This week’s Booking Through Thursday asks “Do you ever feel like you’re in a reading rut? That you don’t read enough variety? That you need to branch out, spread your literary wings and explore other genres, flavors, styles?”
Maybe folks who read my blog would say I am in a reading rut because I tend to read a lot of similar things back to back, and I do tend to focus on certain settings and time periods. However, I think it’s only a rut as long as the reader feels trapped in a certain narrow area. I just don’t. I read different things when I want to, and I read similar things when I want to. Life is short, and we should spend it reading books we love. Why force yourself into trying something for the sake of trying it if you’re happy with what you’re reading? That’s not to say one shouldn’t branch out and read different things. I think the point is to be open to books, but also not to feel as though we have to branch out or pull ourselves out of a rut if the only reason we’re doing it is change things up. Unless you want to change things up, of course. I just don’t like the sort of artificial constraints that forcing myself to try different books puts on me. I want to feel free to read whatever I like, whenever I like.
photo credit: jasonr611
I like reading what I like when I like too, but sometimes I like to have a reason to branch out and read something I wouldn't otherwise. Book clubs are good for this, and so is research — it gives me a purpose! 🙂
I agree. I think the tenor of the question just put me off—I don't think anyone should feel compelled to switch things up unless they want to.