A book to get me out of a reading slump

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow! People are very contrarian today. Whats so hard about:

OP, I read Yellowface and Song of Achilles recently. I couldn’t put them down.

Hope you get some other good recs!

+1 on Song of Achilles. I’m reading it now, and it’s working! Easy, well-written…

[Anonymous]

Personal Librarian Marie Benedict or any of her books

Secret Life of Muriel West

Sense of an Ending Julian Barnes

Trust

On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous
Ocean Vueng

The Bee Sting
Paul Murray

[Anonymous]

Cloud Cuckoo Land

[Anonymous]

Read Herman Woukes "winds of war" all the subject matter is sad, the book was compelling, and I could not put it down when I read it many years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cloud Cuckoo Land

I feel like that book will sink someone who’s struggling to read again.

[Anonymous]

Project Hail Mary
The Guncle
Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow (I didn’t like this, but most people do)
Remarkably Bright Creatures

[Anonymous]

I just finished Tom Lake by Ann Patchett and really enjoyed it.

[Anonymous]

Here are a few that I have enjoyed recently -
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow
The Berry Pickers
Yellowface
Charm City Rocks
Beyond That, the See
Maud's Line
The Lost Wife

[Anonymous]

I second both Song of Achilles and her other book, Circe -- both suck you in fast and hold on. The fact that the stories are familiar but told in a totally new (to me) way really helps.

I read Cloud Cuckoo Land and it helped with my slump last year but it starts as a slow burn so I might not recommend that.

Do you ever read YA or children's literature? Sometimes that helps me with a slump where I'm just struggling keeping attention. I have a 6 yr old so often I choose books to read with her that are old favorites or are highly recommended and it helps me remember what it feels like to love a book. Or reading one of the popular children's or YA series (Hunger Games, Harry Potter, etc.) can do it too -- obviously geared toward a younger reader but this tends to make them quick, easy reads that have a lot of rewarding turns. I normally read a lot of contemporary fiction, but sometimes it's a bummer or just harder to get into.

Reading biographies can help too. American Prometheus, which is the book the new Oppenheimer movie is based on, is a great one. I also like biographies of celebrities when they are well written.

Or explore a genre, especially if there is a series. I read all the Dublin Murder Squad books by Tara French a few years ago to escape a slump. I just got my DH a couple books from the Murderbot series (Martha Wells) to help with his.

Good luck! I've been struggling off and on with this since Covid started. I think it's stress, maybe shifting preferences due to so much bad news out there (lower tolerance for realistic "bummer" fiction, reading more genre stuff as an escape), and also just getting older and more tired. But once you find something you enjoy, it's worth the effort.

[Anonymous]

The boys in the boat, definitely read before seeing the movie
Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton Porter, might have to find it on eBay it’s an old one, back when they wrote beautiful books!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read non fiction and memoirs to get me out of slumps. For some reason, it’s more difficult for me to connect with fiction. I lose interest quickly if a novel is overwritten or has basic characters. Nonfiction is straight forward, and usually interesting… even captivating, if you’re lucky !

I second this good advice. Sometimes fiction lets me down and a memoir or a good nonfiction book can bring me back.

The Country of the Blind by Andrew Leland
The Wager by David Grann

Are two such books I have in my shelf rn. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Read Herman Woukes "winds of war" all the subject matter is sad, the book was compelling, and I could not put it down when I read it many years ago.

Great book! There is a sequel too. Marjorie Morningstar was one of my favorites growing up.

More recently, I loved Hello Beautiful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Read Herman Woukes "winds of war" all the subject matter is sad, the book was compelling, and I could not put it down when I read it many years ago.

Great book! There is a sequel too. Marjorie Morningstar was one of my favorites growing up.

More recently, I loved Hello Beautiful.

NP. Loved Marjorie Morningstar!

[Anonymous]

Erik Larson books- historical non-fiction but absolutely riveting- are a great palate cleanser.

Also F. Scott Fitzgerald for beautiful words.

[Anonymous]

A collection of short stories sometimes helps me out of a slump. Finishing each story feels like a little victory and if I don’t finish the whole thing, no big deal. Can always come back to if later.