If you’re a reader, then you might have experienced this situation. You’re so entranced by a book’s plot or characters that it draws you in and touches the very depths of your being. You never want this adventure to end, but eventually you finish the final page and close the book with a tear in your eye. “Alas, no other book will live up to this one!” You’ve just developed a book hangover. It’s real.
The thing is, you’ll have to get over it eventually. But it’s such a conundrum. What to read next? How to move forward in the world, le sigh. There’s a plethora of advice out there about book hangovers, and most of it isn’t all that helpful. “Select another book and start reading it.” Duh! But how? So in this post, I’m sharing my top three go-to options to cure a book hangover. Hope it helps.
Here’s my Big Three:
- Same Author
- Shorter Works
- Browse Shelves
…And in that specific order.
Same Author
Choose another book by the same author. This suggestion is not new. It’s a decent idea and usually works out. I am a fan of binge-reading a single author’s work. If the author has successfully drawn you in to a novel, you are going to get a book hangover. So, the logical thing to do is cure it by choosing more from the same.
There are two drawbacks to this method, however. One: Sometimes you’ll stumble upon a debut novel and need to wait for the author’s next manuscript to roll out. Two: There is such a thing as a one-hit-wonder for books. This may mean that the author only gets one book published, ever. It could also mean that additional books from the same author are total duds. Wah-wah.
So if this method fails you, move on to my next suggestion: Choosing shorter works.
Shorter Works
You’ve just finished reading an amazing book that you never wanted to end, and now you’re left in the lurch. Your book hangover includes anxiety about starting something new because it’s an investment of your time, attention, and possibly cash. Try switching gears for a while. Select a collection of short stories, an anthology of work, or peruse some of the many literary journals available to you (online or print). Spend a while immersed in a series of stories rather than a single book. Part of the book hangover effect is that you find it difficult to start something new, but if you’ve got something short to read, then it’s less intimidating. You may also discover a new favourite writer from this method—and perhaps that writer has published a book!
If you are unsure where to begin scouting for shorter works, take a look through my story review posts for inspiration.
Browse Shelves
If you have attempted the above suggestions to no avail, then my final recommendation is to get physically engaged with books. Go to a real store with bookshelves filled with tangible books and run your fingers over the spines. Serious. Grope them. Walk up the aisles. Touch the covers and flip through the pages. Look around. Spend time in there. Listen. Breathe. Smell. You will find inspiration waiting for you. Pluck your next read off the shelf and go to it.
What’s your cure for a book hangover? Start the discussion by sharing your comments below. Stay tuned for my next blog post. Wanna get it in your email inbox? Subscribe to stay informed of my newest articles, story reviews, updates, and more.
Cover Image: Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com
Pauline Shen 