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How long do you read it before giving up?
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Alaine
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Dec 03, 2008 03:45PM
How many pages do you give a book to engage you in the story? Do you finish every book you start even if you don't like it? Or, is your attitude that life is too short to waste time on books you don't like.
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I think 100 pages is more than enough. Sometimes I finish a book because of all the hype about it. But I find that most books I'm going to love have great hooks by the time you've read 50 pages. I generally only read more if it is part of a series because the author has to take the time to set up all the imagery etc.
I generally read it for a few nights right before going to bed. Sometimes Im kind of tired and so I want to give the book a chance before I decide to put it away. I figure if it hasnt got my full attention after 7 nights, its back to the library.On the other hand. I started reading a book from Oprah's book club. I thought it was really interesting "All the Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follet. After a while, I got the feeling that the book would never end (its over 700 pages) By then I had invested so much time and effort, I wanted to see it through.
By the time, Henry II has Thomas Becket assasinated in the catherdral; I couldnt wait for the book to be over.
Manuel, I had exactly the same experience with that book. I just wanted to get to the end of it for the mere satisfaction of saying I finished it.
I had the same problems with Pillars of the Earth. I finished it (I felt obligated - I hated to not finish a book I started), but it ended up being pretty painful for me. It's actually after that book that I've decided that if I'm not enjoying a book after about a quarter of the way through, I'm just going to stop reading. A friend and I were talking about how many books we might be able to read in a lifetime, and the number was relatively small even if you're able to read a book a week, so I'm trying to stop wasting my time on books that I don't like.
It can be anywhere from 50 - 100 pages. I really try for 100 but there are the rare exceptions where something can hit the wall pretty quick in to it. If I hadn't paid hard earned $$ for Pillars I would have tossed that one earlier as well. Had to do a lot of skimming just to finish it. There are just too many good books out there to waste on a bad one, or one that doesn't work for you.I really really recommend going to the library for authors you've not read and/or not sure they are for you. It's much easier to bail out on a book you haven't paid for.
If the opening sentence/paragraph is poorly written, I do not bother to purchase the book. If I discover a book I selected for purchase or from the library is disappointing, I go into super fast-forward mode and scan to the end. I usually do not finish any book with story lines that become cliché, such as the MC's most cherished loved one being kidnapped by the villain.
I concur with Donald...If it is poorly written I can find no reason to hope for a good experience. I will put up with the mixing of history for a good story,(although I prefer my known history to be accurate) However, I will never tolerate a poorly written book, whether it is the author or very often, a poor editing job that is at fault. There is no excuse for a book going to print with poor spelling, or poor grammar! However, if that isn't the problem I will put a book down up to THREE times and try to come back to it if it generally should be a story I would typically like. I have found that my frame of mind my be the cause, or the writing style of that particular author just doesn't flow for me at that time..However, on more than one occasion I have gone back to a book that I have put aside and have gone on to love it upon another try. Therefore, I always give it more than 2 tries but never more than 3.
I'm stuck once I start a book. I can only think of one book that I ever started and didn't finish...though I'm sure there must be one or two more than that.Sometimes I hate myself for sticking with it, but I can't seem to give up on a book once I've started it.
I'm going to try to remember Sara's philosophy in the future - there's too little time for reading to waste it on bad books!
I was just like that Mandy! Once I started I just HAD to finish the book, no matter how long it took (especially if it's a book everyone else seems to like or if it's a classic that I feel like I should like). It's kind of refreshing to toss a bad book aside and move on to something more enjoyable once you allow yourself to do so. Misfit made a great point about going to the library - after I bought a few books (for a different book club) that I didn't really care for (even though I finished them), I started to hit up the library.
The library is a great resource - I am very lucky with the library system we have in my county, one of the best. If you don't see what you want in your library's catalogue do try and see if they participate in the Inter Library Loan (ILL) program. It's very rare I've been turned down on any requests, two were self published books and one they just could not get without going out of country.I'm in the greater Seattle area and I've had books come from Anchorage, New Hampshire, Oklahoma and Omaha. The kicker is the one I picked up this week, although it's only one state over (Oregon) its from the library of a Benedictine Abbey!!! I've got notice now that the last of Hollick's Arthur trilogy (selling for around $55!) is ready for me to pick up.
