What Makes You Put Down a Book?

Norma wrote: "Good idea for students. when I was in school (think 1938 if you can imagine that far back) finishing a book assignment was not an "option".

Yes - I'd 100% agree for a book assignment, but I guess I wasn't clear in that I was thinking about reading for pleasure. If it isn't pleasurable, then find something that is! I don't want recreational reading to become a chore, nor do I want students to miss out on something just because they aren't 'hooked' in 5 pages.

Try this book has just been released titled "He Who Tells the Biggest Lies Succeed" written by Dale Quentin, available on Amazon ordered a copy and have just finished reading it, find it hard to believe that this goes on in our legal system today, well worth a read, obviously not edited professionally.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Who-Tells-Big...

[Try this book has just been released titled "He Who Tells the Biggest Lies Succeed" written by Dale Quentin, available on Amazon ordered a copy and have just finished reading it, find it hard to believe that this goes on in our legal system today, well worth a read, obviously not edited professionally.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Who-Tells-Big... Quentin|7388977]

Dale Quentin

Erotic Helen " Hotter than 50 Shades a MUST for Hot Erotic Readers

Allen wrote: "Okay, life's too short to finish a bad book. Sure. Whatever. But Catch-22 is an incredible book. Why are so many people putting that one down?"

I can't say I did not like it, but I have deemed it the Seinfeld of novels, for it is truly a book about nothing.

I sometimes put down books and never come back to them, but doing so really bugs me. I abandoned Into the Wild three months ago (even though it was a school assignment, heh,) and I'm still conflicted as to whether or not I should finish it. I abandon books when they cease to interest me (like The Cat Who Could Read Backwards,) I find a book I like better (like Christopher's Moore's Lamb, though I don't remember what I found more interesting,) or circumstances in my life come up that prevent me from reading books (like the final Prydain book that I had to stop reading when I had a lot of schoolwork to do.) Some books are actually better when you pick them up again. I was in 8th grade when I started Lamb, and picked it up again about half a year ago, and I'm glad I did. It was hilarious!

Almost forgot to mention- I've attempted to read two of John Green's books (An Abundance of Katherines and Will Grayson, Will Grayson) and have never been able to finish them. I was disgusted by some of the things that happened in An Abundance of Katherines, and Will Grayson, Will Grayson just bored me. I really don't like John Green and don't understand why he deserves to be so popular.

I always make sure I finish a book even if I hate it. If it's getting to be too much I'll rotate with another book. Richardson's Pamela was probably the biggest chore...

Also, I'm surprised to see Catch-22 on here, it's great! Sometimes people just need to stick with a book for a bit longer.

My teacher is different, she tells us to always finish a book, and I just can't get into the one I'm reading now

I'm just of the opinion that there are too many books waiting to be read so why waste your time reading one that you can't get into?! My Mom always said if it doesn't grab you after 50 pages then don't waste your time. Some people think 100 pages is a fairer amount and in the case of "The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo" this was definitely the case. I was so glad I stuck to it because it was a great read after all the nonsense in the first 100 pages!

How can someone abandon The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo!!!! Literally devoured the Millenium trilogy at age 14.

Interesting! Given that the first five are all "pop culture"-type books, I'd guess there's a measure of "other expectations" for all of those.

But Moby Dick...oh my gosh, yes! That is at the very top of my "so horrible I couldn't even bring myself to keep reading" list. I have never seen such a VERBOSE book in all my life. A whole flippin' CHAPTER about why he goes to sea as a passenger and not crew? (Or was it the other way around?) Just TELL THE STORY!

Catch-22 doesn't surprise me, either. It's good, but...it's very, very hard to follow because it isn't in chronological order. It's all scrambled up. I understand that the AUTHOR had to have a written timeline so he could keep track of what should have happened when!

Rachel wrote: "Interesting! Given that the first five are all "pop culture"-type books, I'd guess there's a measure of "other expectations" for all of those.

