Sunday, November 29, 2015

HELP WANTED!

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help!

…and it has been ongoing for almost a month now.

I honestly don’t know what’s wrong with me. The last proper book I’ve read was Sweep in Peace and Winter, which were very amazing exemptions because the weeks prior to that, I haven’t been able to read anything awesome-worthy until now. Yes, I’ve reviewed some, but those were books I’ve already read before my life entered this abyss called the “bookworm slump”, and it’s been an awful, terribly ride, let me tell you. You know, it’s so weird for me to be this way considering I usually have a lot of tips for those who are in the same predicament:

  • read your favorite books! It will reignite your reading again! —> Only that I tried, and yet I still can’t get into reading. -_-
  • take a long-ass break! Soon you’ll miss reading, and come back to it!ย —> My break has already gone on for too long.
  • take up a new hobby! Try crafting or gaming or collecting stamps!ย —> I’m already on World of Warcraft, Everquest 2, Guild Wars 2, and a couple of Playstation games and it’s sucking my hours fast… if I don’t get into reading soon, my games might never let me leave from their clutches forever! (I kid, I kid)

SO WHY THE HECK ARE THEY NOT WORKING ON ME NOW?!

I think this week alone, I’ve given up on a total of 5 books. Some of them were really bad, some of them just didn’t appeal to me however amazing they seemed. I’m really in a crisis here, folks – I haven’t reviewed anything properly for almost a week now (my last review was a DNF review out of desperation… hah!).

So this is where you guys come in.

I NEED YOUR HELP.

I need you, the lovely people of this book community, to recommend me books that you think I would like. It can be erotica, young adult, or adult, I don’t care as long as they are in these genres:ย science fiction, fantasy, urban fantasy, adventure, mystery, psychological thriller.ย Please help me get out of this god-forsaken book slump by giving me that FANTASTIC, ALL-AMAZING BOOK that I would rise from the dead for.

I’ll be waiting patiently,

Faye

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Canadian blogger, wife, mother, coffee lover, and sarcastic at heart! She has had a love for all things bookish since before Amazon and eReaders existed *le gasp*. You can also find her organizing tours and other fun things at Xpresso Book Tours.

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38 Responses to “HELP WANTED!”

    • Shannon

      you would love the Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins or the Legend Trilogy by Marie Lu. Also To step out of that Genre I highly recommend The Martian by Andy Weir plus the movie just came out and it is an amazing adaptation of the book!

  1. Pili @ In Love With Handmade

    Hmmm… I’m thinking recent favourites and books I’ve loved and I think all of them you’ve read… =/
    Book slumps are the worst things ever! And the worst is not wanting to read something highly awaited just in case not even that book will capture your attention and love…

    I’ll do a bit more thinking and get back to you on Twitter if something pops into my head!

  2. Jane Willis

    How about stepping completely outside your comfort zone and reading a book from a completely different genre? It could be that your brain has become saturated with the styles of book you normally love and is subconsciously looking for a change. Or – and this usually happens for me – you might LOATHE the new genre so much you are thrilled to get back to your old loves. Whenever I can’t persuade myself to read, I try a Western – I’m soon screaming to be allowed to read something different!

  3. Lisa M

    Oh I do hate when this happens to me!
    I usually give into the break and binge watch tv series, knitting, crafting, etc
    and then I jump into a genre I haven’t read or haven’t read in a while …
    I wish I had some suggestions for you … I rarely read in the genres you described

  4. Gabriella Elin

    I completely relate to your bookish break down! But there is a book that I didn’t even mean to buy from the Kindle store that really got me into reading again, ‘My Sister’s Secret’ by Tracy Buchanan. It’s such an easy read, I’ve got a review up on my blog atm, where I’ve summed up the plot etc. It’s such a light hearted mystery that I found to be quite enjoyable ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. Zoe

    Don’t panic! You’ll find your reading mojo again. The best book I’ve read this year is “The Heart Goes Last” by Margaret Atwood. Fantastic dark humour and a dystopian vision of the future that feels scarily likely.

  6. Ashley

    I read Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel a couple months back and absolutely LOVED IT! I don’t usually go for science fiction novels, but I’m so grateful that a friend recommended this one to me. The story revolves around several key characters and their lives before and after a huge flu epidemic wipes out most of the Earth’s human population. Highly, highly recommended!!!

  7. Annette

    I have two: Illuminae, which I thought was OK, but everyone else seems to love. It’s a bit of a different format, so might help the slump. I recently read The Girl With All the Gifts and liked it too. Both are sci-fi, and you may have read them. Also The Martian, but you’ve probably read that. Good luck! I won’t recommend Hotel Ruby ๐Ÿ˜‰

  8. Tammy @ Books, Bones & Buffy

    I’m in a slump too! The last 3 books I’ve had to force myself to finish. Honestly, I think it’s an “end of the year” thing. I feel completely blogged out and I guess I need a break! But if you love urban fantasy I HIGHLY recommend The Fifth House of the Heart. One of my faves of the year.

  9. Catherine

    Just read the new Cormoran Strike book – been in a bit of a slump as well, but I finished it in two days. ‘The Cuckoo’s Calling’ is the first one, if you haven’t read the others. Good characters, mystery and it’s J.K Rowling!

