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Is there others out there who always finish a book no matter how bad it gets?

Is there others out there who always finish a book no matter how bad it gets?

Jacqueline #questionnaire

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617 Answers

Miki

Me

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Michael

Me too!

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Hilary

Always

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Margaret

I used to do that, but now I feel there’s no need to punish myself.lol

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Cristina

Guilty

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Suzanne

I used to; no more – too many other books

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RoxeAn

I do

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Lisa

Nope. Life is too short, my TBR pile too high for that. Every reader her book, and every book its reader — and they are not necessarily the same.

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Patty

No more….. Too many other books to read in my stack.

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Stacey

I did until I turned 45. Then I let it go. It’s hard!

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Melissa

??

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Debbie

Are

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Suzie

Usually… but the older I get the less patient I am.

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Kathleen

Nope.

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Trina

I used to …now if a book does not intrigue me by page ? it is history….

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Beth

The only book I never finished was Infinite Jest. Damn, I hated that book.

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Donna

Not me. I do chug along wanting to give the book a fair chance, but there comes a time to put it down.

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Abby

My husband calls it “Hate-Reading” and I used to do it ALL the time! I’ve quit that habit!

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Sophia

Nope!!! My time is too precious and there are a zillion other GOOD books to read.

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Mary

Not anymore. Life is too short for unliked books.

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Melanie

I used to suffer through books I didn’t like, but my TBR list is too long to stick with them.

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Marcia

If l am not ” hooked” by page 50…then l am done.

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Sophia

I only give a book 30 pages. Ha ha

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Tara

Yes, I chose it; I finish it.

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Sheila

You have got to be kidding, I have a TBR shelf that is falling over and a Little Free Library outside that is always full of things to read.

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Elizabeth

I used to/ but not anymore. Could not finish Gentleman in Moscow

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Sophia

I liked that book. BUT, I’ve learned that not every book has universal appeal.

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Dani

Yeah… But it may take me a few years

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Jody

Nope. If I am not hooked by the end of the second chapter I am out. I have a BA in English and forced myself to read too many books cover to cover when I hated them. Lol

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Lynne

It wasn’t until I was in my 40s that I finally broke my habit of always finishing a book. I finally learned to trust my instincts after reading literally thousands of books. I stopped thinking of it as giving up but knowing how to cut my losses and move on.

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Julie

Yes, rarely do I find a book that doesn’t have some redeeming part to it, and often I find the ones I struggle with are the ones that stick with me the longest.

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Stephanie

I just read a summary on wikipedia if I can’t hack the book anymore for whatever reason.

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Lynn

Nope!

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Joan

Case in point: 50 Shades of Gray. So unoriginal and predictable. Lol.

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Cathy

I used to. I’m too old for that now. But I do give it a good college try.

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Roberta

I use to but then decided my time was worth more. If the book doesn’t grab me by the fourth chapter, I’m done.

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Johanne

Never used to, but now I do quit.

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Cameron

Yes! I just can’t give up on it because I always think it will get better. Then by the time I decide it won’t, I have dedicated too much time to not finish.

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Judi

Nope. Too many books to read!

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Joshalyn

no way……life is too short……I give it 100 pages and if I don’t like it by then …it’s goodbye.

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Anne

Me

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Janie

I give it 50 pages. At one time I would always finish the book, but I’m 71 years old, too many books that I’ll love out there to read stuff I don’t like.

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Elizabeth

That’s the rule I give to my students! If you don’t like it by page 50, move on to something you will love. I believe we kill the love of reading in kids by making them read books they don’t enjoy.

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Julie

Yes!

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Gina

No way! It’s the right of a reader to abandon a book.

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Pat

Not me

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Becky

Li

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Nancy

If the author is a mean person I don’t read it. That is to say has her/his characters
Do mean things to others.

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Katie

Yep. I have to finish it lol.

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Jessica

Usually, but I’ve quit a few.

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Deborah

I do because I’m an optimist!

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Zoe

Almost always. When I do give up on a book I feel terribly guilty.

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Daphne

Me. Even if it takes me a year because I forgot about it and started other ones lol

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Jillian

Nope. Life is too short.

