​Unhustled Archives​

Hello Reader,

Sometimes, you’re just not feeling a book.

It’s not the book’s fault (well, sometimes it is), but more often, it’s you. Your brain isn’t cooperating. Life is doing its thing. And the idea of forcing another chapter feels like eating steamed broccoli when you could be having a chocolate chip cookie.

That’s why I have a pause stack—it feels less permanent than my “Did Not Finish” folder. This year, I’ve gotten very good at recognizing my “good book, bad timing” radar. Pausing isn’t quitting—it’s choosing curiosity over obligation.

Here are a few books I put in time-out—and how you can do the same without guilt.

Books I Paused (and Why)

​The Power Broker by Robert Caro​
I love Caro, but this book weighs more than a toddler. It's more than 1,000 pages of microscopic font, so I hit pause earlier in the year. I’ll get back to it. Probably after the first of the year. And if it takes all of 2025 to finish, so be it. The point is to savor Caro's masterful storytelling, not to impress myself for finishing the book.

​London by Edward Rutherfurd​

This book wanted me to care about ancient riverbanks and tectonic plates. Reader, I do not care. Skimming didn’t help—I’d lost the thread of characters by then. Maybe I’ll try again at some point. We’ll see.

​The Pine Tar Game by Filip Bondy​

Great for baseball season, but once the Yankees won the World Series, I checked out. Come to think of it, I probably checked out when the Padres were eliminated from the playoffs. I’ll pick it up again when spring training makes me hopeful—or bitter—once more. If you’re a baseball fan, you know what I mean.

​Peril by Bob Woodward​

Nothing like a little political dread to keep you up at night. When the book started scaring me more than the news, I decided to save my sanity and pause. This one is the most likely among my "paused" titles to land in the DNF folder.

​The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron​

This book is a classic. I’ve read it before, but in 2024, I stalled at Chapter 4. No regrets. I suspect to be fully appreciated, this book is best experienced as a physical book instead of on Kindle.

​Feel Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal ​

I shied away from productivity books this year—and for the first time in years, didn’t feel guilty about the choice. This one intrigued me, and I got about 4 chapters in before I hit pause. Ali Abdaal is engaging and relatable, and this book is well-reasoned and well-researched. It’s on my 2025 list.

Why Pausing Books Works

In 2024 I figured out pausing a book isn’t failure—it’s self-preservation. Tossing a title into a DNF folder isn't a failure, either.

When I hit pause, it’s usually because:

• I’m forcing it. If I’m reading out of obligation, it’s time to stop.
• My brain wants a break. Sometimes I need a page-turner, a thriller, or a cozy mystery to reset.
• Life got loud. If a friend starts a book, I’ll switch gears to read along with them.
• The timing is wrong. Some books need focus or emotional energy I just don’t have right now—and that’s okay.

The “Pause” System (It’s Simple)

1. Make a “Paused” folder. Mine lives on my Kindle.
2. Check it between books. Ask yourself: Does this book feel right now?
3. If not? No guilt. If it’s been sitting there too long, move it to the “DNF” pile. Think of it like that sweater you swore you’d wear but didn’t—it’s okay to donate it to the literary thrift store.

What’s on your paused list? Or do you force yourself to finish no matter how miserable you are? Hit reply—I’d love to hear.

A Christmas Wish for Peace

As I write this, I’m reminded of the story of the Christmas truce in 1914, when WWI soldiers on opposing sides set down their weapons for a single night of peace.

May you find a moment like that this holiday season—you'll experience peace in your reading, your relationships, and your heart.

— Tracy

P. S. Next Saturday I'll share a list of my favorite books of 2024. See you then!

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