When to Ditch a book?

[michelle+8]

I very rarely don't finish a book. I read so quickly that it's not much bother to finish a light book, and I feel that more difficult books deserve to be finished and judged in hindsight. Occasionally I have put down a book and come back to finish it months, or even years, later.

However, if I find that I would rather not read at all than read a certain book, I will chunk it whether I am on page 10 or page 500. I feel that way about Nathaniel Hawthorne novels, and it's just not worth reading a single word more than necessary.

So my thought is that it's less about how far in your are, and more about how truly awful it actually is. If you hate it, put it down.

[Carly]

I tend to stop reading when i start not enjoying the book anymore and may come back to it at a later date if its a book in a series that i normally like. But if its a new author and there's no substance then that's it.

[Melissa]

I usually finish a book once I've paid for it, that being said, I have a shelf on my nook that says "books that sucked". I've been trying to read Passion by Lauren Kate, I liked the first 2 of the series okay, but I can't get into this one at all. I keep going back to other reads on my list. I'm not a picky reader, but that book is just frustrating me and the characters annoy me. I think I'm just done with the whole YA category.

[Sylvie]

It's pretty rare that I don't finish a book. I always read at least the first 50 pages, and if it hasn't grabbed me by then, or if I find myself skimming, I know the book isn't for me.
Occasionally, the content puts me off. Once, years ago, I started reading some post-apocalyptic novel where the main character rapes a woman. The protagonist, I mean. The character we're supposed to like and support. Uh...no. I put that one down.

[Kelsey]

I can't remember the last time I ditched a book. Usually I start skipping to see if it gets any better. If it doesn't get better...eventually I get to the end. LOL

[Dawn (Kat N Hat)]

I am fairly picky before I start to read a book. Either the plot on the back has me hooked or it has gotten great reviews. So then I have to force myself to get through it to see what all the hype was about. The few I struggled with I had to pause in the middle to go read something really worth while.

[Kimi]

I could never ditch a book I think. Even if it totally sucked. If it had at least 3.5 stars I read. That means that a good amount read it. I also look at the reviews. If it really sucks I start to skim for a while. If it doesn't get good I keep skimming and go back if I get confused. Wants I start a book/series, I have to know what will happen. Like with the series Fallen, I thought the first book was okay but the second I didn't like too much. I had to force myself to finish reading it. By the end I was like how stupid were so many parts. The third didn't make me as mad but still. Now that I'm this far I might as well continue. I hope the 4th is great!

[Becky]

If I am not loving it by 60 pages I start skipping ahead. If it still does not get any better I read the last two chapters and call it a day. There are too may good books out there for me to waste my time on a bad one.

[Christine]

I kinda force myself to finish boring books

[Dona]

I agree, if I still have trouble reading a book by about the middle, I check out the end. If I am not curious about how the characters ended up there, I call it a day. I have to like the characters to finish a book that starts to drag.

[Vanessa]

I don't think I could ever skim or skip to the end of a book. I think I am probably too OCD for that. I also can't really ditch a book, I've only ever ditched two. I did end up finishing A Visit from the Goon Squad and it was awful. Plus that book would be confusing to skim or skip since every chapter is a different place in time, setting, and characters, lol!

[Kimi]

I'm considering ditching The Hunter's Moon

[Amy]

If I can't get into a book by the 2nd or 3rd chapter, I'm not waisting my time finishing it. Just ditched . I know it's a classic, but need to be sucked in by chapter one. I even tried to watch the movie to help get me interested. I turned the movie off as well. Sorry Anne Rice I tried.

[Sheri]

When I come across a book like that I try to get at least halfway through just to give it a fair chance. At times I've been surprised when the book picked up and I ended up loving it. A few times I've ended up just skimming through to the end, and twice I think I've actually just put the book down. If it's not holding my interest I don't want to waste anymore time on it.

[Katie]

I usually try to give a book 50 pages. If it hasn't hooked me by then I usually move on to something else and then try it again at some later point.

I really think a book should hook the reader in the first 5 pages. I mean face it an author usually puts the most work and edit into those 5 pages. If they haven't succeeded in grabbing my attention by then why should I think the book is going to get better later?

[Bridget]

I can't stand not knowing the end of a book, even one I'm not enjoying. I think mostly so I can say that the entire book was terrible.

I've had books that were slow and I've totally skimmed through or just read the end so that I know how things end up.

It's a real chore when it's part of a series I've really liked. Books in the middle that turn me off make finishing a series tough.

