A BLOG FOR READERS AND AUTHORS OF MTV BOOKS

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Saturday, June 5, 2010

Summer Reading Slump



I am in a book rut. I've started maybe four books in the past four weeks and only finished one. The thing is, all of the books are supposed to be "good." They got good reviews on Amazon, they're about topics I normally find engaging. They're my "type."

And all this has me worried. Because either 1) I have no taste in books and don't know what "good" is (not a good thing if you're a writer), or 2) there are no originally entertaining ideas left which means that my work in progress will be met with the same so-so reception by readers.

Or maybe I'm just in a pre-summer reading funk. I want a book I can't bear to put down, one that makes me laugh and keeps me captivated. I felt like that when reading John Green's AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES last summer. I felt like that reading Tara Altabrando's THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS (a fellow MTV Books author).


I've decided to accept the blame. Like that age old reasoning, "It's not you, it's me." So I'll continue to buy books and try them out, and at least feel like, regardless of my reaction to the story, I'm supporting fellow writers - which is so important these days!!! What about you? Ever gone through a "dry spell" where you couldn't find any books that that hit the spot?

2 comments:

Jan Blazanin said...

I just finished THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE, so I'm not in a slump so far. Two of the funniest books I ever read are HARRIS AND ME by Gary Paulson and THE INCREDIBLE (something) OF BLOSSOM CULP by Richard Peck. Both of them had me laughing out loud.

Jennifer Echols said...

It is really rare for me to not finish a book! That's why I don't understand book bloggers' "DNF" reviews--even if I don't like a book, I have to finish.