topic Re: In a book funk in Book Club

In a book funk

MoJoV — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 23:19:21 GMT

Lately I can't find a book that keeps my interest. I go tothe library and bring home 4 or so books, start reading one...it stinks. I've given them 50 or 100 pages. Next one up same thing. Last book I read that I really enjoyed was The Wager. I have Frozen River on hold, hopefully that will be as good as I think it will be.

Have you ever been in a book funk? Maybe I'm too picky. Years ago I would slog through a book whether I liked it or not because I started it.

Re: In a book funk

LTT1 — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 23:30:57 GMT

@MoJoV

I'm having the same problem.

My DD chose the book "You shouldn't have come here" for book club this month and she says it's great...I have not read it yet.

The book I did read and didn't want to end was Stephen King "The Institute"

it is sort of a science fiction type story ...captivating.

I have never read a SK book on my life, but loved this one!

Re: In a book funk

TheWanderingOne — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 23:41:55 GMT

Been there many times!

Although I love the feel of having a book in my hands, 95% of my reading is e-books. It saves me a ton of time not going to the library, and it's much easier to travel with a loaded Kindle than a suitcase full of books. I can borrow 10 books at a time, for a max of 21 days from my home library. For every 10 books that I borrow, I probably actually finish 4-5 of them. I get 100 pages in or so and just can't make myself continue. I don't feel badly about returning them and trying something else. Maybe I'd feel more compelled to finish it if it was an actual book, but I doubt it.

The last book that I acutally finished was The Maze by Nelson DeMille. As much as I love his work, this one was so predictable. I was disappointed. I'm currently on the waiting list for The Women, but I'm #78 for 3 copies, so it's gonna be awhile for that one.

Re: In a book funk

Q-Checker — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 23:51:20 GMT

Based on what my book club recently enjoyed, I recommend The Chancellor by Kati Marton, Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout, and Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng. The first book mentioned is non- fiction. All three were enjoyed by the group and led to great discussions. Recently the New York Times published a list of the best 100 books of the last century -- a great resource to search for good books, in my opinion.

Re: In a book funk

Tinkrbl44 — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 23:55:52 GMT

@MoJoV @TheWanderingOne @LTT1

I read every night, and have found reading a series from beginning to end good for bedtime reading. You have the benefit of character development and not having to keep new characters straight with each new book.

IMO, authors with good series are James Patterson, Ann B Ross, John Sanford, Stuart Woods, etc etc. The lists are almost endless.

I'd recommend Patterson's Womens Murder Club and the Ann Ross series Miss Julia about an older southern woman ... with a rather interesting life.

Others here can recommend other series, but these came to mind immediately.

Re: In a book funk

sandy53 — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 23:57:24 GMT

I had that trouble during the pandemic. I think my anxiety level was too high to relax and enjoy reading. Like you, I'm not willing to continue a bad book because it's such a waste of time. I finally found a couple of new authors and got involved in new series. I rely heavily on recommendations from friends and book club members, and I read a lot of reviews. It's like a treasure hunt.

Re: In a book funk

ahoymate — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 01:00:15 GMT

It's a challenge to find a great read. I spend a considerable amount of time on Amazon new releases, Barnes & Noble, new releases and Google searching.......... I usually find a book or two to add to my library online library. I don't want to buy books. I have a bookcase full of buying books that I no longer have an interest in reading again.

Good luck with your search.

Re: In a book funk

smoochy — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 01:02:22 GMT

been in many book funks over the past couple of years. For starters I cannot get through most books over 400 pages-I feel like, why do you think you have that much to say? Haha Also I figured out that I don't enjoy contemporary fiction. Which comprises a lot of book club selections. And I'm super picky about the author's style and mastery of the language. What I do like:

John Sandford's Prey series, Louise Penny's series of mysteries w her Canadian detective; historical fiction. some of the classics. Currently wading through Tess of the D'Urbervilles. And The Nurse's Secret (historical fiction)
I loved The Women although the author conveniently glossed over a few details at the end-I was like, nope that probably didn't happen but whatever.
A big part of my reading reluctance now, is my vision. Blurry all the time. Partly from a medication and partly from astigmatism that can no longer be corrected. I do better on my tablet because I can greatly enlarge the font.

Re: In a book funk

Another new name Sue — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 01:11:22 GMT

I liked "The Wager" too. Here are a couple other books I liked, so maybe something there for you.

"Middle Passage" by Johnson (free Black man flees on a slave ship)

"This Tender Land" by Krueger (runaway kids)

"River of Doubt" by Millard (Teddy Rosevelt's adventures on an Amazon tributary)

I gave these books a 5 as well as "The Wager."

