Lin's Perspective

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme created by Rukky @Eternity Books and co-hosted by Aria @Book Nook Bits and Dini @DiniPandaReads! In this discussion meme, participants get to talk about certain topics, share opinions, and spread the love by visiting each other’s posts! Learn more about LTB, past topics and future topics HERE.

Happy Friday, lovely people!

Today’s prompt:  Literary Palate Cleansers

Do you ever feel like you need a reading reset? Maybe you’ve been reading dense literary fiction, or are in a reading slump. Are there certain books you read to help reset? Do you ever take a break from reading? Do you find yourself needing those literary palate cleansers at certain times of year?  

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Do you ever feel like you need a reading reset?

Absolutely! To avoid burnout or getting into a reading slump, I rely on a reset. In fact, I am in one currently, ever since my mum was admitted to the hospital. Sometimes a reading reset is due not because of the books we read, but simply life can throw us a curve ball, and we have to slow down, reflect and take it easy. It has already been proven that stress causes major physical and mental health issues, so if I can reduce it to a minimum, it is a mission accomplished!

Maybe you’ve been reading dense literary fiction, or are in a reading slump. Are there certain books you read to help reset?

Yes! Graphic novels are my go-to books when in such a state! Also, middle-grade books are amazing and help me every time. I find that with me, there is a need for a dopamine and serotonin release, and I achieve that by finishing a book and marking it as read. I know this statement might sound ludicrous to some, but in reality, reading for me is a pleasurable experience that I associate with those happy hormones!

Do you ever take a break from reading?

Without a shadow of doubt, yes! My longest break from reading was nearly 4 years. This was a time when I was dealing with a lot of personal demons, and reading had to go. I am happy to say that that period was over a decade ago, and hopefully, I have now learned how to face life’s challenges and process the bad things in a logical and less emotional way. So, yes, we do need our break sometimes, other times we have no other choice, so when life gives us lemons we make lemonade!

Do you find yourself needing those literary palate cleansers at certain times of year?  

Not really, it just depends on what is going on in my life, and based on what events I experience, I might need a palate cleanser. As mentioned above, my mum’s hospitalisation did something to me, and I had to slow down, even though this is not a palate cleanser in itself, I still consider it a way of cleansing. Other times, it is just me reading similar books with similar topics, and I might want to hit the refresh button and read something different by grabbing that graphic novel or that middle-grade book!

It really depends and one year one might need more of those palate cleansers compared to other years or less.

In conclusion, there is nothing to be ashamed of or hide the need to read a book that makes you happy and keeps your reading spark alight. So whatever works for you, go for it, read that book with that trope that makes you happy or grab that poetry book or that smut book or whatever your heart desires. Slow down when you need to, and no, you owe no explanation for why you do what you do and when you do it!

Happy reading!