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Megan

Yes, I do this. I’m not a quitter

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Nan

Usually but I have occasionally bailed.

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Merilee

Nope. Too many good books out there to waste my time reading a lousy one.

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Kelly

Not anymore. Life is too short.

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Kathy

I used to have that rule for myself, but not anymore. Now I’m too old to waste time on things I don’t enjoy.

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Victoria

Me

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Debra

Nope, I won’t waste my time. I may come back to it another time to see if it was just me and my mood or if I truly just didn’t like the book.

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Amy

Yes, I’m currently having this issue.

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Anne

Not any more! I used to try -switched to 100 pages – then to 50 -now if I don’t like after a few chapters – it’s gone!

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Sharyn

Nope, too many books, too little time. Still regret that I finished Gone Girl and Girl on a train. Hours of my life I can never get back.

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Kerryn

I try to, but sometimes they are just that bad!

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Barbara

Nope too many good books too little time!

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Atlanta

Sometimes

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Terri

I do

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Lisa

Yep!!

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Lynnette

Not any more!

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Ashley

Normally yes! But there has been a handful I couldn’t force myself to complete.

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Leigh

A wise woman once told me life is too short to waste it on bad books.

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Lori

Yes, even if reading it is painful.

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Anna

Not me. Way too many books I want to read to waste time on one I hate.

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Rebecca

Oh, I try! I feel too guilty if I don’t.

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Debbie

Me

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Virginia

I try but don’t always make it.

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Lynn

Not any more, although it still has to be really, really bad before I will abandon a book.

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Brooke

Yes. An novel is always someone’s masterpiece and I can’t critique it unless I read the whole thing.

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Brooke

I take it back… Gertrude Stein’s writing is like fingernails on a chalkboard and I couldn’t stick with it after a paragraph.

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Leyna

Nope. I quit because I don’t waste my time?

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Libby

No. I used to, but, if I can’t excited about it within a chapter, I move on. Life is too short to spend it doing things you don’t enjoy.

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Christine

I have only not completed 6 books in my 50+ years. It is ok to walk away when it just isn’t your time for the book or not your style or it is just a bad book in your opinion. Some author, editor and publicists must have liked it or at least thought they would make money to publish it, if not self-published.

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Jean

Me. Once it took me two years, but I finished it. Cannot remember the name of the book.

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Lynn

No, too many good ones to read unless our book club is reading it.

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Beth

Nope. I have too many on my TBR to read

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Keisha

*hangs head in shame* Yes, the struggle to let go is real. Not sure which is more persistent, hope or stubborness

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Debbie

Me too

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Amber

Lately yes because I have a certain amount of books I set for myself each year ?

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Candy

I always try my best!

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Kathleen

No way.

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Marsha

I really, really try to finish, but I have had to quit on a couple of books.

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Marsha

I have to admit that on some books, like with Michener and Clavell, I have had to read at least 100 pages to “get into it” but so-o-o worth it!

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Ann

Not me. After 60 pages, if I’m not into it, I stop and pick up something else.

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Lupita

me its an ocd thing

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Lynne

Just finished the Four letter word. Never again.

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Bonnie

Not me, life is too short for bad books ( for me)

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Michael

If I’m losing interest in the first 50 pages…I’m done…too many other good things to read out there.

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Ann

My times too valuable to do that! And I would rather read a book I am enjoying!

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Joanna

<<< Right here.

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Mary

I used to finish books that I really didn’t like, thinking it has to get better. No more. If a book doesn’t talk to me I donate it and move on!

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Celeste

Me! ?‍♀️?‍♀️

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Jean

I used to but as I have become older I don’t see any reason to read something I don’t enjoy

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Marna

Not me. Life is too short and there are too many wonderful books waiting for me.

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Shelby

Yes. I can’t stop reading a book without finishing a chapter as well. Really inconvenient with books that have long chapters!

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Trish

Depends on how bad it gets.

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Cherie

If it seems tiresome, I’ll skip through sections and check out final section. That can turn things around and I’ll read more. I read so much that I skim/speed-read through non-compelling verbage. There are, simply, too many great books out there I want to be able to read!

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Kathy

If after 50 pages I hate it I don’t finish it

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LiDe

I’m glad I not the only one that has implemented the 50 page rule.

