Monday, April 11, 2011

When Do You Give Up On a Book?

Over the weekend I gave up on a book. Usually I hang on to the bitter end, but it was just so boooooooooooooring. I got a quarter of the way through and still nothing had happened. This is one of the first books I’ve given up on in a long time.

Here’s why I usually don’t give up:

1)      Out of hope. Some books redeem themselves.
2)      Out of stubbornness. I’m not going to let a book beat me.
3)      Out of respect. Someone poured their soul into their work, and an entire team of publishing professionals deemed it worthy. Even if I don’t like it personally, I try to figure out its merits.

So, what about you guys? Do you give up on books easily or stick it out?

27 comments:

  1. I usually stick it out. Even if I am not into it. Just takes me a little longer to get through it.

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  2. I used to stick it out, but ever since I started getting serious with my writing, I've changed. If a book is completely boring, or nothing is going on, I put it down. It sort of hurts me to do it, but I just can't waste my time on something that I don't care about. :)

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  3. I usually stick it out.

    Yet, I did the same thing on Friday. I felt horrible about it, since I agreed to read and review. It wasn't badly written, but it wasn't for me. I read 100 pages and I still couldn't get into it (had 400+ to go). The author was really nice about it too.

    I try not to give up on books for the same reasons you listed, but if I can't get into it within the first 100 pages, then it just isn't working out.

    It still stinks, though.

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  4. I think as I've gotten older I've become less willing to stick it out. My time is squeezed enough as it is, so if I'm reading a novel and my mind keeps drifting away from the story then I move on. Could be I'm just not in the right mood for that book at the time and I'll come back to it later, or it could be that I'll never be interested. I'm always awed by those novels that sweep me up from the first page and keep me hooked until the end. I gotta figure out how they do that. :)

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  5. I usually stick it out to the bitter end but there are exceptions. When e.g. the book is clearly too disturbing to continue and/or very bad I do myself a favour and ditch it.

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  6. No. If a book hasn't reached me by page 50 then I put it down and move on. No guilt. There are too many good books out there and not enough hours in the day - so why waste them slogging through a book I'm just not enjoying? Reading shouldn't be a chore. I don't 'owe' the author or publisher anything. I know they've worked hard; but if I'm hating their book, then I am obviously not the reader they're looking for. And it's not like I'm throwing the book away - I'll pass it along to someone else who might appreciate the story more, or trade it in at the used-book store for a credit. And besides, if I were compelled to always 'stick it out to the bitter end' then I'd be forever afraid to even start reading a book at all.

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  7. i give up on books easily!!! life is too short to waste reading a book that doesn't fill my heart with delight!

    that being said, i reading a book for a group i'm in on goodreads and it is killing me...the only thing that is keeping me going is that we are doing four chapters a week and well, i don't want everyone to know i stopped! :D

    the book is vanity fair, btw.

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  8. If I find myself doing other things so as not to read the book, I'll give up on it.

    That's my big indicator, but it rarely happens. If a book is just meh, I'll usually finish it.

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  9. I used to stick it out to the bitter end. But now I don't--there are just too many books I want to read and so little time.

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  10. I just did the same thing. I kept reading because I was waiting for another book (which I ended up loving) to come in the mail, and because I hoped it would get better. But after I read this incredible other book, I had a hard time going back. If a book is that bad, why bother? Like Stephanie said, why waste your time out of pitty? There are so many things I need/want to do with my time, I shouldn't have to feel like I need to keep reading just for the author. Hey, they don't know I'm reading their book, right?

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  11. I am one of those die hard readers who hate to admit defeat and give up. I feel like if I start something I should finish it. Its a personality trait with every thing I do. However, its not always the best approach.

    I just finished reading a book called Stay by Deb Caletti. She had an interesting passage in it about reasons why a person finds it difficult to quit a book if he/she doesn't like it:

    "I didn't like that book, but I kept going for all the reasons a person hangs in with something that isn't good - you feel bad about not giving it a chance, you've alread come too far to give up now, you believe its going to get better..." (pg 77 E-arc)

    PS: It was a great book.

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  12. I rarely give up, because I feel like the author surely had something to say that I'll want to hear. Recently though, I've abandoned (not given up) on a few. I plan to get back to them someday...

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  13. Funny, I seldom give up. I keep hoping. I hold on right to the bitter end. Sometimes there is a redeeming quality somewhere that I can justify continuing to read it.

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  14. I've gotten really selfish with my time lately so I have actually put aside a book for a couple of weeks. I'll try to get back to it to read a couple pages at a time. Mainly because I hate not finishing something. I will skip a LOT of pages though.

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  15. I have given up on a few books in the past. If it does not pull me in I don't know why I should keep reading. I agree with Trish and Stephanie, there just isn't enough time in the day to waste it on books I don't enjoy.

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  16. Life's short and there are too many good books to read. I do my best to give it 50 pages and then I'm done. When I do read beyond that I find that very few actually redeem themselves.

    On the flip side, I've read some kick-butt beginnings that seriously die in the middle. That's almost more frustrating than a slow beginning.

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  17. I bail on them. There are a gazillion books out there begging to be read. No use spending time on one you aren't enjoying. It'd be like working as a secretary when you have this huge book deal in the bag wrapped in letters that say "U R Awesome".

    :)

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  18. Good post Demitria. I used to be really stubborn about this and hold out on giving up as long as I could. But with three kids and a billion other plates spinning at once, there just isn't time to force myself to read books that have lost me. So, I usually read until I don't feel that spark and then try one more chapter before giving up. It stinks, but it happens.

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  19. I used to never-never-never give up. But I just don't have time for every book I want to read. So if a book isn't holding my attention...if I'd rather be washing the dishes than read it...if it sits on the nightstand for long stretches of time until I force myself through another chapter...I just say thanks, book, but no thanks after about 50-100 pages. It's very liberating. I start more books now that I might not have given a chance, because I've given myself permission not to finish!

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  20. It seems like most people bail eventually if they aren't engaged, which is understandable. I also sometimes hold on because I don't just read for pleasure (although I do enjoy reading more than almost any other activity) I like to be exposed to different genres and styles that may help me become a better writer, if just to know that I don't want to write that way.

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  21. I very, very rarely give up on a book. It has to be mind numbing or completely formulaic for me to quit.

    Or something my husband picked out...

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  22. I don't often give up on a book, but I admit, I couldn't finish Infinite Jest because of lack of cohesiveness and all the freaking footnotes. My hubby thought it was "indulgent." Those are his exact words (he analyzes for a living...I know...so secretive). I do not doubt it is a great book--made it on top 100 lists around the world--but I couldn't read it. Makes me think I should try again though. Perhaps I was too dumb to get it the first time.

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  23. It takes me a while, but I usually stick it out. When I start reading a book I finish it, because I hate giving up, and I want to find out why the book was just so hard for me to get into.

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  24. I stick it out most of the time. Very rarely do I give up on a book.

    What book where you reading that you gave up on?

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  25. I give up on a book if there's something that's repeated over and over again and it's annoying.
    Most of the time I finish.
    Ann

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  26. I'm more stubborn if I bought it. Library books go back half-read all the time.

    Some boring books are great though -- for putting me to sleep at night!

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  27. I try to stick it out but there does come a time when I just don't pick it up again. I really been trying to investigate the book I refuse to put down verses the ones I do to find the secret.

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