Book Burn Out – Get by With a Little Help from Friends

Every once in a while, a darkness descends upon
even the most dedicated bibliophile… the dreaded book burnout. It
usually comes out of nowhere, catching you unaware. There you are,
happily devouring book after book, filled with hope and excitement at the
prospect of starting a new volume, only to be overcome by melancholy.
Sometimes, you are able to forge ahead and read the book anyway, pushing
yourself through your feelings, though usually at the cost of your enjoyment of
that book. Then you reach for the next,
only to be unable to muster the desire to open it.

Now you are adrift, floating through life
without your most reliable and constant companion. What are you supposed to do? There are suddenly hours to fill, hours that
stretch out in front out of you. If not
treated correctly, book burnout can cause serious and permanent damage. I mean, imagine the hours of productivity
that might result. Your house might
actually get clean. You may finally
match all of the unmatched socks. Your
pantry may get organized. These are all
terrible side effects of book burnout that should be taken seriously, and
avoided when possible.

I didn’t even realize I had wandered into my own
slump until I started Girl of Paper and Fury.
I’ve only heard and read good things about this book and was so excited
to get my copy, but from the moment I started it, I couldn’t connect with the
story. I had no desire to pick it up at
night. The concept was original, the
world vibrant, and the writing engaging and descriptive; yet, I couldn’t care
less. I put the book down quickly,
because my mood wasn’t fair to the book or the author. I don’t want to taint what would otherwise be
a great story.

So, as I have done with all of my bookish
problems and questions, I asked my online, book-obsessed friends for help. They were gracious enough to share their
advice with me and you.

Nesh Loves Books

@LovesNesh