What makes you stop reading a book?

[Rhoda]

For what reasons would you stop reading a book?

Is it the point of view? third vs first

The tense? past/present

Does a lack of emotional attachment with the characters lose your interest?


I was just reading a book that constantly spoke to "you" the reader. This type of thing I find annoying-- I understand it, but I find it annoying. I understand the author is trying to make a connection, but IMO, that is not the way to go about it.

[Adam]

I stop reading when it feels as if the author is not writing for the reader. I stop reading when it feels like it's more about the author trying to demonstrate their literary prowess than trying to connect with his or her audience.

While I'm passionate about what I write about, I want my readers to have a good time, too! I'm not trying to impress them; I'm just trying to tell a good story.

[S.]

Normally if there is no story to it. Or that the story is moving to slowly. A light "word play"/banter/waffling about is okay with me but that would depend on genre and that it is kept interesting. For fantasy if the description is too complex till you don't know whose who that's likely to get me to put down the reading. Ha but so far I think I have only stop reading just a few fiction book because normally the first few page would tell you whether its good or not. Non-fiction is another story though.

[Katie]

Usually I stop reading when I stop enjoying it. That can be for a number of reasons. As an English teacher, frequent errors or poorly edited books annoy me so much that I find it hard to persevere. If the story is confusing or moving too slowly I will sometimes put it down. If the writing style is too simple (like reading one of my Year 10 drafts) I'll probably stop reading too.

If I'm honest, it's not something that happens very often. I like a wide variety of genres. I try to give every novel a good try before making that kind of judgement. Some of the best books I've read required a bit of tenacity - once you get through the first few chapters they really take off.

[Janelovering]

"As you know, Bob" statements stop me dead. Designed to get information over to the reader, it is when two characters tell one another things they both know and would, in real life, have absolutely no need to discuss. Like two sisters (as I read recently) telling one another the names, ages and dispositions of their children. Two sisters who regularly see one another. And who should already KNOW all this...

[Kees]

Books I have stopped reading in the past include:

1) where the author explains something, or many things, in a condescending manor as if to imply we are all stupid! This happened to me in a fantasy book where the author went into chemistry lessons mode for some reason. I did finish it but with a huge gap. I picked it up again and skipped the lessons to find the book was good after that. I almost put it away because of this though.
2) where the author goes in serious depth to strengthen his or her view on things while this is not necessary. Mostly non-fiction. This can be distracting from the point the book really wants to make.
3) where the story line jumps and it is a hard read. When you have to keep back tracking all the time to see if you understood properly. This is a real turn off for me. When the story becomes so convoluted that you need a rocket scientist degree to follow it, you lose most of your readers I am afraid.
4) Where the story or the characters are flat and don't go anywhere.

There are other instances but these seem to list the most common problems why I would stop reading.

[Geoff]

Boredom with the story, characters, location and style of writing.
Sometimes I come back to the book at a later date in the hope that either the story livens up, or I am in a more tolerant mood. :-o)

[Vardan]

I stop reading from the excruciating pain caused by the black hole that is the story and the storytelling and the characters that exist for the sole reason of annoying me and any other unlucky one who reads the story.

[[deleted user]]

i stop reading if i just cant connect to the characters but i always try to get to at least 25% to give it a fair shot.
i get put of by added drama for drama's sack.
or if it is to self indulgent.
but i also think pacing and the flow of a book is very important.
my main issue is with reading abuse and rape story lines that seem so popular at the moment. so i actively avoid them but some books don't put a warning.

[Marc]

Any book that doesn't stretch me, be it in style, language, ideas or imagery. Unlike many of you who have posted above, I'm not really that interested in story, since there are only a half-dozen templates. It's what the author does with them that makes them unique.

[Mark]

First person almost always kills a book for me unless the writing and story are absolutely superb. Poor editing is a sure stopper. Shallow or simple characters will also bore me.

Oh yeah, and beings that sparkle...

[Marc]

why all the hate for 1st person? I infinitely prefer it to 3rd and particularly to omniscient 3rd

[Vardan]

Marc wrote: "why all the hate for 1st person? I infinitely prefer it to 3rd and particularly to omniscient 3rd"

I love first person...most of the stories I love to read and also write are in first person. I think the immersion that first person makes possible is second to none.

