The book that cured my reading slump

[@krzysamm7095]

You need to narrate books. You have the voice for it my opinion and your passion would shine through

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Thank you! I actually auditioned for some a little while ago and didn't get anywhere. It's not as fun as I thought it'd be!

[@toothache6979]

been in a slump since Feb thanks to university pressures and The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet has definitely reignited my passion for reading! Only 100 pages in and I can tell this is going to be a book I don't forget!

[@maheen8869]

i really relate to your description of your reading slumps. like, i still read, but it's very hard for me to be emotionally attached to the characters or invested in the story even if i can objectively see how well-written the book is. i also just got out of my reading slump by reading the secret history. i'm really glad you found a book to help you through it as well! 💗

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Wow, I love The Secret History but I can't imagine it being the book to pull me out of a slump! Funny how different our minds are 💜

[@monferno71]

Seeing how much you liked the book, I could also recommend Becky Chambers's novella - To Be Taught, If Fortunate. It's magical how she managed to make all the characters human in around 150 pages, while also managing to write an ode to human curiosity~

[@jennyking1773]

I would also recommend this - I thought it was amazing and I really want to reread it.

[@martynabrewczyk3023]

I actually liked that novella more that the "Long way.."! I wish the novel was more like it

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I will absolutely be reading it very very soon!

[@Corridor89]

I just listened to this in one sitting, Will. Absolutely loved it. Hope you do too.

[@Angelwhatsername]

started watching this because I was intrigued by the premise of this book. And as you started describing what kind of books you gravitate to I just found myself agreeing so much! Yes, escapism, space, sci-fi/fantasy, found family, you said it. All of it. That's what I enjoy the most as a reader. 😊I will for sure be giving this book a chance. Thanks for a great video!

[@kestral52]

I have never felt so at home in an authors writing the way I do Chambers. The Wayfarers series is far and away my favorite series. I’m glad you adored the first book so much and hope you liked the others just as much!

[@minbyc]

This book series is my favourite of all time ever, it’s so beautiful and wonderful and although I wanted SO much more of it to read, it ended perfectly. 10/10 the best thing I’ve ever read and it has such a special place in my heart

[@thefoodiereader6074]

Going through a reading slump rn , I can feel the tweet 💔

[@WillowTalksBooks]

You just need to find your book!

[@kallistoindrani5689]

You make me want to read the book though I've never read Sci fi before. At least I don't think I have. I usually read thrillers, sometimes a romance to mix things up. When I have a reading slump I tend to get angry at myself and that does not help the slump of course. When I have one I just can't read any book. Sometimes I'm able to read a fanfic (or go back to a favourite fanfic) but most of the time I just need to stop and rest and sort of let my brain rest? I tend to do other hobbies then like write fanfics or do some diamond painting or just watch movies and shows and then suddenly I'm back 'online' and I can read again. And now, reading two books a week is a lot!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I can relate to that! Take a break from reading and just play games or watch movies. I enjoy it!

[@fiktionbuchlichkeit9238]

Thank you for this video! It is so interesting to hear your thoughts concerning this book, because I have recently paused reading it half the way through, because of its lack of conflict. SMALL SPOILER!!!!! Everything is immediately fine again and when Rosemary‘s big secret gets revealed and Jenks just sais: „Oh, its fine, it is not your fault.“ I thought: No, that‘s it. Everybody is just too nice. But now I reconsider giving this book another try. Thanks for that! And I am really happy, it got you out of a reading-slump! Regards, Vanessa 🤗

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I understand being frustrated by a lack of conflict. I actually felt the same for a while! But the good vibes and character dynamics carry you through. It feels like a new kind of space opera :)

[@Eddie_M16]

I'm not sure if you are into games particularly or not but I think you would like the game Citizen Sleeper if you haven't already played it. It's a story based game and some of the writing is amazing.

[@shaigluskin1225]

Loved this review; will get the book. I loved the reading slump description. I had a 4.5 year reading slump that ended in March. (I believe that its coincidence with D. Trump being president was not a coincidence.) The book that broke it was The Committed by Viet Thahn Nguyen. The fact that this book continues the story of one of my top five reads of all time, The Sympathizer was key. Once I finished The Committed (which was brilliant) I was really nervous about falling back into a slump again because *choosing* is so much harder for me when slumping. So I strategically chose to read War and Peace as my third or fourth book out of the slump in order to be able to read for a long time without having to choose another. (Also the literary branch of my wife's family put out a pandemic War and Peace challenge that I wanted to be a part of). My strategy totally worked. After finishing it in eight weeks and reading it almost every day during that period I declared my slump truly over!

[@shaigluskin1225]

I just used "wife" in my above comment and now I'm cringing a bit. Before gay marriage was legal "wife", which then denoted heteronormative marriage sanctioned by the state, was an ugly word that flaunted straight privilege. Now that gay marriage is legal in so many places including the USA where I live, I've assumed that "wife" is cool again and I've heard many women using it to describe their life partners. But I just reminded myself that cis-gender privilege still exists bigtime. So is it considered to be asserting cis-gender privilege when a cis-gendered heterosexual male refers to his "wife"? Is it time to start using "partner" or "life partner" (or something else) again?

[@WillowTalksBooks]

That's fascinating! Selecting an enormous book to read slowly in order to eliminate the stress of choosing, I love it! I should do that next time I'm paralyzed by choice!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I've never actually thought about the weight of the word "wife" before. I can only speak for myself, which doesn't do or say much. I have a partner, and we are not married. I like this status because it doesn't imply any gender or sexuality.

[@ALC111222333]

Will, i can definitively say that you NEED to see a television show called The Expanse. I put it off for years and i then watched 5 series in a month or so. It is the single greatest sci-fi in any media form imo. It's a political drama with action sequences and camaraderie (sp?) like Battlestar Galactica 2004...but even better than that. First episode or 2 is slow going but after that....well, i legitimately may get an Expanse tattoo.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I've been meaning to read Leviathan Wakes - the novel it's based on - for years. It's constantly on my radar. I'll either get to the book or the show as soon as possible, especially since I'm in such a sci-fi mood right now!

[@SpringboardThought]

I have picked up the first three of these precisely for that reason. And honestly, I’ll read straight trash I know will be fun sometimes idgaf. When you read 400+ books a year you can do what you want. I read A Court of Thorns and Roses when you posted the escapism video. Agree, agree, agree with everything you’ve said. I liked The Ember Blade well enough by Wooding. I’ll certainly try out that series. Thanks :)

[@WillowTalksBooks]

400 books?! That's incredible. And I still haven't read The Ember Blade, much to my shame. Thanks for reminding me!

[@SpringboardThought]

@@WillowTalksBooks A lot of them are audiobooks. I have one on when I’m cooking or running and what not. You’d be surprised how fast a book goes like that. And then I have a lot of anxiety so I read before I sleep, so it just adds up quickly! As a warning, I have seen people who love his series be disappointed with The Ember Blade. But some people rave about it as well. I hope you enjoy it, whensoever you get around to it :)

[@Ali94749]

Will you read the new Ruth Ozeki book? :)

[@ansk6850]

Agreed.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Glad you do!

[@harikrishnan2713]

Hiya!!