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To Quit Or Not Quit a Book? Our Readers Weigh In...
Reading is a bit like dating. Sometimes a book ignites a spark, and other times it fizzles. So we asked our followers on Twitter and Facebook: Do you stick with it or do you move on? Check out some of the most popular comments below and let us know which camp you fall into.
1."99% of the time I will finish the book. I feel I owe it to the author," says Todd.
2. "I usually stick it out. There's been many times that I've ended up loving something that wasn't initially drawing me in," says Andrew.
3."Move on. Reading should be a pleasure. If it’s not the book for you, it’s not the book for you," says Barbara.
4."I give it the 100 page limit. If I am still not into the book by that page, I put it down and get another book to read. Life is too short to suffer through a book you are not enjoying," says Luci.
5. "I used to stick with it, but I have decided that I only have so many years in my life and it is not worth it! There are so many good books out there to discover," says Tamara.
6. "I always finish them off. I sometimes put them down and pick another book but always come back," says Carola.
7. "It depends on the level of not pulling me in. If I'm not loving it, but still want to know how it ends, I'll stick with it. But if reading it feels like a chore, I'll stop reading it," says Chelsey.
8. "If it’s a book I really want to read, I try the audio before giving up completely," says Dana.
9. "Put it away and try much later on. Tastes and style change over the years," says Brad.
10."Depends on why I'm reading it. For review? For my private students? For research? For pleasure? For the first 3, I stick to it. For the last, I move on," says Elizabeth.
11. "If it's unrecommended I'll give it 2-3 chapters. If it's an author I like or has come with a respected recommendation I'll give it more time," says Danielle.
12. "I always try to stick with it. I feel like there is something to learn in the struggle of getting through a book. I’ve only put down a couple of books, but that was because I developed a strong dislike for the material," says Kira.
13. "I usually move on. For every page I force myself to read that I'm not enjoying, that's time I could be reading pages that I love," says Nicole.
14. "Some books take more time than others to learn the flow of the prose, but more often than not it pays to keep reading until you get there," says Carole.
15. "I leave it alone for a couple days and if the desire to read it doesn't come back then I just don't bother," says Teresa.
16."So much of my reading is for book clubs that I pretty much always stick with it—at least I’ll have people to complain to!" says Megan.
Which responses do you relate to? Share your two cents in the comments!
Check out more recent blogs:
Monogamous vs. Polygamous Reading: Which 'Type' Do You Prefer?
24 of the Season's Highest-Rated Debuts
Tomi Adeyemi's Diverse Must-Reads to Rock Your World
Check out more recent blogs:
Monogamous vs. Polygamous Reading: Which 'Type' Do You Prefer?
24 of the Season's Highest-Rated Debuts
Tomi Adeyemi's Diverse Must-Reads to Rock Your World
Comments Showing 51-100 of 428 (428 new)
I will finish the book unless it includes one of the following:Booooorrrrinnnngg
Sex (Like writing it out and such, glossing I'll let slide)
Too many immoral topics
Over the top cussing
Dreading to read it
When an author just copies another book they've done
I used to be a "finish at all costs" reader. Like so many others, I think about how many books WILL move me the way I want to be moved, and I now move on after about 20-30 pages. It was a difficult, guilt-ridden decision at first. No longer!
I'm not opposed to moving on, but I typically finish. I can really only think of 2 books I haven't finished in recent years. One was On Beauty by Zadie Smith (before I was on GR), and the other was Swiss Family Robinson.
I have a BA in English Literature, finished most of the classics, enjoyed about half of them, and love contemporary as well. HOWEVER, this may shock some, I do not finish more books than I actually read. Let me explain why:QUALITY OUTWEIGHS EVERYTHING!
60% of the books I start (and I will give a book, minimum of 100 pages before I quit) are just not worth my time. Think about what's popular that was written so poorly that you want to bang your head against a wall OR are just dumb books? Twilight... The Hunger Games (although I LOVE the actual story, just not the writing), The Visitors, and (more recently) The Chalk Man. It's when you get that rare gem...That book that takes your breath away. That's what makes reading worth it. You will waste your time with books that are bad, but I say GIVE UP AND SEARCH FOR THE OUTSTANDING! Find the books that make you read slower so you don't finish as fast, instead of reading so fast just so you can move on to something else....
