@Meagan “The Dressmaker” by Rosalie Hamm. But the last book I finished (The Atomic Girls) I did not really like at all either. Kinda wish I wouldn’t have made myself finish that one!
Just move on. You didn’t sign a contract saying you’ll read it so you’re not committed. You can always Google a summary if you still want to know how it ends without having to trudge through it.
I definitely understand what you mean. I’ve abandoned my fair share of terrible books. Makes you think about writing a book because if THAT garbage can get published than yours certainly can. Haha
I was trying to read “Savannah” by Eugenia Price several years ago because people were raving about it. It bored me but my sister-in-law told to read the 1st 100 pages so I kept with it. I ended up loving it so I read the remaining 3 books in the series. Sometimes I do give up or put it aside and try again later.
I give it at least 50 pages unless the writing is horrible. There’s too many good books out there to waste time on one you’re not enjoying. The only time ill force myself to finish one is if I hear amazing things about the book and they say the ending is what made it
It depends on the length of the chapters. If they are short chapters I’m more willing to keep going to see it improves. If the chapters are long then I might only make it to the 2nd one before giving it up.
Never. I usually just keep putting it off, so i can read a few chapters here and there. Eventually I’ll get to a good part, or the end, whichever comes first. I’ve had too many start out slow that I ended up loving to be put off by a slow start.
I give it one chapter. If the writing is bad or the characters unlikable or the plot lame in the first chapter, it’s not going to get better with age. The first chapter is usually an author’s best effort. There are just too many books and too little time to waste more than one chapter’s worth of effort on a loser.
I try to give a book at least 100 pages. Occasionally I hit on books that don’t make it at least that far. To give it a fair shake, I usually add those books back in my to read pile and try them again later. I’m a mood reader so sometimes it’s my mood and not the book. Good luck.
I’m with @Nay. I won’t pick up a book if I’m dreading it. Sometimes it’s just a “wrong mood” thing and I’ll come back another day, sometimes I never touch it again. But I’d rather have 7 partially finished books where I enjoyed each sitting, than finish one book and feel like I wasted my limited personal time on it.
I actually learned this lesson this past fall while reading Handmaid’s Tale. I lied to everyone, including my husband, saying it was great but a difficult writing style and it was taking me a while to get through. I finally broke down crying to my husband that I felt like something was wrong with me because I absolutely hated the book and did NOT want to pick it up again. He just looked at me and said “this is your fun and relaxing time. You’re not relaxed and you’re not having fun, so f*** that book. Go read something you’re excited about.”
That is my new mantra. It sounds bad as a reader to say it, but sometimes you have to. If you’re not getting paid or reading it for school, and you’re not having fun, forget that book. Or if you’re more liberal with the curse words, like me, “f***that book!”
For me it depends on the book. I gave up on a book recently after only reading five pages. Others, usually half way through.
@Meagan I’m reading one right now that just terrible. But I feel committed! So hard to know when to move on
@Carrie, what book are you reading?
@Meagan “The Dressmaker” by Rosalie Hamm. But the last book I finished (The Atomic Girls) I did not really like at all either. Kinda wish I wouldn’t have made myself finish that one!
Just move on. You didn’t sign a contract saying you’ll read it so you’re not committed. You can always Google a summary if you still want to know how it ends without having to trudge through it.
@Kayla That’s actually a very good idea ? do you know what I mean though?? When a book is just so terrible you hate yourself for reading it??
I definitely understand what you mean. I’ve abandoned my fair share of terrible books. Makes you think about writing a book because if THAT garbage can get published than yours certainly can. Haha
@Kayla YES EXACTLY
I was trying to read “Savannah” by Eugenia Price several years ago because people were raving about it. It bored me but my sister-in-law told to read the 1st 100 pages so I kept with it. I ended up loving it so I read the remaining 3 books in the series.
Sometimes I do give up or put it aside and try again later.
Whenever my brain says “That’s enough of this crap.” Sometimes it’s after a page or two and sometimes it’s after several chapters
I give it at least 50 pages unless the writing is horrible. There’s too many good books out there to waste time on one you’re not enjoying. The only time ill force myself to finish one is if I hear amazing things about the book and they say the ending is what made it
@Emily yep 50
@Emily I still haven’t finished A Man Called Ove ?… I quit at 65%.
About 50 pgs or so.
It depends on the length of the chapters. If they are short chapters I’m more willing to keep going to see it improves. If the chapters are long then I might only make it to the 2nd one before giving it up.
Thank you for this question. I’m in a reading slump at the min. I’m hoping NOS4R2 by Joe Hill will get me out of it.
If the sample chapters don’t grab me, I won’t borrow/buy the book.
I quit The Marriage of Opposites about 3/4 way thru, kept hoping it would get better, just gave up.
Never. I usually just keep putting it off, so i can read a few chapters here and there. Eventually I’ll get to a good part, or the end, whichever comes first. I’ve had too many start out slow that I ended up loving to be put off by a slow start.
I give it one chapter. If the writing is bad or the characters unlikable or the plot lame in the first chapter, it’s not going to get better with age. The first chapter is usually an author’s best effort. There are just too many books and too little time to waste more than one chapter’s worth of effort on a loser.
I’ve never given up on a book…I’d feel bad for the author ?. Luckily, I’m a speed reader so I don’t lose much time.
I try to give a book at least 100 pages. Occasionally I hit on books that don’t make it at least that far. To give it a fair shake, I usually add those books back in my to read pile and try them again later. I’m a mood reader so sometimes it’s my mood and not the book. Good luck.
Me, too
If I’m not hooked by page 60 I tend to put it down and move to something else.
I read the half the book.
If I find myself dreading reading a book, I stop reading it.
100 pages
100 minus your age, cuz the older your get, the less time you have for bad books.
Til chapter two or three unless someone says that it gets better with time.
If it’s not working out for you, move on. No need to stress about it. If it’s really bothering you, you can try again later.
Just abandoned one after the first page. Couldn’t stand the writing style or smugness the book was going for.
First chapter at the most. Sometimes earlier.
I’m with @Nay. I won’t pick up a book if I’m dreading it. Sometimes it’s just a “wrong mood” thing and I’ll come back another day, sometimes I never touch it again. But I’d rather have 7 partially finished books where I enjoyed each sitting, than finish one book and feel like I wasted my limited personal time on it.
I actually learned this lesson this past fall while reading Handmaid’s Tale. I lied to everyone, including my husband, saying it was great but a difficult writing style and it was taking me a while to get through. I finally broke down crying to my husband that I felt like something was wrong with me because I absolutely hated the book and did NOT want to pick it up again. He just looked at me and said “this is your fun and relaxing time. You’re not relaxed and you’re not having fun, so f*** that book. Go read something you’re excited about.”
That is my new mantra. It sounds bad as a reader to say it, but sometimes you have to. If you’re not getting paid or reading it for school, and you’re not having fun, forget that book. Or if you’re more liberal with the curse words, like me, “f***that book!”
@Erica that is a great way to look at it!
When my brain says thats enough
There is always something else on the bookshelf! I may read something again!