I don't know what's wrong with me lately. I start a book and it's all 'Yeah, this is totally fabbo'. I read like a demon until about half way through and then I'm like, 'can I be bothered now?'.
The thing is it has nothing to do with the book I'm reading. All of these books have been really, really good and I want to read them, I do. I want to find out what happens to the characters, what plot twists may occur and whether our hero gets the guy (OK, maybe I've already guessed that part :)). The books aren't even suffering from that general book milaise - mid-book slump. The plots are still fast paced and the characters alive on the page.
It's just me. I have mid-book slump disease.
I currently have several books on the go because I start a book, get half way through, get mid-book slump disease, stop reading. Then I start another book in the hope that things will be better, only to find the same happening. I doesn't seem to matter whether it's an ebook, or a paperback both brings me out in mid-book slump disease. I've even tried reading short stories, thinking that it was just a length thing, but no, I've even stalled on short stories. It's frustrating.
The odd thing is, once I force myself to keep reading, I seem to get over this and I can happily push on to the end of the book. So perhaps that's my solution. Force myself to get through those tricky 30 or so pages and all will be fine.
I tend to stick with one book at a time to avoid this, or I'll flit between the two - or three or four - and make no progress. I feared having the Kindle might screw with that, as obviously I have a whole bunch of books with me wherever I go, but I'm managing to stick to it.
ReplyDeleteI won't give myself permission to read something else until the current one is either done, or dumped!
Hi Becky
ReplyDeleteIt all started because I was reading an ebook and a paperback at the same time. Then they both hit mid-book slump disease and things have spiralled on from there!
Good plan with the done/dumped idea. I should try and stick with that.
Maybe give yourself a break and either read another genre or take a break from reading. Sometimes I get into that and the only cure for me is to stop reading for a while. Watch tv for a few days... do something else so you start to crave that book fix again.
ReplyDeleteYou're probably right, Kassa. In fact I've spent more time recently pootling about on the internet and watching TV and DVDs than I usually do, mainly because I've been stuck in the middle of a book and don't want to start another. Perhaps a complete break from reading would be beneficial - if I can do it without panicking about reviewing commitments and deadlines, lol!
ReplyDeleteI do that all the time. I read and it's fine, then blah, so I skip to the end, then put it away. Sigh. I'm sure I'll go back to them because as you said, it's not the book necessarily, just can't be bothered. Although never happened on a 10 page short. LOL
ReplyDeleteNo answer, I find it tends to come and go. I get in a slump and then it passes and both happen for no apparent reason.
How frustrating! Hmm. Would a PsyCop reread help, or would it hit the same problem??
ReplyDeleteTam: Let's hope this one shifts quickly then *eyes scary TBR pile*.
ReplyDeleteChris: I haven't started the Psycop re-read yet because I have a whole load of books to read for review first. Was hoping to shift them quickly, but....erm... not happening!
I think taking a break is good. I do puzzles when I'm read-out. :)) Though I'm weirdly pleased that readers suffer from mid-novel slump as well as writers! Sorry!! Honestly, every single story I've written, I get to the middle and think about not finishing it ... Sheer bloody-mindedness and downright curiosity about finding out what happens keeps me hanging on in though.
ReplyDelete:))
Anne
xxx
I'm certainly glad you finish writing the books, Anne :).
ReplyDeleteI've actually just finished a book that I managed to read all the way through without stopping, so maybe I'm cured :).
It seems to be catching. Luckily it hasn't reach my place yet
ReplyDelete