Challenge: 50 Books discussion
Abandoned Books
date
newest »


On the other hand, why torture yourself? That is what I keep trying to remind myself of.


Not only will I not finish a book but I will mope for a for a few days...or weeks until I've realized that I could be reading and enjoying other books. I also talk with a friends and have them tell me it's OK to not finish the book.
It's a vicious and dramatic cycle. It's stupid and I'm deeply ashamed that it's so tough for me to simply stop reading a book because I don't like it. I should really bring it up in therapy.


myself permission. I do have a rule of reading at least 1/3 before
returning it to a shelf.




I too find it difficult to abandon a book. I have trouble walking out of bad movies, too. With DVD's, I can fast forward to find out the ending which is nice.
If I do abandon a book, I generally scan through the remainder and read the last couple pages.
In truth I abandon very few.




Someone once told me to only read 25 pages before you decide whether to finish or put aside a book, but I find those first 25 pages extremely easy and not far enough into the plot and characters to decide that early. That being said, depending on the length, I can, generally, get half way through before I want to abandon it, which makes the decision even more difficult because of all the effort already put forth.
Being a future high school English teacher, I feel like I should read the novels that are frequently assigned in the classroom to better be able to judge which books I'd want to select in the future for my own classroom. Also, books that are highly recommended, I feel like I should finish because there has to be a reason for the acclaim, right?

My philosophy is:
1) I read for pleasure.
2) There are lots of wonderful books out there that I haven't found yet.
3) Why am I wasting my time on something I don't really care for or that is boring me?
4) My time is valuable (to me) and my enjoyment is as well. Books are like people...why spend time with those that you don't care for or enjoy??? (Especially if you don't have to.)
Books are unique, just like READERS are unique.
Some books are better "matches" for other people's personalities. If you don't like it, don't worry about it...and don't feel guilty for not finishing it! That particular book is just not a good fit for "YOU".

Hear! Hear!





The book that I had a hard time getting through was I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell. I simply HATED that book. My friend gave it to me to read because she thought I would be amused but I really was more grossed out than anything. However, of course me being me I had to finish it. So I did. It was probably one of the biggest wastes of literature ever. So, I can tell all of you avoid it at all costs.





Life's short. Eat dessert first!

It's difficult to give up on books that people have gushed about, too!

I did'nt get the reward from The Sound and the Fury, unless it was to know I didn't want to read any more Faulkner. I did finish it, but it was painfull.

Moby Dick by Herman Melville
This book I had to read for class, but we weren't obliged to finish it. I tried to keep going, but then I reached the part when they start chasing the whale in earnest (with the famous line Thar she blows). I realized I really couldn't care less what happened next and at that point in the book I probably should. So I dropped it.
Wicked The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
I was surprised I couldn't finish this (since I love retellings of classic stories and I loved the musical Wicked). I got about halfway through and I was so unconcerned with these characters that I didn't continue (besides it was due back at the library). My indifference probably stems from the fact that the book is not like the musical. I'll probably revisit this later.
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
This book I abandoned twice before finishing. I just couldn't get past the Old Forest part. This was long before any of the movies had come out. I knew that I had to finish it because I was sure I would like it (I had read the Hobbit and loved that). Eventually, I just slogged through the first 200 pages and the rest flew by. I loved the Return of the King the best.
So maybe the lesson here is to give books another chance. Or never read Herman Melville.

When I put one down, it's generally with the intention of returning, but I find it harder to get through the second time around generally as the same problem exists in addition to now I know what's going to happen until I can reach beyond the point of where I decided to set the book down previously and there's nothing left making me want to read the book other than sheer determination.

Seems like I have made up for your displeasure since I re-read this every few years - it is one of my favorites. But I could see how daunting it can be to get through even the first few pages.



Books mentioned in this topic
The Lord of the Rings (other topics)Moby Dick (other topics)
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (other topics)
So, what makes you decide to abandon a book? Has this challenge changed your criterion?