[Marc]

Vardan wrote: "Marc wrote: "why all the hate for 1st person? I infinitely prefer it to 3rd and particularly to omniscient 3rd"

I love first person...most of the stories I love to read and also write are in first..."

agree, plus, despite what some correspondents here have said, the narrator can be far more intimate and whisper in the reader's ear.

I like to know why a narrator has chosen to tell me this particular story in this particular way and it makes much more sense for a 1st person narrator to answer those questions than a 3rd person. But all these only reflect personal preferences.

[Morné]

Usually I don't really mind, but it's happened three times where I could not get past a few pages of a book, and they were apparently award winning books. I simply could not understand what the writer was trying to say. I prefer things that are easy, straight to the point and which has a good flow to it. Books where I don't have to constantly stop and try to figure out what is actually going on.

[Lisa]

For me a well written story will have a balance of fact, description, action, characterization and will therefore hold my attention. I have bought books and ebooks that fail miserably on the issue of balance. I don't want all the action coming out of nowhere like a blockbuster movie. I watch movies for that. I do want characters to speak in an appropriate way for their demographic. If a character is going to do something extreme I would appreciate a little background at some point because people don't generally act in sociopathic ways without a reason.

So you can see I have a slightly quirky taste in books. As for tenses? If they are done well it doesn't matter in the least. I quite like 1st person and even 2nd person - if done well it can draw the reader in; if done badly it can sound preachy.

There are not many books I give up on though. If I have bought a book I get quite tenacious. If it is good I will rate and review, if it is bad I tend to ignore it on the basis that a bad review may well improve its chances of a sale. :D

[Marc]

I actually don't think I've ever given up on a book. But that's because I'm careful in my research for tracking down of titles I'm likely to enjoy

[L.F.]

There aren't many books I've given up on...less than five in my five decades of reading. Mainly, if the book keeps me interested, I keep reading. That doesn't mean I thought the ones I've finished were all great! But they were good enough to keep me reading all the way to the end.

The ones I gave up on generally had far too many main characters to try to keep up with, or had characters too boring to care about in a story too boring to care about reading.

[Marc]

I have only ever flung 2 books across the room in a fit of pique on finishing them. Both were political novels...

[Jen]

Serious errors in the text will make me give up on a book. I don't TRY to read with a critical eye, but when too many errors are jumping out at me, I'm done.
Also, I give up reading when a character has become too stupid to live, or other such nonsense.

[D.C.]

Usually because I'm bored. Why I'm bored can vary. It might be too slow, or I'm annoyed with something in the action, or in the case of print books I sometimes lose them and when I find them again I've sort of lost the thread. I'll sometimes try something and it will start slow and then fall apart.

Bad writing, in all it's permutations, will often stop me. And if an edit is sloppy enough for me to notice, I consider it bad writing, because somebody should have noticed and taken care of the problem. Typos happen, but significant grammatical issues, rough POV switches, repeated homophones, consistency errors, etc., shouldn't.

Tense isn't an issue as long as the writer has mastery of it and is consistent. Personally, I usually use third person limited, and tend to like it when I'm reading as well, but it can have pitfalls.

[J.h.]

Confusion, if confusion sets in I stop reading and blame it on something else, so no one will think I'm too simple.

[Christine]

I agree with all the reasons given above. I rarely quit reading but will stop for plot problems and the unedited grammar and spelling errors.

But my one 'throw the book across room' problem is with authenticity. If a book expects me to accept inaccurate facts or impossible situations - I'm done. If the writer can't spend the time it takes to do the simplest research - it's not worth reading.

[SheriC]

The only automatic dealbreakers with me are basic mechanical errors in spelling, sentence structure, etc. I've DNF'd some books for reasons that I've been able to overcome in other books, such as logic failures, plot inconsistencies, boring characters, implausible or absent world building, etc. I think those kinds of issues can build up until a critical mass is reached and I feel like my time is better spent elsewhere. It's fairly intangible, but if I can't lose myself in the story and I'm not asking, "why?" or "what's next?", then I'll eventually give up.

[Martyn]

Rhoda wrote: "For what reasons would you stop reading a book?"

