'This year I've read 122 books and managed to avoid reading slump'

Reading slumps are less than ideal, and it can be hard to motivate yourself out of one. Whether you're just super busy and out all the time, or you just can't bear the thought of picking up the heavy hardback, we've all been there, and it's okay. It doesn't make you any less of a reader if you're not speeding through the works of your favourite author.
But when reading is such a big part of your life (yes, I have read 122 books so far in 2025), accepting you're in a slump can be rough, so I have fought my way through many in the past. 'But how?' I hear you ask, and that's what I'm here to tell you. Here are my tried and tested methods to power through a slump.
In my opinion, there's nothing that quite matches up to the feeling of a physical book in your hands. There are few joys in life that please me quite as much as going to a store and choosing a book I want to read, feeling it in my hands, turning the pages, enjoying the story. It's a spiritual experience.
But if the thought of holding a physical book isn't doing it for you, switch to an E-reader. Whether you're a Kindle or a Kobo person, it doesn't matter.
Having a device at your fingertips that has books upon books is so handy. Whatever you fancy can be yours at the drop of a hat.
It weighs basically nothing, and can be held with one hand (you can even get cases with a back strap for holding it securely) - what's not to love? Plus, some people even claim they read faster on an e-reader, including me.
Feeling a slump coming on that has nothing to do with external factors going on in your life? The best thing to do is ditch your current read.
You can come back to it if you feel compelled to in the future, but it's not mandatory. We're not in school anymore (unless, of course, you're reading this and you are, in which case, read the books you have to!).
I did this with the book Butter. Yes, it was hailed as a literary masterpiece, but when I read it, I read 80 pages, and it put me in a physical book slump for a month because I struggled with it so much.
My Kindle was my best friend from that point on. I came back to it at a later date via audiobook and quite enjoyed it, but the point is, if you're not loving what you're reading, just pick something else up instead. Life is too short.
While it may be tempting to just read fluffy romance after fluffy romance, soon those books start to blend into one another, and you can't differentiate plots and characters, and you'll just get sick of it.
This is why I think it's so important to mix it up when it comes to genres. I'll read a horror, followed by a romance, followed by literary fiction, and then sci-fi.
You're obviously allowed your favourite tried and tested genres that you can't get enough of, but variety is truly the spice of life, and if you stick to one thing, I think you're missing out.
Just a few weeks ago, I was adamant that I'd never be a sci-fi reader, but after reading Taylor Jenkins Reid's 'Atmosphere' and absolutely adoring it, I had to buy myself 'Project Hail Mary' by Andy Weir because, who'd have thought it, this science-illiterate woman is kind of into science fiction books.
I mean, I love The Rocky Horror Show so much, so I should've known, really.
So, picture this. You're in a slump, and you want to get out of it because all your mates are reading and boasting about how much they're loving their latest read.
The best thing to do is pick fast-paced books with short chapters that you'll be able to race through without really thinking about it.
This way, you'll be so addicted to reading again, but the reading you've done won't feel like a slog. I'd recommend short (under 350 pages) thriller books.
For example, I recently raced through The Tenant by Freida McFadden, and could always rely on her books to get me out of a slump if I was in one.
No, not just for the aesthetic Instagram pictures your mates can take of you to make you look interesting and intellectual, but so you can pick it up at every opportunity.
If you're on public transport, read rather than scrolling. If you're waiting for a friend who ends up running 20 minutes late, you can sit and read with a side of people watching. This way, rather than sitting there and wishing you could read a chapter of your epic romantasy novel, you can actually just…do it. You know it makes sense.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Daily Mirror

13-06-2025

• Daily Mirror

'This year I've read 122 books and managed to avoid reading slump'

