What Makes You Put Down a Book?

Georgie wrote: "Even if I find the book I'm reading *cough*A Discovery of Witches*cough* is the dullest, most arduous and terrible book I've read in a long while, I still make myself finish it. Even if that means ..."

I never finish a book if I don't like it, but I loved "A Discovery of Witches." I guess that is why there are some many different books/authors/writing styles/genres out there - to meet the taste of every reader.

My most abandoned book has to be Pride & Prejudice. I'm really into classics, and thicker books, especially if they are set in a completely different period of time, so I thought it would be perfect when I found this free for kindle fire. I tried so hard to get into it, but it really seemed almost lifeless since the first word.

Alyssa wrote: "My most abandoned book has to be Pride & Prejudice. I'm really into classics, and thicker books, especially if they are set in a completely different period of time, so I thought it would be perfec..."

You make a good point about a lot of reading preferences being somewhat related to the culture of the times. There are some classics that are able to break through that though, and for me, by example, is "A Tale of Two Cities".

By the way, wasn't it true that Shakespeare was widely criticized for "writing in the vernacular"?

I read and finished all of Ayn Rand's "books" (manifestos), and found her ideas even more tiresome than her characters. Read enough of an excerpt of 50 Shades of gray to see that the writing is pedestrian. (Erotica can be fun, but badly written erotica is like watching a love scene involving circus clowns.) No interest in Eat Pray Love or Wicked. Haven't gotten to Rowling's latest, but I will read it with an open mind and not expect it to be Harry Potter, the Muggle version. I loved the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (the whole series), and had no problem slogging through the somewhat tiresome beginning to get to the good stuff. Re: comments above about the christian bible: although the second half (NT) has some good stories, the book suffers from major inconsistencies, lack of character depth, uneven writing from bombastically poetic to downright deplorable, and a story arc in which people and events are so jumbled and seemingly unrelated that I could never tell if the book was sci-fi, self-help, historical fiction, or comedy. My childhood version had a section of color pictures (paintings; oddly, there were no photographs...) that I enjoyed, but the only part I really like was the family tree pages, which my mom had filled out for me.

I used to finish books, now I don't bother if I don't like them. I think I got into the habit of finishing books when I was in school. Whether I liked a book or not, it had to be read.

Now I figure life is too short to read bad books. I'll stop reading for a number of reasons; they're boring, poorly written, poorly edited; they're slasher porn or filled with rampant sexism.

I finished reading “Fifty Shades of Grey” only because I’d promised to write a review. I could complain about the writing, the characters, the dialogue, the inconstancies, and the minutia other reviewers have mentioned.

The book is bad because it is about real and imagined rape.

I don’t understand how this book became so popular with women. It doesn’t matter if he consented; Christian was sexually initiated by an older woman while he was below the age of consent.

That is statutory rape.
Christian did not “get lucky.”
It is not romantic.
He was victimized.
It was a crime.

Surely some of the mommies making up the “Mommy Porn” crowd have sons. Why would they tacitly condone pedophilia? Or does the public only view the act as rape or pedophilia when an older man preys upon young girls or boys? I find the thought frightening, and wonder what it says about the safety of young men.

The imagined rape is just as disturbing to me. I thought rape style bodice rippers had gone out in the 80’s, when good girls couldn’t have fun sex so they had to be kidnapped and victimized by the love-of-their-life. How is this book different? In my opinion, the author purposefully infantilizes the protagonist: she is economically vulnerable; impossibly and unbelievably immature both sexually and emotionally. She is shown dressing, speaking and behaving in a childish manner.

As a result, she is too ignorant to know she is being stalked and although she thinks she is giving consent, is clearly unaware of the consequences of her decision.

It’s all appalling. IMO.

I stopped reading Wicked, just because I found it boring. No rant on that one.

Ah, it's not that bad . . . after all, he did go on to become a billionaire!

Interesting discussion - Bookmarks magazine had an essay once on "Books we didn't finish". Mine include A Visit from the Goon Squad and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, both of which had lots of critical acclaim. I used to feel obligated to finish books, and to read every word in them. Now I am fine with skimming or abandoning.

Some people can't stand to read about children in peril, or animals being mistreated. I can't read about torture, which is why I quit reading Gone to Soldiers and Wizard's First Rule, two very different books, that I was enjoying up to that point. The violence in Dragon Tattoo almost put me off but the characters were so interesting that I read the whole series.

Then there is the category "Books we never started" - sometimes I think I am the only person in the western world who hasn't read The Da Vinci Code or any of the Fifty Shades books and doesn't ever intend to. I'm not a snob, I read romance, mystery, and fantasy as well as literary works but after all the publicity, I felt I already knew more than I wanted to about them.

