Today I have a simple question for you. And I would love to actually hear your answers, so by all means, if you’re reading this, leave a comment!! (It’ll make my day. Promise.)
If you start a book, do you finish it, regardless of whether you’re enjoying it or not? Or do you stop midway if it’s just not floating your boat?
I’ll answer amongst the comments somewhere, but for now I want to hear your thoughts. GO!!
I drop it if it’s not enjoyable or interesting or enlightening enough to keep me wanting to read more. I think it’s because I am impatient by nature and also just don’t have a lot of spare time!
Comment by T. — June 18, 2008 @ 8:56 am |
I stop. I used to feel guilty about it, and would often trudge through it out of a sense of English major and teacher responsibility that you FINISH READING A BOOK, but now, I just don’t have the time. I have recently returned several library books without reading more than a few chapters.
Comment by Minivan mom — June 18, 2008 @ 9:55 am |
If it’s not keeping my attention I stop – no guilt though, because I at least get mid-way so that know there wasn’t a twist right around the bend.
Comment by that girl — June 18, 2008 @ 10:02 am |
Before I had kids I always finished a book regardless of whether I was enjoying it or not. I just couldn’t leave it unfinished. Now that my reading time is precious, I don’t waste my time if I’m not enjoying it. Unless I’m reading it for my book club. In that case I suffer through it.
I always read the last few pages before I stop reading it though.
Comment by Mama Ginger Tree — June 18, 2008 @ 10:44 am |
It depends. If it was recommended to me or if it’s really insanely popular (like Twilight), I won’t stop b/c if I do, all those people will say, “Well, you didn’t finish it so how can you judge it?” If it’s one that I picked up out of curiosity, then yeah, I’ll drop it like a hot potato.
Comment by Erin — June 18, 2008 @ 11:13 am |
The only book I can remember not finishing was the first Harry Potter book.
Comment by Barb — June 18, 2008 @ 11:18 am |
I’ll stop reading. Ditto what the above commenters said – time is too precious to spend it reading something I’m not enjoying, and there are always other books I’m wanting to move on to.
It just occurred to me, though, that I don’t have the same attitude toward movies. I can be watching a movie I think is awful, but I just sit there, watching and waiting for it to get better. Most times, it doesn’t get better, and I’ve just wasted 2 hours! What’s that about?
Comment by Jenny — June 18, 2008 @ 1:35 pm |
I drop it. It’s rare for me to dislike a book, but there’ve been a few that I either drop after the first few chapters and skimming through other parts (Running With Scissors) or am disgusted that I read the whole thing when I hated it (Shopaholic)!
Comment by Traci Anne — June 18, 2008 @ 2:01 pm |
Hmmm…It really depends on the book. I have finished one book that was so horrible I still cringe to see it on a bookshelf somewhere. But I finished it because I HAD to believe there was a good ended (there wasn’t) or that the characters got some sort of closure (they didn’t).
If a book is really boring or I just can’t get into it I will put it down without finishing. Otherwise I’m likely to finish.
Comment by Sarah — June 18, 2008 @ 2:18 pm |
For the most part I will trudge through for a few chapters. Then, unintentionally, I won’t pick it back up again. I’ll move on to something else. I just don’t have time to read a poorly written or uninteresting book. In my younger days I read ANYTHING, though, because I had nothing but time!
Comment by Andrea @ Sweet Life — June 18, 2008 @ 3:19 pm |
I stop if it’s just not “grabbing” me after a few chapters. However, if it’s a book by an author that I generally like (John Grisham) then I’ll give it a little longer before I quit.
Comment by Julie — June 18, 2008 @ 4:30 pm |
stop.
Comment by jvalways — June 18, 2008 @ 5:29 pm |
I usually read until I am convicted to stop wasting my time. I have stopped in the middle though after thinking the following thoughts:
“Am I too uneducated to understand this?”
“Am I not artsy enough to understand this?”
“Will my friends think I’m strange or not ‘with it’ if I don’t like this book that they think is the greatest book ever?”
“Do I have the time to waste?”
You get the picture.
Comment by Amy Seay — June 18, 2008 @ 6:51 pm |
Thanks everybody for your comments. My blackberry has been chiming all day, and it really lifted my spirits.
I agree with all of you…I just don’t have time to finish something that isn’t working for me. I feel guilty, for the same reasons Amy gives. Two of the books I’ve recently set down are ones that everyone seems to LOVE. But whatever. I’m not gonna waste my time.
Happy reading!!
Comment by kathrynsmoore — June 18, 2008 @ 7:02 pm |
I stop too. I only feel badly if it’s something supposedly literary and deep that others adore. That always makes me feel clueless, kind of like when something is considered great art and you are thinking, Huh?? Ugly?! Lol!
Comment by anymommy — June 18, 2008 @ 10:33 pm |
I always finish it regardless of how awful or difficult it is. I love literature in all forms and will read it simply to understand the difference between good and bad writing.
Comment by Kregg — June 19, 2008 @ 8:18 am |
I can count, on one hand, the number of books I have ever stopped reading. I simply refuse to give up. If it takes me 6 months to finish a book, I finish it.
Comment by Saint Richard — June 19, 2008 @ 10:57 am |
I will stop reading it if I am not enjoying it or just can’t get through it. If I don’t like the book it will take forever for me to finish it and then I am missing out on valuable time to read the ones I do enjoy!
Comment by Tina — June 19, 2008 @ 1:08 pm |
I finish it … but usually only because I have insomnia and there was nothing good on tv.
Comment by Moi — June 19, 2008 @ 2:48 pm |
I hardly ever finish a book that I’m not enjoying. I just don’t see the point when there are so many books that might be better to read.
Comment by Jen — June 24, 2008 @ 10:40 pm |
I always finish what I start, it may be years, but I eventually finish.
Comment by GiGi — June 26, 2008 @ 11:44 pm |