To the Bitter End

Would you stick with a boring book?

In a recent conversation with fellow writer and blogger, Mel, we both mentioned that we will continue reading a book – no matter if we are enjoying it or not – because once we are committed to a story we are determined to see it through to the end. This is very topical for me at the moment, as I am actually currently reading a book that I’m not particularly enjoying; I’m not hating it but I’m certainly not loving it either.

It’s quite frustrating, as I have a pile of other books I want to read and a part of me can’t help but feel I’m wasting precious reading time on a story that’s just not really for me. On the other hand, especially since this particular book is a detective novel, my curiosity is driving me on; I’ll be damned if I don’t find out ‘whodunit’.

Sometimes an ending can be powerful or unexpected enough to lift the whole story and give things a new perspective and I suppose I would want readers to give my books a fair chance, so I feel almost obliged to see a book through to the (bitter) end.

Do you carry on reading a book until the end regardless of whether you are enjoying it or not? If not, how far would you read before you decided to call it quits?