Book Quote by Nick Hornby
““So this is supposed to be the how, and when, and why, and what or reading - about the way that, when reading is going well, one book leads to another and to another, a paper trail of theme and meaning; and how, when it's going badly, when books don't stick or take, when your mood and the mood of the book are fighting like cats, you'd rather do anything but attempt the next paragraph, or reread the last one for the tenth time. "We talked about books," says a character in Charles Baxter's wonderful Feast of Love, "how boring they were to read, but how you loved them anyway. Anyone who hasn't felt like that isn't owning up.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Feast of Love by Charles Baxter, 2000
Reading can be exhilarating when ideas connect, but frustrating when mood and text clash, leading to avoidance or obsessive rereading.
In simple terms: Reading feels good when ideas flow, bad when they clash.
Key Takeaway
Accept the struggle, keep reading despite mood swings.
Themes
reading
connection
frustration
perseverance
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
literary
personal
motivational
When to use this quote
- studying for exams
- research projects
- personal leisure reading
- writing drafts
Key Concepts
literary engagement
cognitive dissonance
emotional resonance
Questions to Reflect On
- What triggers your reading avoidance?
- How can you re‑engage with a difficult passage?
A Different Perspective
Sometimes external factors, not the text, cause disengagement.
