What Makes You Put Down a Book?

Tumblingup wrote: "I'll put down a book after the first five sentences if it doesn't grab me then ...meh."

I will too! I usually try to give it more than 5 sentences, but sometimes not much more.

Carol wrote: "Laura wrote: "My own personal most abandoned classic is The Sound and the Fury. I tried to read it several times. I would come back to it, perhaps get a bit further and then abandon it. It always..."

Oh, God, I hated that book, never finished it. Made me feel stupid, but I just couldn't get through it.

Laura wrote: "My own personal most abandoned classic is The Sound and the Fury..."

I understand this! I am a lover of Faulkner's stories, too, but as a lit major this one was required in one of my grad classes. Every night I would read the assigned portion, and the next day, the professor would hold our hands, interpreting the whole thing for us. His interpretations were interesting, but I never could see where he got them. For me it truly was "a tale of sound and fury, told by an idiot, signifying nothing." That was the end of the modern "classics" for me. Give me multi-leveled 17th century metaphysical text any day. ><

Jenni wrote: "*Glamazon* wrote: "There are just way too many books I want to read to waste my time on an awful book I've picked up. If it's awful, I won't read it til the end. There are better books out there th..."

Me too. I just don't get why people feel the need to force themselves to read a book they don't like, unless it is required reading for a class etc.

Raechele wrote: "Tina wrote: "gabiiescobar wrote: "I used to read every single book I started, until a teacher told me that "life is too short to read a bad book. Put it down, and move on." I never forced myself to..."

Sometimes if I really don't like a book, but I do want to know what happened, I will find a detailed plot summary online somewhere. And sometimes I just don't care how it ends.

I used to try and finish every book that I started but it recently sunk in that there are hundreds of books that I still want to read, and I don't have enough time to get to them all. I decided that I was not going to waste any more time forcing myself to read books that I don't like, for no good reason. I have never had trouble shutting off a stupid movie or TV show and, I now can stop a book. I do try to read at least 100 pages or so, (depending on the size of the book), just to see if it improves, but if it still bites by that time I will no longer waste my time! In fact, I just stopped reading a book when I was on page 126; I'd been forcing myself to keep reading but it was taking me forever to get through it because I just didn't like the characters or the writing. I didn't even feel guilty!

I've abandoned a lot of James Joyce. I tried. I wanted to like it. Wasn't happenin'

I know that this will sound like sacrilege, but I had a very difficult time getting into "Wolf Hall" despite the fact that it is a time period and a historical character that I have an affinity for. The prose was so good that I fell into the words and kept losing the plot line!

I put The Kite Runner down after the critical horrifying incident. I loved the prose, but I just can't get past that disturbing moment. Perhaps one day. Half way into A Casual Vacancy I still hadn't found a single character to like. I wanted to like it but... As for 50 Shades, I didn't even pick it up. I guess I am a snob. I did like the dystopian Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde, but that was an entirely different book and was published before the others.

Ah! "50 Shades of Grey" - no I could not even think of having an interest in it! I am so pleased that there are others. I hate to mention what I cannot, or will not, read because I always think that simply everyone else loves the books that I put down !

Marie Z. wrote: "I know that this will sound like sacrilege, but I had a very difficult time getting into "Wolf Hall" despite the fact that it is a time period and a historical character that I have an affinity for..."

Wolf Hall is not a great book. I plodded through the book because it was required for a course. However, I would have stopped reading it when I got to about page 20 when I couldn't figure which 'he' referred to which "Thomas."

I abandoned 4/5 of these books. All but Casual Vacancy - never even picked it up. This is interesting.

I have tried countless times to read Phillip (Philip?) Pullman's His Dark Materials, or whatever that series is called. However, I could never get into it. It's kind of sad, really, since it is a revered book. Just didn't hit the right chords with me and my reading preferences.

Am slogging through "1913" by Emmerson, and am at the half way point, but am determined to finish this slow moving guide to every city in the world (it seems) which paints in elaborate detail the world on the verge of emerging into the 20th century.

Linda wrote: "I'm having that problem with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo right now. I'm on page 59 and am just forcing myself to keep on. It must get better at some point. I've read a lot of great books that..."

the Dragon series is not the genre I normally read; I was the same way with The Dragon Tattoo as you, I had to force myself to continue and boy was I glad I did. I rarely buy hard back books but Dragon grabbed me so, I ran out and bought the other two. Even though I have always been in finance I found the education of the financial system very boring but wait until the story digs in. The education is essential though. Don't give this one up!

Dana wrote: "I read The Lord of the Rings every couple of years, but I do usually skim over the ballads... I can see how it would be laborious to finish if you weren't invested in the characters. A Confedera..." I do the same with LOTR haha! I tried it when I was younger and was swamped- gave up. Now I go about five years inbetween reading them, but I really prefer The Hobbit :)

Interesting. I do finish most books I begin, but I have started and abandoned Catch-22 on two separate occasions, so I'm glad to see it's not just me. On the other hand, I read through The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and its 2 sequels rather quickly, as I found them interesting. Sometimes all is not lost. I first tried reading Brave New World several years ago and couldn't get through it. Then I picked it up again about two years ago and enjoyed it immensely. I guess I just wasn't ready for it before. Another book I couldn't get through was Beloved by Toni Morrison, though I have enjoyed some of her other books.