They've never asked me to pay shipping charges either. Take a look at your library's web page, if they participate there's probably on line form to request an ILL.
I have only not finished a book that I had started 2 or 3 times in my life. Sometimes I will pick up a book and if I can't get into it within the first few pages, I'll put it back on the shelf and try again later. If I don't get into it immediately, I realize that I'm probably not in the mood so I'll just start something. Plus, since I've started reading one fiction and non-fiction at a time, I've found that I can switch between the two pretty easily and that I actually get more reading done.One more thing - if you are going to post a spoiler, please call it out so people like me can't avoid them if need be. Some of us have Pillars on our TBR list so it would be nice not to know critical plot twists before reading the book.
I usually give a book 50-100 pages, and if it hasn't captured my interest by then, I put it aside. I figure there are too many good books out there to waste my precious time on a bad one. I'm surprised by the number of people who have not finished only 2 or 3 books ever - I think I have 9 this year that I abandoned!I agree with Misfit on the value of the library. I'm amazed at the number of readers who don't utilize their public libraries, or who consider them a last resort. I simply couldn't afford to buy all the books I want to read - not to mention I have no place to store them. I try to limit my book buying to books that I can't get through the library (or that I want to own for other reasons - I want a copy for reference, I want to be able to mark it up, etc...)
I'm also in the 50-100 page range although I hate to give up on a book, the older I get, the more I realize that life is too short to torture yourself on bad writing.
I have only given up on one book. It was The Sixth Wife by Suzannah Dunn. I just couldn't get into it. I didn't like the writing style so I just stopped reading it.If I get bored with part of a book I'll just skim until I get interested again. I have finished some books that way. I don't know if that counts as finishing it, actually! LOL
Cheers for all our libraries.My reading list would be so much smaller without public libraries in my life.
Note to Sera.
I agree about spoilers. I reviewed all the comments on this thread and I didnt see any spoilers regarding All the Pillars of the Earth.
Alright, I think I can clear this up! The Henry II/Becket comment isn't really a plot point of Pillars; it's part of the historical background of the book. However, if you're not familiar with that part of history, it could be mistaken as a plot point. That comment doesn't give any part of the book away though (although, honestly, the book isn't that good, so I wouldn't make it a priority read - nevertheless, nothing you read here would ruin the book for you).
LOL - thanks, Sara! I'm not familiar with that part of history, but I appreciate your comments. I've just had too many books ruined for me because of GR so I'm sensitive to people calling out *SPOILERS* when appropriate :)
Oh, it's certainly understandable! I've stumbled across things here too (I don't think in this group) where I've thought, Damn!, that just ruined the book (or series - I blew a major part of the Twilight series on GR accidentally - I read about something that I think comes up in the 4th book and I've only finished the 1st one).
Spoilers drive me nuts. I was reading an Elizabeth Gaskell Book (19C), and I went to Amazon to peruse the reviews and get a take on my opinions vs. others. some a-hole not only revealed that the main character died BUT HOW. Complained to Amazon (spoilers are a no-no), but for some reason they did not grasp it and the review stands. From looking at comments at this guy's reviews it a common practice. All that in a 160 or so ranked reviewer. People really need to mark spoilers if they're going to talk about them.
I am so glad that spoilers don't bother me too much. I have read dozens of them on the Twilight series. But I finally read all 4 Twilight series books due to the Neverending quiz. I have never really liked surprises much.
I did have one question on the quiz that caused me to search my book early for the answer and it was very traumatic! Once I read the whole thing in context I was ok.
I try hard not to do spoilers as I know its so upsetting for some people. Suspense is a big factor in many books.
Alice
I did have one question on the quiz that caused me to search my book early for the answer and it was very traumatic! Once I read the whole thing in context I was ok.
I try hard not to do spoilers as I know its so upsetting for some people. Suspense is a big factor in many books.
Alice
I read Follow the River a few months back and will warn you that a person there gives a total summary of the whole book. I mean you can read 5 of her paragraphs and that is it!!!! It was rather shocking that anyone would do that.
