Saturday 31 May 2014

Bookish Musings - Becoming Mood Reader Reliant

Bookish Musings is a feature here at Beautiful Bookish Butterflies that allows one of us to share our thoughts and opinions, talk and discuss things happening in the book and blogging community or share a personal book related issue we have. Today, Amanda is talking about what it means to suddenly become mood reader reliant. Why does choosing a book have to be such a chore, and why is it such a difficult task?


Right now, in this moment, I should be reading something. I don't what I should be reading, or why, but I should be, because right now, that's what my brain is screaming at me to do. It's making my lie across my bed and stare at my bookcases or the pile on books on my bedside and it's telling me 'just choose a book, any book, it doesn't matter what book, any book will do!' but in truth, any book won't do, and I've hit that reading brick wall. Everyone's brick wall will be different; it might be that yours is 'I've got nothing to read' when in fact, you've got two bookcases full of unread books, a backlog of ARC's and you've got books shoved under your bed, or it could be the 'I'm just in a slump or a rut and I want to find the perfect book to get me out of it' but neither of those are what my brick wall is like. My brick wall is not knowing what I'm in the mood for, hence my brain is shouting at me and it all stems from becoming mood reader reliant..

I never used to be a huge mood reader, in fact, I used to make a tedious lists of books I would read each month, crossing them off, ticking boxes saying I've read the book, reviewed the book or 'othered' the book but either way, I would have a list of books and I'd pick off that list which would both help me work through my stocks of unread books and allow me to mood read, but somewhere between then and now, I've sort of ditched the list and become solely reliant on what books I'm in the mood for, which then leads me to this exact scenerio; not knowing what I want to read. It leads to me doing exactly what I'm doing in between breaks writing this post, I'm staring at my shelves looking at all the books I have and not having a clue what one to choose, what one to read or what one to even consider and it's driving me mad, a bit like this..


I mean, there are books I'll read, but I really want to read specific things right now, but for some reason or another, I can't. What were the chances that every single book that is either lined up to be read for my read-a-thon (it's currently the 22nd of May, so don't be confused, we're doing some time travel is all), read-a-long with a friend or part of my Summer TBR (which I guess I could break into, but technically that would be cheating until it's been published, which also sucks, because it's currently the 22nd of May and that won't be posted until June) would be a book I would want to read right in this moment? I'd like to think very slim, but right now, it's frustrating and it makes me very angry. Yes, I could edit that Summer TBR post and break into a book that's listed there, but I want to save them for then because I know they'll be fantastic reads for then, like, perfect timing, so what do I read right now?

I guess I could break into some of ARC copies, but truth be told, I'm really not feeling any of the ARC copies I've got, and it'd be unfair to force myself to read one that I might not enjoy because I'm not feeling it, when if left to the right moment, I might love it, which is what basically happened months ago when I forced myself to read Angelbound. Then of course, there's re-reading a book and let me tell you, right in this moment, there's a few I would love to re-read again, specifically, The Geography of You and Me, since I just got my physical copy from a giveaway (yay!) but I feel like it'd be wasteful to re-read a book when technically I'm not in a rut or a slump, I'm just confused and don't know what to read. Re-reading a book would just prolong the feeling of confusion so that I'd feel this in a day or two rather than now, and as Lincoln said, why leave 'til tomorrow what can be done today? (or felt, it just depends on the subject at hand) So, what do I do? Do I force myself to read something? Break into pre-planned reads? Re-read? Or do nothing?


I adore how I've basically just spent the last 30 minutes typing up this post asking for help that I'll get after the event for a problem I have right now instead of actually doing something about the situation, which just shows what kind of high level procrastinator I really am, but I guess I just needed to get this out of my system. At some point tonight, I'm still going to have to start a book (any god damn book right now) and just read it, or wait until I can somehow get a copy of Scarlet which I'm craving, (hope to tomorrow from the library, it was really very good) give into my need to re-read The Geography of You and Me, (which I really shouldn't do, I'll just get all the feels and cry again which isn't good) or bring in my Mother to make a decision for me- hey, that's a good idea, why didn't I think of that before, problem solved! (she ended up choosing Sister's Red by Jackson Pearce and because we've got some crazy time travel shizz going on, I'll be able to tell you what the future version of current me thinks of the book before a more future of version of me publishes this post. Confused? So am I, but here's what the Amanda who's just finished Sister's Red thought of it: It started off pretty well, the opening scenes were strong and well thought out, but then it just descended into a flurry of mope, woe is me and overbearing romance. It's a no from me. Well, that was hella confusing.

So after that windmill of emotions and confusion, let's ask some questions. Are you a mood reader and thinking you've become mood reader reliant? Or are you someone I used to be who made lists and spreadsheets to choose what to read next? Do you ask other people's opinions and ever feel in the mood for a book you don't currently have and find yourself heartbroken for the wait? Let me know.

