15. Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
I know what you're thinking. "She's fallen off the face of the book blogging earth!" And yeah, it may seem like that, but really I'm just...you know...in kind of a reading slump. I don't know what to read next, despite having several books on my shelves I'm confident I'll love and I'm afraid to start reading those because what if I end up disliking them due to the fact that I've forced myself to read them? This is very bizarre for me. It's not like I'm in school and I'm spending way too much time reading other things to keep up with my pleasure reading. I am, however, busy since I'll be moving to another apartment in a couple of weeks. Signed my lease on Monday and everything. But then again, I'm not so busy that I couldn't read something.
In the meantime, check out my review of Amy Krouse Rosenthal's Encycolpedia of an Ordinary Life, which we're reading for the Gapers Block June Book Club. It's an awesome book and if you ever have the opportunity to see Amy read, I suggest you do so.
Of course, I read this book months ago when every spare minute I could muster was spent between the pages. Seriously, what's wrong with me? Anyone have any reading suggestions to get me out of this slump?
I know what you're thinking. "She's fallen off the face of the book blogging earth!" And yeah, it may seem like that, but really I'm just...you know...in kind of a reading slump. I don't know what to read next, despite having several books on my shelves I'm confident I'll love and I'm afraid to start reading those because what if I end up disliking them due to the fact that I've forced myself to read them? This is very bizarre for me. It's not like I'm in school and I'm spending way too much time reading other things to keep up with my pleasure reading. I am, however, busy since I'll be moving to another apartment in a couple of weeks. Signed my lease on Monday and everything. But then again, I'm not so busy that I couldn't read something.
In the meantime, check out my review of Amy Krouse Rosenthal's Encycolpedia of an Ordinary Life, which we're reading for the Gapers Block June Book Club. It's an awesome book and if you ever have the opportunity to see Amy read, I suggest you do so.
Of course, I read this book months ago when every spare minute I could muster was spent between the pages. Seriously, what's wrong with me? Anyone have any reading suggestions to get me out of this slump?
posted by Veronica at 1:42 PM
10 Comments:
For a slump I suggest something short and pithy, either short stories, or even better a novella.
Here are some:
Modern World by Michael Chabon
Great Granny Webster by Caroline Blackwood
Anything written by Muriel Spark
Willful Creatures by Aimee Bender
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto (but none of her other books, sadly...)
Bodily Harm by Margaret Atwood
um...
I also find that trashy books go a long way towards ending a slump.
I just escaped the slump! what worked for me was Dropped Threads 3, quickly followed by Never Let Me Go. Had me reading well into the small hours, they did. As haggard and exhausted as I was, it sure was nice to get that old excitement back.
Thanks for the suggestions guys! I guess the only way to get out of the slump is to just get back in there and start reading again, huh? I've actually considered going the trash route, picking something that won't require any thought or dedication. Despite hating Candace Bushnell, I've always wanted to read Sex and the City. Maybe this is the time to do it.
I reach for my R.L. Stine / Christopher Pike pile when I'm in a slump.
Sex and the City the book is rubbish. It makes me so sad to say that as I love the series but it really is lame.
I'd male a reccomendation for Bella Pollen's books. They're more enjoyably light than trash but almost guarenteed to break a slump. Or I recently discovered that Jodi Piccoult's book 'Salem Falls' will keep you reading until late.
Off topic I've just seen the advert for the BBC adaptation of 'Line of Beauty' and I'm excited.
Yeah, I kind of assume it's going to be bad based on the one other Bushnell book I'v read, but I can't make myself stop wanting to read it. Just to see what inspired the series, you know? I'm not usually open to trash so this is why I'm thinking it would be a good time to do this - while I don't feel like I'm wasting my reading time because I'm not reading anyway.
I don't know...I may not read anything until the move is over and I can relax in my new apartment.
When this happens to me, I try to think of it as a cycle rather than a slump. I go through many cycles throughout the year, but the reading cycle always returns full force.
It is a cycle, isn't it? So it's weird that we feel bad when the pendulum swings to the lesser reading side instead of always staying at the greater reading side. Well, I'm happy to report that I've started reading again! I should have something posted in a few days, but I picked up a reread whose details I didn't really remember and now I'm on two other books. I actually want to read, too, which is different from how I was feeling before. For some reason stress makes me unable to do my favorite, most comforting activity. Check back for an update soon!
Exxie ... Just curious, what was your purple flower moment when reading Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life?
I would have to say...sitting in my bed reading the book and realizing that there were so many things in it that my best friend would love. So much of it she would understand that I could share with her in a way that I don't really share with other people. It made me profoundly sad...I miss her a lot. (She's in New Mexico and I've just come to the realization that we'll never have the kind of relationship where we're a part of each others' daily lives. We'll never the kind of "Hey, I'm coming over to hang out," kind of relationship again. After eight years of long distance friendship, I'm finally starting to accept that.)
Post a Comment
<< Home