I was sure glad I had already read it completely.
Alice
I was sure glad I had already read it completely.
Alice
I gotta say, I really loved Pillars of the Earth. So, to each his/her own! :)
Ironically, I only picked up "Pillars" because Oprah said she didnt want the book to end. I thought that was a wonderful endorsement. Unfortunately my experience was different. I couldnt wait for the book to be over.
I do usually like her recommendations.
Oh, I'm sure there are more people who love Pillars than those who hate/don't like it. I constantly seem to be at odds with the majority - I don't set out to be this way though! I love Harry Potter (couldn't stand Golden Compass though). Pillars just didn't turn out to be the book I expected (I won't go into details here, but I think I did in my review), and it dragged on and on for me. There were parts that I really enjoyed though, but not enough for me to pick up that sequel or follow up book (whatever World Without End is considered).
I loved Pillars of the Earth so much that I bought my own copy so I could read it again. From reading on Goodreads I learned there is a sequel so just got it out of the library but the book is saturated in someone's perfume so it may be days before I can read it..sigh! I sure wanted to start last night but it gave me tachycardia due to the perfume odor. I may try baking soda to get rid of the overpowering smell.
LOL, Alice - there is some "risk" associated with borrowing isn't there? One GR participant wrote that her library book stunk of smoke and that there was nothing that she could do to get the stench out so she just returned it to the library. In both instances, I wonder how those readers were able to keep the smells on those books - it's kind of odd actually - lol.
My, I've never had a library book come stinking of smoke or perfume (stains on the pages yes), you have to wonder what some people think. I always feel so bad because kitty has a habit of walking on top of the book, I wonder what people with strong allergies like that do about library books.Worst abuse I've seen is when I took out Pargeter's Heaven Tree Trilogy - someone had a field day with pencil marking up any typos and/or historical errors.
I haven't had any odor issues either Misfit, but sometimes the stains or stuff that is stuck on a page creeps me out, because it's difficult to identify what it was or could be - ewwwww.
I agree about mysterious stains. It makes me wonder where the book has been?I dont mind people's pencil marks. Usually someone doing a report and they seem to be taking notes. I also enjoy when someone fixes the typos or historical errors.
However it does bother me when people start editorializing or making sarcastic statements. To me all that equals vandalism.
The most disturbing thing I ever found, was in a book about the Holocaust.
A holocaust denyer plastered the book with stickers saying the Holocaust never happened and other stickers making fun of Jews and Israel.
It depends on the book I think. If it has a reputation of taking 100 pages or more to become engaged I will stick with it. If it's just a best seller or a trash novel I put it down fairly quickly if I don't like it.
I too am a stick with it until it's finished reader. Definitely a character flaw :( I somehow rationalize that maybe the story will all of a sudden turn into a page turner (but of course, it never happens). Usually I cheat on the boring book and pick up another more engaging read. As a last resort I super skim read just to get through the story. Luckily this hasn't happened to me too often.
The only book I've ever truly quit on was Atonement. I hated it so much after the first few chapters that I skipped to the end and read the last chapter. It annoyed me so much that I just gave up on the whole thing!
Oh no, that is not a book that can be read out of order. I loved Atonement but I know I know, not all books are for everyone. :)
Emily wrote: "The only book I've ever truly quit on was Atonement. I hated it so much after the first few chapters that I skipped to the end and read the last chapter. It annoyed me so much that I just gave up..." That is such a great tactic. I will save it for future use!
I just moved this thread down here since I changed the topic heading!
Emily wrote: "The only book I've ever truly quit on was Atonement. I hated it so much after the first few chapters that I skipped to the end and read the last chapter. It annoyed me so much that I just gave up..."I didn't enjoy Atonement either, but forced myself to finish. As a few of you have mentioned...I too, am a stick to it reader. I watched the movie hoping it would add to the story, but it didn't. Blech.
I don't have a certain page limit--I stop reading when I can't take it any more and when there's something else to read. The only exception is when I'm reviewing a book.I used to finish whatever I read, no matter how little I was enjoying it. Once I hit age 40 or so, though, I realized that life was just too short to finish something you don't like just for the sake of finishing it.
