Break Through A Reading Slump
If you’re having trouble finding your next great read, here are three picks sure to please.
Reading is a magical thing. I love getting lost in a book and feeling like I’m wherever the author has transported me. Personally, reading is my “safe space.” Over time, I have started to venture out into more reading genres, and that was the best decision of my life. You can find so many different worlds in all genres, but my personal favorites right now are fantasy, romance, and classics.
A few times a year, however, I fall into a reading slump. This usually happens after having just finished an amazing book or when I’m very stressed. Slumps are usually caused when a reader feels like they can’t find a book to meet the expectations set up by their last great read. It’s a frustrating process that can include beginning several new books without growing attached enough to one to finish.
Reading slumps are a pain, trust me, but it’s a great feeling to finally get out of one with the help of a good book. Here are some of my personal favorites that will hopefully help you with this tough time:
#1: FANTASY
If you're a fantasy lover and love to get lost in magical worlds, then you’ll definitely want to check out these two books.
“Hope is a powerful thing. Some say it’s a different breed of magic altogether.”
— Stephanie Garber, Caravel
Caravel, by Stephanie Garber, is a captivating story about sisterhood and adventure, with mysterious characters you’ll grow to love and a dash of romance. There are twists and turns that will make you turn page after page, craving for more. If you become a fan, there are two more books in the series, and a sequel called The Ballad of Never After!
Dragonsong takes readers to a world of music and dragons. If you love dragons, that should be enough said. Anne McCaffery’s classic fantasy novel follows our main protagonist Menolly, a fifteen-year-old girl who has a burning passion for music. In Menolly’s family, music played by a woman is unacceptable. Menolly doesn’t feel loved or appreciated, and now she’s told she can’t even do the one thing she loves. She seeks refuge in a cave full of fire lizard dragons who she grows close bonds with as she tries to shape her future. This is Book 1 of the Harper Hall Trilogy.
#2: Romance
If you love Nicholas Sparks and those sappy, heartfelt love stories that are major tear jerkers, you’ll definitely want to check this book out.
“You have to promise you won’t fall in love with me” — Nicholas Sparks, A Walk to Remember
A Walk to Remember is a beautifully written story by Nicholas Sparks. The story takes place in 1958, following the POV of our main character Landon, typical bad boy who hangs out with his “popular” friends. Our other main character, Jamie Sullivan, a girl whose focus is on school, church, and books, is someone who Landon wouldn’t even consider taking time to look at. But that all changes as a twist of fate makes Jamie his partner for the homecoming dance, and Landon starts to grow a love for Jamie that he would have never even dreamed of. Jamie shows him the beauty of life through her kind soul.
The novel was adapted into a movie in 2002, starring heartthrobs Mandy Moore and Shane West, which made teens fall in love with Landon and Jamie’s relationship even more.
#3: Classics
There’s nothing better than a classic read. Here’s one that is greatly loved:
“I’m quite illiterate, but I read a lot.” — J.D Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D Salinger, is a well-known classic. Written in 1951, the story takes place around Christmas time. Holden Caulfield, the main character and narrator, has just been expelled from ANOTHER school. He travels about New York City encountering random strangers. Holden wanders around alone feeling as if he isn’t even there, wanting to “escape the phonies” and find a sense of purpose in a world that seems so pointless.
This classic is a coming-of-age-story that will get you hooked. The writing style is very unique, and the story has a great meaning. The ending will leave you very content. One of my all time favorite classics, that’s for sure.
“That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.” -Jhumpa Lahiri
Books make me feel alive, and reading stories give me joy. I personally love getting completely engrossed in a book — it’s a magical feeling. Don’t give up on that one book you put down. Pick it back up, embrace the story, and fall in love with reading again.
Gabriella Dencklau is a junior at YVHS. She loves to read in her free time.
