Book Talk is a new and occasional feature where I talk about non-review bookish things.

Today, I’m revisiting the topic of reading slumps.  I’ve been in one for quite a few weeks now, and it was really weird for me, because I don’t really remember going through one before.  It’s been a totally weird and new experience for me, but I’m also glad I’ve gone through it.

I mentioned a couple weeks ago that I was really starting to come out of it, because my reading habits have gone back to normal…for the most part.

It was actually a big help to talk about it, and after that original post, I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders, and I definitely felt better about my disinterest in reading.  I really do feel like it was my mind’s way of telling me to take a bit of a break and to slow it down for a while.  You can only keep it up for so long before it catches up with you.

Looking back, I think I was putting a lot of pressure on myself to always be reading, and to be reading constantly, and to have a lot of books going on at once, even if I didn’t realize it at the time.  Now that I’ve had a bit of a break, and am not constantly reading something, I felt like I had to read all the time because otherwise, I’d be a horrible book blogger because I wasn’t talking about what I was reading.  I definitely felt like I had to read a certain number of books a week, and that I need to keep up with how much I’ve previously read.

But book bloggers talk about all kinds of things, and it’s okay to take a step back and talk about those other things.  Like reading slumps and cookbooks and anything else that comes to mind.  It’s definitely not the end of the world.  Getting back into reviewing has been a little bit hard, because I haven’t been doing it as much, but it’s also good to be talking about what I’m reading.  And to be excited about what I reading (sometimes) and to actually WANT to pick up a book again.

I’m not going to lie, it’s been nice to read less than what I have been, but I also missed reading that much, so I’m glad to have several books going on at once.  

Still, I’m definitely going to try to keeping things at 4 or 5 books, because while I can handle 6 books, I also don’t really want to right now.  And I’m definitely going to be working in more audio books, because listening seems more my speed right now than reading.

I’ve definitely learned a lot from this reading slump:

• For one thing, it’s okay to have periods where I don’t read as much or where I’m not super-interested in reading.  It doesn’t make me a horrible reader, and sometimes, I just need to curl up in bed with some good t.v. or sit on the couch crocheting. Just going with it and not stressing about it is really important- I think it’s just part of being a big reader and a book blogger.
• And another thing is to try listening to audio books- there is something about having a book read to you, and it’s something I’ll have to try the next time I’m in a reading slump.  And maybe try print too?  For some reason, e-books weren’t doing it for me, so switching formats is something that’s worth trying out.
• Also: re-reading books may work.  That’s another thing to try the next time I’m in a reading slump- reading old favorites may get me back to reading (but I also won’t know until I try, so there is that).
• Another thing for next time: switching genres and reading things outside of my YA comfort zone.  Why did I not think of this earlier?

I’m definitely glad to be reading again, and even though it was weird at first, I’m glad that it’s over and that I went through it. I know that sounds weird, but I think it’s been good a take a bit of a break.