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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 251-300 of 428 (428 new)
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Dana
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Feb 24, 2018 07:45AM
I'm in awe of the people who stick it out for 100 pages. I usually know by the bottom of the first page, and life is just too short and there are too many good books I'll actually enjoy reading for me to continue to read a bad one.
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I am 99.9 percent finisher. It's a compulsion with me ... one that's relatively harmless. I even finished the (one and only) book I threw away before I tossed it. My selection method for books to read has become a little more refined, though. I'll read any author once, but not again unless I actually really like the first book.
Like a lot of people on here, I used to finish a book no matter how awful the experience was. I figured that I owed it to the author to complete the book, and I thought that that was what 'readers' did. As I've grown older, I realize that life really is way too short to waste time on drivel when there are so many good books out there just waiting to be discovered.
I'm one of those 'put it down and come back to it later' kind of people. There have only been a couple of books I put down with the intent to not finish, because it felt like detention to keep going - the material wasn't interesting and the flow wasn't good, like not my cup of tea at all.I have a DNF shelf that I use for these, and put notes on why I didn't finish them. Then I can come back every once in a while and see which books I might feel like finishing. This helps me a lot, especially since I read mostly library books so I usually don't have a physical copy of my own.
It all depends on the book and the author. I am willing to give a book by an author I love more of a chance than a new to me author. I have too many books I want to read so I cannot suffer through a book if I am not enjoying it. I will sometimes give the book another chance if it does not grip me right away. I
I don't waste too much time on lousy books anymore. If it isn't working for me by a certain number of pages I'll likely toss it. If the ending is something I'm curious about, I'll usually skip around and read bits here and there so when I reach the end it makes sense.
I almost always finish a book. I feel like I owe it to the author. But, if I really don't want to finish a book or it's not interesting enough for me to continue, I'll read to about a quarter of a book be fore putting it down. Though, most of the time, I will revisit a book a few months after putting it down if my friends say its good.
If it's a book by an author I have read and enjoyed I will do my best to read it but sometimes the story just does not work for me so I will leave it, but I will try the next one. With an unknown author, I will usually know by the first couple of pages - if I have nothing else new then I may persist - the real telling point for me us if it sends me to sleep! (However, I do have a couple of 'sleepers' for those really bad nights.)
I've been in both camps. My lifelong habit was to give a book 50 pages or so to grab me before moving on. After joining Goodreads I never wanted to DNF a book I had put on my "currently reading" list so for awhile I forced myself. But now, while I'm more likely to soldier on for awhile, I'm back to the "life is too short" philosophy and if I am really just not enjoying a book I DNF without a backward glance.
I used to be a, “Finish it!” person. Now, if I’m not grabbed by it, I just drop it and move on. I’ve only gone back to one book, and ended up really enjoying it. (“Dominion”, by Randy Alcorn)About 15 years ago, I recognized that I’m only given so many years: if I don’t finish a book, it’s not a dreadful thing. I’m not going to be punished, nor punish myself. Label it a “closer”, and carry on.
I usually read nonfiction, and if the book bores me, I skim it until I am "finished". I almost never read every single word in a nonfiction book. If I am reading a novel and do not like it, I stop reading it, because you really cannot skim a novel.
Abby wrote: "I used to be a, “Finish it!” person. Now, if I’m not grabbed by it, I just drop it and move on. I’ve only gone back to one book, and ended up really enjoying it. (“Dominion”, by Randy Alcorn)About..."
I have to agree, I have 'mobility issues' as they now call it and I read a lot! I have a much longer book list than shown but many are books I have read many times over the years, especially the last 15, since my health 'issue' hit me. I find that there is nothing like a good book to dive into when real life needs escaping from - & an old friend is often the best!
I usually follow the 100 page rule. If I don't think reading the book is worth it, I will move on. However, that doesn't mean I will never return to the book I stopped reading!
Abby wrote: "I used to be a, “Finish it!” person. Now, if I’m not grabbed by it, I just drop it and move on. I’ve only gone back to one book, and ended up really enjoying it. (“Dominion”, by Randy Alcorn)About..."
