All over the internet, my fellow bibliophiles succumb to this virus known as the reading slump. Before I continue, let’s broadly describe a reading slump as a period of lacking the desire(s) to read. Anyway, many people use this term, reading slump, to blame their lower completed book counts. At times, I find myself admitting that I’m in a reading slump. Lately, though, this term has started to irk me.
A bibliophile is one who loves reading. As a football players loves to play football, a bibliophile loves to read. For us, reading offers temporary moments of escape from our chaotic lives. Therefore, reading becomes a hobby and passion which means our moments to read should be enjoyable moments for us.
Now, whenever I hear people use the term “reading slump” to describe their inability to currently read, I cringe. To me, the use of this term subliminally alludes to reading being more a chore and less of a hobby and passion. Unfortunately, I think many of us get caught up in the numerical book challenges and lose reading’s true intentions which is to provide pleasure. Therefore, I think using the excuse, “Oh, I’m in a reading slump,” is a way for us find a scapegoat for our lack of reading to our fellow bibliophile peers. This leads me to believe that reading slumps are not a “thing,” and I believe it is time we embrace the fact that we are human beings who have very busy lives. Our hobbies and passions are not limited to one activity (reading). Rather, we should embrace these different activities to become more well-rounded individuals. So, what?? You haven’t read in two days but decided to watch the first whole season of Sherlock? Good for you! I hope you enjoyed your time!
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how many books you completed and how many pages you read in a month, what truly matters is the content that you read. Perhaps you read a novel this month that filled you with an immense feeling of evangelical zeal that you cannot fathom picking up a new novel for the next few weeks for fear of disappointment. Don’t worry about it! Honestly, we read for the content, not the numbers. So, fellow bibliophiles, happy reading!
The “Reading Slump”: BUSTED!!
The Bookshelf Blogger 
Thank you for this! This just made me feel a lot better about my lack of reading recently!
I’ve been beating myself up about my low book count last year. But you’re right, we shouldn’t get so caught up in a silly numbers game. Hoorah, great post!
Thanks so much! I definitely agree. Sometimes, we make reading too much of a numbers game when it is not that at all!