Just overheard a guy at the library say something about 'reading slumps' that hit different

I was sitting near the magazine rack (don't judge, I like the quiet) and this guy tells his friend he hasn't finished a book in 4 months because he keeps picking up ones that feel like homework. That really landed with me because I've been doing the same thing. I realized I was forcing myself through dense non-fiction when all I really wanted was a silly mystery novel about a cat detective. So yesterday I grabbed one from the thrift store for $2 and finished it in two sittings. Has anyone else found that switching genres completely shakes off a reading slump?

2 comments

2 Comments

lee6277d agoMost Upvoted

Ha, that's exactly what I needed to hear, seriously. I think you're right about switching things up, but I gotta point out one thing - calling those dense non-fiction books "homework" isn't quite fair to the genres themselves. It's more about the pressure we put on ourselves to read "important" stuff instead of fun stuff. I spent months trying to slog through a history book that felt like a chore, then one night I grabbed a cheesy romance novel about a baker and a firefighter and read half of it in bed. It was like my brain finally let out a big sigh of relief. The trick isn't just changing genres, it's giving yourself permission to read something that doesn't make you feel smart or productive. So yeah, go grab that cat detective book and don't feel bad about it.

adams.harper6d ago

Actually I gotta push back a little on that "pressure we put on ourselves" thing. I mean yeah, that's a real factor, but calling dense non-fiction "homework" isn't really about the genre itself. It's more about how some books are literally written like they're trying to pass a test instead of telling a story. Like, I've read thrillers that felt way more like a chore than any textbook ever did. So it's not really about "important" vs "fun" stuff, it's about the writing style making you want to turn the page or not. Glad you found that cheesy romance though, those kind of books are the real heroes sometimes.

-1