Book Slump

Ever have those periods where you just can't seem to read? Maybe it's because you are reading a book that you're not really enjoying. Maybe you've just read the same genre for so long that it's getting boring. Maybe you went through a week where all you wanted to do was read and now you just want a break. Maybe you read a book that was so incredibly amazing that nothing will ever measure up to it. Or maybe you've just been really busy and been unable to pick up a book.

Whatever the case may be, I think it probably happens to most of us. We get into a book slump. I'm in one right now. When I was on vacation in Mexico I read four books in five days. (Enclave by Ann Aguirre, After Daybreak by J.A. London, The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson, and The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson)

The first (Enclave) was terrible. I hated it. Whenever I read a book that I dislike, all I want to do is move on. Disliking a book leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Like when you drink orange juice right after brushing your teeth. And then all you want to do is chug more orange juice until that nasty minty orange taste is gone. That's how I get when I read a book that wasn't for me. I want to read another book as fast as possible to get rid of the bad taste. Because every time I read a bad book, I feel like the piece of my heart that is reserved for books gets a crack in it. And if I don't read another book that I love really quickly the crack will grow, get bigger and eventually shatter and then I will never want to read again.

So after reading Enclave, I quickly moved on to After Daybreak by J.A. London. I enjoyed the first two in the series, so I was confident that I would enjoy the final book in the series. And I did enjoy it. It wasn't my favorite book ever and certainly didn't blow me away, but after reading it, I felt like I had put a bandaid over the crack in my heart and it was enough to hold it together until I found that next book that blew me away.

Enter The Girl of Fire and Thorns. This book blew me away. Incredible. Fascinating. Exciting. I can't say enough good things about it. I was back. Crack repaired. Heart healed. I tore through the book and its sequel, The Crown of Embers. Both were amazing and after reading them, I was in book nirvana.

Then I had to get on a plane to head home from Puerto Vallarta. Going home was disappointing enough, but after reading two amazing books, I was excited to start a new one. So I started the book I am currently reading, Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick. And now I am in a slump.

I'll tell you guys what I am not liking about the book when I finish and write the review, but for now, I'll just say that it is not coming even close to The Girl of Fire and Thorns. I know, I know. Completely different genre. I didn't expect it to top Rae Carson's masterpiece, but I did expect to enjoy it for what it is and I'm just not. I've been reading it since July 20th. Guys, that's over a week. That just doesn't happen with me. Even when I am not loving a book, I still usually finish it within three days. I don't know what to do. Do I continue reading or do I just abandon it and move on?

I hate abandoning books. I always want to see it through to the end. I feel like once I start a book, I am committed. But I can't seem to get out of this slump. I don't even know if I am in this slump because I'm not enjoying the book. I may be in the slump for the following reasons:

1. I am not enjoying the book I am currently reading. 
2. My expectations are so high after reading The Girl of Fire and Thorns that everything else is a  disappointment and nothing can even come close to measuring up.
3. I read too many books in a short period of time and just need a short break. 
4. I've been super busy with other stuff and just haven't found the time to read. 

I think I will give my current read two more days. If I haven't finished it by Wednesday, then I will move on to something different. Maybe one day I will go back to it, but I have got to get out of this slump.

Time to discuss! Have any of you ever been in a book slump? What are your recommendations to help me get out of mine? Does anyone have any good recommendations for a good follow-up book to The Girl of Fire and Thorns? Leave a comment below!