[AlbertaJenn]

Life is too short to waste on a bad book!

Over the years, I have learned to just give up on bad books. Some of them I return to at a later date. Others, I never return to.

Give it an honest go, but when you feel bored, STOP! If it's not fun, why bother?

[Lauren]

AlbertaJenn wrote: "Life is too short to waste on a bad book!

Over the years, I have learned to just give up on bad books. Some of them I return to at a later date. Others, I never return to.

Give it an honest g..."

I couldn't agree more.

[Kala]

I have never quit a book. Sometimes I put it down for awhile and read other stuff that is more interesting, but I have this complex about having to finish! Sometimes bad books are fun to read purely for unintentional comedic value! :P That said, if the book is terrible I end up skimming it instead of thoroughly reading it, so it's not a huge waste of time.

[Rayna]

There are so many good books out there! Why waste your "free" time (which by the way is so precious) on something that wont keep you on the edgw of your seat wanting more!

The only time i will continue a book that has me dissapointed is when its in a series i am reading. The others were good it just may be a transition book or something!

[jD]

I am reading one now that has so much redundant dialog I am gritting my teeth. It's almost painful for my brain. It's a novella so I will finish it.

[Rachel the Book Harlot]

AlbertaJenn wrote: "Life is too short to waste on a bad book!

Over the years, I have learned to just give up on bad books. Some of them I return to at a later date. Others, I never return to."

I agree! I now make it a point to read preview chapters on Amazon, or the author's website, before I purchase any book. Unfortunately, that doesn't always guarantee the book will turn out to be good so I'll chuck the book as soon as I realize it's not working out. Like you, sometimes I'll go back and sometimes I'll just give up forever.

[Amanda]

I always finish. I can't help it. And what's worse, I always feel compelled to finish the entire series! Even if I didn't care that much for it! It's definitely my ocd. There have been very few that I absolutely couldn't finish. The series being one of them. ;)

[[deleted user]]

I only ditch a book when I've reached around half way through it so I know whether I like it or not. I just cant read something I dont enjoy or I lose interest.

[Sheriffkilla]

For me it's usually a third but if a book has a notoriously difficult beginning I will read halfway. Of course I've read whole books which I didn't like at any point (and didn't have to read for a school assignment or something)

[Kouk]

AlbertaJenn wrote: "Life is too short to waste on a bad book!

Over the years, I have learned to just give up on bad books. Some of them I return to at a later date. Others, I never return to.

Give it an honest g..."

I totally agree with you!
What kind of fun us there in reading if you have to force yourself to finish a book?


So, if i don't get into a book after a few chapters i put it away.
There can be all kinds of reasons for it like:
The writing style isn't my taste or the characters annoy me.

Not all books are for everyone and i like the way, we all have different tastes in books!

[Soo]

I like a wide range of books & styles. The top three things that make me not want to finish a story:

1 - I really dislike stories that aren't written well. For example, the Sookie Stackhouse series is really hard for me to read. At some point, I'm going to try audiobooks of that series because I know hearing it will not be as hard to bear as reading the books. I managed to finish book one. It was hard work! I gave up on book two about 25pages into it. A lot of people love Harris' work. I may give up on Sookie & try a different book/series.

2 - A wordy piece that fails to fire my imagination or grasp my interest with something: characters, plot, development, etc.

3 - Gimmick Writing: I gave a good try at reading Dan Brown. I had an inkling that he's a fact masher but I wanted to see how his writing comes together. I bought Digital Fortress & Da vinci Code. I loved DF until I got to the end. Then, I was truly annoyed & realized that Brown was one of those writers who write within a certain frame & fails to deliver at the story's climax. If I can't get into the story because the innards of the story do not flesh out the frame in a way that's entertaining, then I put the book down & say, "Next!"

State of mind & feelings also have a big impact on whether or not I can get into a story. If I read a really well written novel and then try to read a book similar to the first but not as well written, it's hard to do. It's hard to immerse myself into a story if I keep seeing flaws amongst the good. I put those stories down & mark them to read later.

Recently, I put Chimera & Paranormalcy on the To-Be-Read-Later list. I like the idea of Chimera but (right now) I can't get past the uber, "I'm a tough man!" It doesn't seem like a tough guy. It comes off like a wannabe. I also like the idea of Paranormalcy but found the beginning to be annoying.

I try to read all books to the very end but there are a lot of books out there. I read because I love it. I hate it when reading becomes a chore.

[Candy]

i usually ditch a book when i realize that i go long periods without rading it . usually i dont put the book dow till im done;)