by Toni Blake
Lately, I’ve been in a reading funk. I don’t know why, but I’ve just had a hard time finding books that I’m really into. And since it seems like I have less and less time to read lately, I guess I’m getting pickier. Then, finally lo and behold, I got lucky.
The last few books I’ve picked up have broken my drought. And I think the reason why is – they’re a little different than what I usually read.
In fact, none of them are technically defined as romances, even though all have some romance elements in the story. The books are:
Lady Luck’s Map of Vegas, by Barbara Samuel
a woman’s fiction roadtrip story about an eccentric mother and her level-headed daughter, as well as the daughter’s twin, who is mentally ill.
Size 12 is not Fat, by Meg Cabot
a light, funny chick-lit mystery (and yes, there are murders, but somehow she still makes it funny!) And it’s the first of a series.
The Turning, by Jennifer Armintrout
young female doctor is attacked at the hospital under strange circumstances and soon figures out she’s been turned into a vampire. Also the first of a series.
I guess what it comes down to is this – I live and breathe romance as an author, and other than a couple of other Barbara Samuel books, I bet it’s been years since I read anything that wasn’t a romance.
So I suppose I just needed to shake things up a little, climb out of my safe little box and read something new and different. And I bet the next time I pick up a romance novel, I’ll be a happy and contented reader once again. In fact, I’m already looking forward to it!
So what do YOU do when you find yourself in a reading funk? Go to a different genre? Try a new author? Go back to old favorites? I’d love to hear some other people’s answer to this!
[note: beta blogger is being goofy if you have issues posting use the option ‘other’ and type in your name… if you use anon, make sure you type your name in the post]
I try to change the genre after each book, so that I won’t get bored by specific genre
I switch media altogether whenever I get hit with “book burnout.” I rent movies, or find some TV to watch, or visit the Manga and graphic novel section of the bookstore. Series TV is good for tightening your storytelling skills–the writers have a limited time (22 or 43 minutes) in which to tell a complete story. I still learn a lot about the framework of dramatic storytelling by watching Scooby Doo cartoons. A complete mystery, from setup to denouement in 22 minutes, with a music video thrown in. 😀
Thanks for commenting, guys, and I’m waving hi to Xandra : ) Thanks for stopping by : ) I couldn’t agree with you more about TV being an EXCELLENT place to learn about writing because of the limited time : ) I’m alway amazed when a sitcom can tell 2 and sometimes 3 complete stories in 22 minutes!
Nice to hear how other people keep from getting burned out in their reading : )
When I’m in a reading funk, I switch genres or media. I love children’s and young adult books, so sometimes I’ll read those.
Diana
I usually fall back on an old favorite. I’m a re-reader, so I’ll pull out of my treasures. If that doesn’t work (most of the time it does) I’ll read YA or a biography on an old movie star from the 30’s and 40’s.
When I’m in a reading funk, I mosey on over to an alien section of the bookstore and look for something completely different from my normal reading. Sometimes it’s literary, sometimes a biography, sometimes some man-written thriller that’s strictly a guy book. (Oh, and how-to books on writing; I’m a sucker for those.)
I hate reading funks though! Hate ’em, hate ’em! They make me feel as though a piece of me has gone missing.
I usually switch genres. In fact, I was on kinda a romance burnout and went and read a bunch of fantasy stuff. I think I’m coming down off that now, though.
Swept Away looks good!
Thanks for all the great answers, ladies. Sounds like a lot of us go for genre switches of some type or another : ) At least we know how to solve the problem when it strikes : )
And Nicole, thanks – so glad you’re intrigued by SWEPT AWAY : ) : )
I usually switch genres and that works for me so far.