I think if it's a punishment, by all means one should stop!
I learned something about myself though, when I realized my kids had to see people acting badly as well as being good - to be able to judge. So I take take the poor books as learning experiences, and since I love learning, I don't feel like it's a punishment. To do so a second time with the same author really should be considered as self-punishment, though. I am properly self-chastised now for re-reading books I wasn't delighted with ...
Even if it seems to be a "bad" book I stick it out and finish it anyway. Some of the books that aren't so good have at least some good qualities worth noting and also I am kind of a "completionist" with books at heart so there's that too!
There's only one book I intentionally didn't finish, and that was because of the disturbing and graphic nature of the text. Everything else? If I start reading, I'll finish it. Always. Because no matter how much I'm not enjoying a book, there will always be that tiny part of me wondering what happened to the characters. No book is so terrible that at least a little piece of me won't want to know how it ends! Not to mention that there have been many books I've started, hated, and ended up loving upon completion. #TeamFinishTheBook
I normally DNF books for school (which I don't think really count), or if the book is really long and it's taking me months to finish it. But in general, I tend to not DNF books just because I love myself some one-star and two-star reviews.
I usually absolutely have to finish a book. Sometimes I get so pissed at the main character that I finish the book hoping that character suffers a slow torturous death. The book has to be one of the most awful for me to abandon reading it. Occasionally, I will finish a horrible book because I am invested in one of the side characters rather than the main characters. In an alien abduction SciFi book I read recently I was invested and felt worse for the snake than I did for the main character. Poor snake got left in the animal control officer's truck when the officer got abducted.
I used to be that person who would try to finish every book. And usually I do.
But sometimes, books just DON'T work for me.
I always make sure I give them a fair shake, at least 25-30% before I DNF (which is rare). But I also realized at some point that there are so many amazing books I want to read, that I just can't waste my time on something I'm truly not into and not going to be into.
Depending on my level of dislike, I give the book anywhere from 30 to 100 pages. If the only reason I want to continue reading is to find out who-done-it, I read the last chapter. I'm not sure why some readers feel they owe it to the author to finish a book---the author does not owe me anything and I don't owe him/her anything. I read for pleasure and the author writes for whatever motivates him/her.
I have only ever DNF'd a couple of books because, generally, I don't like leaving books unfinished. For DNF books, I do try to give them another chance about a year later but if it's still not working for me, I mentally place it at the bottom of my TBR to possibly return to in the future, way in the future. There is one book, though, which will remain as not finished because I was so creeped out by it (Raven's Gate). I can't really remember what happens but the fear still sticks with me even after several years.
Another good question is when do you stop following a series when it starts to no longer hold your interest. Could the next book return to the author's original quality. Is one bad book a fluke or a trend.
I've done both. I've said forget it & put it down to start something else, and I've continued on because I wanted to see what happened with the story. However, when I do read on, I usually get angry with myself for doing so ....what a waste of my time! I still remember one I read a couple of years ago, the writing was not that great, I kept thinking that it was the 1920's but then she'd say something that referred to the 1990's, the story line itself was a bit farfetched, and I'm still irritated that I finished the book. Sometimes it's the style of writing that I can't get past - I usually don't care for first person viewpoint and will put those down.
Like so many others, whether I finish a book depends on how it grabs me. If it's just silly stupid, dull or boring, I leave it. If it's poorly written, requires too much suspension of belief, or is non-fiction not supported by facts, I take out my pen correct it or argue with the lack of facts...then I make sure to give it to the used book store so others can bask in my brilliance.
I haven't read all the other comments before but I find it quite important to be able to say that I did not finish a book and met other peolpe now. Right next to the finish button should be a did not finish button. People should be able to see how many people struggle with finishing a title and be able to explain their reasons. It is only fair since the community right now only gets to see reviews of people who finish books. Some hit the finish button though and explain their reasons but that is not the original purpose of the finish button or read button right? What about all the opinions we do not get to hear because there is no option to say/show for everyone to see that many people simply do not finish a certain title or titles?
