The reading slump continues, I’m afraid, although slowly but surely it seems to be abating.  So far, in October, I’ve finished four books.  True, that’s not exactly a monthly high for me.  But two were chunksters and one of those – Ten Years in the Tub, by Nick Hornby – I’ve been reading since early September.  (And loving, by the way.  Don’t take my slow reading pace as a negative indication of this book’s quality.  It’s terrific.  More on that later.)  I expect to finish at least another couple of books this month.  One, I hope, will be The Penguin Book of Witches, which I bought and which I must read in October for obvious reasons.  The other will be Amy Falls Down, Jincy Willet’s second novel featuring reclusive writing teacher Amy Gallup.  (I loved The Writing Class, Amy’s first appearance, so much that I included it on my “best of January-June 2014” list.  Amy Falls Down is completely different, thus far, and I love it just as much or even more.  Jincy Willet is quickly becoming one of those “I’ll read anything she writes” authors.)  I also loved The Four Graces, and… well, I’ve just enjoyed everything I’ve read this month so far.  Slow as the reading speed has been.

I keep on wondering whether I’m out of the reading doldrums.  I don’t think I quite am, but I’m beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel.  I’m still finding it hard to focus on a book for long stretches of time – what with everything breaking, and all the unpacking I still need to do, and trying to lay aside freezer meals for busy weeks ahead, and chasing a rambunctious toddler, and trying to hold down one of those job things, I’m a little bit amazed I’ve found time to read anything.  But I have, and I’m celebrating that victory.  And I’m actually looking forward to the reading I have set aside for the rest of the month and into November, and I’m celebrating that victory too.  Baby steps.

Have you ever been in a reading slump?  What was the book that got you out of it?