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Rebecca

usually, but there have been a few that I didn’t finish… some just put away for later, some put away forever… LOL

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Joelle

No. Nononononononononono.

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Terri

I’m trying to decide now if I want to finish Things Fall Apart. It’s moving so slowly but I want to find out what the point of the story is.

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Anna

Yes but it’s usually drawn out. I can’t seem to finish it.

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Anita

No. If I can’t get into it for whatever reason I put it down. I may go back to it later and see if I feel differently about it.

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Cathy

Life is too short and my to-read list too long to waste time on a bookIm not enjoying.

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Janice

I’m finishing one right now, The Lilac Girls. I would not recommend this book to anyone. Such simple writing, I wonder who the target audience was. My reaction may come from just having finished A Gentleman In Moscow by Amor Towles. A wonderful book, beautiful writing. I have seldom quit a book before finishing it.

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Patricia

I just bought The Lilac Girls at a used book store, was recommended by the bookstore owner.

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Joan

I like The Lilac Girls, but you’re right I enjoyed A Gentleman in Moscow. I usually finish a book especially for Book Club. Love to talk about the ones I didn’t like.

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Ruth

There are too many good books to waste time on a bad one.

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Jerri

I used to, but not any more!

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Dina

i give it 100 pages and then put aside to try again later – sometimes its me, not the book!

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Jean

Not any more. I used to do that, but there are too many books out there to waste time on something I dislike.

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Ann

The only one I couldn’t/wouldn’t finish was 50 Shades. The quality of the writing was so awful in the first chapter that I couldn’t stomach it.

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Judy

I have been known to abandon a book.

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Sheri

Nope! I ain’t got time for books I don’t enjoy!!

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Leslie

No!

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Lyn

I used to feel this way, as if I owed it to the author. I’m 64 years old and don’t have time for that now!

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Mary

Sad to admit, but I have to finish. Even if the book is horrible, I just have to know what happens.

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Deborah

No life is too short to read bad books unless they are required.

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Erin

Yes once I start a book I have to finish it

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Jennie

Not even

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Christine

Yep!

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Julie

I used to. Now I don’t because there are too many good books to waste time on bad ones.

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Rachelle

If I’ve gotten farther than a few pages in, I’ll finish it!

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Karol

no, if by 50-100 pages, I move on

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Eileen

EXACTLY my philosophy! Life’s too short.

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Nicole

Yes. I don’t know why torture myself sometimes ?

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Darlene

If I purchased the book I’ll finish it. If I checked the book out of the library, and it doesn’t interest me, I don’t finish it.

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Amber

Only if it is required reading.

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Stephanie

Yes!

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Stephanie

Yes

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Jane

Never, there are too many other books I want to read to waste my time reading something I’m not enjoying.

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Katherine

After reading for many years, as well as many great books out there, there are also a great many bad, poorly written books out there, too. Or maybe just not my style.

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Jane

No way.
So many books so little time

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Ginger

Yes! It’s something I feel obligated to do. Once I’ve begun, I must finish, even though it often takes me forever to do so. While I other books I am dying to dig into sit and wait.

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Gerry

I was told by a very wise lady that if you hate the book you are reading, pick up another one! There are lots of great ones out there!

2
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Vicki

I usually keep going, but I had to quit a book once: Twilight. I hated it.

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Bob

Book I just finished went right in the trash. Painful four days – but had to finish it. Yep – he sold the house. By the end I wouldn’t have cared if he burned it down.

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Shelley

me. If I start I have to finish.

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Karen

It has to be HORRIBLE for me not to finish. i’m not saying that’s a good thing, but in my whole life I have probably only put down three or four books without finishing them.

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Sheri

No. If I can’t get into it I let it go. ?

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Alison

Used to…not any more. Life is too short to read stuff I’m not enjoying. I am so over “have to’s”.

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Lori

Life is too short.

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Susan

No more. Life is too short, time too valuable.

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Mary

Life’s too short to finish a meh book.

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Korin

I used to. But add I’ve gotten older reading good, enjoyable books has become more important.

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Betty

I usually finish the book no matter what.

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Carol

No, too many books I want to read.