Just read my 'Stopped Reading Reviews':

https://amsterdamassassin.wordpress.c...

https://amsterdamassassin.wordpress.c...

https://amsterdamassassin.wordpress.c...

https://amsterdamassassin.wordpress.c...

https://amsterdamassassin.wordpress.c...

[Shannon]

I don't put books down very often, but if I do it's because I'm bored or the editing is just too poor. The bored part is what usually happens first and is typically triggered because characters aren't interesting enough/too 2 dimensional, story is slow moving or down right boring, or if the story jumps around a too much so I have a hard time understanding what's going on driving me to be irritated and bored.

[Stan]

I just stopped reading Primae Noctis. It is a well written book, well thought out, with very good world building. I stopped reading because of the political and sociological commentary. I just did not care. The first four star book I ever gave up on. Some books affect me that way. I started reading one of Ayn Rand's books and gave up after reading thirty pages.

[Marc]

Stan wrote: "I just stopped reading Primae Noctis. It is a well written book, well thought out, with very good world building. I stopped reading because of the political and sociological comme..."

Just goes to show, I'm completely uninterested in world building, but might be drawn to any political or social commentary.

[Fay]

i'm young and my blood is heated and that's the kind of story I want to read about. Whenever a book is about the elderly, I try to understand the authors point of view and I try really hard to focus...but it just doesn't happen. Being peaceful and living quietly with not much excitement is all good...but its not me...at least not in this 16 year old state.

[Stefani]

Most of the time I stop reading when I'm just not "feeling it." Usually that means that the characters or the plot just aren't working for me. I can't stand TSTL characters who seem to blunder through life getting into stupid situations that other people must rescue them from, that will get me to stop reading. I also hate books that have so much extraneous detail that the whole story gets bogged down in things that don't matter. If I feel like I'm walking through mud to read the book, I stop reading it.

But the one thing I hate more than anything else is a book that preaches at me. I don't care that the author is trying to beat me over the head with their agenda, be it political/environmental/religious/whatever, I can't stand it. I get it, but I just don't care.

[Melissa]

The last few books that I have stopped reading have been because I lost interest in the story. Some books can get you involved but the trick to a good book is keeping the reader involved through the whole book. Once I find myself not feeling the characters or the story then I am done. Some books I know it is more the mood I am in than the story so those go back on the shelf for another time.
The last book I stopped half way through was a fantasy adventure type and half way through I just didn't care what happened to the characters. I simply lost interest in the characters themselves because they stopped being interesting.

[Devika]

To be honest, I hardly ever stop reading any book. Even if I don't enjoy it, I usually press on and finish it. What really annoys me and might be a reason for stopping is
1) too many grammar mistakes or bad / wrong use of language
2) totally illogical behaviour that doesn't fit the characters
3) topics I don't support at all, like incest, rape being glorified, or only smut with no story whatsoever

[Karla]

I was actually so close to stopping to read a story. But I was 76% in so I felt far too invested. The reason I lost interest is because I felt like I lost the story's development. Suddenly new things were of high priority. Lack of connection with the mc was getting too annoying. It was so weird. Still I pressed on, skimming, but still.

[Stan]

It drives my wife crazy when I walk away from the last 15 minutes of an hour TV drama. But I've already wasted 45 minutes. Why waste another 15?

[G.G.]

I too tend to finish what I started, if not right away, at some point at least. However, when a story reads like newspaper or when I can't relate to the characters, not because they do things I wouldn't do or whatever, but rather because the author missed his/her chance(s) to make me feel anything at all for their characters, that's when I draw the line.

I mean, honestly, it's hard to like a book when you couldn't care less what happens to the protagonist.

[Lynette]

There are two things that cause me to put a book down. If the story is not well written I lose interest within the first couple of pages. The other is too much description. The young girl with locks of shimmering gold ran through the tall green grass as it danced with the gentle breeze. Her mid-length white dress was covered with perfectly placed red polka dots. blah, blah,blah. Unless those spots are blood and she is running for her life MOVE ON or your book just became a new bookend.

[Stan]

G.G. wrote: "I too tend to finish what I started, if not right away, at some point at least. However, when a story reads like newspaper or when I can't relate to the characters, not because they do things I wou..."

You know a book is in trouble when you start rooting for the villain.

