Monday, November 23, 2009

You gotta be in the mood to be in the groove



Catchy title eh?

I've been thinking about this for a few days now and I don't know if it was this apparent, but the kind of mood I'm in can have a real bearing on the book I read. I finished off Skin Game, which was rather dark and broody and then picked up Nalini Singh's Blaze of Memory, but I just couldn't get into it. I knew it wasn't the book since I've really been enjoying her series, it was me. So I put it down and picked up Sherrilyn Kenyon's Born of Night, but couldn't get very far into that book either. Again, I knew it wasn't the book it was me.

Then the light dawned. I had just finished a rather dark book that I enjoyed quite a bit. But now I was in the mood for light and fluffy. And when you need light and fluffy, dark and broody just doesn't work. So I thought Susan Donovan's Ain't Too Proud to Beg. And that didn't work! The hero in this book is PERFECT and I don't care for perfect heroes. And so that one was the wrong choice.

So then I got confused. What was I in the mood for? I read Karen's sort of review for The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie so I thought maybe I'll do a reread of that one. But while I got further into it then I did the other three, I realized I wasn't in the mood for that one either.

So I figured maybe I was in the mood for something steamy and tried Livia Dare's In the Flesh that Stacy gave a great review for. But I didn't want to have different 'read at home' and 'read at work' books and there's no way I wanted to read this one at work. Some coworkers have taken to wanting to see what books I've been reading and, well, it's just not one I wanted to show - I'm not quite that ready *g*. So that one was out.

I started eyeing some of the historicals that I have, but was feeling meh about starting any of them.

One book I do feel like reading is Relentless and I know I have it - but I can't find it, damn it all. I've looked a few times and it could be anywhere.

So now I'm totally mixed up!! I have no idea what I feel like reading, but I do know I'm tired of picking up books, only reading a bit, and then clueing that's not the book I'm in the mood for. I'm in the mood to read - it's not a slump. But I'm out of my groove and I have to say, I'm not liking it!!

I picked up Cheryl St. John's latest, Her Colorado Man on the way from work tonight. Hopefully it will be the book to get me back in the groove 'cause right now, I'm very frustrated. Several thousand books and I can't find one to read makes me one cranky reader!!

15 comments:

Lusty Reader said...

Phew! that was a whole lotta book titles in one post, those alone made me dizzy so i can't imagine trying to read them all at the same time trying to find the right fit either!

i have to say Blaze of Memory was excellent, but not one of my faves in the series. i'm so excited for the big rebellion against Silence *rubbing hands together gleefully* it's getting closer!

Bev(QB) said...

OMG, Kristie, I'm going through the exact same thing! I've got a bunch of books with no more than the first chapter read (some only a couple of pages) but they're just not what I'm in the mood for. Or maybe it's just that I'm not in the mood to make a comittment to any of them. I don't know, but it sure is frustrating as hell. I've been looking at books I've read that I seem to be in the mood for, but don't want to commit to a re-read either and the authors don't have anything new out.

Laugh if you want (again ;-p) but in the middle of all this, I picked up Bertrice Small's latest Border Lord book, which haven't been my favorites, and had no problem committing to it, but I think that's been about the only exception lately.

And leading up to this slump, I realized I was forcing myself to finish books. Actually taking DAYS to read a single book. Or not buying a book unless I could get ahold of the audio version because then I could at least do something else while I was listening.

GAK! Why is reading suddenly so NOT enjoyable? Why has it become a chorelike committment? NOOOOOO, the end of the world is upon us!

Bev--- not a Drama Queen at all ;-D

Teddy Pig said...

OK I need help!

I know exactly what I am in the mood for.
A Highlander Romance Christmas ebook.

Kilts and Kringles!

So anyone know of a good one or even a bad one?

Leslie said...

Kristie, I went through the same thing not too long ago. Picked up a Reader's Digest and read it for a little while. :)

I think it was probably the Karen Rose book that got me out of the rut. Good luck!

Kristie (J) said...

LustyReader - See what I mean?? In all those books of all those different types, nothing is sticking! And it's driving me nuts! I know for example that I'll enjoy Blaze of Memory - but I'll enjoy it SO MUCH MORE if I'm in the mood for that kind of book.

Bev: from one not a drama queen to another not a drama queen WHAT THE HELL GIVES!?!?!?!? I HATE *stamping foot* when this happens. I'm waiting for the perfect book to fit my mood - but now I have no idea what that is!! It's good to know I'm not the only one that goes through this!

Teddy Pig: LOL - Sounds like you have the opposite problem - you know what you want but can't find it. A kilts and Kringle book ebook eh? I'm afraid I'm of no use. I haven't joined the ebook age, I avoid Kringle-like books and I'm not up much on my kilts books *g*

Leslie: I've been reading the paper at work instead of a book - and we know how uplifting news can be don't we?? If I'd enjoyed the light & fluffy book when I was in the mood for light & fluffy - things might not have gotten so all messed up *sigh*

Wendy said...

Light and fluffy, light and fluffy....

I got nothing.

I hope the St. John will help you because going by your list I see you haven't tried a western yet! Another suggestion - maybe a medieval? Maybe?

Patti (@TheLoveJunkee) said...

So far I've been lucky with Contemporaries, which is usually not my genre of choice...but you're right - what I read influences my moods, which in turn influences my reading choices.

Renee said...

@Teddy Pig: I can't personally think of one, however, AmyC over at Romance Book Wyrm has a review up for A Highlander Christmas by Janet Chapman over at her place:
http://romancebookwyrm.blogspot.com/2009/11/janet-chapman-highlander-christmas.html
Good luck on your search! :-)

Renee said...

And, Kristie! Parallel lives, I'm tellin' ya! I had to put down Blaze a couple of weeks ago, and it took me a while to figure out my crankiness with it wasn't BoM, but the audiobook that I was listening to. I didn't like the heroine in it, and for some reason, I was transferring my impatience with her onto my BoM reading experience. I also decided to put it down until I was in a better frame of mind with it.

Good luck on finding something that sticks! :-)

Nicola O. said...

Hmmm, maybe something short-short? Lots of holiday anthologies coming out, but if you're not in the mood for jingles, I *really* enjoyed "Never After."

TeddyPig, Janet Chapman came to mind for me too (haven't read, no recc, just a nice kilty cover, LOL). Maybe Karen Hawkins? I don't think she's got a Christmassy one, but there's some nice kilts on the covers.

Marissa said...

I like to change genre to avoid these choices and reading slumps! But then I still stand before my bookcase and don't know what to pick or what I am in the mood for LOL...

orannia said...

..but the kind of mood I'm in can have a real bearing on the book I read.

You took the words right out of my mouth. I find, when I'm in a particularly bad self-critical patch, that certain types of heroines can get me down faster than a post-sugar slump.

And I haven't started Blaze of Memory. I just know I'm in the wrong place for it.

Kristie - have you tried Juliet Marillier? Historical - think ancient Ireland, with the Faire Folk. I adored Heir to Shadows! Whatever you read, good luck :)

Mary G said...

Hi Kristie
I usually try anthologies when I'm not in the mood. If you want something light try Robin Kaye. Her third one is out soon. Her books are LOL funny & sexy.

Penny Watson said...

Hi Kristie! I agree with everyone suggesting anthologies. How about a Christmas anthology? I read A Christmas Ball and I thought it was really cute...I especially liked Emily Bryan and Alissa Johnson's stories. Funny, cute and sexy. Hope you get out of your reading slump soon! Good luck- Penny

kanishk said...

rom one not a drama queen to another not a drama queen.

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