A couple more comments - just noticed we are all writing about fiction. (well maybe I missed some but certainly most are). I would have no problem putting down a nonfiction book, or reading just one part of it if that was what interested me.

Also I love historical fiction but it can't be too "educational" or obvious, such as a character saying "Well, today is July 4, 1776 and I heard a lot of leaders are meeting in Philadelphia and writing a new document" I had to stop reading both Paris by Rutherford (though I liked his other historicals) and Fall of Giants because they seemed so fake that way.

I loved how Wolf Hall was the opposite, she tells you nothing, just throws you into a sea of names and events. However, it did take me 2 months in small intervals to finish it, and I wouldn't recommend it to very many people.

Robin wrote: "A couple more comments - just noticed we are all writing about fiction. (well maybe I missed some but certainly most are). I would have no problem putting down a nonfiction book, or reading just on..."

That's what I like about "A Tale of Two Cities", very much a historical book . . . even mentions George Washington's involvement, which remains a bit of a mystery to me.

There are some authors that make you want to read everything they've ever written and wait expectantly and impatiently for their next work. For me, top of those lists are (for very different reasons) Paul Theroux, John Irving,Ruth Rendell,P.D James, C.J.Sansom,Ian McEwan, Hilary Mantel.....and more.
Doesn't mean though that they can't write a disappointing book---though if it is by a favourite author, I'm unlikely to give up reading it.

Sometimes a book met with indifferent reviews by critics is much more special to the devoted reader of that particular author. A good example is John Irving's "Until I Find You". The story of a search for a father figure is rendered totally poignant within the context of Irving's own search for his father and the belief that one day his father would come to one of Irving's book readings and just come up and introduce himself: it never happened....For many critics it was just an overlong and self-indulgent novel. For me, it could have gone on for ever.
The opposite also applies. For me, Paul Theroux's work is brilliant and I've re-read some of his work (re-reading is something I rarely do: there's too many new books out there waiting to be devoured)several times.
But even so, "The Tao of Travel" was just a book too far....I read it all the way through, but it just wasn't good for me. (Sorry, Paul, I'm tempted to delete those last 2 sentences, because of all the pleasure I've had from your writing, but I won't.)

On the whole, I agree that life is too short to read books that you don't like.....but there are exceptions.

I put off reading Moby Dick for 60 years and then found out what I had been missing! I had no idea it is funny, poetic, heroic,tragic just about everything all thrown together, kind of like several Shakespeare plays at once. And I still skimmed the parts about whale anatomy, I felt no guilt at that!

Valerie wrote: "it took me almost a year to read A Game of Thrones-too many characters, too many locations, all the made up names. But, the book intrigued me enough to continue to slog through it. i don't think i'..."the only one i've ever not finished is Jasper Fforde's Lost in a Good Book. i enjoyed The Eyre Affair but Lost just Lost my interest. /i>

I didn't finish Lost in a Good Book either but I really liked the following books, such as The Well of Lost Plots, you don't have to have read the earlier one to enjoy the rest.

Kristine wrote: "I made it to p. 3 of The girl with the dragon tattoo; tried Eugenides' _The marriage plot_ three different times, and never made it to p. 60. Now I wish I knew how to delete it off my e-reader ..."
You were smart, I finished The Marriage Plot and wished I hadn't.

Reasons for abandoning Eat Pray Love look similar to mine for abandoning The Gift of Jazzy. Inasmuch as: Heroine seems whiny and self-obsessed.

The only other book I abandoned (that I can remember) was The Best Spiritual Writing 2010. I would not have read any of it if it weren't assigned by my former English teacher. I know other atheists sometimes identify as spiritual, but not me. It's just not my bag, man. Nature is my bag. Science is my bag.

I rarely drop a book. But if I do its either because its beyond cheesy or boring. I always try to get at least halfway though (depends how long the book) to see if it will change.

I put a book down to sleep,showering,visitors to my home,movies and a few other thing I'll put a book down for. If the story catches me wright away I won't put it down if at all possible. "An English Bride in Scotland Lynsay Sands","Lynn Kurland 's Stardust of Yesterday","To Catch A thief Christina Skye","Kiss of Pride Sandra Hill" I could go on and on.

Catherine wrote: "BTW, is there a way to abandon a book on Goodreads without having it appear as finished or currently reading? "

Make an "abandonded" shelf exclusive. Add it to that shelf.

Deb wrote: "Could Goodreads create a button or star type thing for abandoned books? I just created a list for when I give up on a book. It cracks me up when I get recommendations based on that shelf."

Go to "My Books", and "edit" bookshelves. Uncheck the "recs" box for that shelf. No more recommendations.