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Betsy

I have stopped in the middle of many……not worth it to me.

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Barbara

YES! I always get SOMETHING out of it.

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Kathy

Every time! I can’t not finish.

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Rodney

Took 2 years to finish Game of Thrones.

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Kathy

I love that show, but it was a slow read for me too.

0
Laurie

Not any more. I used to give a book 100 pages. If I’m not intrigued by 50 i’m on to another book. Life is just too short and there seems to be a lot of poorly written fiction out there.

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Pamela

Absolutely not. If I do not like a book then I stop reading it. Life is too short to waste on books I dislike when there are so many books out there I would enjoy.

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Deborah

Absolutely this. Actually had a conversation with Orson Scott Card about this and he is firmly in the camp of “give the book away and move on” too.

1
Sandi

I used to but decided life is too short to read bad books.

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Mary

Yes. I decided the same thing.

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Donna

i know within the first 2 pages if i need to drop it or continue

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Sheri

Same here. ?

1
Terry

No. I read for pleasure, but I will stick with a book until I’m sure.

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Kathy

I try really hard–there’s been a few I couldn’t get through.

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Kathy

There are only a few that I haven’t finished.

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Elaine

Yup, always finish my Phenom Book Group members’ choices. That way I can weigh in with credibility…and you know sometimes, the book proves worthy after all.

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Jule

Not any more. Too little time left

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Peggy

Life’s to short.

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Elizabeth

The Only one I’ve ever not finished is Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Started it 5 times, could not get into it.

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Kathryn

sure try

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Antoinette

I used to, but not anymore. I have too many books on my list.

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Patricia

Nope…I’m 70. Too many books…too little time.

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Maryann

Nope. If not hooked by p. 100 – ditch the book

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Joanna

Yep. ?

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Susan

97% of the time I finish. But there are those books that just don’t pan out.

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Charlene

Me!

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Leslie

Not me. Life is too short to read bad books!

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Sara

nope, not anymore; life is too short to waste time on unworthy books

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Wendy

Yep. Only one book I can remember not finishing.

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Diane

I read on average 100 books a year. I can count on 1 hand the number of books I just couldn’t bring myself to finish. Needless to say, they gotta be pretty bad for me not to finish. Fifty Shades of Grey was 1 of them. Killing me it’s on the list lol

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Kaye

Sometimes I “fast forward” through and sometimes I ditch it.

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Elizabeth

Nope. Life is short and libraries large.

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Alison

I used to finish, but now l think that life is too short to waste reading a book that you don’t like. There are too many other good ones to spend my time on.

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Wendy

No I sometimes give up. Life is too short.

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Susan

I am reading one now I am determined not to quit.

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Julie

What is it?!

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Susan

@Julie can you believe, All The Light We Cannot See”. I like the book it just feels like I am trudging through it. And I hate to not finish a book.

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Julie

I couldn’t put it down! ??

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Susan

@Julie maybe I am missing something. But I am going to keep at it!

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Julie

good luck

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Merrill

It give a book between 50 and 75 pages. If I’m not hooked I’m done. To many books on my list to read

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Patricia

Nope

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Kimberly

I used to always finish a book, no matter how terrible. Then i started working at a library 10 years ago and realized how many good books there are out there that need to be read. Now, if a book doesn’t capture my attention pretty quickly, I stop reading it and move on.

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Beth

No! Life is way too short to waste time on a book you hate!

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Abbie

97% of the time yes. I’m fighting the urge to quit Catch-22 right now!

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Joanne

I used to. Now I realize life is too short. But many tim s I revisit the book and have found I enjoyed it

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Lexie

??‍♀️??‍♀️

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Leslie

I used to teach my fifth grade students when/how to abandon a book.

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Judy

Nope. 100 pages. Lifes too short.

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Patty

No, I know longer fight it.. but I do sometimes go directly to the end

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Jaime

I have a 20% rule. If it’s not catching me by then, I can go to the next book. Sometimes I might try it again later. There are several books in my Goodreads “Currently Reading” that have been there for…ever.

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Judy

I used to. Now I give it to page 100 give or take. Life is too short and there are too many books to read. One thing I’ve learned and this and other book club groups have confirmed, not every book is meant for everyone, and that’s ok! It doesn’t mean the book is bad nor is it a reflection on the reader.

