Shall I skip it? Yes you can!

[Sarah]

We have all experienced reading a book and wondering whether it will get better or not or whether it's the right book for us at that time. Thinking about whether to abandon it or stick with it. So I thought I'd create a "Shall a skip it?" thread so people can head on in and ask the advice of fellow YLTOers.

If you don't know whether to skip a book you're reading and want some advice rather than trawling through reviews (with potential spoilers), post in this thread and those who have read it can offer up their experience of the book and hopefully help you to decide whether to keep reading or move on to another.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Good idea, Sarah!

[Heather]

I like it!!

[Sarah]

I'm just rejigging this post so that my comment is in message one. As such, I've copied and pasted the comments before it below.

[Sarah]

Annaki wrote:

I just started reading A Walk to Remember, but a few pages in I am in doubt as to whether I should read on, because I am getting the feeling that it is a sad/depressing story? I am especially sensitive to illness (the big C in particular). I thought it was a happy-ending lovestory, or at least a feel-good book from what I had heard of it, but now I am not so sure?

[Sarah]

Cherie wrote:

It was not one of my favorite stories of his. I do not think it is an especially feel good story. You should read some more reviews before you decide, but I probably would not have read it, if I had known what was to happen. I read it before the movie came out, and never watched the movie.

[Sarah]

Heather wrote:

I have to agree with Cheri, this is not a happily-ever-after story. I love the author, Bette Lee Crosby, her stories are so sweet. You should try her.

[Sarah]

Anaki wrote:

Thank you guys, I'll skip it :)

[Annerlee]

Good idea for a thread. Thanks Sarah.

[Lisa]

Great thread, Sarah!

[Debra]

Like the thread, Sarah!

[Lisa]

I need some help deciding whether to continue on with The Haunting of Hill House. I had really high hopes for it but I'm at the 40% mark and I'm just not feeling it at all. I'm finding it slow, the characters seem little more than walking cliches and nothing scary or even remotely creepy has happened yet. It's such a disappointment! Is it worth me continuing on or should I call it a day?

[Debra]

Lisa wrote: "I need some help deciding whether to continue on with The Haunting of Hill House. I had really high hopes for it but I'm at the 40% mark and I'm just not feeling it at all. I'm findi..."

Lisa, I can see your points. The story is a bit outdated, and has a very slow build. It's hard for me to advise you on this one. It's a classic Shirley Jackson novel, and I gave it 5 stars. But, I read it so many years ago, before scarier books came out that seemed more compelling; like Stephen King's stuff. I guess, I'd say give it a few more chapters, and if it's not working for you, then why suffer through to the end?

[Lisa]

Debra wrote: "Lisa wrote: "I need some help deciding whether to continue on with The Haunting of Hill House. I had really high hopes for it but I'm at the 40% mark and I'm just not feeling it at a..."

Thanks for your help, Debra. I'm going to take your advice and continue on for a bit longer, but if I still feel the same way, I will call it quits.

[Debra]

Lisa wrote: "Thanks for your help, Debra. I'm going to take your advice and continue on for a bit longer, but if I still feel the same way, I will call it quits."

I really hope you begin to enjoy it more!

[Lisa]

Debra wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Thanks for your help, Debra. I'm going to take your advice and continue on for a bit longer, but if I still feel the same way, I will call it quits."

I really hope you begin to enjoy ..."

Thanks! Hopefully I will 🙂

[Sandra, Moderator]

Lisa, although I didn't read THIHH (it is in my TBR) I read WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVE IN THE CASTTLE and THE LOTTERY by the same author. I loved both. The pace is definitively slow, but I think they are worth a try.

[Renee]

I love Jackson. Her horror is not the ghouls and ghost type of horror. It is more the look what people do to each other type of horror. It makes you look at the people next to you a little more carefully.

[Lisa]

Thanks, Sandra and Renee.

[Lisa]

I'm jumping ship on The Haunting of Hill House. I read on for a few more chapters and it still wasn't doing anything for me. I think the main problem was that I absolutely hated the characters, to the point where they were irritating me beyond belief. As far as the horror aspect goes, I'll take psychological horror over blood and gore any day, but this was really taking too long to get going and the writing just wasn't holding my interest. It's a shame because this should have ticked all the boxes for me, I am so surprised I didn't like it. Oh well, I tried.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Well,no point in wasting more time if is not working for you, Lisa.

[Debra]

Sorry to hear that, Lisa. As Sandra said, no point wasting more your time when there are so many other books to read.

