Skip to main content

Labouring Away

phone sitting beside book with glasses on top all resting on wooden table

On this Labour Day, I've been wondering if and when reading begins to feel like work. For the most part, reading is a very enjoyable activity for me, which is why I engage in it as often as I can. There are times, however, when I've noticed that reading can be a bit of a slog. Though I try not to dwell on it, this has been a helpful signal to me to be better about not completing books that fall into this category.

I don't have an extensive list, but here are a few things that can make reading a book begin to feel laboursome:
  • Too many typos. I feel like this is universal amongst all readers, so I'll leave it at that.
  • Too many complications. When so many characters get introduced or the plot lines are quite convoluted, this can make reading less pleasurable.
  • A lot of pop culture references. A few well-placed ones that enhance the story or make it relatable to the audience is fine; however, when I'm reading a book and it starts to feel like a tabloid magazine where I don't know most of the people who are named, it doesn't make the book as fun to read anymore.
  • Toeing the line too much. This might be less work-related and more stress-related, but there are times when I'm reading scenes that make me squirm on behalf of the characters. This is different from when books have grittier content and show the reality or consequences of sin versus books that seem to romanticize or glamourize actual cringiness or where it seems like the author is trying to get as close to the edge as possible.
  • Superfluous writing. This is straightforward and probably something I struggle in personally doing. I have to remind myself that only the Apostle Paul can get away with run-on sentences 😅
  • Bad formatting for digital files. I will say that this is likely the number one reason why it can take me forever to get through an ARC, especially if it's a PDF that requires zooming in on every single page when using a device, or a digital file where the the text is laid out in such a way that it can impede the flow of reading. Talk about a lot of work just to read!
  • Questionable claims without references. This more so applies to non-fiction books, but I do encounter a number of books that make declarative statements without citing other sources. After a while, the book can either veer toward ranting or being overly authoritative in what readers should think/say/do based on the author's opinions.
  • Making assumptions. When I feel like I have to work extra hard to fill in all the blanks, it makes me more prone to give up. If an author is assuming I know something and I don't, I just end up feeling lost.
I'm sure there are many more I could add to the list, but I'll keep it reasonably short. Thankfully, I don't encounter these obstacles too often, which means that reading is still largely leisurely for me. And when that's not the case, I'm feeling more empowered to walk away and find other books that are less work in reading 😀

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

All the Cheese

I've been coming across content within the past several weeks that has stereotyped Christian books (and other mediums) as being cheesy on Christian accounts. While this isn't a new label or even a new topic, what has surprised me somewhat has been seeing more Christian authors jump into this conversation who wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment. Although some authors will name others whom they believe are writing non-cheesy fiction, I feel as though the damage has been done by repeating this blanket statement. While readers have freely been engaging in this type of commentary for some time, it's been interesting to see authors chime in, where in some cases, there seems to be an emphasis on self-promotion over reflection. I'm not stereotyping and saying that all authors or even the authors I'm connected to respond with this tactic (because I really don't think they do!), but there are a few out there from my limited experience who seem to respond to this disc...

Review: The Maker of the Mountain

I'm always on the hunt for children's books that share concepts about God in an understandable manner, so I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to read this book set in the mountains. The Maker of the Mountain by Sandra McCracken and Tim Nicholson is a story that I would be happy to share with the children in my life as it combines Bible verses with a map and delightful scenes in nature. Many thanks to Merge Public Relations for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis What is God like? Little Brown Bear is on an adventure to find the maker of the mountain and discover what he is like. Along the way, the bear meets new friends who share that the maker is like a bridge and a gate, a rock and a boat. And he’s always there to light our way home. This charming story offers: Imagery from the Bible to help young readers better understand what God is like A map of the bear’s world with corresponding Scriptures...

Diverse Stories

One of the things I've been challenging myself to do this year has been to read more Christian books written by authors from other countries. I love that the body of Christ spans the four corners of the world and that we get to benefit from hearing so many different perspectives. I've also appreciated getting to know some amazing authors and readers online from other nations and continents as it's enriched my understanding of how Christians experience life. It helps me realize that the views I take for granted may only be limited to where I am situated, geographically and culturally. I haven't read all of the authors below yet, but here are a few Christian fiction authors who write from outside of North America if you're interested in reading more: Africa Ivy Emerson Enewerome Anna Jensen Tope Omotosho Asia Joanna Alonzo Joy Crain Australasia Narelle Atkins Liz Chapman Iola Goulton Jessica Kate Bessie Le Couteur Carolyn Miller Jennifer Mistmorgan Honey Stone Jessica...