But Moby Dick...oh my gosh, yes! That is at the ver..."

Well, the films of Moby Dick and Catch 22 aren't very good.

S wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Interesting! Given that the first five are all "pop culture"-type books, I'd guess there's a measure of "other expectations" for all of those.

But Moby Dick...oh my gosh, yes! Tha..."

I didn't even know there WERE film versions of those two. Which probably just proves your point. ;)

I actually read Fifty Shades of Grey and Ulysses back to back, and I finished both of them lol (I finished Ulysses a few days ago). I really enjoyed hating Fifty Shades of Grey, and I really admired the genius embedded in Ulysses.

I've only ever attempted two other books on this list: Catch 22 and Atlas Shrugged. I abandoned both: Catch 22 because I was a teenager who hated to read, and Atlas Shrugged because somethingaboutrailroads-booooooorrrrriiiiiiinnngggg! (Actually I might give both of these books another shot in the future. Why not?)

Catch 22 may be worth another go. Atlas Shrugged, if I am right, is the extreme free trade capitalist bible by Ayn Rand.

What makes me put a book down is the first chapter that fails to capture my attention. In the past, I have tried to push on thinking that the book will improve and that I am just too impatient an judgmental. However, when this experience becomes too painful, I will just joyfully slam the book closed. This happens frequently with assigned books from my book club when I so resent this required reading experience. The last book that I slammed shut was FIFTY SHADES OF GREY. I only got past the tenth page and thought that I was reading pure porn and was perplexed on how so many people just loved this garbage and now it could win an Oscar!!! or perhaps a Pulitzer!!!!

Cole wrote: "Catch 22 may be worth another go. Atlas Shrugged, if I am right, is the extreme free trade capitalist bible by Ayn Rand."

Yeah, I know Atlas Shrugged as the conservative Republican bible (taking a back seat only to the Bible bible). But, as with Fifty Shades of Grey, I want to at least understand the material at which I am, because of its reputation, tempted to scoff.

I literally threw Twilight across the room when I read the perfect sunny flowery field part, and had to give return the book back to my friend somewhat battered. Needless to say, she didn't bring me the sequels.

Great infographic ! - I used to finish books and I have read hundreds but not any more. I give up when I don't like the subject or when the language and style of writing is difficult to cope with. I finished Moby-Dick but didn't like, I failed with Olysses (but one has to to got a certain background for it), I LOVE LoTR - read it more than 10 times !!!

I give up when the premise or story become too cruel and bloody. With regret sometimes, I'd love to finish Shogun but just can't bring myself to go any further. Also, now I'm 75, I expect my taste/interest to be caught from the word Go; too old to waste my time if I don't feel engaged.

Strangely enough, in view of that first sentence, I absolutely love Captain Corelli's Mandolin. Violence and suffering, yes, but so plainly described it is simply part of the experience. Not there for sensation value. Many people don't like the ending, I loved it. So true to life.

I, too, am a senior in life and value my time so very much. Therefore, I do choose wisely and believe that I have earned the right to experience pleasure in my life after working so hard and giving to so many.

Fran White

I only really read urban fantasy & reads all the series of particular authors,if I start a new book of an author I've not read before or I'm reading a short novella & doesn't have the excitement or good world building & characters I can't find good qualities in I'll give in after a few chapters but go back to it later, as for the books you chose I've only read catch 22 (when I was a teenager the first time)I've still got that copy I've read it so many times & it always has me in stitches even though catch 22 is a real catch & not funny in the circumstances it's so well written I'd say to anyone read it again if you've got a daft sense of humour if you've seen the film don't take that as indication of the book as I didn't like film much

I will read a book if I don't realize time has passed, or I can't let go (I call these Face-Hugger Aliens) (those usually get a 5 star).
I'll put a book down if I find myself daydreaming - about something else, or my internal monologue shifts to wondering if I've emptied the dishwasher yet?
Though if I feel the book has some merit, even if I don't like something about it, I'll get the unabridged on CD and listen to it ... while washing the dishes.

