I’m sure you’re all glad to know I’ve had a much better week than last time. Staying away from social media really helps. Who knew?!
The weather is still incredibly mild for this time of year. Yes, the leaves are falling and yes, it feels quite crisp in the early morning. But I also still have lovely flowers blooming in my garden and I’m still only wearing the two layers, whereas normally around this time of year that would be three. At least. 😂
I’ve also been trying to mix up what I read a bit more since I’ve actually been able to for a bit, as I have committed to less blog tours for a change. This has also very much brought home the need to make a change. Finally, I hear you say 😄. But yes, I had almost forgotten what it’s like to just read for fun as opposed to reading to a deadline and my determination to take on less tours has only grown.
So, what I have read this week?
Books I’ve read this week
Tear Me Apart will not be reviewed as I was incredibly disappointed with that one. It surprised me as I really enjoyed J.T. Ellison’s previous book. I’m on the tour for The Lingering in late November so you have a bit of a wait for that review but it’s fabulous! And I really, really enjoyed Dracul as well so look out for that review. At some point. 😉
Books I’ve bought this week
Requires a bit of an explanation. Technically, Keeper and A House of Ghosts were pre-orders. However, they never arrived as my carrier sent the package back because it had been damaged. After receiving a refund, I had to buy them again. So they don’t count.
For the eagle-eyed among you, yes, The Wicked Boy is a non-fiction book. Which has been added to my ever-growing list of buddy reads with Janel at Keeper of Pages.
ARC’s received via Netgalley
One for a blog tour, one not for a blog tour but for that same list of buddy reads I mentioned above.
Bookpost what landed on my doorstep this past week
Why, yes, I did read those immediately. I was far too excited to leave them on my shelf. With thanks to Orenda Books and Transworld.
On the blog this past week
Ah, a quiet one. I regret nothing 😂
Monday : Kicked off the blog tour for the fabulous The Lost Daughter by Gill Paul
Tuesday : Nothing!
Wednesday : Shared my Week in Books
Thursday : Zilch!
Friday : Shared my publication day review for Fatal Promise by Angela Marsons
Saturday : Nada!
Sunday : Weekly Wrap-Up
Bet you can’t remember the last time that happened! Neither can I. 😄
Next week on Novel Deelights
Can I keep things up?
Monday : Nothing planned.
Tuesday : There may be a review but it’s not written yet so who knows.
Wednesday : Blog tour | Review | Closer by K.L. Slater
Thursday : Blog tour | Guest post | Love Funked by Nia Lucas
Thursday : Blog tour | Guest post | The Golden Orphans by Gary Raymond
Friday : Blog tour | Review | The Dark Place by Stephanie Rogers
Saturday : Nothing
Sunday : Weekly Wrap-Up
Okay, well, not as quiet as last week and I accidentally double booked as well. 🙄
Still, baby steps, eh? 😂
Question of the week : Reading slumps. We all have them. As you know I had a massive one while on holiday. A time when I usually read close to 15 books. But this time around managed barely two. I’m still not over that 😂.
So, what do you do when you’re in a reading slump? When you pick up book after book and within the first five pages decide it’s just not working for you. When suddenly doing household chores seems like the most fun thing to do. Do you just go off and find something else to do? Do you stubbornly persist and hope that, even if it takes going through 50 books, you’ll finally find one to settle on? Do you aim for a Best Drama Oscar and declare your life is over?
I would normally go on a Netflix binge or catch up on tv shows (I’m looking at you, Supernatural!) or watch older shows and movies again on DVD like Game of Thrones. I’ve been meaning to watch The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogies for months but there’s that pesky thing called “lack of time”. I am determined to do this in December and I’m so looking forward to it.