Reading slumps are less than ideal, and it can be hard to motivate yourself out of one. Whether you're just super busy and out all the time, or you just can't bear the thought of picking up the heavy hardback, we've all been there, and it's okay. It doesn't make you any less of a reader if you're not speeding through the works of your favourite author. But when reading is such a big part of your life (yes, I have read 122 books so far in 2025), accepting you're in a slump can be rough, so I have fought my way through many in the past. 'But how?' I hear you ask, and that's what I'm here to tell you. Here are my tried and tested methods to power through a slump. In my opinion, there's nothing that quite matches up to the feeling of a physical book in your hands. There are few joys in life that please me quite as much as going to a store and choosing a book I want to read, feeling it in my hands, turning the pages, enjoying the story. It's a spiritual experience. But if the thought of holding a physical book isn't doing it for you, switch to an E-reader. Whether you're a Kindle or a Kobo person, it doesn't matter. Having a device at your fingertips that has books upon books is so handy. Whatever you fancy can be yours at the drop of a hat. It weighs basically nothing, and can be held with one hand (you can even get cases with a back strap for holding it securely) - what's not to love? Plus, some people even claim they read faster on an e-reader, including me. Feeling a slump coming on that has nothing to do with external factors going on in your life? The best thing to do is ditch your current read. You can come back to it if you feel compelled to in the future, but it's not mandatory. We're not in school anymore (unless, of course, you're reading this and you are, in which case, read the books you have to!). I did this with the book Butter. Yes, it was hailed as a literary masterpiece, but when I read it, I read 80 pages, and it put me in a physical book slump for a month because I struggled with it so much. My Kindle was my best friend from that point on. I came back to it at a later date via audiobook and quite enjoyed it, but the point is, if you're not loving what you're reading, just pick something else up instead. Life is too short. While it may be tempting to just read fluffy romance after fluffy romance, soon those books start to blend into one another, and you can't differentiate plots and characters, and you'll just get sick of it. This is why I think it's so important to mix it up when it comes to genres. I'll read a horror, followed by a romance, followed by literary fiction, and then sci-fi. You're obviously allowed your favourite tried and tested genres that you can't get enough of, but variety is truly the spice of life, and if you stick to one thing, I think you're missing out. Just a few weeks ago, I was adamant that I'd never be a sci-fi reader, but after reading Taylor Jenkins Reid's 'Atmosphere' and absolutely adoring it, I had to buy myself 'Project Hail Mary' by Andy Weir because, who'd have thought it, this science-illiterate woman is kind of into science fiction books. I mean, I love The Rocky Horror Show so much, so I should've known, really. So, picture this. You're in a slump, and you want to get out of it because all your mates are reading and boasting about how much they're loving their latest read. The best thing to do is pick fast-paced books with short chapters that you'll be able to race through without really thinking about it. This way, you'll be so addicted to reading again, but the reading you've done won't feel like a slog. I'd recommend short (under 350 pages) thriller books. For example, I recently raced through The Tenant by Freida McFadden, and could always rely on her books to get me out of a slump if I was in one. No, not just for the aesthetic Instagram pictures your mates can take of you to make you look interesting and intellectual, but so you can pick it up at every opportunity. If you're on public transport, read rather than scrolling. If you're waiting for a friend who ends up running 20 minutes late, you can sit and read with a side of people watching. This way, rather than sitting there and wishing you could read a chapter of your epic romantasy novel, you can actually just…do it. You know it makes sense.

Daily Record

10-06-2025

• Daily Record

Bacon is crispier without burning if you add this one ingredient while cooking

Crispy bacon is the ultimate way to eat it for many people but cooking it to perfection without cremating it can be difficult. If you love your bacon crispy then you'll know what there's a fine line between the perfect crunch and a burnt slice. And whether you fry, pan cook or even do yours in the air fryer, trying to get it crispy but not cremated is often a matter of seconds. But there's one way to ensure your bacon is crisped to perfection and it involves adding a simple ingredient before you cook it. One expert cook recommends coating yours in flour for the best results. Barbara Curry, the culinary expert behind Butter & Baggage, admitted that she was apprehensive about the addition at first but she has become a convert to it. She said: 'I was a little sceptical about how adding flour to the bacon would make that much difference, but just wait until you taste bacon that has been floured first. "It's not only crispy but doesn't have that burnt taste you get sometimes when trying to get your bacon extra crispy," reports the Express. When you add a light coating of flour to the bacon it helps to absorb the moisture while the fat on it renders during cooking. Cooking bacon creates what is known as a Malliard reaction. It's a chemical process which happens when amino acids and reducing sugars in the meat react under heat. This reaction turns it crispy and golden. And the addition of flour helps to give your bacon a beautiful golden colour too. There is the added benefit also that the flour helps to absorb oil and fat as the bacon cooks, which also reduces the amount of splattering in the pan. How to make crispier and tastier bacon To begin, add some all-purpose flour to a plate and coat each slice of raw bacon on both sides. Then simply place it in a frying pan on a medium heat on the stove. Cook it for four minutes and it should come out perfect without any splatter or grease. You can fry your bacon in a frying pan like you normally would and get a great taste, but Barbara also recommends trying to bake it in the oven. Barbara said: 'I still cook bacon on the stove when I just need a few pieces, but when I'm serving breakfast for four or more, I'm making it in the oven.' Simply preheat the oven to 200C and then line a tray with tin foil as it helps make clean up easier. Put your bacon strips on the tray and then bake for 12 to 15 minutes. The cooking time depends on how thick the bacon is so make sure to check on it around the 10 minute mark. Once the bacon is ready, place it on a paper towel to absorb any excess grease. Your bacon should be crispy, golden, and now ready to add to a buttery roll.

The Sun

08-06-2025

• The Sun

Common food item could lower your risk of heart disease & type 2 diabetes, boffins claim

BUTTER could actually reduce your risk of heart disease, scientists say. Having a teaspoonful a day was found to cut the risk of getting type 2 diabetes by a third. The study, published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that butter boosts 'good' cholesterol - which helps to remove harmful fats known to cause heart attacks and strokes. Scientists from Boston University tracked 2,500 men and women over the age of 30 over decades, noting what they ate and how many went on to develop heart disease. Those who ate five grammes of butter a day or more were 31 per cent less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes - usually caused by poor diet and lifestyle - than those eating little or no butter. Margarines - often promoted as 'healthy' alternatives for butter - increased the risk of diabetes by more than 40 per cent and heart problems by 30 per cent. Researchers put it down to the unhealthy 'trans fats' used in margarines from the 1970s onwards - now largely ditched by spread manufacturers. Eating a portion of beans a day could also slash your risk of deadly heart attack or stroke, new research shows. Beans - whether they're dried, canned or frozen - can boost heart and metabolic health, according to scientists. Daily portions of chickpeas and black beans could serve as a "simple, cost-effective" way to reduce the risk of chronic diseases, they said. The new study links chickpeas to improved cholesterol levels, which blacks beans seemed to reduce inflammation.