I had to grow into Moby Dick. Sometime after age 50, the world of whaling opened up for me.

The only book I never got into was Ulysses by Joyce. I am a compulsive reader. I love to read. It soothes me. I loved Rand's Atlas Shrugged but I was a teenager at the time. I loved Moby Dick but then I love all books about the sea. Bad writing will stop me in my tracks. Fifty pages and I will put it down. The only thing that kept me reading Girl on a Train was the excellent writing. I hated the heroine and still do. I hate drunks or reading about them. I have no empathy there. But once the story passed 100 pages, I was hooked. She can write! The Miniaturist was a slow starter but an excellent story well written. Loved DRagon Tatto but it was a slow starter too. The three books are fantastic and much better than the movies which I enjoyed too. There are some great South African mystery writers, other Swedish writers. So much to read so little time! My advice, read the ending first if the first 25 don't grab you.

You kidding? I love Moby Dick. Read it 5 times. Such a beautiful book. I couldn't read anything by Tolkein, although my brother can quote whole passages by heart. There's usually a combination of factors that make me put a book down: a lame writing style that is not compensated for by an addictive plot and electric characters. If it's too lame then forget it. I can't read memoirs. I try and I try. They just bore me. I hadn't thought of it until I saw the graphic above but yes, if it's stupid I'll put it down. It took me a year to get through Infinite Jest. It was a hard slog but the insights and style, and occasional brilliant scene, were so wonderful that I kept coming back.

Kendra wrote: "The only book I have ever abandoned was Stephanie Meyer's "The Host". I plan to try it again someday, but I just couldn't get into it."
I really enjoyed The Host. To me, it was better than the Twilight series. I kept forgetting that the narrator wasn't two people in the one body, but actually two people, if you get my drift! I was looking forward to seeing the movie to see how they portrayed her, but didn't really enjoy it. As usual, books are better than the movies!
Oh, just to let you know, I LISTENED to the book, so that might have helped me enjoy the book.

Jody wrote: "Catherine wrote: "I absolutely agree that life is too short to finish a bad book! I usually give up after a chapter or two, but I once got halfway through a long novel by one of my favorite authors..."
Yes, an abandoned button!!!!

I started Thomas Mann's The Magic Mountain in my 20s. I actually liked it, but the slow pace and depth of it were just too much for me in my youth in the late 60s. Like someone else said, I left my bookmark in it and put it on the shelf, where it periodically called to me to ask if I was ready yet. I did pick it up a few times and read a bit more, but still couldn't keep with it. Finally, after I went back to college in my 30s, graduated and started my career, I returned to it in earnest, and loved it all the way to the end. I still think of it as one of the best reads I ever had, and I suspect the time away from it, but still occasionally thinking about it, were part of the process of my emotional growth with and through it.

I rarely abandon a book, but if I am not making any connections with it, or am bothered by the author's style of writing, or have had too many interruptions preventing me to get into the book, I will abandon it. For example, I abandoned 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez because I was confused by the plot. The main character, Aureliano seemed to be living forever and it became confusing. A few years later, someone mentioned the book and the family tree at the front of the book. It was then that I realized that descendants had all been given the same name. The book is back on my TBR list now! There is no shame in abandoning a book you aren't enjoying! Life is too short to read something you don't like!

I LOVE the IDEA of the CONCEPT... very interesting. My abandoned book is Oliver Twist- Unabridged version.

Hritika wrote: "I LOVE the IDEA of the CONCEPT... very interesting. My abandoned book is Oliver Twist- Unabridged version."