And that’s it for another week! Wishing you all a great one and lots of happy reading! xx
Novel Deelights 
Glad to hear you’re in a happier place with blog tours. As you know, I’ve been cutting back as well, restricting myself to a maximum of two reviews per week, and taking month long blog tour breaks from time to time as well. Thankfully I’ve had little experience of reading slumps but perhaps one route out is not to dwell too much on the fact you’re in one. Just do the other things in life you enjoy and wait for your interest in reading to return. I’m pretty sure it will at some point. I know you mentioned staying away from social media but I always find spending time visiting other blogs, commenting on posts and joining online discussions are a good way to feel connected with the bookish community even if you’re not in the mood to write reviews.
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Very sound advice, Cathy. I wouldn’t normally worry and do exactly what you say, go off and do something else I enjoy. But I always have an eye on my schedule and commitments which adds that bit more stress. I refuse to pull out of the tours I still have lined up but I’ll be a struggle finishing the books on time.
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Sometimes advice is easier to give than to comply with yourself so I’ll happily admit I have two blog tour review commitments next week and I’ve not yet started the books! Luckily, they’re both quite short. I’m already planning my next month long blog tour break early in the New Year – lots of red shading and ‘no blog tours’ comments on my blog schedule spreadsheet!
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I have two as well that I’ve not yet read so I feel your pain. There’s one I’m not even entirely sure how I got roped into it because it doesn’t sound like my thing at all so I keep putting it off. I have been cutting down but one of my goals is to have at least one month of no blog tours at all. I can dream. 😄
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Looking forward to your reviews of Closer and The Dark Place.
I haven’t picked up a book, other than to move it, since Oct 6th. While I won’t go as far as to say my life is over, I have been talking to an imaginary skull on an almost daily basis ☺
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😂 Well, as long as that imaginary skull doesn’t start talking back at you, it’s all okay 😉
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I’ve found with reading slumps that I switch genre for a book (normally a bit of chick lit) and I’m ready for a return x
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I’ve been trying to do that. I’m squeezing in a bit more historical fiction lately, which I really enjoy.
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I did notice you weren’t around as much but I though I’d just missed your posts somehow. Reading slumps are awful and the only thing that normally works for me is audiobooks or doing something completely different. Sometimes I even leave the house and go for a walk!!
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Leave the house?! The horror! 😂
It’s an odd feeling to not be posting as much as I tend to do. It even made me feel a little bad but I’m over that now 😉
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Good and maybe more time for new Lego models?
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I may be looking into that 😉
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My reading slump never last for more than 3-5 days. Does it even call reading slump?! sometimes I’m not in mood of reading anything that include posts as well. I usually do some other activity that i enjoy or i was putting off because of amazing reads and blog. switching genre also helps. best is read something for fun that is ‘books that i have purchased’ for me. I won’t read deadline books (No blogtour or book from author or netgalley request).
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That’s where my problem lies because I do have blog tours and Netgalley requests that I need to read. I just don’t want to 😂
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That’s what I feel. We sign up for tours months ago and when date nears we don’t won’t read it. 😅 So Best to go some time without tours.
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In a way, having blog tour after blog tour and reading at the last minute for those tours means I can’t afford a reading slump. I think I tend to have more of them when I’m reading ‘my own’ books if you know what I mean.
Glad you’ve had a better week.
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I do know what you mean. Isn’t it weird though? I always look forward to reading something from my own TBR but when that moment arrives, I can’t even decide what to pick up so I go back to something for a tour. I can kind of afford the slump right now but I am getting in trouble for next week. 😳
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Yes, I completely relate to what you’re saying. Hope you get back on track soon.
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Reading for fun…that’s what it’s all about! I’ve just finished reading A House of Ghosts and A Keeper (I listened to this one actually, it was very good) I noticed A House of Ghosts has mixed reviews but I really enjoyed it. Reading slumps are the worst. I normally look for something completely different, or read or listen to an old favourite.
