Slump Watch 2009: Slump Busters

The Slump of 2009 is still going strong.  Good books are languishing on the pile.  Nothing is tempting the reading palette.  Good writing (objectively I can tell it is good) just ain't cutting it for me.  This slump is strong and holding fast.

What's a girl to do?  I've tried switching genres.  I picked up a well loved, oft re-read keeper.  Tried re-reading a fave from my youth.  Nothing is luring me to pick up and read.  I even have the newest Patricia Briggs and I can't get up the gumption to read!  (Of course, there is the fear that The Slump will leach even her books of their crack addled glory.)

I know I am not alone.  Others have been in my shoes. When you were here, in this desolate place of reading ennui, what jolted you out of it?  What book or activity busted that slump?

The School Year Beckons

Today I am bidding a fond farewell to summer. Chicago has been experiencing unseasonably cool weather, but more to the point, I report back to school tomorrow. The halcyon day of summer are coming to an end. Days of doing nothing but what I want to do: catching up on TV shows, rewatching favorite movies, crocheting and crafting like a mad woman, and staring at the TBR pile... that offers little inspiration.

After returning from New York at the end of July I hit the all-time, worst ever reading slump. This was a relentless creature. It still has it's claws in me. I can't tell you how many DNF books I have floating around my apartment right now. I know they can't all be bad books. It has to be me. I tried historicals. I tried paranormals. I even tried rereading an old favorite. I want to read, but I just can't bring myself to lift another book only to be disappointed. Ugh!!! Needless to say, this malaise has put the brakes on my posts here.

There have been a few gems among the paste. Here are the rare, the few, the books I have enjoyed since the end of June:

Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran- I FINALLY read it, and it was wonderful. So rich and layered. The only other historical romance that I could compare it to is The Spymaster's Lady. The time period and the political situation are not simply the back drop in this book, they are almost another character.

A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole- This was my first try at her writing. I did not want to like the hero, Lachlain. In the beginning he had all of the negative traits of an Alpha hero, and none of the good. He was downright mean to Emma. In the end I quite enjoyed the story. I liked the mythology and the inclusion of Valkyries. I have the next book in the series buried in my extra bedroom. I need to dig it out.

7 Day and 7 Nights by Wendy Wax- I had read this one before and still loved it now. It is a contemp with one of my favorite tropes: reunited lovers, although this couple does nothing but butt heads. I definitely recommend you guys dig this one up.

Anything by Nalini Singh. I finished off the rest of her booklist. I heart her. I can't wait for the next book.

Currently, I am reading Lucky Charm by Carly Philips. It is cute so far, but hasn't grabbed me yet. I have the newest Patricia Briggs waiting for me. Yay, Charles and Anna!!! Mostly, though, I have been having fun crocheting. I opened a "store" on ETSY. Go check it out, let me know what you think. My newest obsession is amigurimi. I had seen these little cuties before, but thought they would be too difficult. Not so! It just requires counting. You can't zone out while making them. I have plans to make some for my friends (Christmas gifts? Heck yeah!)

I may even need to make a girlfriend for Mho Pho. What do you think, Katie?

Mmmm. Hello, lovely.

What do you think, ladies? Could he be one of Larissa Ione's men? Perhaps Eidolon pre- s'genisis?

Just thought I would leave you with this image to enjoy before heading off to bed or work.  :)

Gorging myself

Oh... wow. I just gorged myself on Nalini Singh. Seriously. I devoured her entire backlist. Damn those cats are sexy! I can't even get my thought is order to type up a review of any one specific book. Instead, I give you random thoughts about the sries:

- Her heroes are tough, loyal men dedicated to their pack. They are flawed, but not fatally so.

- The heroines are equally strong. These are no shrinking violets, but neither are they ball busters.

- Engaging political atmosphere. Ms. Singh has developed a complex world with all it's troubles and strife.

- Family is at the heart of everything. I love this. These are men who are driven by their connection to and need for family.

- Alpha with a capital A. Somehow, though, they are not jackasses.

- The characters from previous books don't fade away at the conclusion of their book. They play integral roles in subsequent novels.

- The women stand equally among the men. They don't lose their strength once the hero claims them for their own. These women are defined by their own personality and talents, not by the men they are mated to.


I could go on, but I shall leave it at that. Ms. Singh, you are now officially on my list. Auto buy, baby, auto buy!

My inner geek rejoices

I will admit it. I have seen the new Star Treck movie twice already. I want to see it again. I have turned into a complete and utter fangirl. Squeee!!!

I have seen a good number of episodes from the original series, a handful of eps from Voyager (ugh) and Enterprise (way better than most people gave it credit for!) My most favorite of all the incarnations, though, has always been Next Generation. I have disticnt memories from childhood. Me and Dad had our TV night: Next Generation and Quantum Leap. What a perfect pairing! Networks just don't plan that way any more.

My love of Next Generation probably explains my glee at receiving this result:

Your results:
You are Deanna Troi

Deanna Troi 70% Uhura 65% Chekov 50% Beverly Crusher 50% James T. Kirk (Captain) 45% Geordi LaForge 45% Will Riker 45% Mr. Scott 35% Jean-Luc Picard 35% An Expendable Character (Redshirt) 35% Leonard McCoy (Bones) 25% Spock 22% Data 20% Worf 15% Mr. Sulu 10%

You are a caring and loving individual. You understand people's emotions and you are able to comfort and counsel them.

Click here to take the Star Trek Personality Quiz

Pet peeves, what are yours?

My lovely ginger friend, Jen, recently posted about incorrectly used Spanish language phrases. Let's just say they really bother her. This got me thinking. What bugs me when I read? Well, most of my big pet peeves are not ones that you would find in a published novel (not unless the author was allowed to write unchecked by an editor.) Which words and phrases get under my skin and make me cringe?

"should of" - Just because we are lazy here in America and butcher the pronunciation does not mean the word "have" has suddenly morphed into "of."

"orientated" - It's oriented. Just... ugh.


What about you? Which words, phrases, or misspellings make you want to pull out your hair?

Refractory period

No no, I'm not talking about the one a man needs after he has been... intimate.  I am talking about a literary one.

Sometimes when I finish reading a book I am energized, ready to jump into the next book.  This is especially the case if it is part of a series or a new-to-me author.  This past weekend I read Angel's Blood by Nalini Singh.  So fabulous!  I immediately pulled Slave to Sensation out of my TBR pile.  I've got about a third of the book left.  I'm loving her heroes and the worlds she has built.  I know I will be picking up the next book in the Psy-changeling series as soon as I finish.  No down time. No recovery period.  No refractory period.

Other times I finish a book and need a break.  It could be because I have glutted myself on a particular genre.  I could be completely stressed by RL stuff.  Perhaps I read an author's entire backlist and just need to reset the brain.  Occasionally, I read a book that is so good, so complex, that I need time to process it.  I need a few days to savor the story, characters, and imagery.  Unfortunately, there are the times when you read a book so bad that you just can't bring yourself to pick up another book. (Usually, though, a good book will cleanse away the foul taste of bad writing.)

Recovery time.  A literary refractory period.  Do you have one? When do you need a break?