How soon do you judge a book?

[Serena]

How quickly do you judge a book? You'll hear me mention that I was disappointed in Cinder after only a few pages, but over the weekend, I read a bit further ahead and got caught up in the plot. It isn't one of my favorites, but my opinion definitely changed...to the point that I'll likely pick up the follow up.

[Scarlet]

Depends on if I purchased it or not:) Generally, if I'm 1/4 through and it's not my thing, I stop. I don't finish books I'm not into. I often judge books by their first line! Tough, I know.

[Serena]

I was definitely to the point of setting it aside, but I was caught without any other book in a waiting situation. A few additional pages hooked me. This last year was the first time I let myself not finish a book and move on.

[Ravena]

I usually judge a book within the first chapter. Especially, if it doesn't have something to draw me in. I'm a hard and fast 50 page rule girl, so I have to be pretty judgmental about what I'm reading.

[Stephanie]

I'm with Ravena. I judge quick within 50 pages...but it had to epically awful for me to stop reading it. However if I don't like the cover I won't try it

[Elizabeth]

Hah, as a kid I definitely read many books based on the cover alone. Older and wiser now, I look beyond the covers or summaries, and find that the first line alone tells a lot. Writing style is more important to me than plot, and the judging happens fast. Like Serena and Stephanie, I hate to be a quitter, but am learning to let go. Wish I would've let go of The Old Curiosity Shop, for example - no, it does not get better, and it goes on and on and on. The most recent book I put down was Game of Thrones, BOOK 5. Do you know how many pages in that was? More than 50.

[Ravena]

Stephanie wrote: "I'm with Ravena. I judge quick within 50 pages...but it had to epically awful for me to stop reading it. However if I don't like the cover I won't try it"

Stephanie stay tuned, we're gearing up for a book cover podcast in the next month.

[Ravena]

Elizabeth wrote: "Hah, as a kid I definitely read many books based on the cover alone. Older and wiser now, I look beyond the covers or summaries, and find that the first line alone tells a lot. Writing style is mor..."

I think putting a book down after I've passed the 50 page mark is the hardest cut, because at that point I've either become invested in the characters, the storyline or both, but for some reason it's just not what I want to be reading right then. Sometimes I can come back to it, sometimes I never do.