I think every reader has experienced the reading rut. When you just can’t get into any book you pick up. Everything is boring. Everything sucks. No book is good enough.
I have been in one of those myself as of late. These ruts can last for days, weeks, sometimes even MONTHS! When you’re in one of these ruts, the only way out is through. Don’t give up on reading entirely and drown yourself in Netflix, keeping searching for that gateway book that will drag you out.
Here are some tips for when you’re really stuck and can’t seem to gain momentum on your reading.
Ask for recommendations. Sometimes all you need is a great recommendation for a friend, family member, or teacher to dig you out. Explain your predicament and ask the other readers in your life to recommend some of their favorite reads.
Try a new genre. All of us have our favorite genres that we return to time and time again, and that’s totally fine. It’s like a favorite food or color. But when you’re in a rut, it’s usually time to shake things up. If you’re usually a science fiction nerd, try a suspenseful mystery or a heart-wrenching realistic fiction novel. If you’re into nonfiction, maybe you need a good fantasy story to pull you into another world.
Pick up a thriller/suspense novel. Many people (including me) tend to frown upon thrillers because they’re not quality literature, but the truth is, these books are bestsellers for a reason. They’re fast-paced, easy to read, and really pull you in. They might not be the next To Kill a Mockingbird, but that’s okay. There’s a time for classics and there’s a time for thrillers.
Re-read an old favorite or a guilty-pleasure pick. Just as we need trash TV or to rewatch a favorite show sometimes, the same goes for books. You need to mix in some easy, guilty-pleasure reads. Maybe that book you know is too easy but you loved as a little kid, or that cheesy romance book you’ve been dying to read but have been too embarrassed to pick up. If you try to go for challenge and rigor every time, you’ll undoubtedly get bored.
Accept the rut and keep trying. It’s tempting to get annoyed or give up on reading entirely when we’re in a rut. That won’t help you get out of it. What will help is trying a lot of different books until you find the right one. It’s totally okay to abandon books that are not exciting you! Keep at it and the right book will find you.
