Are you in a reading slump again? Staring at the overflowing pile of half-read books and getting overwhelmed? Does every book repel you? Do you feel like you cannot connect with any character on the page?

The reading slump has claimed you, my friend. While there are several ways to get out of it, the best would be to not fight it at all. It’s okay to feel like you do not want to read. You might have already read a lot of books this year. And maybe you’re experiencing a little burnout. Or maybe your brain needs some different types of books than what you usually read. If you are facing a similar slump in your reading journey, then try the following to clear the cobwebs in your head and get back to reading.

{How about you check out some short reads that will not take much of your time? We have a list of Books that are under 100 pages}

Clean A Bookshelf (or all of them)

We often get so lost in the books we read that it skips our minds that the shelves need cleaning once in a while. So, when you’re in a reading slump or not able to focus on any book, it is the best time to take out all of those books from the shelves and clear the dust they’ve collected. Did you know that cleaning can overall feel very therapeutic?

Check on your Mental Health

We might not notice it but often a reading slump or any creative block is a result of stress or burnout. It is possible that something else is bothering us and since we don’t know what it is, we might think it’s just a reading slump. Hence, it’s important that we check in on ourselves if we don’t feel the usual drive for things that we enjoy.

Self-Reflect on what you’ve already read

Take this time to reflect on the books that you’ve read in the past few months. Maybe journal a little bit about what you liked in certain books and what you did not like. Underline or highlight your favourite quotes. Note down the names of the authors you loved and check out their bibliography. Journal about your reading habits and check if there’s anything you want to change about it. This self-reflection can also help you understand the very reason for falling into this unshakeable reading slump.

Try anything else other than reading

The main thing we get out of reading is a story. Now that story might mean many things to you – escape, entertainment, stress release, etc. But it’s not just books that might help in those areas. So, maybe a reading slump is just an indication to get our heads out of the books and try all those things we keep saying we’ll try. Watch that show you’ve been wanting to watch, the movie your friends recommended, or what about the documentaries you saved on your watchlist? If you don’t feel like reading and watching, then shake yourself up because it’s finally time that you go out. Meet your friends, have dinner with your cousins, go join a photo walk in your city, or take a dance class for a while. You can do a hundred other things while trying to find your reading mojo back.

{We have a list of Books by Indian Authors for Beginners that you can check out to get some recommendations.}

Take on a Reading Challenge

If you’re one of those readers who defeat a reading slump by reading more books, then gear up for a reading challenge and tackle that TBR (to-be-read) pile in style. Here’s a list of books that have high potential to beat that reading slump out of your way. Scroll through and pick one.

1. A Book of Simple Living by Ruskin Bond
   
   With short, simple, journal-like prose, this book is a piece of beauty. Through his touching writing style, Ruskin Bond takes the reader on a journey that provides a glimpse into his life in several mountain towns across the Himalayas. While we keep hustling in big cities, this book reminds the unmeasurable value in small moments while living a simple life. The feel-good factor is high in this book.

2. Dopehri by Pankaj Kapur
   
   This is the story of Amma Bi, an elderly widow, living only with her lofty possessions and clingy memories, in a deserted haveli in Lucknow. But this story is also about loneliness that lurks in the shadows. A story of how the arrival of a tenant, Sabiha, changes not just the atmosphere in the haveli but also the growing shadows in the corners of Amma Bi’s heart. While the novella does deal with the complex emotions born out of loneliness, it is a short enough book to try and defeat that reading slump.

3. Life is Abracadabra by Baisakhi Saha
   
   This book consists of twenty-one magical stories from the author’s travels around the world that will give the reader a fresh new perspective and drive to reach for their dreams. In today’s content age, finding travel insights is easier than ever. However, this book is not just about travel. The author manages to guide the reader through the biggest difficulties faced by her while she was on her mission to achieve her dreams. Each hurdle, each experience, reinstated the belief in the grand mechanism of this Universe and how it works in tandem with us. To taste the thrill in a series of travel stories, read this book and you’ll forget that you were in a reading slump in the first place.

4. Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbag
   
   As the title suggests, the story is about the chaos that follows a sudden success in a family. The non-sensical conflicts that arise among family members as they try to tear each other apart for their own survival. Originally written in Kannada and translated by Srinath Perur, this psychological fiction might be the one that dissipates the reading slump.

5. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandana
   
   This book blends two aspects of magic – cosy and mystery. Considered a feel-good book about a witch who gets called to a remote house to teach three young witches how to control their magic, this novel is a warm read that almost feels like a comforting blanket on a winter evening. If the reading slump is making you take things slow, this book is the perfect companion in that situation.

{Here’s a list of Books by South Asian Authors that you might interesting.}

6. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
   
   Written with such finesse and clarity, this book is going to pull you into the world of fame and whatever mess comes along with it. The Hollywood movie icon, Evelyn Hugo, plucks an unknown journalist from obscurity and decides to give her the story of her life. The character of Evelyn Hugo is so enigmatic and full of mystery that you won’t be able to stop reading once you start.

7. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
   
   There are very few books in the world that are suitable for all ages, read and cherished widely for how they make the reader feel seen and loved. The Little Prince is one of those books, for sure. Told from the perspective of a little boy from a different planet as he travels through the universe in search of something extremely simple – the most important thing in the world.

8. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne
   
   This story is about a nine-year-old boy named Bruno who had to move to a different house because of his father’s job transfer. Often feeling lonely, Bruno is curious and brave when looking for things to do to keep himself entertained. Although the story is through the path of a nine-year-old boy, it is not recommended for such a young audience without adult supervision. It’s a heart-wrenching story but the innocence of the writing style will draw you in and keep you glued till you reach the last page.

9. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
   
   Okay, yes! There’s nothing better than an Agatha Christie murder mystery to challenge that reading slump of yours. This particular story is the best to start with if you have not read any books by the author yet. And if you are one of those Christie aficionados, then re-reading through your favourite mysteries will definitely help overcome that slump.

10. The Hunger Games (Trilogy) by Suzzane Collins
    
    There’s something about the books that imagine worlds that seem unrealistic and yet so close to reality that it blows your mind. The Hunger Games is such a story, set in a post-apocalyptic North America, inspired by ancient Roman games and reality TV shows. If you haven’t read this series yet, this is your sign to pick it up and be awestruck by the author’s capability to hit hard where it hurts the most.

{Joining a community of book lovers may help you stay motivated about reading. Here’s a list of Book Clubs in India.}

11. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
    
    This young adult novel deals with very serious topics such as racism and police violence against black people in America that exists even today. While real-life stories become a viral sensation all over the world and often die out without proper justice, this fictional story about a young girl whose life takes a wild turn when her friend is killed by the police for no apparent reason stays relevant over the years. It acts as a reminder that these fights against injustices are forever and every little voice matters.

12. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
    
    A non-fiction philosophical almost like-a-lecture book might not be everyone’s cup of tea but this book is one of the best picks for someone who’s going through any kind of creative slump. The author visits his college professor every Tuesday to spend the time he lost with him over the years. During these visits, the college professor imparts the wisdom he has collected all his life and generously talks to his student in the last few days of his life.

13. Yellowface by R. F. Kuang
    
    This fast-paced thriller about a novelist who stole a friend’s manuscript to catapult her own career is probably a huge favour for that reading slump you’re trying to beat. Riddled with mixed reviews, Yellowface is full of mystery and proves to be quite a testament to what blind ambition can do to a person. If you are someone who likes to read books about authors and set in and around the publishing industry, then this is quite a good fit for you.

14. Six of Crows Duology by Leigh Bardugo
    
    This stunning fantasy duology from the Grishaverse books is worthy of a binge-read. Full of action, adventure, mystery, and adorable friendships and slow-burn relationships will keep you on your toes. While these two books can be read on their own but have you experienced the joy of being immersed in a fantasy universe so much so that you keep reading book after book in that series? Isn’t that how breaking a reading slump looks like?

15. Harry Potter series
    
    One of the best tried and tested methods of beating that reading slump is going back to childhood favourites. Besides the Harry Potter series being an entire generation’s childhood favourite, these books have the potential to provide you with a detailed and engaging experience. Be it your first time reading or your fiftieth, you’ll feel the same excitement a kid feels when encountering something absolutely magical.

{Here’s a list of our pick of 10 Best Books by R.K.Narayan that may interest you.}

Hope you feel thoroughly energized to beat that reading slump with a book from this list. If not, remember that it’s okay to surprise the slump by embracing it. Do you have a particular book you go back to when hit by a reading slump? Tell the name of the book in the comments below as it deserves all the love in the world.