I danced myself to death

The right not to read

The right to skip pages

The right not to finish a book

The right to re-read

The right to read anything

The right to Bovary-ism (to mistake a book for real life)

The right to read anywhere

The right to dip in

The right to read out loud

Routine

I was recently asked tips on how to get out of a reading slump (you can find that ask here) and since I had been considering posting a list with books that could be helpful here is just that a random list of books I read that I feel could get you out of a reading slump. I might also write a more structured post in the future with tips on the matter, and there will surely be more recommendation posts like this in the future. All the books mentioned below will include a few lines of description and if I wrote a specific review post it will be linked in the title.

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

This was one of my favourites books of last year, it's a short fantasy novel that falls under the category of "no plot just vibes", which I know not everyone likes but in this case it works amazingly. I personally remember being incredibly capturated by this novel, I fell in love with its very unique main character. Piranesi lives in the House, a seemingly infinite building, filled with gorgeous statues, and inhabited only by Piranesi himself and the Other who he regularly meets to discuss his exploration of the House.

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

This novel is again quite short and very lighthearted, it's very simply a fairytale, which in my opinion is a great type of story to get you out of reading slumps. It actually helped me earlier this year. This is a light fantasy novel following a boy's quest to find a fallen star he has promised to gift to the girl he loves.

Her Body And Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado

This was one of my favourite books of this year, and it got into my all time favourites list. It's a collection of short stories, which in my opinion is another great type of book when you are struggling with a reading slump. You can pick it up as you want with no fear of forgetting important plot elements, and you are most likely going to read each story in one sitting which is great. This book has stunning writing and some of the most creative ideas I have ever read, it's one of those books I wish I had written. The genre of the stories it's also quite varied from magical realism, to sci-fi, more horror-ish stuff, which is another great element when you are struggling on what to read because it gives you a lot of options.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Overall I think Agatha Christie's books are really good when struggling with a reading slump because they are quite short and mysteries will keep you glued to the pages. This is my personal favourite, it's in my all time favourites list because its idea is simply genious. Ten people are misteriously invited on an Island by an host that does not show up, and suddently they start to get murdered one after the other. Believe me when I tell you this book gets me out of reading slumps even though I know how it ends.

If Cats Disappeard From The World by Genki Kawamura

This is a short novel that deals with pretty existential themes in the lightest most captivating way possible. It seems like a book that requires a lot of focus, but it actually flows amazingly, and it will pull you in after the very first few pages. The main character finds out he will die very soon, when the devil himself shows up in his home to strike a deal, he will grant the main character one more day to live if he agrees on making one thing disappear from the world. It's a surprising book that will make you reflect on life and death and the importance of little thigs, I found it oddly comforting.

The Heartstopper series by Alice Oseman

Graphic novels are one of the best ways to get you out of a reading slump in my opinion. They are faster to read, the illustrations help you with keeping up with the story, they are an amazing option. This particular series you could read fully in one sitting if I am honest, it's lighthearted, heart-warming, and very comforting. It's a YA contemporary story of two boys Nick and Charlie who meet in school and become very good friends, and maybe something more. This is an amazing feel good read that will surely get you back into reading.

The Moustache by Emmanuel Carrère

This novel is so unique and unpredictable it will glue you to its pages, it's also pretty short, which is definitely a theme in this list. The story starts quite simply with a prank. A man who has always had a moustache decides to prank his wife by shaving it off without telling her. The first problems start to arise when his wife claims he has never had a moustache, and so a very surreal story begins. This was one of the most unpredictable and weird books I have ever read.

Art Matters by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Chris Riddell

I know I have another Gaiman book on this list, but this is a non-fiction. It can seem like a weird thing to recommend to help with reading slumps, but trust me. This short collection of non-fiction is one of the most inspiring things I have ever read, and the beautiful illustrations just make it that much better. It's all about the importance of creating, and what stories mean to us as people, it's a must read.

The Humans by Matt Haig

The book I cannot shut up about, and also the only book of the list without a propet review post cause when I wrote about my latester re-reading last year I wasn't yet so much into posting reviews. This is one of my top comfort books, it's the novel I re-read when I need my hope in life restored. An alien tells his story of how he disguised as a human on Earth, and how through that he learned what being a human means. You will see our world's simplest things described in ways that will make you laugh and reflect, and you will fly through the story. I cannot convey into words how much comfort this story brings me anytime I read it without feeling overwhealming.

A Man’s Skin by Hubert and Zanzim

Another graphic novel to finish off this list. This book is not only stunning, but it contains a very layered story that you will end up reading in one sitting. It explores gender roles, sexuality and so much more in an historical setting that resembles a lot renaissance Florence. It's the story of a young woman who will soon get married to a man she has never even spoken to. At this point in her life she is told the family's secret: the women of her family have been passing down for generations a man's skin, that will desguise her as a man in order to get to know a bit better her future husband before their marriage. I loved this graphic novel, and everyone I recommended it to loved it as well, it's one of those books you will struggle to put down.

Absolute beginner adult ballet series (fabulous beginning teacher)

40 piano lessons for beginners (some of the best explanations for piano I’ve ever seen)

Excellent basic crochet video series

Basic knitting (probably the best how to knit video out there)

Pre-Free Figure Skate Levels A-D guides and practice activities (each video builds up with exercises to the actual moves!)

How to draw character faces video (very funny, surprisingly instructive?)

Another drawing character faces video

Literally my favorite art pose hack

Tutorial of how to make a whole ass Stardew Valley esque farming game in Gamemaker Studios 2??

Introduction to flying small aircrafts

French/Dutch/Fishtail braiding

Playing the guitar for beginners (well paced and excellent instructor)

Playing the violin for beginners (really good practical tips mixed in)

Color theory in digital art (not of the children’s hospital variety)

Retake classes you hated but now there’s zero stakes:

Calculus 1 (full semester class)

Learn basic statistics (free textbook)

Introduction to college physics (free textbook)

Introduction to accounting (free textbook)

Learn a language:

Ancient Greek

Latin

Spanish

German

Japanese (grammar guide) (for dummies)

French