[G.G.]

Stan wrote: "You know a book is in trouble when you start rooting for the villain...."

LOL yeah that's what I always tell the antagonist when it's that bad: For God sake kill him/her and be done with it!

[G.G.]

Rhoda wrote: "I was just reading a book that constantly spoke to "you" the reader..."

I keep wondering about that sentence so I'm going to take the plunge and ask. What do you mean by that?

[Martyn]

G.G. wrote: "Rhoda wrote: "I was just reading a book that constantly spoke to "you" the reader..."

I keep wondering about that sentence so I'm going to take the plunge and ask. What do you mean by that?"

Correct me if I'm wrong, Rhoda, but I think Rhoda means a book written in Second Person instead of First.

You pick up the gun and enter the room, where a gravelly voice speaks gibberish from a dark corner. You whirl around and align the gun with the writhing shadows, but when you pull the trigger, nothing happens.

Something like that.

[S.]

Oh that was interesting, I've never came across a book written that way yet.

Or was it like: There was a book on the table and if you had picked it up you would have known where this story is leading you to, dear readers.

[Bradley]

That's a good question Rhoda. Usually I tend to stop reading when I become bored or the pace becomes so slow I feel compelled to leave.

Now this could be a voice issue or point of view, or perhaps a tense conflict. But I can usually get around those, provided I am entertained.

[Elaine]

Poor editing, spelling, grammar and punctuation would most definitely cause me to stop reading a book. Especially if I am having to read sentences a couple of times to make sense of them, or flicking back through pages trying to figure out if it really is Sunday on the timeline as I thought, because the story would suggest Monday. By the way, one of my bugbears is if, on a Monday someone says "I will see you on Tuesday". Why don't they just say "tomorrow"?

The other reason I would stop reading is boredom, pure and simple. When it gets to the point that I would prefer to do housework than carry on reading, then I know its time to throw in the towel.

[Mariel]

I agree with Elaine on all points and would add when the character(s) is/are, as they say, "too stupid to live." I'm pretty generous with books. Because I write myself and know how much time and effort goes into a book, I really try hard to finish one (even if I'm not overly enthused) hoping I will find something redeeming in the story.

[E.G.]

Characters too young for their supposed accomplishments. I know it's fantasy - but twenty-something millionaire/billionaire CEO's. I had to put a book down recently when the 29 year old CEO said 'trust me, I've been doing this a long time." A 29 year old hasn't done anything for a long time. (Olympic athletes, excepted).

[Al]

-An info-dump at the beginning or a long info-dump anywhere in the book unless I'm totally hooked at that point, in which case I'll skim or skip over it.

-A lead character that's dumber than a rock.

-A political diatribe by the author that's not skillfully worked into the story.

[Stan]

Al wrote: "-An info-dump at the beginning or a long info-dump anywhere in the book unless I'm totally hooked at that point, in which case I'll skim or skip over it.

-A lead character that's dumber than a roc..."

All good reasons. I skimmed about half of the latest Weber/Flint book.

[Al]

John Norman's Gor series had huge diatribes (by the main character) in it that took up half of most of the books. They tended to be repetitive. He was padding the word count? Skipping those made reading one a rapid affair. More like reading a novella.

Didn't reread the series. The real "me" (the Geek) sold them to a new fan on eBay to make room in his library for better stuff.

[Lisa]

E.G. wrote: "Characters too young for their supposed accomplishments. I know it's fantasy - but twenty-something millionaire/billionaire CEO's. I had to put a book down recently when the 29 year old CEO said ..."

... and concert pianists :D

[Stefani]

Al wrote: "-An info-dump at the beginning or a long info-dump anywhere in the book unless I'm totally hooked at that point, in which case I'll skim or skip over it.

-A lead character that's dumber than a rock."

Oh God, yes, this exactly! I read a book once that put huge info-dumps in the middle of action scenes. Bullets would literally be flying and I'd be treated to 5 pages of something that had NOTHING to do with the plot. So boring and annoying.

And for TSTL characters, can't stand it. I finished a book just last night where the main character kept saying "did that really just happen? I mean, really?" in the narrative, asking if events that just happened really did happen. It was mind boggling and I yelled at my Nook "it happened to you, how can you not know, you twit!"