Ever have trouble getting into a book?

[Annie]

I just finished reading The Help and Running with Scissors and I loved them both and really got lost in both stories. Since then, I've picked up a couple books on my bookshelf but can't seem to really get into them. (I think I have separation anxiety from my other books! ha ha)
I was wondering if this happens to any of you or are you the kind of person that can pick up any kind of book and get through it? And if you are like me, what do you do to get yourself into another book?

[Kimberly]

I go through phases. Sometimes I'll pick up one book, finish it quickly and move right on to the next one and have no problem getting into that one either. Other times I'll go through phases where no matter how good the book is, I just can't seem to keep an interest in it.

[Annie]

Sounds exactly where I'm at right now ha ha!

[Lori]

I'm the same way as Kimberly. I've been going through quite a phase where I have finished very few books. I keep wondering whether reading short stories or poetry, rather than novels or non-fiction monographs, would help.

[Kayla]

This happens to me about two or three times a year. Usually what I do to get out of this phase is pick a book that I know will be a quick and easy read, like a young adult or a novella. I can usually read those books in a couple of days, and that gives me a sense of accomplishment over finally finishing a book, which brings me out of my slump.

[Merc]

The last few books I have gone through didn't grab me. Took some real effort to finish them. In fact, it took some real effort to pick them up and start reading them again.

[Lori]

I don't like having to force myself to read a book when my free reading time is so rare.

[Merc]

Lori wrote: "I don't like having to force myself to read a book when my free reading time is so rare."

My friends are like that! I would like to but it's hard to quit a book once I've started. Heh.

[Nikki]

When I'm 100 pages into a book and I'm still not into it, I put it aside. I'm not going to force myself to read a book, when there are millions of other books out there that I would appreciate more.

[Lori]

I don't put a time frame or page limit to hit. I read and when I'm not feeling it anymore, I pick up something else. It makes me frustrated though because I feel like I'm not accomplishing anything, yet I don't think pushing myself to push through would get me much better results.

[Annie]

Anna wrote: "Books are like relationships- some are worth putting effort into and sticking with even when things aren't great whereas others should be just a complete waste of time!

I really want to read 'The ..."

This is absolutely fantastic! I love it!

[Kirsten]

The Time Traveler's Wife was a really hard one for me to get into. It was also confusing at first.

[Tami]

We really don't have a book random thread, but this sort of fits here.

Does anyone else have a hard time with certain books, keeping the characters straight? I am currently reading Death in the City of Light: The Serial Killer of Nazi-Occupied Paris which is a true crime story, and I keep mixing up everyone because their names are so similar.

I have some issues when reading Russian names, but for some reason the French names always kick my butt. Anyone have any useful helps for this?

[Lindsay]

I tried Fear and Loathing and American Psycho recently, but I couldn't get into either, so I abandoned my efforts.

[Tami]

I liked American Psycho, not really because it was a likable book, but because I heard it was disturbing and I found it disturbing. Most books I hear are supposedly creepy or disturbing, aren't when I read them. I have Fear and Loathing on the TBR list, but it will probably be a long while before I get to it.

[M]

With a lot of the "hard to get into" books, especially if they are a classic, I just push myself through it the first time and then simply reread it. The second time around, the books are usually infinitely more enjoyable and much less confusing.

Of course, not everyone has the time to reread books, but I think it's nearly impossible to really appreciate the book with only one reading.

[Jessie Marie]

This happens to me all the time! My problem is that I get so thoroughly wrapped up in a story and think about it so much that I cannot possibly switch gears, so to speak, and try to find myself attached to new characters, new stories, etc.

I recently read The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons. Best book I've ever read. Seriously, if you haven't read it - do it. It's a tome (650+ pages) and sometimes hard to get through because of the subject matter but I was absolutely enraptured by Alexander and Tatia and Dasha and everything else that once it was over, my heart broke a little bit. And it took me weeks to pick up something new and actually push through it. My cure? I read one of the smaller Harry Potter books. I dunno but they seem to have a therapeutic affect on me.

So the question for me is...

Do I learn to become less attached, thus having an easier time switching? Or do I keep on my same path adding books to my purchased pile but never really getting into them because some gem stole my heart and ran with it?

Ugh, this could be a thesis paper for one subject or another.

[Jessie Marie]

Tami wrote: "Does anyone else have a hard time with certain books, keeping the characters straight?"

Yep. Happens a lot to me. Especially if there are lots of characters and point of view switches often. I'm having the same issue with
The First Man in Rome.

I have gotten in the habit of keeping a "reading diary". Sort of helps me collect my thoughts when I'm reading something like this with many characters and plotlines and viewpoints. Seems like homework a bit but as a recent graduate (shun me if you wish), I sorta miss homework.

[Annie]

Jessica wrote: "Tami wrote: "Does anyone else have a hard time with certain books, keeping the characters straight?"

Yep. Happens a lot to me. Especially if there are lots of characters and point of view switches..."

I feel like that will be me once I graduate haha