Yes, I too go through spells where I cannot find something I like to read.

Re: In a book funk

AuntG — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 02:27:07 GMT

I'm out of my funk and have found several series to enjoy. One centers on a detective, another one on Amish mysteries, and another on beach themed love stories. It's been warm outside, so I have more time to read.

Re: In a book funk

NEvans2 — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 03:13:00 GMT

This happens to me periodically. I'm a voracious reader. I'll read and read for months and suddenly nothing interests me. I call this my stalled on reading phase. So I just back up for awhile until I feel like reading again. Usually it's just for a couple weeks, but once I went almost three months without reading a book. That was the one and only time that happened. I still read magazines and the newspaper but couldn't get interested in a book. It just took a new release by one of my favorite authors to get back in the saddle.

Re: In a book funk

Tinkrbl44 — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 06:16:17 GMT

@ahoymate wrote:
It's a challenge to find a great read. I spend a considerable amount of time on Amazon new releases, Barnes & Noble, new releases and Google searching.......... I usually find a book or two to add to my library online library. I don't want to buy books. I have a bookcase full of buying books that I no longer have an interest in reading again.

Good luck with your search.

@ahoymate

LOL ... I'm just the opposite.

I never read the recent releases unless it's ordering via my great library.

I find myself gravitating to older books and many have said that's a great book ... you should read it.

Years ago I read that approximately 40% of new hardcover books purchased will never be read. I've had a few of those, and am surprised how much I enjoy finding what book comes next.

I'm in the process of putting together a bunch of books for donating ... and freeing up space. lol

Re: In a book funk

FancyPhillyshopper — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 06:49:50 GMT

I love, love, love to read, especially novels!

DH ONLY reads factual books.

So, we do not share (ha, ha).

I go to the dollar store and buy five or ten books at a time, and then I read whatever interests me and donate them all to the library/used book store.

The books in bookstores have become outrageous in price! However, I will splurge for certain authors.

I really enjoy mysteries, and especially historical fiction, like the novels Song of Achilles and Circe by Madeline Miller, very detailed and extremely well written.

Re: In a book funk

Lilysmom1 — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 09:49:19 GMT

@LTT1 I am a newer Stephen King fan as well. My first was the Mr Mercedes Trilogy. I was hooked! You have lots of great reading ahead of you!

@MoJoV , I am in a bit of a book funk too. Currently reading a book about Eleanor Roosevelt's 'companion'. I have PTB on the last two I read.

Re: In a book funk

LTT1 — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 12:25:44 GMT

@Lilysmom1

I watched "Mr. Mercedes" on tv the series..

Loved it!

Re: In a book funk

JanetsGirl — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 17:23:38 GMT

I can relate to a "book funk."

If you liked The Wager (I did!), then maybe check out:

The Measure of All Things by Ken Alder (about 18th century French scientists starting the movement to the metric system)

Scale: The Universal Laws of Growth ... by Geoffrey West (about, well, scale).

Re: In a book funk

icezeus — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 20:26:50 GMT

Yes, this happens to me from time to time. In fact over the last several days I have started two books that just could not hold my interest and returned them to the library.

I do two things to get out of my funk. I will either go back and read a book that I have already read and enjoyed, which thanks to my Kindle I can charge up and read or I will pick something from one of my tried and true authors.

I am now starting a book by Linda Castillo. I enjoy her Amish murder mystery series.

Re: In a book funk

nwbabs — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 01:33:46 GMT

@Q-Checker Thank you for The Chancellor by Kati Marton recommendation. Started it today and I'm already 51% through the audiobook. So interesting! I can see why this would lead to great discussions.

@Q-Checker wrote:
Based on what my book club recently enjoyed, I recommend The Chancellor by Kati Marton, Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout, and Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng. The first book mentioned is non- fiction. All three were enjoyed by the group and led to great discussions. Recently the New York Times published a list of the best 100 books of the last century -- a great resource to search for good books, in my opinion.

Re: In a book funk

hkrgrl — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 17:54:17 GMT

American Ramble by Neil King Jr.

i am enjoying it! never knew all that happened in Pennsylvania, my home state. not all about PA

Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts

anything by Elin Hilderbrand nice, easy summer reads.

Follow timtalksbooks on Instagram. i am sure you can find his picks on the web as well.

Re: In a book funk

Tinkrbl44 — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 02:53:44 GMT

@MoJoV @hkrgrl @nwbabs @icezeus @JanetsGirl

Thinking about those here in a book funk, I got an email today from penguinrandomhouse dot com ... not adding a link, but the title is below .. just as an fyi.

Maybe you'll find something.

Your Week in Books: The Best Reads of 2024 (So Far)