Nollaig Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 I hate giving up on a book, no matter how much I dislike it, but getting distracted happens way more that I'd like. I've started several good books and just sorta trailed away from them, which is really bad, because I either have to go back to where I was and continue, and hope I rememnber everything, or endure the tediousness of rereading everything again, and then adding the ending on, so I know one half inside out and the other just at the level of one read. It's so annoying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadya Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 I don't like to leave a book unfinished either, even if I don't like it. Nowadays I have the chance and plenty of time to read any available book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceinwenn Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 I have way too much going on in my life to waste my time on a book that I am not enjoying. I tried soooooooo hard recently to make myself finish reading The Book Thief as everyone I know who have read it loved it. It dragged on for ages & I dreaded picking it up because I just wasn't enjoying it. Finally I just stopped picking it up & I am so glad that I did. Life's too short to force yourself to read something that is a drudgery. Reading should be a pleasure, not a chore! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BookJumper Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 Shame you didn't like "The Book Thief" Ceinwenn (I'm on the "loved it" team); however I completely agree that life's too short to be spent reading books which just aren't your thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ta'veren Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 I do try to finish a book I'm reading, or at least carry on for now. However, there have been a good few books I just could not continue, due to boredom. I won't typically give up immediately, but put the book aside and read another. If, after that, I don't want to return to the original book then I never will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piper Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 I used to finish every book I started but now think life is too short to waste on book i'm not enjoying. I will usually give it 80-100 pages (depending on the length of the book) and if it hasn't grabbed me by then I will skim read the rest or if it's really bad just put it down. Also, I find if i've just finished a really good book I either have to give it a day or so before starting another or read a different genre. Otherwise I may not be able to get into the book as still thinking about the last one. Is this just me, am I weird? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 I hate giving up on a book, no matter how much I dislike it, but getting distracted happens way more that I'd like. I've started several good books and just sorta trailed away from them, which is really bad, because I either have to go back to where I was and continue, and hope I rememnber everything, or endure the tediousness of rereading everything again, and then adding the ending on, so I know one half inside out and the other just at the level of one read. It's so annoying. LOL I hate with when this happens to me. I can totally relate tho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bethany725 Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 I tried soooooooo hard recently to make myself finish reading The Book Thief as everyone I know who have read it loved it. It dragged on for ages & I dreaded picking it up because I just wasn't enjoying it. Finally I just stopped picking it up & I am so glad that I did. Despite my love for this book, my husband falls straight into your camp, Ceinwenn. He put it away shamelessly and hasn't looked back.. You just can't blame anyone for not continuing to read something they're not enjoying! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 I will try as far as I can to finish a book that I start. If it's a mood driven decision not to continue then I will try again at a later date, but if it is just that no matter what frame of mind I am in I will hate the book, then I will give it a miss. Some readers are not meant to finish some books! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lissy85 Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 i dont normally give up on a book, ill start to speed read it, till i get to an interesting part, i find it hard to finish some biographys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickwick Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 I've just been given a copy of a Josephine Cox book and am struggling to get to grips with it.I have never read any of her books before so feel that I must give it a fair crack of the whip.It is not a genre that I would normally read,ah well you never know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewell Posted August 14, 2009 Author Share Posted August 14, 2009 I know that sometimes i may give a type of book more of a chance to grip me than i do others. Like if i have never tried any of that particular author's books. I know sometimes it can take a while to get into a new book. I find this especially difficult if i am reading a book with a unique layout, perspecitve, or style of writing. (e.g The Curious incident of the dog at night time) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyshake Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 I really, really struggled with 'The Book of Dave' by Will Self .. it's an extremely clever book but far too clever for me .. I did finish it but I didn't enjoy the challenge .. it didn't seem worth the effort in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 The Book of Dave is on my wish list but I haven't heard many great things about it. Still, it sounds intriguing. I'm really torn about whether or not to get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s.gal83 Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 If it is fiction, I will finish the book regardless of how bad it is. It is just a matter of how long I will take to finish the book. (Could be one year). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emm Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 I don't usually give up on books but then again I tend to buy books that I think I'll enjoy in the first place! However, I had to make an exception for Mr Toppitt by Charles Elton... I tried to persevere but I found it to be a disappointment and kept waiting for a story to evolve which never did... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirinrob Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 When I started reading 'The Idiot' by Dostoyvesky recently I nearly gave up 250 pages in , but then it started to come together and I couldn't put it down It seems with some writers you have to be patient, thats very true of 'Old Dusty' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 I always give the book the biggest possible chance, so it's unlikely that there are many books that I just won't finish. However, there are some obviously that I can just not finish reading because they're so bad. I guess I never feel that bothered about leaving a bad book unfinished because there are so many other books to read, that time cannot be wasted struggling through one that's not holding your attention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyshake Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 (edited) The Book of Dave is on my wish list but I haven't heard many great things about it. Still, it sounds intriguing. I'm really torn about whether or not to get it. I think you will either think it genius or pretentious .. there are no in-betweens. I lent it to my niece and she abandoned it after two chapters muttering something about not being able to get that time back again. Having said that it is fascinating and clever .. just too much so for me. It is written in two different time frames .. and the chapters alternate between each one. The chapters written in the present time frame I had no trouble with .. the chapters written in the future I struggled with .. it is written in 'Mockney' .. and it was a while before discovering that there was a dictionary at the back of the book to help you (you can see I'm not cut out for reading intelligent literature!). My advice would be to look out for it secondhand (there will be a lot of numbskulls like me that have abandoned or disliked it) and give it a go .. it is at the very least unique and a challenge. Edited August 25, 2009 by poppyshake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyshake Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 I don't usually give up on books but then again I tend to buy books that I think I'll enjoy in the first place! However, I had to make an exception for Mr Toppitt by Charles Elton... I tried to persevere but I found it to be a disappointment and kept waiting for a story to evolve which never did... I was annoyed with this book because I thought it started well .. it finished terribly imo as in .. it felt like the author had been given five mins to write the second half of the book and nothing was resolved or completed and the characters were abandoned. Grrrrrr and such a nice cover too .. shocking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted August 25, 2009 Share Posted August 25, 2009 Thanks for your thoughts, Poppyshake. I'm even more intrigued now, but I think I'll follow your advice and try to get it secondhand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honestfi Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 I always try and finish a book, especially if I'm reviewing it. A couple of months ago I had to write in my review that I didn't finish a book cause it was so darn boring. It takes a lot for me to give up on a book, but if I can't connect with anything or anyone I begin to switch off and therefore it is impossible to finish reading it and give any proper synopsis. In non fiction, I hate conspiracy theories that have no proper grounding. I read two chapters of a book on Tutankhamun, one of my fave historical eras, and the author drew on writings from someone who had already been debunked, presenting them as fact. Just makes me soooo mad. That one got resold on Amazon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anika Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 If the book is particularly bad I have no problem putting it down. There are too many better ones out there and I don't want to waste my time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravenwood Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 Ah Anika how I wish as was as strong as you! I've had a couple of particularly unpleasant or annoying reading experiences, yet I've felt compelled to complete them - why, why, why when as you said there are so many better books out there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ned Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 It's like watching a bad film, you have to stick with it just to see how it ends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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