I’ve been in a horrible reading slump for years. I was fine with audiobooks and podcasts but just couldn’t concentrate on reading.
Finally I’ve found that Agatha Christie novels hold my attention - they are fast paced, not overly complicated, and got me interacting with the story as I played detective while taking notes on the clues in the story.
Now that my reading muscle memory is coming back, I’m able to branch out to more complex books.
What type of books break your reading slump?
Monstrilio!!!
Ted Chiang’s latest collection of short stories was so thoroughly intriguing that I was unable to put it down. its called Exhalation
Something like a Jack Reacher book. Easy and quick to get me back in the habit.
IMO books that are a series of stories can be good for this. Check out World War Z by Max Brooks.
Specific books I can remember: Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine. Daisy Jones and the Six. Tomorrow, tomorrow and tomorrow.
Generally, graphic novels and spicy novels help as a brain cleanser. Chick lit. Or a plotline that resonates and absolutely lovable characters.
Some good old fashioned hard sci-fi usually does the trick for me. Especially when there’s a healthy dose of optimism involved (which is a bit rare these days). Project Hail Mary was perfect in that regard.
Have you ever read Revelation Space? I wanted to like it but didn’t quite make it halfway, the characters felt really flat and I thought maybe hard sci fi isn’t for me. I do love Andy Weir, though
I recommend ‘The Chronicles of St. Mary’s’ by Jodi Taylor.
It’s light, fun (hilarious sometimes) and my favourite when I feel down. Mostly I read it, but the audiobooks are fine too.
Good Omens by Sir Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman is a classic, once I finished it I got into American Gods by Gaiman and then into Pratchett’s Discworld series
I don’t know if I’d call it a slump. I liked reading, but just don’t read much.
But I recently picked up James S. A. Corey’s first book in “The Expanse” universe, Leviathan Wakes, and I’m having troubling putting it down!
