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Abandoning books is a last resort for me after chugging through at least 50 pages. Over the years I've gotten more efficient in the initial evaluation of a title by reading the synopsis and blurbs to filter out duds before I invest.My top reasons for abandoning a book are excessive use of the f-word and other gratuitous profanity, and whiny, exclamatory dialogue. Otherwise, I'm willing to give an author the benefit of the doubt unless the writing is bland and/or the spelling, grammar and punctuation are bad.
Out of Body by Stella Cameron was my most recently abandoned book because her writing style has changed drastically now that she writes paramormal fiction. In her historical and contemporary fiction titles, her writing is layered with emotional depth and engaging characters in challenging circumstances with moments of levity. In her non-paranormal titles her writing voice is distinct, which makes the blandness of the writing in her paranormal titles even more obvious to a long-time Stella Cameron fan.
Her paranormal titles don't work for me because her writing no longer projects the distinguishing traits of originality and enthusiasm for her plots and characters. Rereading her older titles reminds me of so many reasons why I used to anticipate her new releases.
Many established authors have made the switch to paranormal and/or YA as a business strategy, it seems, to pursue a different, younger reading audience, but the changes in their writing suggest that their writers' hearts don't feel as passionate.
I respect the fact that publishing is a business, but regret the loss every time an author who is exceptional in one genre is encouraged to follow marketplace trends that dull their unique storytelling shine.
Mod
I'm with Michelle. While I do my best to filter my reads so I don't end up with a dud the occasional one slips through. And if I feel I have a dud then I cut bait and run.Generally, I'll make myself get at least 50-100 pages read before I give up. My rule of thumb is that if I'd rather do housework then read the book, then I clearly need a different novel.
Sometimes I'll have two books I'm reading so I can switch if one is slower then another. That can sometimes get me through a difficult novel.
Some books I gave up on include: Cold Mountain (so much description I thought I'd go crazy), Life of Pi (reading about a kid trapped on a boat was like watching paint dry), A Prayer for Owen Meany (just couldn't connect with characters), My Name is Mary Sutter (just couldn't connect)
Mod
Mod
Generally, I'll make mys..."
There are so many *good* books out there--or rather, books I will enjoy--that I abandon books with no regrets. Some of them are "acclaimed" books--most notably, I ditched The Elegance of the Hedgehog after the first page because it seemed to be too self-consciously "literary" (though that could be the translator's fault) and I found the narrator so unlikeable I actively disliked the idea of continuing.
I've been more willing to abandon books recently than I had in the past. There is just not enough time to read all the things I want to read to spend time with something that is tedious. My ratings on goodreads skew to 3-4 I believe because if its less than that as I'm reading, I probably won't finish. I started an abandoned books shelf here recently.
I have finally figured out that if I think the phrase, "Maybe if I just keep reading, something interesting will happen..." is a sign I should just put the book down. Like one of the previous posters, I will give it a good 50-75 pages but if nothing develops, then out it goes. I abandoned the Casual Vacancy because I just didn't connect with any of the characters. The same thing with The Help.
The Help was the Mar 2012 monthly selection by the So. Co. Sr. Ctr Bk Club (Feb 2012 that Sr Ctr showed the movie, which I've never seen)---I read the book & I liked it, because my mom's family is from the South. I have never abandoned a bk I didn't like, even when it was required reading in school. I once read The African Queen after I saw the Hepburn-Bogart movie---I liked the movie a lot better---the bk was 2 descriptive---I prefer more dialog---but the movie mostly followed the book. When a bk bothers me---boring, upsetting (like Unbroken), etc, I always have something else I can read, til I'm ready 2 return to that book.
Tho I didn't like Unbroken---because it reminded me of my WW2 vet Dad & other relatives---I plan 2 read Laura Hillebrand's other bk Seabiscuit this yr.
I seldom abandon a book. I really can't remember the last one I put down. it does help when I'm selecting a book to read the reviews and the summary information. I actually loved "The Help" and I'm getting ready now too read"Unbroken".