  10. Shannon

    I’m the same way right now. It’s not that the books I’m picking up are bad or uninteresting, it’s just that I can’t bring myself to read them. I’m usually able to sit down and power through a good (short) graphic novel in a couple of sittings though, so maybe try that. I recommend Anya’s Ghost or Through the Woods. Good Luck!

  11. Micheline @ Lunar Rainbows Reviews

    Oh no :O Reading slumps suck the big one! Especially when you try EVERYTHING and NOTHING can shake it! Ok so let me think of really addictive book series I’ve read….Oh well there’s the Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning. It’s an adult UF and the addiction factor was through the roof there! The Charley Davidson series is similar but lighter and funnier….just as addictive though. I recently read The Wolves of Mercy Falls by Maggie Stiefvater for the first time and they were compulsively readable! I hope you get a suggestion that’ll fix things up for you Faye! xx

  12. Hannah

    I find when I’m in a slump, I need cheesy romance/paranormal books. For some reason, that helps me. Or something that’s quite short and snappy. Have you tried Nalini Singh? She writes adult PNR and its quite enjoyable.

  13. Belle

    I second Illuminae – more for the novelty of the format than the story (which is pretty good but not rise-from-the-dead good).

    I also find it helpful to read a standalone, a series can feel quite overwhelming when you’re not that into reading! The Scrivener’s Tale by Fiona McIntosh and The Tournament by Matthew Reilly are really great. I’d lean more towards Matthew Reilly though, his stripped back, action oriented style really drags you along without bogging you down in details.

  14. jan farnworth

    have you read the iron fey series by julie kagawa the last book just came out. i also love her dragon shifter series. Have you read the jim butcher dresden series that have fey and a wizard dective. Have you read sherry ficklin queen of someday series last book just came out for that. Also jennifer anne davis The key first book is free also sherry ficklin new hacker series book one is free for that to. Hope you get out of your slump.

  15. Tracy Harrington Atkinson

    I understand your dilemma. I’ve been in a slump too! I was recently told that it was the ‘fall wall’ and time to hibernate. My last book I published, Calais, has a sequel which I just have not been able to get finished despite all of the outlines, etc. I have been reading non-fiction to help me get out of the slump. I decided to try something new. It has spun some new thoughts which I am anxious to try this week. (My favs have been Quiet and Scarcity.) I also have given myself a day off -mandatory, even if I have a great idea! I use Sunday and make it a family day.
    Good luck! I look forward to reading what you create!

  16. Bria Quinlan

    How about a Romantic Suspense? One of my favs right now is Nora’s THE SEARCH. Grumpy hero. Independent kick-butt heroine. The cutest puppy in the world. Deranged serial killers. Yes, plural.

  17. Ayanami Faerudo

    Ah, reading slump. I’m hit with it a few times a year. Well, at least a reading-proper-books slump. When I’m in its throes, I play Dragon Age, binge-watch a series and/or reading fanfiction. Then, it would just go away somehow (after copious amounts of chocolate) and I get back in stride. I don’t force it; I’m still reading fanficiton anyway.

    So, book recommendations… How about April White’s The Immortal Descendants series? Or Heather Lyons’ The Collectors’ Society. Try them on for size.

  18. ShootingStarsMag

    Hm…for psychological/thrillers, have you tried the series by Robert Galbraith (aka JK Rowling)? LOVE THOSE! Also Eeny-Meeny and Pop Goes the Weasel (blanking on the author name, but another british writer and those are the first two out in the U.S. right now at least…).

    -Lauren

  19. Nickle @ Night Owl Reads

    I was (still is, sort of) in a slump too. I don’t know what I can recommend coz I think you’ve read what I’ve read. or if there’s a few that you haven’t, either I don’t recommend them or they’re not amazing enough to get someone out of a slump. What I did was read middle grade, kind of like to clean the reading palette, I started with Wonder, then I recently finished The Lightning Thief. I’m not reading as fast as I want to, but the important thing is I’m reading. So I guess that helped. How about choosing a recommendation, lock yourself in a room without internet, hide your cellphone, and just read. Sometimes it’s the distractions that keep us from reading. Hope that helps. ๐Ÿ˜€

  20. Rochelle

    My suggestion would be to try a genre you wouldn’t normally gravitate towards or a book that you are not reading for the purpose of reviewing, just for fun. You can also try audio books! Like now, I just finished the Skulduggery Pleasant audio books and I’m now on to the How To Train Your Dragon series audio books. I wouldn’t normally read these but it’s fun to listen to them and it did pull me out of a slump or two. ๐Ÿ™‚

  21. Maan

    You might have read these following books, but if you have, rereading it would probably be okay as long as it gets you out of that terrible slump. Plus I enjoyed these books a lot so I hope you do, too.

    The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg
    Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
    The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
    Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

    Contemporary books are also a great help ๐Ÿ™‚

  22. Taylor H.

    Read something that does not require commitment and is kind of short, also something indulgent. Like The First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones or something similar

  23. Jeann @ Happy Indulgence

    Awww Faye it’s definitely not fun to be on a book slump! I think you’ll enjoy some of my favourite Urban Fantasy reads, the Weather Warden series by Rachel Caine (wardens with cool weather, earth and firelike powers and my book boyfriend who is a Djinn), The Georgina Kincaid series by Richelle Mead (featuring a Succubus and a super cute nerdy guy as the male heroine) and something a bit weirder is the Downside Ghosts series with Tess, who is a drug addict but also a witch. Hopefully you can find something to get out of the slump!