I really laughed at your comment. I had the same experience. I thought Oprah's book club books should be packaged with Prozac.

Raquel wrote: "Back when Oprah first started tagging books, I read two on recommendations. What dreariness! I find it amusing that others feel that same as I do - if I see an Oprah sticker on a book spine, I go..."

weak writing is the main reason. When I read a chapter and realize I just read the words, not understanding the meaning of it easily, I usually ditch it.

I did put down Casual Vacancy and LOTR. Sure LOTR has a good plot, if only the words are easier to understand.
I read Casual Vacancy just because I enjoy JK's Harry Potter series. But exactly as stated above, Different Expectation.

I like Brandon Sanderson and Trudi Canavan way of writing. easy to understand, and it flows.

I read through the first of three parts of War and Peace. It irritates me every time I see the bookmark sticking out this or any other book, but there are plenty of irritants on my shelf, so I picked up Cormac McCarthy's The Orchard Keeper. I'm going to finish it if it takes me a month. War and Peace will have to rest in peace a little while longer.

Joan wrote: "I may be the only one but I hated The Kite Runner, boring, boring"

I put down the Kite Runner after 100 pages.

Linda wrote: "I'm having that problem with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo right now. I'm on page 59 and am just forcing myself to keep on. It must get better at some point. I've read a lot of great books that..."

It's page 100 for that book. I abandoned that one twice before my friend convinced me to push through to 100... the story picked up there.

That being said, I wasn't interested in reading the rest of the series.

Sadly, I probably abandon half the books I start. Sometimes it's because I can't get into the prose. Sometimes I just stop caring what happens to the characters. I've even put books away 50 pages from the end.

That said, I read Wicked before it was ever made into a musical and it is a wonderful book.

I always finish books I start as a rule - I just need to know the ending and I feel that I need to read it myself. However, there are many books that I have wanted to put down. The only book in high school that I hated was Moby Dick. I only read the chapters with Queequeg in them and skipped the rest.
Classics I expected to like and didn't: Wuthering Heights (I could not stand the characters), Frankenstein (characters again and the fact that the word "wretched" appears every other line) and Turn of the Screw (the sentence structure did it for me here - ugh - very distracting).
The last non-classic I wanted to put down was The Flame Alphabet by Ben Marcus; it was too out there for me, I simply did not get it and I definitely didn't enjoy it.

Felipe wrote: "I always finish my books. I've closure issues. :)"

hahaha, that's a great way of putting it! I feel the same way! :P

I normally have 6 books on the go at one time because there are always a couple that I can't get straight into so start to read something else and then return to one I'm lagging behind on.

Joan wrote: "I may be the only one but I hated The Kite Runner, boring, boring"

It's like a soap opera to me. I finished it. :-/ What are the odds that you'll meet your childhood nemesis who is now actually abusing the son of a former friend/playmate/neighbor from a poor family? Totally ruined it for me after that.

Lostaccount wrote: "Not surprised Casual Vacancy is on the abandoned book list. Unadulterated rubbish (IMHO)."
Certainly, if one expects "Harry Potter, Reborn" then you're surely going to be disappointed, yet I found the book well written. The commentaries on local politics and their maneuverings, exposed through the fictional plot, were equally entertaining. But the overall plot was well introduced, carefully crafted, and carried to an ending that many would say was inevitable -- but that inevitability was the message.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and found it hard to put down. Though not perfect, it met my expectation based on a great author rather than a continuation on an old theme.

Great blog - but I can't say I'm surprised by the Casual Vacancy being ditched regularly!

Deborah wrote: "I abandoned The Great Gatsby, Twilight, Atlas Shrugged, and The Bell Jar. I would never even bother trying to read crud like 'several shades of stupidity and misogyny' the premiss is disgusting eno..."

Harlequinn should provide your needs.

I rarely ever do not finish a book for the same reason as 36.6% of members. "As a rule, I like to finish things." At least I know I'm not that crazy!

I have a shelf for stalled books. I have many books lying around with bookmarks. Some books just require the right frame of mind for consumption... ;)

My latest was London Fields by Martin Amis, whose style I generally adore.

Sorry Martin, but the midway snooze fest wasn't even good enough to be my toilet book. That honour has gone to the God Delusion, because I have to remind myself that there's no hell for people who don't finish novels.

Joan wrote: "I may be the only one but I hated The Kite Runner, boring, boring"

One of my all time favorite books. I guess it's true different strokes for different folks. That is why we have such variety in books.

Weak writing gets me to put it down with in 50 pages. First books for series or author will always be slow with the setting up of characters etc to which I can get through with no problems at all. The writing needs good flow and strong distinction in dialogue.