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I have both of those on my shelf. They are two I’ve been really looking forward to and so in my current mood, I’m ignoring them 😂
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Contrary madam 😂😂
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I’ve heard that said before 🤣
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I get into a reading slump sometimes when I’ve committed myself to reading too many ARC’s and then once it’s time for me to read them my mood wants something different but I have to fulfill my commitment so I read them when I’d rather be reading something else. 🤦🏽♀️Hope I made sense with that run on sentence. Fortunately, most of the time I’m able to get into the book I need to read even though I wanted to read something different. 😊
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That makes total sense! By the way, I do love run-on sentences 😂
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😂😂
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I’m glad it worked! I’m going to cut back completely after Christmas (she says…)
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Yes, I said the same thing. Which is how I apparently already managed to get on about 10 tours for January and February 🙄
Good luck, Linda! xx
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I’ve turned down almost all! So far so good!
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Blog tours are great but I learnt my lesson along time ago 😂 I normally only do two a month and it means I’m not tied to a book reading schedule I’m cutting back even more in 2019. Can’t wait to read your review of The Lingering which I loved.
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The Lingering was fantastic! Just the kind of book you need when you’re in a slump. I thought things would get better after that but … nope 😂
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When I’m in a reading slump, I enter the black hole that is Youtube, although, as you know, audiobooks are my new go to!
That’s the cover I have for The Wicked Boy – are we reading that one next month, it’s nonfiction November! Also we have to read Still Lives pretty soon too. Poor Lisa Jewell just keeps getting pushed to the back of the queue, along with Michele Sacks, lol!
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What is this YouTube you speak of? 🤔😉
Yes, The Wicked Boy in November sounds good. And crap, I keep forgetting about Michelle 🤣
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I was wondering where you were! Completely understand, I have never really swamped but I will switch it up usually a cheesy way contemporary can cure me
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OK that posted without me going back and editing the auto correct, can you figure out what it says??? LOL! Trying to cut back myself hoping to do so by the end of 2019
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😂. I do so love premature publication 🤣
You’re hoping to cut back by the end of NEXT year? I’m hoping to cut back way sooner than that! She says while already having ten tours in January/February 🙄
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Reading slumps for me always mean more Netflix. Suits and Better Call Saul are flavour of my month, although I am enjoying reading ‘The Perfect Girlfriend’ still! Hope your next week is good too.
Amanda.
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Two shows I used to watch and completely lost track of because I just didn’t have the time. I didn’t use to miss it, Netflix or films or anything. But these days I quite do. So I definitely need to cut back on commitments and allow myself more time to do something else without feeling the pressure.
I have the Perfect Girlfriend on my kindle somewhere. Haven’t read it yet. Hope you enjoyed it!
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You’ve a great week planned! Sorry about the Ellison book and I’m surprised, too.
Reading slumps? I put my headphones on and listen to an audiobook. I was in a slump in August and September and they saved me. Having someone read to me seems to work. My wireless headphones are my lifeline.
Great post, Eva!
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I don’t think I’m cut out for audiobooks although I may give them a try at some point because I realised one of my favourite actors, Richard Armitage, does quite a few and his voice is to die for. But I get distracted easily and I just know I’ll be off on YouTube or surfing the internet or whatnot and not hear a word of the audiobook 😄
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Loved The Wicked Boy, so I hope you do too! And I’m pleased you rate Dracul so highly, since I’ll be starting it very soon! 😀 If I go into a slump, I usually re-read old favourites. But I’ve NEVER had a slump so bad it’s made housework look good… 😲
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My pile of ironing has been calling my name all week. So far, I’ve managed to resist but I may need an intervention at some point 😂
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Glad to hear that things are getting better, good progress made on blogging too. As for reading slumps, changing things always helps me. Reading a new genre or just watching TV shows for a while 😀 I hope that things keep improving for you, Eva and that the slump goes away soon 🙂
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Sadly it’s been getting a lot worse but you’ll find out all about that in tomorrow’s wrap-up 😉
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When I get in a reading slump I always go back to an old favourite that I know I’m going to thoroughly enjoy and it makes me remember why I love reading in the first place! 😍 Glad you had a better week. 😘
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I have one waiting for me, The Hobbit. I read it years ago and I’ve always been meaning to re-read it. I haven’t had the time to and I still don’t, really. But I may just try and squeeze it in, even if it means reading a blog tour book the night before my stop. 😳😘
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