Sick of fiction - can't read any more. Any fellow sufferers?

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Just back from holiday where I managed not to finish 1 book. Last year I read the Ferrante books - all 4 of them, and holiday reading normally involves 3-5 paperbacks. I was a bookworm child, and have a BA in English Literature. But I am just sick of fiction. I've stopped believing in the made-up people. I hate the feeling of manipulation. And strongly plot-driven narratives leave me feeling ultimately dissatisfied. But I don't want to plunder my husband's non-fiction/biographies either. I'm having a serious falling-out with literature. Any fellow sufferers, or remedies to bring me back to books?

I love travel writing, history and biographies/autobiographies.

I have to take a break from novels too sometimes. There are so many good non-fiction books out there, but don't plunder your DH's collection - chances are they won't appeal unless you have the same tastes.

See if any of these appeal:

Midnight in Peking: Paul French (true crime)
Being Mortal: Atul Gawande (medical-ish)
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings: Maya Angelou (autobiography - I think there are 7 volumes in total - this is the first one)
The House by the Lake: Thomas Harding (modern history)
The Liar's Club: Mary Karr (memoir)
The Sixth Extinction: Elizabeth Kolbert (environment)
Philomena: Martin Sixsmith (biography - but light and easy read)
The Unwinding: George Packer (what the hell is going on in America)
In Siberia: Colin Thubron (travel)
Into the Wild: Jon Krakauer (travel/adventure)

Another one glad to have stumbled upon this thread. DH and I have making a conscious effort over the last few months to read more (and also watch decent films) rather than sit aimlessly in front of the tv, fiddling about on our phones/tablets. I think my literary have changed though as I can probably count on one hand the books I have actually enjoyed... I just don't have the concentration for long descriptive passages of tediousness!! Will trya few of the recommendations above to see if i have any joy!

Also, I find that contemporary fiction has become far too derivative nowadays...and I just can't be bothered with it.

that should have read - 'much' contemporary fiction - there are some notable exceptions

Baalam, Rosamund Lehmann didn't write The Shell Seekers, she wrote a number of other books though, which might be much more to your taste.

I'm like 34AQuid, I retreat to non-fiction history books; Industrial Revolution, Medieval, Georgian.

Oh, and I re-read old favourites - Agatha Christie (even if I know whodunit I enjoy spotting the clues she gives, and they're such period pieces), John Wyndham, Jane Austen. There's pleasure in finding small details you overlooked before, or seeing it from a different perspective (because you've matured since you last read it).

You just need to read something else for a bit (hopefully). Not necessarily non-fiction (though there's great stuff out there), but different genres too. I love reading fantasy but I get tired of the tropes if I read it all the time.

So sometimes I switch to obvious crime/suspense stuff where the sheer plottiness of the plot pulls me through the pages. Or cosy crime where it's all bollocks but also comforting. Or women's/contemporary fiction for a change.

Recent good non-fic reads: I'm currently reading No is Not Enough by Naomi Klein about Trump/Shock politics. And 'The Spider Network' about the financial futures kerfuffle (I forget books about finance as soon as I finish them but enjoy them mid-read if told well).

Frankly, OP, loathing A Little Life is a sign of having standards, rather than jadedness.

Can I join your sad little band? 😔
I've always been am avaricious reader....normslly 2/3 books on the go.
Will read anything - except chick lit and anything by Jeremy Clarkson!
I've just been re reading old favourites for months now

I sometimes get a bit jaded reading fiction as often unconsciously or not, I choose the same old authors/themes. So I find interspersing with some non fiction helps too. Recent non fiction I've really enjoyed: Dadland by Keggie Carew (very moving and beautifully written) and Amy Liptrot's The Outland.

I'm with you all; I keep looking for something new to read and ending up in the non fiction section. I like history, politics and science mostly, but can make space for geography and biography too. Things I have enjoyed particularly in the last year or two...

A Shepherd's Life (James Rebanks)
The Knowledge (Lewis Darnell)
Down South (Chris Parry) helicopter pilot's account of the Falklands War, based on his diaries
Map of a Nation (Rachel Hewitt)
A Life in Questions (Jeremy Paxman)
An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth (Chris Hadfield)
Back from the Brink (Alistair Darling)
Prisoners of Geography (Tim Marshall)
Men Explain Things to Me, and other essays (Rebecca Solnit)
Infidel (Ataab Hirsi Ali)
Blood and Sand (Frank Gardner)
Merchant & Mills Sewing Book
The Swordfish and the Star (Gavin Knight)

I am looking forward to reading Henry Marsh's books (when my mum's friend returns them to her).

Thanks for the nominations above, too. A trip to the library with a list is needed soon.

Oh, and Frederick Forsyth's The Outsider manages to be funny, gripping and immensely readable in a Boy's Own style. Also from my mum's Quaker book club's selections: Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson, which is fascinating about setting up village schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Two more, then I promise to stop bombarding you

The Junior Officers Reading Club (Patrick Hennessy) I hijacked this from my DS.

Born to Run (Bruce Springsteen, obv)

I completely empathise and have a similar reading background. I continue doggedly to read fiction but so much of it is so disappointing and so gushingly reviewed. I second the Trollope - I'm listening to him narrated by Timothy West on Audible when I'm driving or walking (on the tenth novel so far - just about to finish Phineas Redux) and it's a fantastic foil to the overwritten, stylised, present-tensy, multiple viewpoint, predictable contemporary prize winner.