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 books become popular through good publicity, but it doesn't necessarily mean it is in fact a good read. I picked up a book by who I thought was James Patterson - whose books I enjoy - but the writer was in fact Richard North Patterson: 'Balance of Power.' What a really cracking book it was. Not for the faint hearted as it is very detailed. Reminded me of Tom Clancy - another favourite! Very intelligent and well crafted books. Read 'Lord of the Rings' twice - love it. The others I probably wouldn't start because they are just not my cup of tea!

I've abandoned books for several reasons. I agree with gabiiescobar comment: "I used to read every single book I started, until a teacher told me that "life is too short to read a bad book. Put it down, and move on."

I loved Wicked. Thought the book had alot of depth and the writing was at a good pace.

I not only didn't finish reading The Naked and the Dead by Norman Mailer, I stormed into the professor's office and tossed it at him! He still remembered the incident when I met him at an MLA convention years later. I'm glad he laughed at my bad professional manners, but I'd do it again.

Very interesting...I love looking at this kind of data.

I usually give it 70-100 pages before I abandon a book(which doesn't happen often.) Being a voracious reader it usually takes something big for me to abandon a book. On that note, WICKED..read the book first people,and after you're done with that you have three more to go in the WICKED YEARS(although WICKED is the best.)

Raechele wrote: "Tina wrote: "gabiiescobar wrote: "I used to read every single book I started, until a teacher told me that "life is too short to read a bad book. Put it down, and move on." I never forced myself to..."

Raechele wrote: "Tina wrote: "gabiiescobar wrote: "I used to read every single book I started, until a teacher told me that "life is too short to read a bad book. Put it down, and move on." I never forced myself to..."

I have read "Gone With the Wind", five times. It is one of my all-time favs. I put down "The DaVinci Code" once, then went back to it about a year later, and could NOT put it down............hahaha

If I dump a book I'll usually give it another try later, and have found some gems that way. Bad writing is a deal breaker, though. Found The Shack to be unbearable and shied away from 50 Shades after reading reviews. Catch 22 though.....hilarious, brilliant book.

I agree that life's too short to read a book you're not enjoying. Move on. I spent too much of my student life being forced to read books I didn't like, now I want to read what I want!

Jodi wrote: "I usually try to finish everything, no matter how much I dislike it. However, I recently came very, very, very close to abandoning Kate Atkinson's "Life After Life". Not only did the story move at..."

I was wondering if it was me.i never got throough the second chapter. It has not sold well in our bookstore either.

if i see the word 'said' more than a couple of times in the first page i toss it immediately, if i fall asleep withing the first chapter i toss it, usual, the only book i actually persevered with was Ron Hubbard's Scientology and only because i enjoyed his sci-fi novels. i have to admit it sent me to sleep so many time. i kept loosing my place and becoming so frustrated. i did finish it but can barely remember a sentence out of the whole book. awful i wish i had just tossed it, however if you are an insomniac i would highly recommend it

Stephanie wrote: "There are too many amazing books out there to stick with ones you don't love. I abandoned Eat Pray Love, too, but I did listen to it in the car, and it was a completely different experience. It w..."

THANK YOU. I 'LISTENED" to Eat, Pray Love and liked it. Recommended it to several people...they didn't like it.Maybe it's the audio book thing that did it for me. (the movie was awful.)

Books are like food. We like certain books while others do not. I loved Eat Pray Love; I read it three times. However, now that I'm in my mid-fifties, I will abandon a book after about 50 pages or so if it does not grab me. The older I get the more acutely aware that time is fleeting. I too used to stick with a book until the end. If it is badly written or it just doesn't grab me, I have no regrets about putting it down. However, me not reading a book to the end in no way reflects on the quality of the writing. I have learned to be more efficient with my time. I don't believe in writing bad reviews of books. My mentor Richard Howard taught me that silence is its own critic. I would rather spend my time reviewing and recommending books that I love. Personally I think our culture spends too much time tearing down the work of others. In the end I firmly believe that is counterproductive. So I recommend books that I love and quietly let the books I think were not that well written quietly fall to the way side.

Anthony Trollope

here's a story: I purchased Barchester Towers during grad school, but couldn't get into it (I quit after about fifty pages if a book bores me, offends me in some way, is poorly written, or just can't hold my interest). I schlepped that book from pillar to post as I moved from apartment to apartment, state to state, and house to house. Finally, twelve years later, I was desperate for something to read, and I picked up old Barchester Towers again. For some reason, the twelve-year-older me found something hilarious and wonderful there, and I proceeded to read everything by Trollope I could lay my hands on. (There's a lot.) So this is another interesting question: what changes in us to make us respond to a book that earlier left us cold? It inspired me to give old books another try. I hesitate to admit this on a public forum (I'm a lit professor), but I am still waiting for that golden day when I will be able to complete Moby Dick.

Very fun to read through. Did i learn much? No, but it was a good reminder of what not to do and what to do, as a writer.