This post may include Amazon links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Looking back at the books I’ve read in the last few months, I find myself in a weird sort of slump. I’ve read a lot of books in that time: 21 since August 1st. A couple (The Heart’s Invisible Furies, and Little Fires Everywhere) will even be in the running for my top ten of the year. Those alone truly wowed me. A few others were superior, but missing that “wow” factor. Some were just plain boring, but by far the majority were simply good. For me (and I suspect for many others), that’s just not good enough anymore! It’s beginning to feel like I’ve developed a new malady unique to bibliophiles. Let’s call it “The Booklover’s Curse,” whose symptoms include:
- Feelings of anguish and frustration when a book disappoints.
- Increased anxiety when starting a highly hyped book.
- Fear of not liking a book others loved.
- Acute longing, even desperation to find that illusive great read.
- Depression when nothing quite works.
So, what makes me and many others so vulnerable to The Booklover’s Curse? I believe the cause is in the very fact that we read SO MANY books. Being a committed bibliophile means that we know intimately the joy of total connection with that perfect story. It’s a high we’ve come to crave. We NEED the book hangover! A good book just doesn’t do it for us anymore. We ache for that regular fix of “WOW” books!
In good times, most of us are able to find enough of those to keep this curse at bay, but that just hasn’t happened for me these last few months. The Booklover’s Curse has me firmly in its grips, as my response to book after book has been, “Good, but not good enough.” The infrequent bright spot has not been a cure, so the question remains, “When will the curse be broken?” I hope that it will be next week or next month, but logic tells me that it may not truly happen until the new year with its fresh crop of new releases.
Still, I LOVE BOOKS and I BELIEVE in the many GREAT WRITERS out there, so I won’t stop the hunt, the hope, the longing for not one “WOW” book, but MANY!
Well, this pretty much describes my reading the last 6 months! But, at least Heart’s Invisible Furies is bucking the trend! This is the first longer book that I literally could sit down and read straight for hours (if I had hours at a time)…I think since A Little Life.
I know! Doesn’t a great book like HIF just make you want MORE?
Love this Susie!! So you’ve really diagnosed my current situation and now I have a name for it…The Booklover’s Curse:) You’ve put into words exactly how I’ve been feeling over the last few weeks. Book after book that I’ve tried and within a few pages or chapters I’ve put it down because it just wasn’t good enough. AS you said, I KNOW the feeling of starting a new read and being completely drawn in and wowed in the opening pages and I WANT that every time😅Of course I know that isn’t possible but I think after encountering SO many blah books in a row the result is my current slump. I know my next wow is out there and as a true booklover I’ll keep searching until I find it as will you I know…we must both keep calm and read on😀
Yes, and let each other know every time we find those gems!
Thank you for the diagnosis! 😉
You’re welcome!
Yes, definitely experiencing the curse this year. Although I have found a new favorite author and continued to love a mystery series I’ve been reading, too many of the books I’ve been reading have been “meh.” I feel like last year I LOVED so many books, but not so much this year! Even books I was super-excited about haven’t really hit the mark for me.
For me it’s definitely been a disappointing year, but there’s always next year!
Yes! My reaction to many books is “it was fine.” But I’m always on the lookout for that book that is truly amazing.
I guess part of being a serious reader is the joy (and frustration) of the hunt!
Well said, Lindsey. Thanks for stopping by.
You know I feel your pain! Thankfully, I found The Rules of Magic and This is How It Always Is to help me through fall, but beyond that the year has been bleak.
I wish I thought good times would come with the new year, but for me, it is the chaos and negativity around us that is making it harder and harder to find a book that hits the right spot. I love Wows, but right now I’d settle for consistent really good to great because it’s been so much meh.
Meh is definitely the right word. I hadn’t really thought about the negativity out there impacting my reading life, but you’re right that it probably is. In the past, reading has been a great escape for me during hard times, but right now that just isn’t happening. (or, at least not enough!)
Agree so much with this post. I’m always saying: if I had read this book 3 years ago I would’ve probabyl loved it. But as I read a lot of similar books, it’s hard to find that WOW!
Thanks, Annie!
I agree with a lot of this. BUT I think there is a lot of information and noise about new books. Blogs are fabulous but I realize that one needs to apply filters. I’ve learned to walk away from books that have rave reviews or major hype but aren’t in my genre or sweet spot. (Goodbye Vitamin was an example.)
There are a lot of “hyped” books over the past couple of years that are TERRIBLE. And my book reading friends think they are too. (Commonwealth, The Mothers, Exit/West are just a few.)
But I have read some good books this year: In the Darkroom, I’m Thinking of Ending Things, The Circle, We Were the Lucky Ones, Behind Her Eyes, Passing Strange, Shotgun Lovesongs, The Devil and Webster, Based on a True Story, Last Cowboys of San Geronimo, If the Creek Don’t Rise, Small Little Things.
Unfortunately, that’s just a bit over 10% of what I’ve read. I have to find a way to filter out the noise and stick with good resources and listen to my own gut feelings.
I so agree with you about the hype often building unrealistic expectations. On the other hand, I don’t want to just ignore the hype because many times it is warranted. I feel like I know my book tastes well and can navigate through and find books that appeal to me, but lately that hasn’t worked as well.
I loved some of the books you didn’t like. Both Commonwealth and The Mothers’ were on my top ten last year and Exit West will probably be this year. But I also loved some of the same ones you did. I’m Thinking of Ending Things was brilliant and underrated. We Were the Lucky Ones and Based on a True Story are two of my favorites from this year (both had a lot of hype). I’ll check out some of the others you mentioned.
Hopefully, we’ll both be connecting with more great books soon.
Good post. I can relate to the “symptoms” you note above. Sometimes I find that books raved about on Goodreads are not ones I’ve liked and ones on Goodreads with only so-so ratings have been ones I’ve liked quite a bit. So go figure. Highly hyped books can get the anxiety flowing for sure!
Thanks so much, Susan.
It’s so good to hear from others experiencing how I’ve been feeling about my most recent reads. However, I won’t give up. Thanks, Susie for doing what you do!
You’re so welcome. Thanks for reading!