I also used to stick to the book even if I hated it, but time passed me by and then I got into college and time is a bit short these days. Now I give the book a fair chance, but if I'm not enjoying it, then what's the point?
I always try to finish the book! But usually because I want to be able to say why I didn't resonate with the book. Was it because the way the book was written? Was it because I had higher expectations? Was it because the characters didn't grasp me? I keep reading to try and figure out what other people saw in the book if they recommended it to me. If a book hasn't been recommended, I feel freer to just put it down after I've answered those questions.
I also try to finish it. Since I have been reading for pleasure vs school I have only not finished 2 books - Anna Karenina - even tried this one twice at 2 very different periods in my life to no avail and Red Dragon by Thomas Harris. Too gory even for me. I have read Kay Scarpetta but stopped after a particularly gruesome story.
Only once have I invested 200+ pages in a book before finally throwing in the towel. Life's too short. Never again. My rule of thumb now is ten pages. If I'm not into it by then, I know it won't get any better.
Depends on "why" I'm not enjoying it. I never keep reading a book (unless required for work or academics) if not in the mood -- but might come back to.
If not what I thought from reading the description, likely to be ditched. If clearcut something I can put my finger on, I'll note the "something" or the description confusion in a rating-less review.
If I think it's my mood, something about plot or characters not quite right, or pacing dragging -- I'll give it a chance in case those issues change. If friends or followed reviewers have reviewed it positively, I may ask them if what is bothering me changes. If just not in the mood for it, I'll put it aside but eventually come back to.
If bad writing or bad editing keep jarring me out of the story, I will abandon quickly with zero guilt. If I start thinking I could really care less what happens next or what happens to these characters (hey, sometimes you even wish they'd be killed off to get new main characters) -- I'm done. I have found some incredibly great independent or self published books -- but a whole lot more that clearly were not ready to be published or so badly written I double they'd ever be ready to publish. I have no patience for "...but you have to tell me what's wrong then read the corrected edition..." unless a beta read -- published is published, not re-reading something I already disliked and wasted time on. My buying/downloading a book doesn't mean I have to finish it and certainly not that I now have to read dozens of new editions of it as if somehow employed by author/publisher.
I have only once DNF a book read for leisure... so far. Okay, so I also haven't finished Eragon but its because I can't locate the book after I moved again. I do plan on wanting to finish it.I have seldom gotten into this issue because I usually pick books to read that I know that I will end up enjoying. I have seldom ended up giving 2 stars or worse to books because of this selectivity (and no, most of the books I read for leisure are indie self published. I also try to give new authors with few reviews on their book a much needed chance to have their work reviewed).
Of the two star books I've bumped into, I explain the reasons for the bad score. Even if there was a book that I didn't like out of personal taste, I offer 3 stars and sometimes even 4 if there were good merits.
I relate to 7. I've only put down one or two books because I felt like I could guess how it ended after reading 50 or so pages. When reading fiction, I tend to feel incomplete until I get to the end of the book. Sometimes I stop reading if I find no characters to be likable. For nonfiction it's different. Even if a nonfiction book is extremely slow, I'll still finish it if I think it worthwhile. I put those books down if the information presented is outdated enough to be irrelevant, or if the author makes excessive commentary that I think distracts from the information.
I've put down many books because I am not interested in it. If it's not interesting than I will give up on it. There are so many great books to read in your lifetime and for me, it's not worth to continue with it. Sometimes after the first few pages I thought of giving up, but after it picks up and I finish it with great pleasure. It also depends on the author and its writing style (and the translation too). If you don't like the style, you can give up easily. :)
The 100 page limit is a really good way to do it. I usually give it 100 pages or 25%, if it's an eBook. Sometimes a book starts off slow but picks up later, I'd never force myself through a book I truly hated though.
