Breaking Out Of Reader's Block

Since I just got my box for the most recent book swap, I thought it was the perfect time to post this up.  For several months now, I've been fighting a rather bad case of reader's block. I usually have a few books checked out from the library at all times on top of all the unread books that I personally own.  But, when I get a new stack of books, I suddenly find myself completely disinterested in reading them.  It's been really frustrating. And it's not like I haven't been reading but it's been mostly other blogs or fanfiction.  I've been determined to break out of this for the past month or so and I thought I would share my approach of trying to break out of a reader's block.

First off, I've gone back to reading during my breaks at work. For the past few months, I would just use my breaks as a time to doze off a bit (sometimes almost falling asleep for real).  I read Dracula solely at work - it's surprising how much reading you can get done in a short amount of time.  Since becoming a senior at work, I really only get to read during my lunch but better than nothing.

I've mostly chosen books which I think would be quick reads. A lot of those have been young adult or juvenile fiction: the reading is usually less complicated and the plot moves along faster (especially those geared toward kids) so they usually get finished pretty quick.

I like to read 2-3 books at the same time.  One that I bring with me to work and one that I read before going to bed.  It's a way to go through my stack of unreads faster, as well as possibly find a book that I can't put down.  And sometimes you just want to take a break from what you're currently reading for something new.

I've been using Goodreads to keep track of what I've read - it's a good way to keep count for my goal in my Project Day Zero list. I sometimes forget to add books to my 'currently reading' shelf and just add them when I've finished them.  Based off the dates of when I've added books to my account, I've read 6 books since November 15, and currently reading 3 books. It feels good to have actually finished something rather than losing interest halfway through and not finishing it.

Some other observations and musings:

-I've been trying to find new authors to read and have been having a difficult time (on my own). I usually find new others mostly through book swaps. I will judge a book by it's cover and whenever I go look at the scifi/fantasy section at bookstores, all I see are covers that could belong to romance driven books. Not interested.

- I've started to read a new series: The Last Apprentice (also known as the Wardstone Chronicles) by Joseph Delaney.  The movie Seventh Son is loosely based off it and I wanted to see what the books were like. I've read the first two books in the series, and comparing what I currently know to the trailer, 'loosely' is definitely the word for this adaption (still looking forward to seeing it). I feel rather 'meh' about the protagonist, but his mother is really interesting and hope we learn more on who and what she is.  I can't pinpoint how I feel about the character Alice but it will be interesting to see what her fate will be. I've already got the next three books from the library, and placed the next 3 after that on hold.

-I mostly read fantasy and scifi, but fantasy has been the dominant genre in my reading for a while and I'm craving for some good scifi stories. I really need to start reading some of the classics: Dune and Neuromancer are the ones I'm thinking of tackling first.

I'm always on the look out for new stuff to read, so tell me some of your favorites books or authors to check out.