I've only ever abandoned 3 books in my life, and they were the first Twilight book (what was it called again?), 50 shades and The Girl with the dragon tatoo.

Reason? THEY WERE THE MOST POORLY WRITTEN BOOKS I EVER READ IN MY LIFE! I've read some bad book in my days, but these... they should have some award for book like these...

Aniiee wrote: "Reason? THEY WERE THE MOST POORLY WRITTEN BOOKS I EVER READ IN MY LIFE!"

All I can say is, you don't read enough free, indy, fiction. There's good, there's bad, and there's stuff that makes you think any of those three should be up for a Booker.

I suspect you also don't read many mystery/thrillers. Because in that genre, Stieg Larsson shows pretty well — especially against other Scandinavian mystery/thrillers.

Gabby wrote: "“If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.”

― Oscar Wilde

Ever since I read this I don't force myself to finish a book if I know I'll never rea..."

Neat! But I don't think I agree with him. There are any number of books I'm glad I've read once (even Moby Dick and The Catcher in the Rye) but will never read again, but I am getting to the point where I almost resent books I know I want to read again, because they cut into the limited time left to read new books!

I do like to do re reads, but almost never do any more due to my enormous Tbr pile. So books just stay with you and mean so much to you it's like visiting a friend when I re read them.

I just put down a book. Here is reason why:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

http://headouttheoven.blogspot.com/20...

I am soooo frustrated, I will read a thriller-mystery from general fiction to wash my palate clean.

LOL. The first line of the GR blurb wasn't a giveaway?

"[Siren Classic ManLove: Erotic Alternative Paranormal Consensual BDSM Romance, M/M, vampires, ice play, sex toys, HEA]"

I have nothing against a little erotica, but this seems to be attempting to be everything to everyone — which is surely doomed to failure.

Gabby wrote: "“If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.” ― Oscar Wilde

Bear in mind that when Wilde said that, he had easy access to maybe 1% of the books we can now read via library, Internet, book store, or online sources. (Also, he was a bit of a nut.)

Very interesting. I did indeed put down Catch 22 and Atlas Shrugged, and another classic I didn't care to finish was A Clockwork Orange.

As far as the top 5 abandoned books, I chose not to start them at all, for similar reasons. And also because none are in my preferred genres, and I don't usually read books just because of the hype.

Gabby wrote: "But all the best people were 'a bit of a nut', don't you agree? :) "

Oh, definitely!
:]

I love pop culture I don't really a genre of books besides popular culture. I keep up dated on all the new and in the news books. If loving the next best seller is wrong I don't want to be right.

Two words: Gravity's Rainbow

There are so MANY great books now, available at the click of a button, often inexpensively (many of my old favorite classics are FREE!). I don't have to make trips to the library or the store (but I still do, for the smell if nothing else). I don't have to force myself to finish because I spent my last dime on them. So many are all over the net, by writers I admire and want to support. So many beauties at B&N or the local indie. Now I give myself a few chapters to become entranced and if not, to put it down with a marker, maybe to come back to. But there's so many more books waiting, any one of which might be that wonderful gem that makes me feel once more like the kid who first read "Treasure Island" and realized how large the world could be. I've learned to set aside any book with characters or situations that I can't care enough about, as well as my guilt for abandoning them. Well, the guilt's still there, but I'm firm!

Twain wrote: "I even finished Elron Hubbard's Dekalogy. The only book I can ever remember decisively saying I wouldn't finish pissed me off on page 52 when the James Bond hard drinking macho spy 1st person narr..."

I thought I was the only person on the planet who read every single word of this rubbish.

Cole wrote: "Annie wrote: "I try to finish all the books I buy, given or loan. I read "Da Vinci Code" with an open mind as I was being told it was worth reading. Terrible book and so badly written. A lot of boo..."

Disgree!! Dan Brown is great.

Graeme wrote: "Disgree!! Dan Brown is great. "

Oh, sure, but you just admitted to reading L. Ron Hubbard!

I did read all of The Da Vinci Code. Fun romp, not terribly written. But Angels & Demons was truly awful.

I read every word To me if you are skimming the books not worth it

Derek wrote: "Graeme wrote: "Disgree!! Dan Brown is great. "

Oh, sure, but you just admitted to reading L. Ron Hubbard!

I did read all of The Da Vinci Code. Fun romp, not terribly written. But Angels & Demons ..."

The movie version of 'Angels And Demons' is bad. I will concede that.

No, the book version. I wouldn't dream of going to watch a movie of a Dan Brown book. Angels & Demons took all the worst parts of The Da Vinci Code and few of the good ones.

