Today's question:“Life is too short to read bad books.” I’d always heard that, but I still read books through until the end no matter how bad they were because I had this sense of obligation. That is, until this week when I tried (really tried) to read a book that is utterly boring and unrealistic. I had to stop reading."
Do you read everything all the way through or do you feel life really is too short to read bad books?
I feel that there are too many books out there to be read to keep reading a bad one or one that is not holding my attention for whatever reason. I normally have a 50 page rule, if my interest is not held by then, I will move on to another book. However, if it is a book I've agreed to review I will give it another 50 pages or so (make more of an effort).
Sometimes I will skim and try to pick up at a more interesting place or skim and get to the end to find out what happens.
Because I abandon a book it does not mean I will never try to read it again. There are many books that for one reason or another did not hold my attention and when I gave them another try I finished.
15 comments:
Good answer! I like the 50 page trial. Here's mine: http://thecrowdedleaf.wordpress.com
Yes, I do believe in giving books a second try. I would never have discovered how much I loved Pride and Prejudice if I had stuck with my first opinion that it was unreadable. And that would have been very sad!
I think if a person or company send you a book to review, you are obligated to read it through. Just me.
http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/2009/11/booking-through-thursday-bad-books.html
anymore, I don't finish a book I really dislike. I don't have a page limit...maybe I should.
and while I would not say I would never give a book a second chance, there are just so many books out there to read, realistically I doubt I will get back.
A few others have said they've tried re-reading a book they didn't previously like. I should try that. It may have been a certain mood I was in or something :)
Here's mine (I used to be Lynne's Letters :)
Lynne's Book Reviews
I usually finish a book unless it’s vulgar. Breaking Dawn, the 4th book in the Twilight series was a killer for me. The first 100 or so pages were great but the last 500 or so I just about died. There's been a few in book club I've had to force myself to read so that I could participate in the discussion.
Dear Author stacybuckeye.wordpress.com !
Your answer is matchless... :)
Another 50-pager! Very fair of you. I'm afraid I'm more whimsical, but I will usually have read enough in the bookstore or library, that I have to get through at least 25 or 30 to know if I think I'll like it or not.
I usually read everything I start, but I have put aside books that bore me to read at a later time.
we are in the same page here :)
I stop reading books i don't like after 1 chapter.
I've never set a 50 page rule. Either the book grabs me or it doesn't. Lot's of books bog down in the middle or toward the end. Then I end up skimming what's left.
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The fifty page rule sounds like a good one.
If I make it to page 50 I'll make it to the end. Wish I could give up on that!
I don't consider putting a book aside for a time in the same category as not finishing it, period. I put books aside all the time; sometimes, it just isn't the right moment for me to enjoy or appreciate a particular novel. Or sometimes, I cannot commit to or concentrate on a certain novel for a while. So I'll try it again later down the road.
Abandoning a book altogether is a very rare occurrence for me. It must be mind-bogglingly bad or dull, because I do love seeing how terrible things can get!
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