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Richard

I’m with you. My list is too long!

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Susan

Nope! I agree with Maryann McConnell…it’s very rare that if a book doesn’t capture your interest right away it will eventually!

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Tana

I sometimes put it on the shelf for awhile and circle back when I am ready for it. The beauty of reading more than one book at a time is you can jump around depending on your mood.

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Nicole

I used to be more that way, but no—life is too short to read bad or even just bad fit books…

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EN

Nope. If I don’t like it, cover shut and back to the library it goes – or donation bin if I own it.

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Diane

Unfortunately yes

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Pat

Nope

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Alcinda

Not any more!

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Deborah

That’s what I was going to write! I used to feel COMPELLED to finish a book but the older I get the less it bothers me!

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Jill

Life is too short and books too plentiful. If it was something everybody but me seems to like I will sometimes revisit the book at a later date. Sometimes I just found the book at the wrong time and end up liking it. Sometimes I give it up for good after a second attempt .

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Marilyn

Absolutely NOT! Life is too short!

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Diane

I do

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Michele

No but i feel guilty if i dont!

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Ann

Me. too, but it is unwarranted guilt–“you should finish what you start.”

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Kristen

I used to be that way….changed my tune after I had kids and time became more precious. But I still really try to give most books a chance….have only probably not finished 6 books total.

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Kandace

It depends. If it’s pure torture I move on. If it’s just ok I try to finish it.

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Bonnie

Yep that’s me!! No matter how torturous it is I finish the book

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Judy

That was me until about 5 years ago ?

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Sandra

Used to..now I have no qualms about putting a book down. Life is much too short and I have so many, many worthy books to read

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Julie

It depends who the author is. I keep the book. Sometimes, I go
back and find it got better. If I like a book or a movie, I can read/watch it over and over.

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Merla

I always swore after the “Devil’s Laughter” by Frank Yerby I would always finish the book. I hated that book halfway throught. But I persevered and it was soooo good! However, now that I’m pushing 70, too many books and too little time. I just quit on “The Shack” after 90 pages

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Judy

Congratulations?

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Nicki

life is short, i’m using ‘gone girl’ as a coaster

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Vera

No regrets…I just move on to the next one. ?

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Sharon

Yes.?

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Amy

Life is too short for a bad book!

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Sandy

Not me. I’ve learned to skim a lot although I feel guilty for the authors who have put so much work into their writing.

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Shawna

If I don’t love a book, I will often give myself permission to skim through parts of it. This way I satisfy my curiosity about plot and I can say I read it.

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Rita

Nope. I’m 64. No time to waste!

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Melissa

No…life’s to short and there are way to many great reads. I do give a good 75 to 100 pages to decide.

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Gail

No, too many books to waste time on a dud!

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Deanna

If it’s required reading for something, yes. If it’s for fun, definitely not. There are too many other amazing books to get to.

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Chaguli

Yep. Eventually; find I can just pick up where I left off, even after months!

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Jaimie

I did that at one point in my life but life is short, time is precious, and there are too many books out there that I want to read. I won’t waste my time anymore.

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Joy

Nope

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Jennifer

No, there are too many good reads to waste time on one you don’t enjoy.

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Amanda

??

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Alice

No, I stop.

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Charlotte

That is one reason to borrow a book from the library so you don’t feel compelled to get your money’s worth.

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Barbara

If it’s a classic, definitely, but sometimes it takes a couple tries. I’ve been reading one particular book nearly a year now… only have 120 pages to go and I’m determined to finish it this summer. I’m hoping to find its redeeming qualities that make it a classic.

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Mae

Not anymore. Why should I waste my time.

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David

I rarely give up but…

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Charlotte

I usually stop after 100 pages if I don’t like it. But then if I go to book club and everyone else liked it I will give it another try.

1
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Donna

Sure do. It can be dreadful sometimes, but that is what makes the incredible ones even more amazing.

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Russetta

Yup – including Moby Dick! Does anyone know why they said it was “funny”?

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Norma

I do, now, because I try to get our students to finish their library books. Teach by example.