[Annerlee]

Ok - I know a few of you have read Who Fears Death because it was a group read last month, I've finished part 1, which was interesting enough but I've lost interest part way through part 2.
(view spoiler)[
We're stuck in the desert, the friends are annoying me no end! What a bunch of immature, moaning, spoiled little wimpettes they are ! Things have got all juju weird rather than scifi weird (don't normally do juju, but can cope with scifi).

The only reason I was continuing was to see whether the vision comes true at the end. If I'm honest, I don't really care any more ( it probably will happen in some version or other - meh) (hide spoiler)]

I have definitely fallen out with this book. Plus it feels so.... 2018? If you know what I mean?

My question is - are there hugely interesting developments ahead that will make it worthwhile continuing, or do I quit now while I still remember enjoying part 1?

This is a serious DNF candidate, but I can still return my audiobook. Can anyone advise?

[Sarah]

I didn't read it so cannot give my own opinion Annerlee. However, looking at my GR friends who have read this: 1 DNF, 2 x 4 stars, 1 x 5 star. Not sure that helps much. Perhaps a marmite book?!

[Peggy]

3 of my friends read it, all 4 stars. Two of them are Janice and Rusalka, so I'm sure at least one of them will be here soon to help you out :)

[Rusalka, Moderator]

I am of the camp of keep on going with Who Fears Death. I don't know exactly what bit you are in at the moment, but around the point you were, I was a bit meh. It for me got a lot better, and is one I think back on a bit.

Interested in your comment, so very 2018. Could you explain? Particularly as it was published in 2010, so I assume written even earlier.

[Sandra, Moderator]

I understood the 2018 comment like it feels like an "old" plan. Maybe because it is what happens to me sometimes. Maybe Annerlee planned to read it with the group and couldn't, so in a way it was planned for 2018. Now we are in the new year focused in the new challenges, etc. It feels like an old plan.
Anyway that was my take.

[Janice, Moderator]

I really enjoyed the book, Annerlee. Are you talking about when (view spoiler)[they head out into the dessert - Onye and her 3 friends? The girls were a little whiny, and they make some stupid mistakes, but things get pretty tense for all of them. (hide spoiler)]

I don't understand the "so 2018" reference either.

[Renee]

I took so 2018 to mean so last year. Am I right?

[Jenn]

I think I know where you are “mehing” but strongly support persevering. I really liked this one, and hope you do too 😃

[Janice, Moderator]

Renee wrote: "I took so 2018 to mean so last year. Am I right?"

Well, any book published in 2018 or earlier would be "so last year".

Whenever I hear someone say, "That was so 2018 (or any year)", it makes me think that there was a cultural theme that is now considered outdated. Was there a theme in 2018 that is now considered outdated with this book? Or am I reading more into that comment. Just curious.

[Cherie]

Annerlee - when I get seriously annoyed with what is happening in a story and decide that I really do not care any more - it is DNF time, unless the book is for a challenge and there is no time to read another.

[Annerlee]

Renee wrote: "I took so 2018 to mean so last year. Am I right?"

Correct (lol). It was meant for the group read and the zodiac challenge in 2018 and I failed on both counts. It's basically a hanger on from last year, when I want to try new shiny things in 2019! Sorry to leave you all wondering ( haha ).

I've got to the part where everyone's making friends with the camels... (Huh?? What?!! ) I mean real camels and not the 'friends' who went flashing their money and other things around the nearby town... Sigh.

Thank you for your words of wisdom. I've decided to read some shiny new things in January and go back to tackle it again in February. Will let you know how I get on.

I am bearing Cherie's comment in mind though. If a fresh start doesn't pay off quite quickly, that'll be it for me.

[Janice, Moderator]

Oh yes - the camels. They're awesome.

I get what you mean about it being last year's project and wanting to move on to some new and exciting for 2019. I dumped the last book I was reading in 2018, Kill the Dead. It was a similar situation.

Don't force yourself to read it if you're not enjoying it, Annerlee. Life is too short, and there are so many books to read!

[Annerlee]

Janice wrote: "Oh yes - the camels. They're awesome..."

Hmm. How soon til I get to the camel awesomeness?? (ray of light?)

Thanks for the tip Janice : ) Glad you understand.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Janice wrote: "Don't force yourself to read it if you're not enjoying it, Annerlee. Life is too short, and there are so many books to read! "

This I agree with. If you're not feeling it, put it down for a bit. But I recommend coming back to it :D

[Annerlee]

Just to report that I marked Who Fears Death as DNF - AND traded in the audiobook. I enjoyed part 1 and that's enough for now. If I feel like reading on at some point, I'll get it out of the library.

There. Feel better about it now!