How to Get Out of a Reading Funk
I’ve always been a reader.
Even as a preschooler, my mother would overhear me reading books aloud to my dolls that I’d carefully lined up in a perfect row. Books excite me, but that doesn’t mean I’ve never been in a reading funk. In fact, I’ve been through many of them.
The most recent funks have occurred after the births of my two children—no, duh! Who wants to sit down with a book when you’re running on three hours of sleep? Not me. I’d rather use that time to nap. Regardless of when the funks come or how long they last (because some have lasted as long as a year), I always find my way back. Or maybe it’s more accurate to say, books find their way back to me.
If you’re in a reading funk right now, don’t fret. I want to encourage you today with five ways to get back to your love of reading (or even to ignite a new love!).
Don’t finish a book you’re not enjoying
Can I let you in on a little secret? I needed someone else to give me permission to do this—to put down books I wasn’t enjoying and just walk away . . . forever. I used to be die hard about finishing any book I started. I can’t really tell you why other than it felt like the right thing to do. It’s like the time I attended my husband’s graduation with his parents. While the rest of the crowd simmered out after the ceremony officially ended, my mother-in-law asked that we remain standing in the bleachers until the very last graduate walked out of the arena. She wanted us to do the respectful thing, and I think I felt the same way about finishing books.
Until someone I really admire said one of her reading “rules” was that she never finished a book she didn’t like. It was like an ah-ha moment for me! My TBR stack is long . . . imagine how many more books I could get to if I let myself “give up” on books that didn’t suit me and read more that did. This rule has been life changing for me (is that too dramatic to say?!).
The most recent book I put down after 100 pages was The Midnight Library. It had excellent reviews across the board, but I just couldn’t get into it, and that’s okay. Reading should be FUN, so if you’re not enjoying the book, find something else. Life is too short, my friend.
Find what you really like and stick to it
I often feel like I’m surrounded by huge fans of romance novels. Not only do my friends love to read them, but some of them even write them! There have been moments where I have wondered if something was wrong with me because romance novels are just not my thing. While I love a good chick-flick and even a cheesy Hallmark Christmas movie, the books don’t move me. Sometimes I read them anyway, and there have been times that I’ve even enjoyed them, but for the most part, I really enjoy contemporary fiction that focuses on family dramas (I wonder what that says about me).
I encourage you to do the same thing. Figure out what genre of books really suck you in and stick to that! There’s no need to read far and wide unless you really want to. With the bagillions of books out there, you can read the same genre until the end of time and still have a TBR stack that could reach the sky. Again, reading should be fun, so if you know what genre is fun for you, then read that and stop caring about what others are reading.
Join a book club—in person if possible
Being in a book club is so much fun, especially when all the members are really into it and actually read the book. I’ll never forget showing up to a book club meeting for the book The Woman in the Window and being in awe at how much effort the host had put into creating a themed night. There was caution tape, fake pill bottles, empty bottles of wine spewed about, and so much more. It inspired me to go all out with a Cuban theme when I hosted the meeting for the book Next Year in Havana.
Books clubs genuinely make reading fun. You have people expecting you to finish the book in time for your meeting (which holds you accountable to actually reading) and you have people to discuss everything you liked and didn’t like about the book, plus tons of snacks—it’s like when people throw The Bachelor/Bachelorette viewing parties . . . but better 😉
You can find book clubs through your local library, Facebook groups, neighborhood associations, or by creating your own with a few good friends.
Make it an event
If you’re really trying to get out of a reading funk, try creating a fun environment that you can look forward to. For example, you could take a book on a Saturday morning to your favorite brunch spot and read while you enjoy a delicious meal. Or maybe it’s a beautiful, sunny day so you make a cold drink and sit in the grass to read until the sun goes down.
Some people love to read in a bubble bath with candles and a munchy treat. The opportunities are endless. Just combine something you already love (eating out, being outside, bubble baths) with reading.
Spend time browsing in bookstores
I love browsing a beautiful, independent bookstore. They tend to have the most beautiful books on display—books I would have never crossed paths with had I not walked through their doors. That’s why I think browsing through a bookstore unhurried is another way to get out of a reading funk. You’re going to discover so much more there than you would discover by browsing online or even at your local library (where the latest releases might be checked out). It’s also just fun (I think there’s a theme in this blog post!). Bookstores are peaceful, usually beautiful, and staffed by some of the most well-read people in your community. If you’ve got a free Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon, grab your favorite drink and spend an hour or two browsing at your local indie shop for your next favorite book. My favorite locally is Parnassus in Nashville
Speaking of your next favorite book, I have a recommendation that might be just that . . . it’s a beautiful family drama that takes place in Miami and Cali, Colombia. Oh, and did I mention . . . I wrote it 🙃 An American Immigrant is available anywhere books are sold and currently has a 4.5 star rating on Amazon.
Whatever it is that helps you get out of your reading funk, I hope it’s the kind of thing that keeps your head in a book for many years to come.
Let me know in the comments below if there is something else that has helped you get out of a reading funk. There are people out there who need our help!