Like many others who have already commented, I believe there are just too many good books out there (I currently have 120+ books on my "to-read" list!) to read something you don't want to. I also abandoned "Casual Vacancy" (too dark)as well as "Wicked" (just plain stupid) "Room" (couldn't take the speech patterns) and several others. For those who never abandon a book, just learn to give yourself permission to do so. Life's too short, and there are too many good books!
The first book that I remember deciding not to finish was "Gone With the Wind." I disliked the heroine too much to spend any more time with her. I seldom abandon a book, but the main character was just too annoying.
That's ok---I've already read at least 1,000 bks in my lifetime---I know I read all the books at Parklawn Elem School/1960's & most of the books at the old Bladensburg Pub Library/near George's Pet Shop/1960's-1970's---& being the daughter of a librarian/h.s. teacher, I have no problem slogging thru a bk I don't like---it's better than dealing w/ The Great Recession on a daily basis!!! Also---I read GWTW after I saw the movie more than once---the movie didn't cover her parents courtship & early marriage nor her other kids w/ her other husbands---& GWTW is my favorite movie of all time!
There was a time when I would never abandon a book! Then along came children and well, if it's not good and keeping me interested, it's not worth my limited reading time. The last book I abandoned was Cloud Atlas. I couldn't even get through the movie. I don't know why I thought the book would be any better.
I got hung up on the first half of the first question: "how do you feel about abandoning books..." I rarely abandon books (I vow to read at least 100 pages) but I was sorely tempted by Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs (a massive doorstop with a main character who, though a genius, was an ass). I finished it after several library renewals because our book club was reading it.
And the second half of the first question: "before the end." I confess that I am guilty of sometimes sneaking a peek at the last page or chapter of a book before I decide to read the middle of the book!
Ally, I had to laugh when I read your approach of sneaking a peak at the end before deciding to read the middle of the book. Very creative!
Awesome! I've abandoned three books so far this year and removed them from my shelf. I'm glad there is a label now. I abandoned The Orphan Master's Son, The Tree of Forgiveness and The Poisonwood Bible. All books I just couldn't get into after the first few chapters. I give a quarter to half the book before I give up.
I gave up once on The Age of Miracles, butthen read it for book club and loved it.
I recently abandoned a book because of an error on the first page. I don't even recall the title, but they set into typeface the phrase "hale and hardy". The correct phrasing is "hale and hearty". I am so offended by spelling and typographical errors that it is enough to turn me away from a book. My family and friends refer to me as Spellcheck...or on really bad days, the Grammar Nazi. I tell them I really can't help it...I have such strong verbal skills that it's like an illness. I tell my 12 and 14 year old daughters that there is really no need to go back to Thomas Jefferson's time, when one could spell a word however one wanted, as long as the reader could decipher it. Lewis and Clark's journal of their travels west contained 26 different spellings of the word Sioux....And on a side note, re: the above posts...I have always marveled at my mother, who ALWAYS reads the last page of a book in order to make a decision to read it or not. I consider it nearly sacriligious...but that's her routine! =)
Janice: I love your comments about spelling. You must not read newspapers! The Capital is the worst but even the Wall Street Journal has errors. No one seems to use "human" proofreading anymore and spellcheck doesn't know the difference between they're, their or there and to, too or two.Wow I had to edit this post because of spelling errors haha.
Back in high school the english teacher would always post on the extra credit bulletin board weekly any spelling & gramatical errors found in the daily newspapers & we students had to correct them to get our weekly extra credit which helped a lot toward improving our report card grades---the math teacher did the same with any incorrect numbers, like age & birth/deathdate not matching up.
Also, wait till you hit 60 years old like me now---your grammar & spelling will get worse---Webster's Dictionary is becoming my new best friend, just like it was when I was 8!
Mod
What a great teaching tool!
How do you feel about abandoning books before the end? Do you do it often or rarely? What was the last book that you abandoned (no shame!)? Let's talk about it!