Love this! It really does help to know you’re not alone, even when you’re simultaneously baffled about that fact, too. Reading can feel so singular, even though we all chat about books all the time, and when your reading feels rudderless, that can really underscore that feeling of being in it alone. It always surprises me that just sharing helps so much, too.
I'm in something of a reading depression right now, too. I started off the year participating in a whole slew of Substack group reads, which I usually enjoy, but some time in March I just lost interest in them all. All I've been reading is horror novels, with the occasional plot-heavy mystery thrown in. I don't know where my serious reading mojo has gone, but I want it back.
Sorry to hear this - that's the worst! I'm sure it will come back around in time. There's a lot going on right now (understatement) and I've noticed a lot of us are frequently falling in and out of reading ruts.
Horror sounded good to me too! I just started Chunk Wendig's forthcoming Staircase in the Woods. It's intriguing so far! Have you read any Wendig? I'm a fan!
I'm a Wendig fan, too, and have read several of his books. I'd like to read Staircase in the Woods; I think I might have been turned down for a galley, though, so it has dropped down my priority list.
I got my request in very early and was happy to score an approval 😁 I'll let you know if it's one to prioritize! I just noted a Wanderers Easter Egg, something I appreciate!
Uggghhh... And this is why I rarely DNF! I always worry I would have ended up enjoying it 😅 I may circle back to Nowhere. I thought about maybe giving it a try on audio. The writing style was really bothering me, so it was definitely a good move to set aside at the time. I am intrigued by the premise though!
I'm a mood reader too and it can be so difficult when I can't work out what I'm in the mood for. Sometimes I'll read a romance as a palate cleanser but more often I will pull out whatever books are sound interesting and read the first page to see what is calling to me.
I do these very same things! When I'm slump or lost I tend to reach for a romance or thriller, something plot forward that will hopefully hook me into turning pages quickly. I love a book tasting bc something will usually grab me. If all else fails I'll select a few books and ask my husband to choose what I should read based on his instincts 😅
I’m a mood reader too and sometimes I sit and just look through what I have and cannot decide.
That’s when I step away and go for a walk instead and see where my mind wanders to. I try to take note of what I’m thinking about then go back to my shelves and find something along those lines.
That's very smart! I think it usually comes so easily to me I sort of short circuit when it doesn't 😅 I have a tendency to just try to press on, which just makes things worse, really I need to do the opposite. A mind wandering walk sounds like an excellent strategy!
Great newsletter! I finally finished Careless People. I had to put it down frequently to shake off how mad it made me. Like you said, anyone paying attention knew what was probably happening, but her detailed admissions had me wanting to shove the book in the faces of people who are blind (or denying) what is really going on with privacy, access, and algorithms in social media.
Love this! It really does help to know you’re not alone, even when you’re simultaneously baffled about that fact, too. Reading can feel so singular, even though we all chat about books all the time, and when your reading feels rudderless, that can really underscore that feeling of being in it alone. It always surprises me that just sharing helps so much, too.
Also, thank you for sharing mine! 🫶
Very well said!
I'm in something of a reading depression right now, too. I started off the year participating in a whole slew of Substack group reads, which I usually enjoy, but some time in March I just lost interest in them all. All I've been reading is horror novels, with the occasional plot-heavy mystery thrown in. I don't know where my serious reading mojo has gone, but I want it back.
Sorry to hear this - that's the worst! I'm sure it will come back around in time. There's a lot going on right now (understatement) and I've noticed a lot of us are frequently falling in and out of reading ruts.
Horror sounded good to me too! I just started Chunk Wendig's forthcoming Staircase in the Woods. It's intriguing so far! Have you read any Wendig? I'm a fan!
I'm a Wendig fan, too, and have read several of his books. I'd like to read Staircase in the Woods; I think I might have been turned down for a galley, though, so it has dropped down my priority list.
I got my request in very early and was happy to score an approval 😁 I'll let you know if it's one to prioritize! I just noted a Wanderers Easter Egg, something I appreciate!
I'm so sorry you decided to DNF Nowhere. It was a 5-star read for me.
Uggghhh... And this is why I rarely DNF! I always worry I would have ended up enjoying it 😅 I may circle back to Nowhere. I thought about maybe giving it a try on audio. The writing style was really bothering me, so it was definitely a good move to set aside at the time. I am intrigued by the premise though!
Emma. (2020) is one of my favorite movies 💖💖💖
I can see why! I really enjoyed it too!
I'm a mood reader too and it can be so difficult when I can't work out what I'm in the mood for. Sometimes I'll read a romance as a palate cleanser but more often I will pull out whatever books are sound interesting and read the first page to see what is calling to me.
I do these very same things! When I'm slump or lost I tend to reach for a romance or thriller, something plot forward that will hopefully hook me into turning pages quickly. I love a book tasting bc something will usually grab me. If all else fails I'll select a few books and ask my husband to choose what I should read based on his instincts 😅
A book tasting! What a great phrase
I’m a mood reader too and sometimes I sit and just look through what I have and cannot decide.
That’s when I step away and go for a walk instead and see where my mind wanders to. I try to take note of what I’m thinking about then go back to my shelves and find something along those lines.
Sometimes it works out, sometimes not. 🤷🏻♀️
That's very smart! I think it usually comes so easily to me I sort of short circuit when it doesn't 😅 I have a tendency to just try to press on, which just makes things worse, really I need to do the opposite. A mind wandering walk sounds like an excellent strategy!
So glad you’re finally reading HAMNET! 🥲
I enjoyed it SO much! Someone really should have told me how good it is 😉
This title! The greatest.
Great newsletter! I finally finished Careless People. I had to put it down frequently to shake off how mad it made me. Like you said, anyone paying attention knew what was probably happening, but her detailed admissions had me wanting to shove the book in the faces of people who are blind (or denying) what is really going on with privacy, access, and algorithms in social media.