I will give it 5-6 chapters and if it hasn't grabbed me by that point, I move on. Life is short. There are too many other good books to read.
I find it interesting that so many respondents seem to view not finishing a book as some kind of failure on the part of the reader rather than a failure on the part of the writer. Bowker Data reported that in only the US in only 2009 over one million books were published. I think it would be a very safe assumption to say that not all of them--not even most of them--were great books. When I was younger, I finished every book. Then I realized that my time wasn't infinite and some books simply weren't worth finishing. I give a book to page 50 or 15% of the book, whichever is more. If an author can't provide a compelling reason for the reader to continue in that time/space, then I move on to something that does provide value.
Yaaresse wrote: "I find it interesting that so many respondents seem to view not finishing a book as some kind of failure on the part of the reader rather than a failure on the part of the writer. Bowker Data repor..."Absolutely right! Although our approaches are a little different, I think we are in the same vein. It should never be viewed as the fault of the reader unless that person just doesn't read normally (which exists in our society all too often unfortunately).
I have a very difficult time not finishing a book, I feel guilty for giving up on one. Though to be fair, I'm pretty good at picking books for myself, I know what I like, and I don't pick up books in the first place if I don't think it's something I'll enjoy.
If it's a long book I'm struggling with, I'll start another shorter book and have 2 books on my "currently reading" shelf. That's rare, tho. I'll keep slogging along to the end. The book was on my "want to read" list and - by golly - I'm going to read it and move it into "books read" and then forget about it.
I give a book 50 pages, maybe 100. At age 80 and with 73 books on my "to read" list, I can't afford to waste time on a book I'm not enjoying. If I find a book offensive (too violent, too much sex, animal abuse, etc) I give it up quickly.
Do whatever works best, but don't stress about it. Life is too short. If you really feel guilty, put it on a to read later list. For me though, I definitely have embraced letting go to the fullest, as it easier, and you are going to be missing out either way.
There are books I'm not enjoying, and then there are books I like but now's not the time. I have little issue DNF'ing the former, I will set the latter to the side to dive back in. Sadly, I have a formidable stack of these, but I'm working on it.
I use to be the guy that tried to finish the book no matter what once I was 30 pages in, but nowadays I totally agree that unpleasant book is a waste of time. If only there was a way on Goodreads to mark books "read but unfinished" and not ruin the statistics.
I usually give a book about 4 chapters or 100 pages. If it still isn't pulling me in, I will read the last chapter. If that was interesting, I either read the next to last chapter or go back to where I skipped forward from ( I have read entire books almost backwards). However, if it isn't resonating, I put it aside. I may go back later and enjoy or I may never pick it up again.
If it doesn't grab me in 100 pages, sometimes I give it to 150, then it gets wallbanged, sent to donation and I start something else I might enjoy. There are WAY too many books to read to waste time on a badly written or poorly plotted story.
100 pages (depends on the length of the book) and I'm gone.I never understood this whole mentality of "OMG I HAVE TO FINISH EVERYTHING I START BECAUSE IF I DON'T I'M GOING TO BOOK HELL AND ANXIETY AND PANIC."
Move on if the book sucks. No one cares, I promise.
I read about 2 chapters to see if the book will pick up its place with the plot and if it doesn't, then I'm moving on with another book. I shouldn't force myself to enjoy something if it doesn't cater to my interest.
I almost always complete a book eventually. I hate leaving things open-ended and not having completed it. Unfortunately this carries through series...even if I didn't like the first book I will often try to finish the series just because I have to finish!
I'd say, drop it. Move on to another book. Life's too short to spend time on a book that doesn't hook you in. Do you want to die with the regret that you didn't get the time to read all the amazing books you wanted to? My motto is to read the awesome books first, in case I get dead tomorrow.
I'm a quick quitter. If a book doesn't draw me in in the first chapter, it's gone (which is why I read Kindle samples before purchasing books otherwise I'd be broke). I've got a wonderful home library of favourites that I add to every time I find a book I absolutely adore and I love rereading books so if a new novel doesn't bring me joy, I know I've got a lot of great options.