16 comments:

  1. I used to be a mood reader, and I would often find myself in your predicament. Just this year I've started making lists, and I rarely find my self without something to read. Of course, I also read the first 6 books on my Summer TBR before June! I try to include lots of different types of books on my seasonal lists, so that I can cater to my mood. I also read things that aren't on the list, if the mood strikes. So, basically what I'm saying is, having a list helps me not be mood dependent, but I'm still a mood reader. :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wish I could have that! I'm hoping to have that from June to August with my Summer TBR and read-a-thon read-a-long books, but there's still that chance, but I'm hoping otherwise. It's a good plan you and it clearly works, so stick to it! :)

      Delete
  2. No matter how many times I make a TBR for the month or even for a readathon I stray from it. I guess I am a mood reader but wish I could follow lists a bit better. I enjoy picking up a book randomly that I want to read at that moment but at the same time I want to be organized. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wish I could follow my own lists better too, I've made on for June through to August, but I'm bound to deviate too.Finding the line between enjoyment and following a task is difficult, so I feel your pain Samantha :)

      Delete
  3. Loved this post-it hit really close to home for me :) I used to be the same as you and oh the lists! I had a private Goodreads group set up, just to keep track of all my book lists, so I could methodically go through my TBR list and check off books as I read them, completed challenges etc. Then I got burned out with the over structure and I've recently gone in the opposite direction, and have become a 'free spirit' and I read whatever I want on a whim.

    Well, in theory at least. My problem with this is I get all of my books from the library and most of them I have to request through my library's cooperative program that they participate in with other libraries. So it can be days, or even weeks, before I get a book I've put a hold on. That means that by the time I get a book, I may not actually want to read it anymore. Last week I picked up 8 holds, and yesterday I returned almost all of them, unread, because I just wasn't in the mood for them anymore. Sheesh! So yeah, still working on my reading system over here lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh I know that feeling! I have a piled of about 6 books from the library and I have three weeks to read them, argh! I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and get with it really, so that's what I'm going to do I suppose. Too many lists isn't always a good thing and I'm glad I don't do that all the time, it'd be way too much! Glad you feel the same Finley! :)

      Delete
  4. Ahhhhh this is me right now! I need to read, I know I do but I can't. It's more that I have set books I NEED to read but don't want to. My brain hurts. I wasted two hours writing and scheduling a joke 'What Disney Taught Me' post for Monday haha! That's how badly I am avoiding picking up a book. I don't even bother making lists because I'd never stick to them. I am a definite mood reader which is why telling myself I'd read all three Lunar Chronicles books in a row is a mistake. I wish I could give you a solution to this problem but I'm just as bad.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aww hunny, it's clearly just not our month this month is it? Here's hoping things pick up! They have to, we have books to read and we need to read them, so lets hope something fantastic comes along eh? :D

      Delete
  5. I am definitely a mood reader and for the past month or so, have gone off the ARCs just to read what I want to read. It's been a pretty good month because I got to catch up on series, read some new releases, and read some series that I've been wanting to forever. Now I'm going to get back to my ARCs but it was good to get me out of any sort of slump.

    PS/I recommend reading Rebecca James's books, Beautiful Malice and Sweet Damage for some great psychological YA thrillers :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did exactly that! I'm just not feeling them at the moment, or much of anything right now! I thinking of going to some ARC's in the hope they save me a little, so I'm mixing things up and forcing myself to read books now, I have to, can't dilly dally! :) Those are some interesting sounding books Jeann, I think I'll go and check them out and see what I think, thank you!

      Delete
  6. I tried making lists and crap, and then I don't follow them anyway. I am a mood reader, and I get bored/distracted/etc so easily! I'm staring at a 7 bookshelf library and screaming "I have nothing to read" just like I scream "I have nothing to wear" in my closet. *sigh*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do that all the time, but thankfully, I'm getting there with my slump which is great! :)

      Delete
  7. I've been meaning to write a post like this! Because I have Def become a mood reader. And sadly that hinders on what my brain wants me to read. Like I know I need/should read more historical fiction [because I know I will like it] I'm always in the mood for light and fluffy reads or romance. So that's what I've been reading a lot of. But I should really branch out and read other genre's too. It's a horrible cycle. Lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is a right argument with yourself isn't it Johannah! You want to read one thing, but you want to read another, and then you don't know what to read, gah, it's so frustrating! Read what your heart says, ignore the brain ;)

      Delete
  8. I am definitely a mood reader! This really shows when I have a ton of e-ARCs sitting on my Kindle waiting to be read but I'm just not in the mood for reading them, so I move on to something else. Of course this means those e-ARCs sit there for a long time... Anyway, I know how you feel and this was a great post :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh I feel that way too lately, just been in the mood for the physicals instead, definite mood reader alert over here!
      Thank you though, it's good to know I'm not as alone as I feel sometimes :)

      Delete

We appreciate the time you take to leave a comment and do our very best to reply as soon as possible.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...