I’ve read, or tried to read, a string of books that just don’t rise above a generous “2” for me. Others may have loved them, but they just don’t bring me the satisfaction many books have. Have you had a slump like that and, if so, how do you turn it around?
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I’m struggling with that right now, too, Robin! And I don’t think it’s the book, I think it’s me! I’m on perhaps my third or fourth book where I’m just not engaged in the plot, and I’m struggling to get myself to pick it up.
The wisest thing to do is probably put the book down & pick up something else more in tune with where my head’s at, but I’m obligated to finish these. So for me, the struggle continues!
Perhaps slumps are normal for most readers. Unlike Kim, I don’t feel obligated to read the whole slumpy book, but if there’s enough intrigue I skip ahead rather than closing the cover completely. I’ve learned that skipping chapters doesn’t mean I miss many important, riveting details. The last book was an example. I probably skipped ahead 5 or 6 times and read the ending. After two days of on and off reading I just knew that was enough of that story.
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I reread a favorite book.
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My obligation to finish is probably an inner drive, spurred on by the fact that I paid for the book. I may need to work on that compulsion.
I think skipping ahead can be a good strategy, coupled with really hasty skimming it might take the onus off the “slumpy book.” (I like that turn of phrase.)
Take a break from it all! Put the books away and when you’re ready, start with something light and easy, reread an old favorite, or try short stories to get you back in.
I tend to slump when I’ve been reading difficult books (literally or figuratively) or when I have committed to a lot of books. I usually binge some junky tv and it gets me wanting to read something good! 
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I’m in a slump right now as well, but I disagree that it’s just you and not the book. I think it’s more probably a combination of the two. And if you feel obligated to finish the book because you have purchased it, putting it down is nothing more than taking a break from it, which frees you up for turning your time and attention to a book that genuinely captures both. 
Oops! Looks like I responded to you with a comment about buying books that should have gone to a different person. Sometimes the back-and-forth in these messages throws me off. 
I love your solution of taking a break from it all!
Hi Robin–I sent this response to Kim by mistake and am now sending it on to you.
If you feel obligated to finish the book because you have purchased it, putting it down is nothing more than taking a break from it, which frees you up for turning your time and attention to a book that genuinely captures both.
Oh, I’m so glad I’m not the only person not feeling many books right now! I never feel the need to finish anything that I’m not connecting with–put down two in a row just a couple of weeks ago. My usual MO when dealing with a slump is to either not read anything other than magazines or maybe a collection of poetry (I can’t not read!) or just put up with a so-so book, usually rather light in nature, until I can get my hands on a good mystery or two (or many more!) Right now I’m working my way through one while waiting for the call from the library that it’s my turn for the new David Rosenfelt (his Andy Carpenter series can snap me out a slump in no time) & the latest in the series by Linda Castillo. Give me a dead body or two and I’m a happy reader!
I agree with the already mentioned suggestion to try short stories. Poetry is also a nice diversion sometimes.
Finally, I will often go to a well loved series. It’s sort of like taking a vacation with friends. I always have a couple of series unfinished in case I need them.
I’ve never tried doing a reread but that might work also.
I’m in a slump right now. The last couple of books I read and the one I’m currently reading have done nothing for me. I find myself having difficulty concentrating when I read which I honestly think is due to anxiety over our country’s current political situation and too much social media. I’ve been trying to limit my screen time and keep busy with other tasks and activities, yet here I am looking at my smartphone. 
. I’ll get through it, though.
Not sure if any of these will help, but strategies that helped me in a similar situation were to draft a timeline of what I needed to read by x date and then commit to completing the book by that date. Sometimes I’d break it down by the number of pages per day or other times, by the number of chapters per day. I also found that balancing that with a chapter or two of a book I knew I’d really enjoy helped, especially if I rewarded myself with the chapters from the enjoyable book (kind of like eating a favorite dessert after eating a ho-hum meal). When I’ve struggled with an author’s style, I’ve tried trying to read about the author’s background to see if I could find something to help me connect or understand their perspective/view.
@Jill_Mercier I do the timeline thing all the time and have for years. I generally plan on about 100 pages per day, which should take about three hours. I think that’s how I know when I’m in a slump - it takes me considerably longer to get through a book and I have trouble concentrating on it - I get easily distracted by other things rather than really sinking into the plot.
That’s one of the dangers of reading in electronic format. The distractions are RIGHT THERE, LOL. “I should just check my mail…” “I haven’t looked at the news today…”
I stop reading my Kindle or book and depend on Audible books to get me going again.
Perhaps separate “work” reading from “pleasure” reading?
“Work” reading is reading a book that you have decided is a “must read” for whatever reason you feel gives this particular book a high priority—and is often accompanied by a deadline. Using strategies like scheduling pages, allocating blocks of time, using rewards for finishing, or even skipping or skimming are fine.
“Pleasure” reading has different rules. You can start, stop, and leave whenever you want. There will never be enough time to read everything you want so give yourself permission to quit when a book no longer gives you pleasure. Reading something just because you bought the book is like eating a bad restaurant meal—why compound the stress of wasting money by subjecting oneself to future discomfort?
In my world, hitting a slump usually means I’ve upset the balance between pleasure reading and work reading. Once I recognize what I’ve done, I need to rebalance. My best strategy is to find a book that, if I can’t sleep at night, I’m happy to pick up from my bedside table. If I prefer to stare at the ceiling at 2 am, that is a good sign a book isn’t doing anything for me despite the praise it may have received from others. It has become “work” reading. Too much “work” reading leads to no reading—a state I try to correct ASAP.
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My favorite thing to read when nothing really appeals to me is to read one of my favorite books. There are a number of books that I read every few years because they always work for me. You might try it.
Which books do you enjoy rereading? They must be very special.