When you're old time is too precious to waste on ANYTHING that doesn't keep you invested/interested/curious, etc. Yes, life is precious at any age, but by age 65 you want to do what you want to do. And seriously I've been more busy at this age than when I worked, raised three children and ran errands in most of my 'free time.' So, if a book doesn't do it by page 40 or so, I ditch it. And I do not feel a tiny bit guilty about it at all.
funny how some people refuse to quit a book, then simultaneously say how busy they are and how valuable their time is... i used to "persevere" but decided being able to say "i finished ___" menas nothing unless i'm just counting books... i want to enjoy a book, but my dislike isn't a commentary on the author as a person, just a commentary on their book...
If the book isn't 500+ pages, I'll usually finish it. I've only ever read one book that I really didn't like, and the rest either turned out better or started well.
I have tried to leave books in the middle, but I feel super guilty and end up picking them up again. I cannot not finish it, no matter how terrible, especially in case of fiction.
In this, as in so many things, I follow the advice of the wonderful Nancy Pearl. Since I am over 50, I subtract my age from 100 and that is the number of pages I owe a book and its author. If it has not caught me by then, I can stop with a clear conscience. (Since electronic books do not always have page numbers, I rely on the sample to make a decision when reading an ebook.)
I rarely quit a book. When I do, it is because I come to realize I am wasting my time and need to just drop it. Books are like everything else, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I have read 'Best Sellers' and afterwards wonder why the book was even published in the first place.
The most a human can read in a lifetime is a few thousand, and there are a million great books out there worth reading. We will never be able to do justice to all the beautiful stories. So it is not a big loss if you quit a book. Just make sure you always read books.
That depends on the book and my reason for reading it.I Always finish a book if I have to, but if not, then Buh-bye.
Stephanie wrote: "I used to always finish but i'm getting better at learning to DNF. I'll give a book some time but if it's starting to feel like a chore to read, when i'm supposed to be reading for pleasure, i'll m..."I used to be the same, but my DNF list is growing. I hate reading books that feel like a chore.
If you don't enjoy it, shelve it and move on. You don't owe the author anything. There are so many books out there that you will enjoy. Why waste time reading something you find dreadful?
I'm almost the 100 pages idea. US librarian Nancy Pearl once said:If you're 50 years old or younger, give every book about 50 pages before you decide to commit yourself to reading it, or give it up.
If you're over 50, which is when time gets shorter, subtract your age from 100 - the result is the number of pages you should read before deciding whether or not to quit. If you're 100 or over you get to judge the book by its cover, despite the dangers in doing so.”
― Nancy Pearl
Wise woman........
I am the kind that really tries to finish a book once started, even if I notice it is starting to peter off in quality/whatever or my interest in it its dwindling. I do this not because I think it is bad to simply drop a book, but because I'd hate to drop something just because of a bad patch that might well pick up again later on.But there are times when I feel like I am hitting a physical wall of sorts, where no matter what I seem unable to make it past a couple of pages before having to put it down again.
In such instances I just set it down on the pile of stalled books. Many of them I try and pick again at different times, though I seldom finish any once they are in that particular lump.
I will finish a book even if I am not really liking it. I might find some part that I like and if not I chalk it up to experience. I may put it down for awhile and read something I like or enjoy more and then I will get back to reading the one I do not like as much and solider through until the end.
Very good advice:"I leave it alone for a couple days and if the desire to read it doesn't come back then I just don't bother," says Teresa.
What I usually do a variation of :
"I give it the 100 page limit. If I am still not into the book by that page, I put it down and get another book to read. Life is too short to suffer through a book you are not enjoying," says Luci.
Except I give it to 25% on my kindle.
I'm usually a stick-it-outer, even if I just skim the book just to say I finished it or put it on hold for days/weeks before going back. And, of course, I always finish books for school. But I do have something like the 100 pages rule if I really hate a book, only I do the 25% rule because just 100 pages of a book that's over 600 pages (a la most fantasy books) isn't too fair of a chance.
