Summer Slump?

I had a bit of a reading slump in late June and early July.


Innumerable stories come from these few keys.
Amazing.


Lately, I’ve encountered too many books featuring characters who are extremely unpleasant. They go through the book pretending to be funny or an undiscovered and overlooked genius, but they’re mostly just blaming their unhappiness on everyone else, specific family members, or the “crappy” place they live.


I don’t mind an unlikable character! But these characters go beyond the unlikable people I have met (and have been).


Sometimes the characters experience an underwhelming and unbelievable change of heart in the last twenty pages. Sometimes they don't even do that.


Anyway, I finished three and didn’t finish one. I still dislike the idea of not finishing a book I start (tenacity! persistence! always something to learn!), but in this case I have no actual regrets. Life’s pretty short, as Ferris Buehler would remind us.


It’s possible I’m not their ideal audience. Humour can be intensely personal, and I often canNOT “take a joke” or “let it go.” Also, given [waves hands] things, I’m up to HERE [arms extended above head] with people not really being into taking responsibility while playing it for laughs.


It’s also completely possible that I’ve been asking too much from books recently. Summer can be a restless time, with birds and lake and trees and grass calling me outdoors. Even when I’m pleasantly tired and happy to be at rest, I may not be in the best mental space to spend time with someone else’s story.


On the up side, I’m currently reading nonfiction that I’m enjoying very much, and I very much enjoyed an advance copy of a novel I got to read! Plus I’m proofing a project and have promising books on order (to say nothing of those I already own)!


So: fun times ahead.