I don't finish if I find I have no interest in the characters. I'm in the 'life is too short ' camp. Many times it's not about the writing, it's just not something I'm interested in. But if someone asked me what I thought of the book, I don't run it down I just admit that it wasn't for me.
I very rarely quit reading a book. It only happened once, actually, when I felt such discomfort that I really had to quit, as the protagonist was turning into some kind of monster it felt so scary I just really had to quit. I did finish Lord of Flies, though, even though I did get the same kind of discomfort from reading it, so was the ending of Cien Anos de Soledad.... It is considered a must read and I persevered, but it was a significantly bad experience. These days I chose more carefully, as well as my attention now turned to non-fiction/popular science/economy/politics stuff and do not need to deal with sick fiction.
I usually finish it. But sometimes you happen to make very bad book choices due to limited options and end up in a series of half read book just for the circle to pick up again and the good reads flow in. Not often that happens though, I'd read another one and finish it sometime later.
Frank wrote: "If you were eating a terrible meal would you finish it?"Good point!
Karen wrote: "I also try to finish it. Since I have been reading for pleasure vs school I have only not finished 2 books - Anna Karenina - even tried this one twice at 2 very different periods in my life to no a..."I've tried Anna Karenina twice but I can't finish it either
Cassy wrote: "Plus it bothers me to spend $15-$30 on a book and not see it through."That's why I borrow books from the library. My time has already been wasted on a bad book, no need to waste my money as well!
Stephanie wrote: "I used to always finish but i'm getting better at learning to DNF. "Me too. It was difficult at first, but there are so many good books out there, why waste my time?
If I'm not enjoying a book I put it aside. Life is too short, and there are too many good books to read.Depending on why I put it aside I may try it again later. Sometimes it's simply a mood issue, or has to do with my current level of attentiveness to a complex plot. In those cases I'll often retry it later, and sometimes I do end up enjoying it.
Other times it's due to bad writing, poor editing, etc. Or it's a case of a book not being my cup of tea for some reason or another. In which case I DNF and move on.
Nancy wrote: "I have seldom gotten into this issue because I usually pick books to read that I know that I will end up enjoying."That's nearly miraculous ;) I'm pretty particular, and pretty careful in my selections. But I still cannot *know* I'll like a book I have not yet read.
There are times I can be pretty confident of it, such as a series and author I'm already very familiar with. But to *know* it? Yeah, that's not a skill I have yet attained.
Still, I'm fairly good at picking out books I will enjoy at least sufficiently. But there are always times when the info available to me misleads me into thinking I'm likely to enjoy a book only to discover I do not.
I try to stick it out but if I find there is nothing I remember between sessions then I will quit.
I'm one of those people who will put down a book if I'm really not liking it. I don't feel bad having to DNF something if it just isn't working for me. However, I do try to stick with books for up to 200 pages before I put them down. Also, any book I don't plan on re-reading I end up selling. It just doesn't seem reasonable for me as a reader to keep a book on my shelf I'm never going to pick up a second time. There might be someone else out there who will love the book and re-read it, so I feel like selling a book I'm not going to read again seems like the best option for me. It's different for everyone though.
I tend to finish book unless the editing is truly horrible. It's very rare that I don't finish a book (I'm too nosy to not know how it ends).
I usually finish the book. Sometimes the book you didn't like in the beginning is the one you love by the end.
I used to stick it out or put down and pick up again since I tend to be a moody reader. And there are some books that may not gel with that first time. That being said, there are some books that once I keep saying nope consistently to some aspect (narrator, authenticity or plot) or actively avoid like the plague, it has to be dropped.
If I'm really bored and disliking a particular book then I will quit it there and then. I can't be doing with forcing myself to read a book like that because I'll just lose the motivation to read anything. However, if I've DNFed a book because the mood for it has gone, I will put it back on my shelf/bedside table and try it again at some other time. That's happened to me with a few books and recently with Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. I DNFed if years ago when I tried to read it for the first time, but I picked it up again last week and it exceeded my expectations. I absolutely loved it. I think it just depends on the book and one's experience with it.
