I read a lot in 2018, more than usual and definitely more than I should have because it brought me so close to book burnout that it’s not even a joke. Part of that was immersing myself in a few new genres that caught my attention, part was simply being unable to say “no thanks” to more review offers than I could realistically fill without serious lack of sleep. So 2019 will bring about a few changes to my reading schedule.
The upside to that overabundance of reading is that I’ve been able to better define what authors’ “voice” I want to follow in the future, and what “voices” no longer work for me.
The “voice” of a book is an elusive thing to define. I believe that every single reader has a different, specific “voice” that appeals to them alone. It’s the way a book is worded, the conversation between author and reader that flows easily over your mind and transports you into another world without effort. It’s a feeling of comfortableness, of being at ease with how the story is delivered, how it unfolds to you. It’s also a matter of trusting that the “voice” you’re listening to is going to be true to the genre, and not spin you off so far away from what you thought you were reading that you become lost.
It’s coming to the words, “The End” and sitting still for a moment thinking, “Yeah. That was good.” It’s not always fireworks — it’s also a quiet feeling of satisfaction.
I’ve come to better understand what “voice” appeals to me after this past year’s heavy reading schedule. I know the authors that simply do not speak to me. Perhaps once they did, but their “voice” has changed over time and what once comforted now jars. It happens, it’s sad when it does, but it does happen.
I’m more willing to walk away from a book that just isn’t working for me. Once I would stick until the ending just in case something changed along the way… now I’ll not be wasting precious time. I’ll be polite, I won’t trash anything, what works for you may not work for me… and that’s okay, it’s not personal.
Every reader has a different word or phrase for what I call the “voice” of a book. It’s simply what appeals to you, what brings you back to an author time after time, what you love about a genre, what makes you want to sit down and wander off into another world… it’s what you enjoy and that is unique to us all.
I have to get better at listening to my instincts with books. I can tell early on if a book isn’t working for me, but I’m always hesitant to DNF. I’ve already read one book this year that I shouldn’t have finished. I knew right away that the writing style wasn’t my kind of thing.
Aj @ Read All The Things! recently posted…The Sunday Post #181
For years I would never DNF a book, always in the belief that it “might” get better… it never did. I love reading, I love escaping from my reality for just a bit through words… and a string of really not for me stories that I pushed myself to finish was a large factor in my almost book burnout last year. I won’t do that again.
I’ve DNF’d 2 books so far this year, reluctantly finished one that just never got better so I won’t be picking up the rest of the series. Not every book is going to be for every person… I simply need to start believing my own words and walk away, kindly.
I feel exactly the same way, Marcy. At first it seemed almost sinful to not read all the way to the end. But after awhile, I realized that it gave me more time to read books that I did enjoy. So YAY for that!
Here’s to great reading in 2019!
Hi Sheila,
The older I get the more I’m not willing to finish a book that isn’t working for me. I will never be rude about it… but if I’m not enjoying the experience there is little that’s going to change that fact. So, I’m afraid there will be more DNF’d titles in my future – and I have to be okay with that (get rid of the guilt I still feel at not finishing)