Not my favorite Dickens novel

honestly, i don't think it's a bad thing if you don't finish a book. if you're not interested you're not interested and there are so many books out there that i find it interesting that people will push through a book they won't like instead of moving on to something new. i understand wanting to read a book when it's popular so you can participate in conversations. but there is a certain point you can get to where you know you hate something and you know you're not having a good time. pushing through on that is mostly insanity and self sabotage. i will say that there are books i've pushed through to the end and felt amazing at how well they managed to turn around for me. more than anything though i rarely regret not finishing a book. you can always go back to it when you're in a different mood. why not?

I start a book with a mind to finish it. I never used to leave a book unfinished, no matter what, no matter how bad the book was. But I guess I also was unaware of really bad books., and always thought that every book can be read at least once. I guess I did not have enough courage to leave a book midway, I thought it to be an insult to the book. But over the last year, I have lost that fear and there have been several books that I have put down and did not read them on because I simply lost interest in them. I found the courage to leave a book unfinished if I did not like it. I still give it a last try and strive to read on but some books simply don't appeal to me. And I have made peace with that fact. The fact that life is too short to read bad books, or that one should read in order to enjoy it and not to show off.

I leave a book midway majorly because of its annoying characters, especially a know it all female protagonist, that oozes feminism. I leave the book when I find unnecessary sentences being shoved in between just to lengthen the plot or increase the suspense. I leave them midway because I guess I have become intolerant towards sloppy writing, stupid plots, too much fantasy mixed with simply illogical sci-fi stuff, unnecessary and unwanted wordplay, too many dialogues or monologues, I have become intolerant towards something that's a good effort but not made in the right direction.

Having grown really critical of what is presented in front of me, I prefer reading crisp matter that should thrill and excite me really really good.

Technically you shouldn't put down a book until you get to the main part of the book. Some books start out boring but then ended up being good. As for me, I sometimes give up on a book on any page, but sometimes I finish the book.

I had the exact same reaction to The Corrections, but after page 100 or so, I fell in love with it.

I consider these free books, no matter the source, in the same way as a borrowed library book. From there a book needs to be readable or I feel no guilt returning it mostly unread. Here, and Netgalley, I only feel obligated to explain to the author and publisher why it was unreadable to me. Other readers can and should have thier own standards of readablity.

Clunky writing, especially if the story doesn't hook me.Or EXPLAINING the characters' feelings to me. message 1020 says you shouldn't put down a book until you "get to the main part." I say if the writing isn't winning you over for some reason, the author could be at fault. Some books just aren't a match for your sensibilities, though.

sometimes just because I don't like the font used.

So far I have not abandoned a published work that I voluntarily picked up. I only wanted to abandon books that I was forced to read for school, but being school I had to finish them off. The only times I remember abandoning any reading project was Harry Potter Fanfictions. For various reasons. One was because within the first few chapters Harry declared himself to be Harry James Potter, Black, Dumbledore, Grindelwald and many other names and I couldn't keep going. Another was because it had a sequel but the author never got around to it so I didn't want to start it, love it and never be able to finish it. A third was Harry time traveled into his adult hood and Hermione, the one I will always ship with Harry, claimed that she was Snapes girlfriend. I eventually stumbed upon that same story a few years later and detected the sarcasm this time and kept reading. And finally, the last time I abandoned a fanfiction was because they turned Harry into a vampire when he was in the forest in First year. I'm not a fan of that so I dropped it.

Tina wrote: "That's interesting! I try to finish most books. But if I just can't, then I set it down and try to come back to it at a later point. Sometimes timing is just off and it's not what I want to read at ..."

I can definitely relate. I have never had a book that I dropped and never returned into. Although I find them boring, I still try my best to finish them and know if they are actually worth it or not.

I first tried to read McCullough's First Man in Rome series in my mid-20s. Couldn't get through the first book. Came back in my mid-40s and finished not just the first book, but the whole series and was sad to not have more!

I think it was just a timing thing for me. I wasn't mentally prepared for the first read through, but now I'd read it all again if I didn't have a to-read list of a few hundred books!