i've been reading the life of pi since i joined the forum at the beginning of the month. i am only 1/4 way through. i seem to have hit a dry spell with my reading. i'm sure it's not the book, as what i have read thus far i like, however i seem so distracted. i don't think a mag article about jen and brad would even hold my focus. does anyone else ever have this happen and what do you do to get over it? should i stop reading pi and pick it up at a later date when i can actually concentrate, or keep on trucking in hopes of sweeping out the brain fuzz?
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dry spell
- Thread starter jenn
- Start date
Eugen
New Member
Perhaps not a bad idea to change it for something lighter, until your mood returns, when you can really enjoy and perhaps appreciate The Life of Pi. When I feel like this in reading, it's usually the book I'm out of. As you've been enjoying yours earlier, could be just that your mind is tired with overall reading, in which case change your recreation for a while. Does this help?
Øystein
Member
Dry spells can be frustrating, at least when you feel like you -want- to read, but you can't for the life of you find anything that makes the inner drive rev up. In my case, the trick has usually been to read various short stories for a couple of days, as I usually have access to a fair amount of different kinds of short stories available. Plus, they're less of a commitment.
Of course, every now and then it can be a good idea to just take a break. Heck, you're technically reading just by visiting this discussion forum.
Personally I read half of Life Of Pi in a few hours, then put it aside because I just didn't like it much. Nice start though.
I'm having a related problem right now, as I'm reading the 1200-page Cryptonomicon and finding that I keep getting an urge to go start something else on the side, despite the fact that I'm enjoying the novel. Reading the same tone/voice for so long is just getting to me, I suppose.
Of course, every now and then it can be a good idea to just take a break. Heck, you're technically reading just by visiting this discussion forum.
Personally I read half of Life Of Pi in a few hours, then put it aside because I just didn't like it much. Nice start though.
I'm having a related problem right now, as I'm reading the 1200-page Cryptonomicon and finding that I keep getting an urge to go start something else on the side, despite the fact that I'm enjoying the novel. Reading the same tone/voice for so long is just getting to me, I suppose.
novella
Active Member
Maybe your brain is busy with something else.
When I'm really involved with my own writing, I find it very difficult to read, especially others' fiction. I read the newpapers and do cryptic crosswords and write letters, which all seem to loosen up the knots and get my mind out of the hole.
My hub is a programmer and becomes extremely nonverbal when he's in the throes of an absorbing problem. It can last days. Maybe it's something like that.
Switching books might help. Sometimes I find myself reading something heavy because I think it will benefit me more than something fluffy, but I'm just not there mentally. I need a dose of The Simpsons and some mafia-scandal tabloid story to follow.
Or focus on a nonverbal activity for a few days in your free time.
When I'm really involved with my own writing, I find it very difficult to read, especially others' fiction. I read the newpapers and do cryptic crosswords and write letters, which all seem to loosen up the knots and get my mind out of the hole.
My hub is a programmer and becomes extremely nonverbal when he's in the throes of an absorbing problem. It can last days. Maybe it's something like that.
Switching books might help. Sometimes I find myself reading something heavy because I think it will benefit me more than something fluffy, but I'm just not there mentally. I need a dose of The Simpsons and some mafia-scandal tabloid story to follow.
Or focus on a nonverbal activity for a few days in your free time.
StillILearn
New Member
Having struggled across the ocean with Pi, and having watched others do the same, I'd say blame him for your fatigue. I 'd advise you to let the little Pi guy drift along by himself for the time being, and read Tony Hillerman's newest or something like that. (Don't worry, Pi will be okay without you for a while; he's pretty self-sufficient.)
It's interesting that you used the phrase "dry spell", is it not? Hillerman will plunk you down out there in the desert for a while, but he won't let you go dry.
It's interesting that you used the phrase "dry spell", is it not? Hillerman will plunk you down out there in the desert for a while, but he won't let you go dry.
I agree. If I've got a book I can't get into if I can just put the thing down for awhile I'll come back to it eventually. Except War and Peace...don't think I'll ever pick that sucker up again. But just about anything else ? I'll run out of new books and there won't be any I feel like re-reading and "Oh, look at this one I put down..."
It'll pass.
It'll pass.
starchild42
New Member
Ashlea said:
The same (but slightly different) here: I usually look out a short story collection when I hit a dry spell. I go through periodic episodes of having the attention span of a gnat, and the change of pace from a novel to a short story often helps.
For one, they get me "thinking". Something like Amy Hempel, whose work falls into the category, I guess, of "What's written on the page isn't what she's actually saying" - usually gets the cogs whirring. Secondly, they give me a sense of accomplishment of finishing something when I've failed with a novel...that often spurs me on.
Or I pick up something by an author that I know I like. Something light, but satisying. Most of my Ben Elton collection is reserved for this very purpose
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