Everyone talks about how reading is necessary for writing, but I always have such a hard time finding novels to read that I like. I'll check out 11 books at the library and return all of them. I search for what's in my genre and books others like, but I just can't find something that captivates me.
Do you have any tips for finding a good book?
Trouble Getting Invested in Books
If you're looking for books in your genre and books that others seem to enjoy, and are still struggling that hard to find something captivating, I would question whether there's more going on than you simply not liking the book. Here are other things that could be happening:
1) You're Not Giving the Book a Chance - Not all books are going to sweep you off your feet in the first chapter. In fact, most probably won't. Some of the best books I've read took a few chapters to get off the ground. So, make sure you're not giving up on books too soon. I usually give a book five chapters. If there's not even a glimmer of promise by then, I'll DNF.
2) You're Not That Into Your Genre - You'd be surprised how often people claim a genre but can only name a few books, movies, or TV shows in that genre they actually enjoyed. If you're having trouble getting into books in your genre, it could be you're not so much a fan of that genre but of whatever particular story led you to it. Try other genres and see what happens.
3) Right Genre, Wrong Subgenre - Most genres are umbrellas for a huge variety of subgenres. The romance genre, for example, houses subgenres like paranormal romance, contemporary romance, historical romance, science fiction romance... Someone might enjoy reading and writing historical romance but have no interest in reading contemporary romance. So, it's worth making sure you're in the right subgenre.
4) You're Just Not in the Mood - Some people are such avid readers they can read no matter how they're feeling. Others need to be in the right mood or mindset. When I'm dealing with sadness, depression, anxiety, or am just super busy, my "pages read" count drops dramatically. So, take your mood and mindset into account when you sit down to read. Try reading at different times of day or on different days to see if it makes a difference.
5) You're Distracted While Reading - Another bookish mood killer is distraction. If you're getting a lot of text messages, are scrolling through social media, have the TV or radio on, or are someplace where there's a lot of activity and interruptions, you might have a harder time falling into the pages of your book. Try finding a quiet place free from distractions to read.
6) You Need to Get an Eye Exam - I'm at the age where most people need reading glasses, and one thing I've noticed with friends is that their interest in reading tapers off in the months before they get glasses, then suddenly they're reading like maniacs again. Even when you're younger, eyesight can weaken, and when your eyes are weaker it's harder to read. Even if you don't realize the words are a bit blurry, your eyes do. You may get a headache, find yourself re-reading the same sentence over and over, or you might just feel like you can't get into what you're reading.
Alternatives to reading when you just can't read:
start watching a new TV show
play through a story-oriented video game
read graphic novels or comic books
How to Find Good Books to Read:
search for Goodreads lists using keywords that interest you
sites like Whichbook, What Should I Read Next, or BookSeer
read the book that inspired your favorite TV show or movie
find a "best books" list and choose one
ask friends and family for recommendations
I hope this helps you get your reading back on track!
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