Hey Hey! Welcome to another Random Rants and Rambling; where the topics are random but the vents are not! (wow that was corny)
SO ANYWAY, now that I’ve recovered from that corny statement, I want to revisit mood reading. Back in May of last year, I had a similar discussion about being a mood reader, and I asked all of YOU if you were. At that time, I was pretty adamant that I am in fact, not a mood reader. Like, at all. I could make a schedule based on release date or… whatever else, and just pick up the book and read it without any hiccups.
Now? Well… I believe I am slowly developing into being a mood reader. Here’s why.
No seriously. I was reading the same 2 books for 2 weeks straight. Which is so unlike me it’s unreal. It’s a struggle to finish anything lately, it’s mind-boggling.
(also, still haven’t finished those books yet)
My time is limited. I feel like I’m SO busy these days with kids, work, and so many other life things, I don’t have has much time to read (i.e. I’M FREAKING TIRED). And don’t feel like reading.I repeat. I don’t feel like reading. WHAT EVEN.
Related: Ain’t No One Got Time For That
Books I was excited to read months/weeks/days ago, no longer hold interest. Which sucks, because now I feel even worse if I don’t get a book read. Which in turn, frustrates me because I don’t want to feel bad about NOT READING. It’s a CYCLE.
Since closing After Hours, I haven’t read as many new adult or adult books, which makes me wonder:
was I “force reading” to keep content fresh over there?
am I in a funk now because I am only reading YA??
is there something legit wrong with me that I spend so much time thinking about this!?
*heavy sigh*
- Are you a mood reader? If yes, have you always been a mood reader?
- How do you decide what to pick up, when to call it quits or when to power through a book?
*Post linked to 2016 Discussion Challenge
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Tonyalee is an avid reader, gym junkie, coffee addicted workaholic, and blogger. Be sure to follow on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for random shenanigans.
25 Comments
I have moments like that. Some months I read, read, read, while other months I can’t seem to make a dent in what I am reading or plan to read for that month. Idk really know what causes that for me, but I completely understand how you feel.
Penni @ Penni’s Perceptions recently posted…Book Review: By the Shores of Silver Lake
Me either! this is so new to me and I’m scared I wont get out of it! LOL
tonyalee recently posted…BEA Blues {Weekly Wrap Up 109}
OMG I feel like you entered my head and stole my thoughts lol, this has been me the past few months and it is so freaking frustrating!
Danielle recently posted…The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
It’s like we are mind readers LOL 😛
I am a mood reader and tbh, sometimes I hate it.
I honestly do not like it when I have review copies waiting to be read, but I am not in a mood for any of them but want to read something else.
For example, at this very moment I have over 20 review copies waiting to be read and do you know what I did yesterday?
I purchased The Unexpected Everything so I could read it.
It is a great book and I don’t mind purchasing it, but everytime I pick a book on my own it means I will need more time until I finally read and review something I obligated myself to.
irena_bookdustmagic recently posted…Bout of Books Day 1 Update
I never understood the feeling of mood readers, because like I said I have always been able to just pick up whatever and read it. It’s an odd feeling, for sure!
I don’t remember if I responded to your mood reader post, but I used to be a huge mood reader. I couldn’t get into books if they weren’t EXACTLY what I wanted to read at the time. This can make reading obligations (book club, buddy reviews, and ARCs) really hard for me sometimes! Lately though, somehow, I’ve been able to pull myself out of the mood reading. I can generally pick up any book within a genre I like and read it. Soooo that being said, I think genre ruts are huge issue for me. Sometimes I OD on YA romance and need to take a break.
Lauren Ransom recently posted…Top Ten Tuesdays #89: Non-Bookish Sites
That is exactly how I was! I could pick up ANYTHING and be good. Now? Not so much.
ANd yes, it could be YA burnout. But all the books I’ve wanted to read are YA so… idk hahaha
tonyalee recently posted…BEA Blues {Weekly Wrap Up 109}
I have always been a mood reader, and trust me, it sucks. Especially when I have ARCs that I was so excited for needed to be read. Sometimes I go weeks without reading anything. Sometimes I am in the middle of 5 books at the same time. Sometimes it is a book I have been dying to read but have no time for. Life gets in the way, and leaches the fun out of reading a book at leisure.
I never feel like a genre rut, though. I do limit contemporary to one at a time between other genres, because that is one genre I really don’t like bingeing on.
One way I have learnt to deal with it is to take it lightly. I read when I feel like reading, and whenever I am in the mood, I read as much as I can. Forcing myself to read only makes me resent the book unnecessarily, which doesn’t make for an objective review. Sometimes when I don’t feel like reading, I go on Tumblr, check out fanart and stuff – the book community itself reinvigorates me.
ruthsic recently posted…Book Blogger Hop: May 6-12
I think I’m in the middle of 4? There are two I probably won’t ever finish, but alas. Here we are.
I’ve again, never felt like I was in a genre rut before. Running two blogs, I read plenty of books, even at the same time, but I did alternate between genres.
Thanks for the advice!
