This prompt was submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer:
Do you ever get burnt out from reading?
Theoretically, yes. It’s been years since it happened, though–I honestly can’t tell you how many. At least 5, maybe 10. This blog has kept me from it, I think, I just don’t have the opportunity for it.
At the same time, for 40 years now, reading has been my escape, a haven from whatever is going on in my life. Even when life is good, I need a way to disengage from it all and recharge. My need for that seems to be increasing, too. I’m not sure if that’s a commentary on my life/mental state or the world around me (a quick glance at headlines suggests the latter is likely). So getting burned out is difficult–how do you need a break from your break? (ask anybody at the end of a long vacation, and they probably have some ideas)
Now. I do get burnt out with individual books–or reading for the purposes of blogging (i.e., for tours or because I’ve accepted a book from a publicist/author). If I do too many “obligation” reads in a row–no matter the quality (but a string of “how do I say something nice about this?” books makes it harder)–it starts to take a toll on my attitude. This is the major contributing factor for my cutting back the last couple of years. Even with these reads, however, within a couple of minutes of starting a reading session, the psychological effects kick in, and I get over it. It’s really the effort to get started where I notice the burnout/”blah”-ness/Carter-esque “malaise.”
Usually that burnout lasts no longer than a book or two (if I scheduled smartly, I don’t read two of those in a row).
What about you?
Bob Germaux
I don’t begin to read as many books as you do, H.C., and I’ve been retired for two decades now, so we’re in completely different situations. That said, I can’t remember ever experiencing anything approaching “burn out” when it comes to reading. From a very early age, I’ve always thought of books as my “friends,” and even today, I’m a little nervous if I don’t have at least two books on my nightstand (and a few more on my TBR list).
HCNewton
Yeah, it’s a strange idea for me, too.