2015 is off to a bad start in terms of reading. The books I’m reading this month are turning out to be either very mediocre or seemingly pointless, and I’m not all that motivated to continue.
I’m about a hundred pages into Ben Okri’s The Famished Road, and about 70 pages into Richard Morais’ A Hundred Food Journey, but both books are just a chore to read! I’d hate to quit, especially since The Famished Road is on my TBR Reading Challenge list, but at this rate, I won’t be able to move on to better books and hopefull get out of this rut.
I’m thinking of maybe just setting both books aside for now and coming back to them later on…but then if I do that, I honestly might never go back to reading them.
Oh, what to do? What to do?
The Misanthropologist 
Read a short book. Or nonfiction, or basically anything that you don’t usually read. I think it’s a good way to cleanse the literary palate because you’re still reading. If it still fails, just ignore it. You’ll be drawn again to books and you’ll find that you have to catch yourself from overreading, if there is such a thing.
Thanks for the suggestions! Actually that’s why I read Saramago’s memoirs. I’ve started Detective Story and it’s pretty interesting!
Yay! That’s good to hear. 🙂
I understand this mood. As it happens, I’m finding reading a bit tedious myself this month. I think it’s the weather, so I’m concentrating on writing instead. Have nearly completed a Na/No/Wri/Mo or whatever its called!.
Probably…or the whole new year thing…? Wow, that sounds great! Good luck on your writing project.
I usually do what you thought of doing: set both books aside in the meantime and pick up something less tedious to read. By that I mean short stories, or some YA (but I don’t think you read those, haha). I try my best to go back to the unfinished books, though, at some point. And then I pray hard that they have something worthwhile in the end. 🙂 Good luck!
Hahaha….sometimes I do read YA. I hope that they do have something worthwhile, para di naman sayang ang effort! Thanks!
I’d suggest going for a book written by a favourite author! I feel it always gets me back into the spirit of reading. 😀
Good idea! Thanks!
Re-reading a favourite. Yes, that can work!
That’s a good idea too, thanks!
We all have times when we hit a reading rut. 🙂 I definitely slacked in my reading efforts last month, but started off the new year with a book which has now become one of my favorites (The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry). After finishing that book, I wanted to dive back into reading.
I’ve heard of that book…,maybe I’ll give it a try! Thanks!
Reading ruts are the worst. Definitely set the books aside for now and pick something to read you know you will like. You can always go back to those other books later and if you don’t, well by that time you’ll be well into something you are enjoying and you won’t feel so bad about not getting back to them.
I guess you’re right. I did set aside The Famished Road for now. Who knows, I may be inspired to take it up again soon.
reading is a pleasure not work,you have our everyday chores!Quit them,donate them and move on to a better book!
I still haven’t finished The Famished Road 😦
that’s ok!!I never feel bad about books I abandon hehehe
I do sometimes, at first, then I forget all about it so it’s all good 😛
yep hehe right now tho I am having one good reading month!
Mine’s not bad, except I just finished a book today and I don’t know what to read next hehe.
I know the feeling!Currently reading Smoke gets in your eyes Caitlin Doughty,how to be a woman Caitlin Moran and Burrisd angels by Camilla Lackberg