ending

sigh a waste of time i know

[Mel]

I've had periods of time when I've naturally read less - the year after moving to a new country and being more engaged socially. Or for a month at a time, obsessing over a new TV show or hobby that occupies my free time. Periodic absences are normal.

I don't think I get an outright block, but slumps are common. Normally, I like to binge-read. When I find an author I like, I'll gobble up everything they've written, with a confidence that I'll like what's coming next. Once I start a series, I don't stop for anything else until it's finished. Slumps therefore are characterized by trying a hodgepodge of this of that, not really interested in reading, but more in crossing it off my TBR. In a slump, reading feels tiresome, and I'll avoid starting hefty fantasy tomes and series (despite the fact that those are what often energize me!) I'll nibble at short stories and novellas, but even those can feel like chores to get through.

I've recently discovered however, the delight of rereading. I almost never do, er,.. did before. When warily trying new books results in one flop after another, rereading an old favorite can restore my confidence as a reader. "See? This is fun! It's not you, it was them! You love reading!"

[Cheryl]

S. wrote: "I tend to drop books more easily these days. I used to always finish books and kinda pride myself on it, but now I'm of a mind that life's just too short to read books I don't like. Just because I ..."

Yes, yes, and yes. ;)

[Alexandra]

MadProfessah wrote: "I have never forgotten what a teacher told me in 4th grade. If a book is feeling like a chore to you, there’s no reason you have to continue it. First try skipping ahead 1 or 2 chapters and see if ..."

This is a great piece of advice! There really are so many good books out there and life is too short to read something that doesn't grab your attention. I've been trying to incorporate this thought process in my own life as of recently because I tend to feel bad if I don't finish a book.

[V.M.]

I always finished books in the past, and it's only very recently I decided that life's too short to waste time on something i'm not enjoying.
However, I like to leave a review of books I've read, and feel it's not really fair if I've not finished it. I try to get far enough that my comments are reasonable.

[MadProfessah]

Hmmmm I tend not to leave reviews of books I DNF’ed, I guess to be polite. In fact I tend to not leave reviews for books I don’t like.

As for the the “reader fatigue” question I tend to cycle between my favorite genres: sci-fi, fantasy, mystery/thriller. There are SO MANY mystery/thriller series out there I’m still exploring so it seems like I spend most of my time reading those but I view myself as a sci-fi reader first and foremost, but that also makes me pickier about what SF books I’ll read.

[Beth]

Sarah wrote: "This has more to do with the state of the world I think than anything else. It’s just hard to concentrate."

I've had this problem this year, too, for probably this very reason. I'm not a fast reader to begin with (in a good year I'll read two books a month), and a lack of ability to concentrate on top of that is extremely frustrating.

My coping mechanisms have been:

- manga, which are quick reads by default.
- novellas can be finished in less than a week even if my concentration is garbage
- well written "pure entertainment." recent things along these lines have been by Gail Carriger and K.J. Charles

Short story is that "something light" in whatever sense, helps to keep me reading during a slump.

MadProfessah wrote: "I have never forgotten what a teacher told me in 4th grade. If a book is feeling like a chore to you, there’s no reason you have to continue it. First try skipping ahead 1 or 2 chapters and see if it gets any better. If not, abandon it and move on."

This is great advice that I'm not very good about following. I skim rarely, skip whole chapters never. I always think the slow parts will be part of a great wrap-up at the end of the book! (not always true.)

[Jacqueline]

I had readers block for over 20 years (closer to 30 thinking about it). I went from reading all the time to only reading what the kids were reading and that was because I wanted to be able to discuss it with them if they had problems. So glad that my kids read good books though lol.

I had spurts of a few months where I would read books that I wanted constantly and then back to the slump and the kids books. Which I suppose wasn’t really a slump because I was reading up to 20 YA and middle grade books a year at least which is more than some people on here can read on a good year. But to me it was a slump.

One spurt was all James Clavell (Noble House, Shogun etc) as well as the first 4 Diana Gabaldon books (5 wasn’t out yet and I haven’t got back to them), a ton of Robert Ludlum rereads, and a heap of Danielle Steele. Yet another was an overdose of Jean Plaidy, Georgette Heyer and Victoria Holt (all one person if I remember rightly) as well as other period romances along those lines.

The first year back reading in 2018 I read 85ish books. The last two years I’m having trouble hitting 40. Better than 0.

[CBRetriever]

Yet another was an overdose of Jean Plaidy, Georgette Heyer and Victoria Holt (all one person if I remember rightly) as well as other period romances along those lines.

Georgette Heyer wasn't one of the other two

[Jacqueline]

True Chessie. Eleanor Hibbert writes under about 8 different names. I got confused.

[Joon]

Coming late, but I absolutely get "reader's block" from time to time. Coming off a bout of it now. I've legit read like four books since maybe late 2019.

And it always bugs me when I'm in the middle of it, because I know I could bust out of it whenever I wanted. But I just don't.

Eventually though I force the issue. And popping back in here helps with that. There's a sort of perceived accountability here. I like how the little games/challenges make me really think about the books I've had on my TBR for years, and helps invent reasons to finally get around to them. And of course having to really examine that TBR list puts me back in the right mindset to start reading again.