Hope your day has started out on a positive note. It's sunny here and a bit warmer, so I'm planning a busy day of catch up. And I'm feeling so much better. Yay!
Yesterday's question provoked some thought provoking comments and it got me to thinking about one of those 'non-resolution' goals I want to tackle. I want to be a better book finisher. What does that mean? Years ago, before I started writing, I devoured books, no matter the genre. Just give me words on a page and I'd read them. When I started writing, I geared most of my reading toward the romance genre, but I still read voraciously. Over the past couple of years though, I've started a disturbing habit I want to stop. I start a book and if it doesn't capture my attention within the first couple of chapters, I stop reading and rarely do I go back and finish. I know I'm missing out on some treasures. I tell myself that my time is too important to waste on something I'm not enjoying, but I wonder if I'm just using that as an excuse. I know it's not realistic for me to love every book I read, however, I know how hard it is to write a book. And other people have loved books I didn't finish, so what am I missing when I don't bother to read to the end?
I remember telling my mom that I stopped reading books when I lost interest and she gave me a look of disbelief. It was a look I probably would have given someone else years ago if I'd been told the same thing. Those words on each page are valuable and have meaning. How can I not want to know how things turn out?
So, there's a confession from me and a promise to myself. I have a lot of DNFs and I want to stop that cycle.
Today's question: What about you? Do you stop reading after a couple of chapters or do you have to finish reading to the end?
Looking forward to seeing which side of the fence you're on. (:
Hope everyone has a safe, productive and fun-filled Saturday!
18 comments:
So glad you are on the mend. It is very rare that I don't finish a book. It has to be truly awful. I read and write alot of extremely boring policy, legal, and technical type documents, so I'm willing to read almost anything for pleasure (and sometimes the more mindless the better!!!). One thing I'm noticing with the Kindle is that if the book is poorly edited (font, style changes) it irritates me and, if it's bad enough, I will stop reading. It might be an excuse because I still do prefer the paperback, but I don't think so!
Like Kris, it is VERY RARE for me not to finish a book. I can think of only one in the past year that I haven't finished...and when I think about that one book, I am filled with guilt that I didn't give it the proper attention to enjoy it.
I was thinking about that book just yesterday thinking that I should give it another shot. In that particular book, the writing and the storyline was good, but I wasn't enthralled by it...the chemistry wasn't there for me. But like I said, I will stick with almost anything...
I am so glad to hear that you are feeling better! smiles...
Great question! I rarely do not finish books.
However, there are times I will stop reading:
-I just might not be in the mood for the current one at the moment.
-Another book I've been dying to read is released & I'll put the current one away.
I always go back when I'm in the mood and I've never regretted it. It's more fair too, to give the book a chance.
Like Kris though, I find it ditracting when there are errors but if the writing & story are good, I keep going. I do wish I could turn off my filter sometimes and just read.
I do know how to spell distracting BTW. So what's the difference between a typo & a spelling error? LOL
I stop after a few chapters if the book does not grab me. I have such a huge TBR pile and so little reading time plodding through a book I am not enjoying is not for me. My husband on the other hand keeps on reading even if he is not enjoying the book and it drives me crazy because he then takes ages to get through it.
I usually set it aside and come back to it and if I'm still not getting into the story, then I'll just put away and not finish the book. I do usually make an effort to finish the book.
Good question!
I will try very hard to finish the book. Even if that means that I put it down and start to read another book then come back to it. There have been very few books that I could not finish. But yeah I will try to finish it even if that means reading a chapter a week.
I usually try to finish but I will put it down. I will go back and finish it if someone tells me I need to. But just because I don't finish one doesn't mean I won't buy another. I read a book in the past and couldn't get into it, yet the other 15 of her books I loved.
I try to finish a book even if it takes me a week to finish it. But there are times if I can't get into it I'll put it away. If a book hasn't grabbed my attention withing the first 3 or 4 chapters it aggravates me. I always will finish a book by an author that I love. Even if it isn't grabbing my attention right away. I will usually put a book down if I didn't know it was paranormal or written in first person without giving it a chance. Yes you peeps I know that is a negative flaw. lol
I've finished nearly every book I've started. I will occassionally put it down, because I realize I'm not in the mood for that type of book, but other wise I will struggle through. I'm the same way with movies...I'll stick with a crappy movie till the end in hopes it will get better. Also I have the knowledge if I stick with it I will know for sure it stinks :-) LOL!!
Hope everyones having a great weekend!
Hey Christy!
I almost always finish a book if I start it. Because I usually have 2 or 3 going at one time, if one is not holding my interest, I just flip to another for a while.
SO glad you're feeling better.
If I lose interest half way through the book----even if I am not at the half way point, I will keep reading till then. I think each book deserves that much effort.
If its still not perking my interest enough at that point, I skip through pages and try to find interesting parts to read all the way to the end.
Usually after this type of book, I hold off reading any of my TBR books and reread some of my old favorites.
Kara I don't know how you do it. I am not talented enough to have more than one book going at a time. My brain won't separate them. lol
I have read a couple of books recently that didn't hold my interest -- when that happens, I'll skip forward a few chapters and read a bit to see if it picks up, and if so, I'll slog on until the end. One book I did put up because it was chapter after chapter of the same thing, and the story wasn't making any progress. These are pretty rare instances for me though. I almost always finish the story.
I have gotten lots of suggested reads off your blog Christy and it's awesome!! I haven't been disappointed in any of them!!
Glad your feeling better, Christy!
I can't remember a time I haven't finished a book I started (well, except in high school!). It's just another quirk I live with like the MBRIO syndrome. Sometimes, I'll have two books going at once and will read one in the morning and the other in the afternoon just to keep things interesting (that's only when I don't have a hot or SWEET romantic suspense book going, though!).
I have to agree with those who have mentioned being distracted by the editing problems. I'm reading a series at present that has many of these type problems and, although I'm enjoying this series immensely, I have taken notice of these problems throughout each book and wonder why there's not better editing of this author's work.
Hope everyone has a HO HO HO weekend!
I, too, rarely put a book down after starting it. There is a rare occasion when the writing just doesn't grab me or frustrates me, I just give up. Like Crystal though, I always read my favorite authors all the way through, even if it takes me a while to plow through it.
After reading all of these comments, I have a feeling many of you would be giving me the same look my mom gave me when I confessed that I don't finish books. You made some very valid points and I totally agree with all of you. (:
So I promise that every book I begin in 2011, I will finish!
I have to really love the book right off the bat to keep reading. I probably have a stack of books that I just cant seem to get back in to. Maybe some day
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