Except Brown wrote "Angels and Demons" before "The Da Vinci Code". I agree, it's hard to tell if it's an improvement, but I still liked the books for sheer entertainment.

Eugenia wrote: "Except Brown wrote "Angels and Demons" before "The Da Vinci Code". I agree, it's hard to tell if it's an improvement, but I still liked the books for sheer entertainment."

OK, you're right. Brown took all the good bits of Angels & Demons and wrote a fairly good mystical thriller with The Da Vinci Code. There's a reason why almost nobody knew who he was until The Da Vinci Code.

Books that just drag on and on about the same thing it had repeated a hundred times already. You just want to say, "Get on with it!" That's when I delete it.

Usually, I abandon a book when the plot starts to become ridiculous. When characters start to behave like pigs, etc...

It depends on the book. If the execution is good, but the story is lacking I'll probably put it down. If the wordsmithing is excellent but the story is craptastic, I might force myself to read it, to evaluate what works and what doesn't.
If it's considered a classic (Dickens, Elliot, Austen, Trollope) I'll find some other way: spoken word, for example. If I'm desperate, I'll find a movie the book is based on - because there's always a movie.

Kristine wrote: "If it's considered a classic (Dickens, Elliot, Austen, Trollope) I'll find some other way: spoken word, for example. If I'm desperate, I'll find a movie the book is based on - because there's always a movie...."

What ever happened to Classic Comics?

J. wrote: "Kristine wrote: "If it's considered a classic (Dickens, Elliot, Austen, Trollope) I'll find some other way: spoken word, for example. If I'm desperate, I'll find a movie the book is based on - beca..."

Had not considered that .... hmmmm.

Very interesting facts! We just created the event for all unread books around the world :) Book your time for unread books :-)

Marilyn wrote: "Kelly wrote: "Marilyn wrote: "Kelly wrote: "See, I would have expected the Bible to be on the list. Christianity is one of the most common religions, and how many people can honestly say they've re..."

I believe it is best to read any book in its native language/tongue, especially religious books! A lot is lost in translation! Therefore, if anyone wishes to read the holy book of another religion, they ought to study the language from the natives first, then attempt to read.

Besides, I agree with those who said that religious book are not novels and should never be judged based on the same standards as fiction.

It takes a lot to make me abandon a book, but then I remember the theory that middle age is when you realise that you're not going to live long enough to read all the great books on your list!

Too many great reads on the shelf to persevere with a book that doesn't grab you.

Books I cannot be bothered to finish at the moment: Birdsong, 50 Shades of Grey, Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters (I will finish this though)and the one book I have never been able to get beyond Chapter One in - The Silmarillion.

Hello all, Thanks your comments.
I'd like to seize this chance to invite you to read the following books:

a. "TWENTY-FOUR SEVEN" - How to run the race of life. available at www.createspace.com/4209536
b. "KINGDOM SEEDLINGS" - A Collection of Poems for Children. available at www.createspace.com/4231410
c. "PLAYING GAMES WITH THE HI VIRUS" - A Collection of Poems on the HI Virus. available at www.createspace.com/4220450

Below is a sampler poem:

SWIMMING WITH THE HI VIRUS

Tempting blue-green waters
Take a dip
And fall back;

Tentative test for warmth
Contemplate a move
Meditate on response
Take a deep breath
Plunge into the waters
Get caught up
In the waves
Salty water in your eyes;
Ouch!

Devise escape strategies:

Try free-style
Give up after a while;
Try breast stroke
To death you may choke;
Try back stroke
To break free from unequal yoke;

Try butterfly
To stay high
Above the waters;
Try froggie
Trash and thrust
In a confused rhythm;
Try duckie
Paddle, waddle, and fumble;

Try to back pedal
From the death canal;
Alas!
No escape from the HI Virus.

Ride the waves crest
Get transported by the surf
Deposited on shore
Rejected and dejected.

So much water,
Yet unfit
Your thirst to quench;

Drink water
From your own well
And stay alive.


Feedback shall be appreciated.
Thank you.
Best regards.
Biodun.

Rojer wrote: "Books I cannot be bothered to finish at the moment: Birdsong, 50 Shades of Grey, Sense and Sensibility...and one book I have never been able to get beyond Chapter One in - The Silmarillion..."

I had the same reaction. It didn't age well in someone's trunk. It's more like backstory or character studies--not for publication.

Couldn't finish 50 Shades of Grey. I think the author wasnt ready to tackle such a genre and would have benefitted from submitting short stories to websites geared towards it. That way there is critisism that could have helped imrove it. The book had potential, but it was just boring.... The Notebook was another I couldn't finish. But then thats because its not my genre. I gave it a try but just couldn't finish it and gave it away.