I’m in the worst slump of my life. I’ve started 15-20 books. And I just cannot get into any of them. My grandparents are dying and my kids are getting more independent. I think it has thrown me into some sort of existential mental crisis. I don’t know if I should read about death or avoid it, I’ve tried fantasy, dark romance, romance, contemporary, sci-fi (hard and soft) and even just straight fan fiction. Nothing grabs my attention. Just help. No self help please. Something fiction-that’s my only criteria.
by heatherdebartolo
5 Comments
Have you tried rereading something you read and loved a long time ago? It’s times like these where it can be fun to dive back into something you already know and see if you can find something new to take away from it.
I know you said fiction, but maybe a fun memoir of someone you admire or like (celebrity, etc) could switch things up for you or a non-fic of something youre interested in. I found The End of Night to be a really compelling read about the dark sky movement and Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil reads like fiction. My escape, fiction go-to’s are murder/thriller books in the Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell.
If you do feel you want to give something dealing with the topic of death (without being awfully depressing) a shot I recommend Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto, it’s a short and encouraging and kind of whimsical but simple read about grief (specifically the main character losing her grandmother), and finding comfort and beauty in the mundane/small things, finding oneself and the joy of living again. Make sure to get the volume that has the novella Moonlight Shadow in the end if you end up getting it because it’s also lovely.
I’d reread a fav. Or if you don’t have favs, maybe short stories? As you are going to be distracted for a time.
Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver. Give it a go.