None of my books interest me and I don't know what to do with myself! I thought about going to BAM and browsing the aisles until I found something that is totally different from any books I have here to read, but as I was looking at my own shelves, I realized that I already have books in every known genre.

I've started and set aside five books in the past two days. I can't even read "The Proud Breed" and I trust Misfit when she says it's a good one. I have even pulled out a few of my carefully hoarded explorer books, but couldn't read them. Now that is shocking because I adore books about historic explorers! I ony have about five left to read here and I save them because I don't want to run completely out. I tried to start my very last book about Tenzing, my favorite Sherpa, but no go, couldn't read it. I can't watch TV or play my hidden object computer games.

So, what to do? What do you do when you hit a reading slump? I don't think I've ever had one this bad before!

I thought about spending the day at the beach or the lake, but I always take books with me. I love placing my chaise lounge in the shallows directly under this tree that grows out over the lake and then reading all day. Talk about heaven! But, what books would I take?! Aargh....

Don't know if this will work for you, Valli, but what I do is find a mystery book that grabs me right off the first page. It really doesn't matter what genre, author, etc. If the first page makes me want to turn to the second, then I read that book and that usually does it for me. But that's me!

I play video games, or go for a walk. Just trust that it won't last, Valli!

March was for me very much like what you describe.

I pick up old favorites for a reread.

I do a favorite reread as well.

I choose a book that is short, easy to read and fun.  Just finished, believe it or not, T.S. Elliot's  Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats on which much of the musical Cats was based.  Another thing that works for me is to go back to an author I liked and find another of that author's books (which you have already tried).  I also garden, socialize and get outside - such a beautiful time of the year.  Good luck!

Go for a run!  Outside, in a park, forest preserve, whatever.  Or a brisk walk, if you aren't in shape for a run.  Really, exercise out in the air will do a lot to reinvigorate you mentally as well as physically.

Or for a lot less fun, put on some music and do a heavy cleaning job. Ehh, but settling in for a read afterwards is so nice.  Or at least for me.

I'm in a mini slump now.  Aftermath of Sunne in Splendour, probably.  Nothing will measure up to it.  And I'm going to change for a run right now.

I usually do either a YA or a reread, often of a YA book (like Little House on the Prairie, or All Of a Kind Family, something of those well loved YA classics types)

I ended up spending a few hours at the lake with a friend and ice cold Corona. Then, I made the DH go to my shelves and pick out a book for me, lol. He chose the book "Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World" by Mark Kurlansky. I didn't even know I had a book about fish! It's actually pretty interesting and is definitely not like anything I've been reading lately. ;-)

I just might have to get this author's next book which is about salt. I didn't know cod was so interesting. Who knows what this guy could do with a really exciting subject like salt, lol.

One thing is to not stress about it ... that will just make it worse.

If nothing sounds good right now and nothing is piquing your interest, then I think it's time to switch hobbies for a day or two. Crossword puzzles, cryptoquotes, needlework, that stack of handwashing that is hiding out at the back of the closet, a movie date with your husband or a close friend, a little genealogy research, start a letter-writing program, try some new recipes, etc., etc. 

And your original idea was probably not too far off of a great plan! Being around shelves and shelves of books, all laid out for your review is sometimes all that is needed to respark the enthusiasm! Set a spending limit or a number of books limit and then tease yourself with the decisions to be made.

What was the last book you read? Do some serious research about the subject matter, main character, geographical setting, etc. 

Do you read short stories? Poetry?

As Linda is know for saying, "This, too, shall pass."

Kelly

Valli, I went through that  last month. For me it was stress. I started a bunch of books and couldnt finish any of them. I even tried a mystery which usually works. finally, I picked up an Agatha Christie book and it got me through.

BOM is having a great sale right now. Maybe a trip out there will help.

R.E.K. :  I LOVE  T.S. Elliot's  Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. I took my oldest to see CATS when she was 7. I picked up the book shortly after and have read it with my girls several times.

Great ideas from everybody! Valli, I think you did the right thing though. Sounds like DH knows just what you need. Who would ever think - "Cod"?  I just can't wait to hear a report about "Salt" - exciting - you bet!!

Valli - I read both Cod and Salt.  Of the two, Salt was more exciting (to me).  Another fun book along those lines (history through food, etc.) is History of the World in Six Glasses.

In a slump as well. I usually just plow through the current crap read, using it as motivation to finish and finally pick up something good - a re-read or something that I've been wanting to get to for some time.

Agatha Christie, WEB Griffin, Elizabeth Peters, just put in a CD or Cassette and let someone else do the work.

Do what Brian suggests, and you can "rest your eyes" the whole time you are "reading" it!

I think that Brian's suggestion is a great one!! I'm going to have to try it.