Recent non-fiction I've enjoyed includes Into Thin Air (Krakauer), When Breath Becomes Air (I felt not as sensational as all the write ups suggest, but I feel churlish saying that since, you know, Paul Kalanithi did actually have cancer and die) and just yesterday on a plane when my Kindle had to be put in the hold Utopia for Realists by Rutger Bregman which is a well-written and thought-provoking few hundred pages. Biographies can be good - we ended up reading all of Nicholas Mosley's books about his father after we found one at a fete bookstall and then I progressed to reading biographies of Oswald's first wife Cynthia and her sisters. The Smartest Guys in the Room about the Enron scandal was interesting too.

There are lots of good suggestions of fiction and non-fiction on the 50 books thread.

I'm glad I'm not the only person who thought 'When Breath becomes Air' wasn't that great.

Yes - you have articulated exactly how I have felt now for the past 5 years or more. Previously I loved Midnight's Children, Possession, and did an English Literature degree. I also could enjoy reading John Grisham, Kathy Reichs and Ben Elton or Tony Parsons. But now I am not interested, cannot get involved or gripped, cannot suspend disbelief or feel like it is worth reading on.

I buy niche non-fiction, say about genetics or a historical voyage, and these books go better.

I blamed motherhood -and am trying hard to ignore the more likely prospect that the internet has destroyed my attention span- but am seriously hoping I get fiction back at some stage of my life

Oh wow, I have found my people! I have been an avid fiction reader all my life - I am now in my 50s. But I find myself increasingly reading non-fiction because I find myself bored with fiction. It's like you said - I don't believe in it any more. I think it's to do with having read so much you start to notice the mechanics more: how they create characters and move the plot along. So it spoils the illusion. When I was child I completely and utterly believed in the world that a novelist created. I feel so sad to have lost that.

Non-fiction I've enjoyed recently:

The Return of Martin Guerre by Natalie Zemon Davis
Blitzed by Norman Ohler
Admissions by Henry Marsh
Nothing is true and everything is possible by Peter Pomerantsev
Sapiens: A brief history of humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

'Do No Harm' by Henry Marsh is interesting (in a niche, medical sort of way). I dunno - those kind of books either appeal or they don't, but I enjoyed it and my book group (which includes quite a diverse bunch of reading tastes), also enjoyed it.

I just finished Sheila Kohler's 'Once We Were Sisters', which was a short and easy non-fiction read. It's a memoir about her relationship with her DSis (who was almost certainly murdered by her violent, abusive, bisexual DH).

I've always been an avid reader of fiction, but have been completely underwhelmed by a lot of modern writing. It seems so trite and not anything like as good as all the hype would have you believe.

I like to intersperse novels with non-fiction, mainly connected with my interests.

Me too, rarely find anything that makes me want to read it non stop. I resort to classics that I have read many times and new classics (to me).

If I like anything new it tends to be historical fiction, I loved The Other Einstein recently. Moved on to The Tobacconist which I am really struggling with, about to give up with it tbh.

I am going to read The Remains of the Day next I think, I bought it for DH earlier this year and haven't read it before.

This happens to me too every now and again. Think I over indulge in a certain genre if I read one good book in it... Gone girl started a binge of psychological with twist type best sellers... Now find them utter tripe... I find a random swap of genre good, currently loving non fiction travel memoirs.
I also do the re reading thing of old long forgotten faves.... Don't laugh but re read lace and savages this holiday... Bloody great reads... Completely lost myself in the long forgotten bonkers stories from Shirley conran, however they reminded me that she was a great easy read fiction writer.
So try a complete genre swap plus maybe a long forgotten teenage guilty pleasure...

I feel as though I could have posted many of these comments myself... This week I read Henry Marsh's Admissions (preferred Do No Harm) and also Stephen McGann's Life in Seven Maladies (plays Dr Turner in Call the Midwife) on holiday - there was absolutely nothing else interesting - I am not as prolific as a 50 books a year reader but this year seems very meagre fare. I managed to leave my Kindle at home and then bought 2 hardbacks as mentioned (the extravagance!) DS1 is reading the Game of Thrones books and how I envy him - so many books!
In case it helps - very much enjoyed Zadie Smith's Swing Time (her best yet). The Muse and The Essex Serpent both readable.
If I'd remembered the Kindle I'd have resumed reading Moby Dick or reread Jonathan Franzen's Purity.
I don't have a big backlog - just a few Dickens and Bad Pharma.
(Waves to hackman - also just read Sapiens).

Barchester - If you're out of love with fiction, don't read The Remains of the Day - one of the most boring novels ever written.

Absolutely superb fiction:
The Essex Serpent
This Thing of Darkness, as mentioned below by Cote (and then read the non-fiction one about Jeremy Button, the title of which eludes me right now)
A Clockwork Orange

Excellent non-fiction:
The Worst Journey in the World
Fanny and Stella
Grayson Perry's Descent of Man, and Playing to the Gallery

As a direct result of this thread, I have taken The Essex Serpent on holiday and I'm quite enjoying it.