Should I stay or should I go? When to call it quits

[Heather]

I'm a little over 100 into Angels and Demonsand am really put off by the juvenile character development. The introduction of each new character is entirely predictable. I am really enjoying the story itself, but the characters seem to distract me.

When do you know it's time to bail?

[Petra]

Is this your first Dan Brown? Although I finished his books, I found his writing frustrating because of his character developments and the male-female relationship (juvenile is a good description). I found that I skipped over any part that dealt with the relationship and just read the parts about the story. I enjoyed the books much better that way.
That said, even though I finished his first 4 books, I won't be reading any others........and I should have skipped Digital Fortress completely. His writing is not my cup of tea, I'm afraid.

[Heather]

This is my first. I've heard such great things. I see these great things in everything else, but the characters. I think you have a good system. I will try that for the next few chapters and see if that works. It stinks though. I have read some AMAZING books with wonderful characters and now I'm mainly just with the plot.

Langdon's monologue is killing me as he laments over his disparaging relationship with Catholicism. Having given up Catholicism for lent myself, I get it. But it is waaaaay over done!

[Lori, Super Mod]

I really enjoyed Browns books - The DaVinci Code and Angel and Demons. I wasn't expecting amazing literature, just a story that would keep me guessing and suck me in, which they both did.

If you are feeling like you are wasting your time, perhaps you should give it up. However, knowing that I liked it, I would say give it a bit more...

[Lu]

I really like Digital Fortress and Deception Point.
The suspence kept me into the read.

[LemonLinda]

I liked Angels and Demons more than DaVinci Code. And I enjoyed his latest - The Lost Symbol. If you are familiar with DC and famous landmarks in the area - then his latest book will be even more intriguing for you. It is a quick read and very entertaining.

[Melissa]

I like your perspective Lori .. "not expecting amazing literature, just a story that would keep me guessing and suck me in". That's how I read his books too, and really enjoyed them .. all except A&D. I just couldn't get into the story.

[Melissa]

5peasinapod wrote: "This is my first. I've heard such great things. I see these great things in everything else, but the characters. I think you have a good system. I will try that for the next few chapters and see if..."

"given up Catholicism for lent" .. that's hilarious! Perhaps only a former Catholic really gets that. ;)

[Jason]

Well, I haven't read any Dan Brown, but I'm having a similar issue with Doomsday Book by Connie Willis. It's dragging on, just crawling really. I'm on page 135 of 440-odd pages, and nothing is happening but the same circular conversations and excessive introspection, over and over again. (I think) I know exactly where the plot is going: why don't the characters know?!?

Part of me says I should keep going, because I've read GR reviews that it does get better later on. But it's so damn tedious!!

[Heather]

rytr_1 wrote: "Well, I haven't read any Dan Brown, but I'm having a similar issue with Doomsday Book by Connie Willis. It's dragging on, just crawling really. I'm on page 135 of 440-odd pages, and nothing is ha..."

That's when I start my skimming technique till it picks up. If I have to skim more than 10 pages in an entire book, I'm done. Some books though have just a spot or two and I don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water.

[Carol]

I just finished Crime & Punishment. It started out as a do I stay or do I go. I am so glad I stayed, it turned out to be a fantastic story and very riveting. The first third of the book was difficult, then it became fast paced the last 2/3's of the book.