Challenge: 50 Books discussion
When do you give up on a book?
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Chris
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Mar 21, 2010 07:28AM
I'm about 50 pages into Alice McDermott's Child of My Heart. I usually love her writing, but this story just isn't doing it for me. When do you give up a book? I hate just putting it aside (especially since it's been on my TBR pile for 7 or 8 years), but there are so many other books I can't wait to read. Keep going or decide life's too short to waste on bad book??
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Hi Chris,Its really hard for me to give up a book because I'm really stubborn and I always try to fight and reach the end.I gave some,I have to say if I'm not into it in the first 100 pages the chance to give it up become a reality.Life is too short to loose precious time with a boring book.
Hello Chris, I agree with Marie-vicky. I like to try to finish a book because I feel like a quitter if I give up. However, if one is just not doing it for you, I give the book 100 pages before making a decision to say screw it.
I agree, life is too short to lose on a boring book. I don't give up on many books - but I don't feel guilty if I do for that reason - and I have so many TBR!
There was an editorial about just this subject that ran in the Chicago Tribune a few weeks ago. I happened to read it as it was syndicated nationally and appeared in the "Books" section of my local paper. The editorial can be found here http://www.chicagotribune.com/enterta...The author makes good points about working through hard books and how the advent of e-readers makes it easier for us to "give up" on a book. Thoughts?
astrangerhere wrote: "There was an editorial about just this subject that ran in the Chicago Tribune a few weeks ago. I happened to read it as it was syndicated nationally and appeared in the "Books" section of my local..."Great editorial...thanks for sharing it!
astrangerhere wrote: "There was an editorial about just this subject that ran in the Chicago Tribune a few weeks ago. I happened to read it as it was syndicated nationally and appeared in the "Books" section of my local..."It was a good editorial, however, I don't think the advent of e-readers has anything to do with whether someone will finish a book or not. I was more likely to not finish a regular book if someone had lent it to me. However, I can't lend, nor borrow ebooks (yeah I know the Nook states that technology but it's not like regular books that are passed around from person to person). What makes me feel bad is that I paid for this book so I should finish it. Or that I should just finish what I started. So I really think it's more the person than the technology.
I decided I will continue to peck at the book from time to time - maybe keep it in the car for those times when I need something to read to kill some time. If the story picks up, maybe I'll work on it a little harder.
I can count on one hand the number of books I've failed to complete. Every time I get ready to pitch it I remember "The Swiss Family Robinson." I was maybe ten. Through the whole first chapter I could feel my eyes rolling back. Such a long interminable listing of what was salvaged, how it was packed, yaaaawn! Who thought escaping from a foundering ship could be so boring. But then... oh, then it became this wonderful, romantic adventure. A treehouse, pirates, hidden identities. If I'd given up, I'd never have had one of the best reading experiences of my childhood.
I try to read as far as I can but once it starts to feel like a chore I have to give it up!
I love that sentiment Donna (re: Swiss Family Robinson). You never know what might happen!
When I get to 1/4 the way through, I start to figure out if I'm enjoying myself and if I think that it is not going to get better then I stop. That or I will wait til 1/2 way, and if I'm not enjoying it then I'll stop.
i have a really, really hard time abandoning a book. i don't know if this was part of my childhood ('you have to finish everything on your plate!') or if it's just stubbornness on my part, but i can probably name the books that i've given up on and they are but a handful. the most recent one was John Irving's latest book _Last Night in Twisted River_. and i know that i gave up on it as quickly as i did because even though i have been a fan of his work for years, i remember the absolutely awful time i had finishing _Until I Find You._ i read the first two chapters and that was enough. i guess my point is that although i've been very stubborn about finishing books in the past - even books that i didn't enjoy, i'm getting so much better at just letting them go.
Chris wrote: "I love that sentiment Donna (re: Swiss Family Robinson). You never know what might happen!"Whenever I consider quitting, I think to myself "But what if you turn the page and there's a pirate ship on the horizon?"