I’m a mood reader too and I’ve been a funky mood for a month now. I have a “reading schedule” and that went to shits. I started reading dark crime mysteries, dug up old arcs and just plowed ahead with a few fantasy books to cleanse the palate.
I think you should read a different genre, maybe that will do the trick. And take it easy, you don’t have to finish a book in one day. When that happens to me, I would pause the book and come back to it after some time. Heck it took me six weeks to finish Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes.
If that still doesn’t work, do what you love to do aside from reading. Like everything else, we all just need a break once in a while
Braine recently posted…Books & Crafts: Country Living Fair 2016
I think I need to try a few different things to figure out what is going to work for me NOW. I’ve been crafting more and doing Bookstagram too, just to take my mind of ALL THE THINGS.
I will probably try and make a schedule for June and see how things go. I need to get my groove back!
I’m definitely a mood reader! It’s why when I try and plan my TBRs I have them as more of a guide and always include a ton of books because I know I’m going to get distracted. I’m very easily influenced by what other people are reading too, haha. It can definitely be frustrating at times especially when I start to lose interest in the book I’m currently reading or just don’t feel like reading anything.
Lauren @ Wonderless Reviews recently posted…Non Bookish Websites: Top Ten Tuesday #9
I need to figure something out soon! It’s so frustrating!
tonyalee recently posted…BEA Blues {Weekly Wrap Up 109}
Funny, I’m kind of going in the opposite direction lol. Well, I’m not completely becoming a non-mood reader, I think I’m just getting my mood reading a little more under control. Like, I used to sometimes spend whole days just staring at my kindle or reading one chapter in seven different books because I was in the mood for something but just couldn’t figure out what. But lately, since I’ve had a lot of ARCs, it’s given me a semi-schedule. Like, if I don’t know what I’m in the mood for, I’m able to just grab the next book to be released and read it and enjoy it. But when I’m able to figure out what I’m in the mood for, then I go with that.
As for when to power through… I’m not a DNFer. So basically, once I’ve gotten past the first chapter or the first few pages or whatever, it’s just been decided that I’m reading it. But if I read the first few pages and am just like, “Nope, this is completely wrong for my mood,” then I’ll grab something else.
Kristen @ Metaphors and Moonlight recently posted…Book Review: Tone Deaf by Olivia Rivers
It’s really difficult for me to grasp how I can’t get into ANYTHING, or not be in the mood to read something, ya know? Especially since i Have never had this issue!
I am a huge DNFer. Lately, I have found that I am better at powering through though
I think everyone goes through slumps and reading outside of your usual genre does help, I think.
That’s true! I am thinking about what to read to help but GAH! It sucks.
tonyalee recently posted…BEA Blues {Weekly Wrap Up 109}
I’m mostly a mood reader. I create reading lists ahead of time using logic & criteria, and then pick a book from the lists based on mood. Sometimes I do get into a slump though, and then I just re-read (or listen, in my case) to my favorites.
Got My Book recently posted…text: Highs & Lows While Blogging | Sunday Summary #1
Man, I haven’t done a re-read in FOREVER. Maybe I should try that!
tonyalee recently posted…BEA Blues {Weekly Wrap Up 109}
I generally do at least a little bit of re-listening every day. Firstly, just because I love spending time with my favorites. Secondly, because it inspires me to seek for new favorites. If there are specific books you want/need to read and are having trouble getting motivated about, you might try re-reading something similar that you love.
Got My Book recently posted…text: Thanks to Bout of Books for the Push | Sunday Summary #2
I’m definitely a mood reader! There are months where I just want to read fantasy books, so all of my non-fantasy books will be stacked on my shelf and left unread. This could be hard if I have a non-fantasy review copies waiting to be reviewed since I’ll most likely won’t read it until my fantasy phase is over.
As for DNFing, I would mark a book as DNF if I lost interest of said book. Usually I would stop reading for a few days and start reading it again, and if I still didn’t have any interest, I will DNF it.
Tiffany recently posted…Review : The Heir by Kiera Cass
Thing is, I don’t really know WHAT I am in the mood for? It’s an odd feeling, for sure!
I am a big mood reader. I find that I actually tend to like books less if I’m not in the mood for the genera/author. It can get annoying, but I love it! I find that when I do find the perfect book to fit my mood, I usually end up really loving it. It’s how I’ve found some of my favorite books. I made up a system that can be compared to a TBR pile, I’ll leave a link to the post that I explain it in. Maybe you’ll like it, and give it a try. 🙂
http://adventureswithabooknerd.blogspot.com/2016/04/april-recap-announcements.html
Anna @ Adventures with a Book Nerd recently posted…Random Ramblings: Is there a Proper Way to Comment?
I think my mood reading tends to come and go. I have periods where I can totally schedule my reads and be absolutely fine with that and then periods where I just can’t stand the thought of that next scheduled read! Like you, I think a lot of it has to do with what’s going on in my life. If I’m feeling generally overwhelmed, scheduled reading just adds to the frustrating to-do list. On the other hand, if I’m feeling a lot of freedom and general happiness in life, my reading follows suit!
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction recently posted…#BEA16 Day One Wrap-Up & Giveaway!!