No matter how rough a book may be, I almost always finish the book. There is one exception to this rule. If the book's continuity is so out of whack that's a deal breaker for me! Other than that, I give every author the respect of his/her writing, no matter if it's a good book or not.
I do a 50-page trial. If by 50 pages in, you can't set up at least one interesting plot point to hook me in, I'm going to get bored. I don't feel under any obligation to finish a book if it's boring.
I tend to be good at picking books that will interest me, so I haven't DNFed for a long time. If I lose interest, it's normally in the middle section, by which time I tend to think I might as well finish it anyway.
I finish it. To me there is no other choice. I can't stand it when people DNF books and then rate the book. How can you rate something you didn't finish? Even if you feel the same way at the end, its an informed decision. Who knows, it might just get better. I started and stopped and started and stopped with Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay. I mean, I struggled to start the book, to understand what the heck I was reading, but in the end I managed to start it and finish it. I wouldn't rave about it, but I am proud I got through such a large book.
Another example is The Enchanted by Roberta Murphy. I tried reading it once, but the first few pages put me off. I left it for a few years, then returned to it, determined to finish it. Now its one of my favorites, with a powerful story.
So my personal choice is, finish it. Even if its grueling, even if you can't stand it, finish it. You'll be proud to have gotten through it, and after you can give a fully informed rating and review. And rant!
I need to really hate a book to put it aside - still I often give it one more try years later (worked with 1984, that I hated and abandoned the first time and really enjoyed when I tried again; didn't work with Madame Bovary, that I still regard as one of the most boring books to ever become a classic). I went through some really bad, distateful books for several reasons - because it was written by a personal friend who is a great person; because it was something I needed for my research; because I had no other reading material nearby (yes, my name is Adriana and I'm an addict lol).
I usually try to finish it because I always hope that it will get better soon. However after reading some of the comments here I realised that it makes sense to set a threshold like a 100 pages or 2-3 chapters after which I am still not loving it, I shall give up
My rule is to finish the book. But what if it's not a worthwhile read, after all? Rather than break my habit, I prefer taking the time to do a little more research to make sure that I want to go through with it.
I've rarely quit, I can think of one time recently with Hard Choices by Hillary Clinton 300 pages in, but I feel bad about it and want to get back to it at some point. I usually keep going even if I can't get in to it hoping to get something out of the book.
Grace wrote: "I'm almost the 100 pages idea. US librarian Nancy Pearl once said:If you're 50 years old or younger, give every book about 50 pages before you decide to commit yourself to reading it, or give it ..."
I will try that method in 2 years - when I'm 50. Thanks!
I always try to read the whole thing, that way I feel I have a more valid opinion of it. However, there have been times when it was almost painful to continue reading, and I put it down for good.
I finish the book and if i didn't like i don't get the next one in the series (if there is a next one)
I rarely decide to give a book up, but it does happen at times. What helps me stay the course is the most likely the book turns to something I enjoy or that was worth my time. What helps the most is I know what I like and when choosing a book, there was some reason I marked it for reading. I am one who does not generally agree with the philosophy life is too short, so I will go onto the next book because there probably is something special I will miss, but then again I would not waste my time reading books that don't interest me so this rarely happens. If i just picked up any book without thought and started reading knowing I would not care for it, I would give it up and then the saying "life is too short" applies.
I'm stubborn and read at a relatively fast pace so I finish books even if I don't like the experience. This year I try to stop when I'm 5 chapters in so that I can gauge how engaging the book is before I continue.
I would say that with a few exceptions I always finish a book. Sometimes I have to make myself read just 10 or 15 pages of it a day so that it gets done, but I have been lucky and this doesn't happen very often. I always feel that maybe there will be some redeeming quality at the end of the book that is not evident the rest of the time. If I don't finish it always bugs me.
I move on. No need to castigate myself and later on giving a bad review, because the book and I didn't click.
There are so many books and authors out there. I just don't have to force myself to read a book I don't like for whatever reason.
And since there are samples for ebooks, my dnf rate has decreased. I love samples, as they let me get a feel for the writing style as well as the story and characters. Compared to dating, it would be like texting or speed dating...
If I don't like what I get, I move on...and save a lot of money.