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Marie

Nope, I don’t, too many good books to read

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Wittney

I used to. Same with movies. I can’t anymore though because there are too many I’m waiting to read and can’t waste precious time with something I don’t enjoy

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Abby

This is my thing, I feel like I have to do it and feel guilty if I abandon it!

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Mindy

Nope Nope Nope! Reading should be enjoyable, not tortuous. It’s perfectly fine if you don’t like something. I recently tried to read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Its just not for me. And that’s ok!

1
Cecilia

Awww – my grandmother listened to that book over the radio many years ago and recommended it to me when I was 13. It’s always had a special place in my heart.

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Brenda

I try my best…

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Deborah

I used to be that way but I decided life is too short and there are so many books

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Katie

I always try but it wasn’t until just recently that I came to the conclusion that I didn’t have enough time to waste on books I just couldn’t get into.

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Leo

Yes

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Nancy

I don’t bother. If I don’t love it, I quit and start a new book.

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Sue

I have so many books that I want to read that I do not waste my time with a book that I do not like. I will give every book that I start a fair chance….but some just don’t redeem themselves and I do not feel any guilt about moving on.

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Patti

I don’t and sometimes it haunts me.

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Marilyn

I set it aside sometimes thinking that maybe I’m just not in right frame of mind.

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Mindy

Nope. I used to do that, but I’ve realized there are too many great books in this world to choose from. Why torture yourself spending time on something you don’t enjoy?

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Crystal

if it is part of a series, yes

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Ronald

If a book doesn’t hold my interest, I don’t bother finishing. This isn’t school anymore..

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NAnnie

oh no!! If I can’t ‘get into’ a book after the first 1/3 (it’s slow, uninteresting, boring) I almost always put it down – forever :'( … Fortunately, that hardly ever happens

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Janice

Not any more. I realize I can only read so many books in my lifetime. I only want to read books I really like. Period

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Pat

not me….life’s too short!

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Janet

Yes!

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Ronda

Yep, it’s sickness ?.

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Ann

No I quit after 50 pages!!

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Tanya

Always….but it takes me forever

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Jamila

Yes I try to make myself.

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Elyse

Nope, life is too short.

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Jerri

I agree, life is too short.

1
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Donna

No

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Megan

I hate to, but…

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Jacqueline

Yep

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Beth

no, i gave myself permisssion to drop a book about 20 years ago & i’m very happy with the decision.

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Jan

No, life is too short!

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Nancy

Nope. Too many good books to read one I’m not into.

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Charon

I used to, but life is to freaking short. I work at a library and I bring stacks home and then sit and read and move on, like changing tv channels but better.

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Katie

Always!

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Mimi

Always, even if it takes years. The Orphan Master’s Son took 2 years.

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Ronda

Ugh, I feel you! That was not a fun read. Important, but not fun.

1
Sally

No. Too many books, too little time left in life.

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Paula

Nope. I used to but several years ago I gave myself permission to stop reading bad books and move on to the next one.

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Katie

Yes

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Michelle

No, I can’t. Normally if a book doesn’t catch my interest to where I just can’t stop reading by the second chapter, then I’m done. There’s always something better sitting on the shelf.

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Sherry

No, if it’s something I really can’t finish I will stop as I would rather read a book that I can enjoy.

1
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Michele

No

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Valerie

No

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Joey

99.99%

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Kimberly

I go by the age rule. If I’m not invested in a book by page 69, I’m done. Minus your age from 100 and that’s the page you should be invested by!

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Linda

That is awesome! I usually give it 3 chapters, but may steal your idea.

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Kimberly

Yes!! Let me know how it works out for you!

1
Diane

Nope.

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Sheryl

No …if book does not grab me in the first chapter I am moving on. Too many good books to waste time reading one that I can not get into.

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Jennifer

I don’t.

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Barbara

Nope

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Laurie

No…

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Virginia

I don’t. I can usually tell by the first sentence whether or not I am going to like the book.

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Julia

You’re even quicker than me; I give it 3 pages.

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Staci

when I was younger I felt that I had to finish. Now If I don’t like it after the first. couple of chapters I move on.

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Jan

No. Won’t waste my time. Too many other books to read.

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Lynn

Used to. Not now.

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Vicki

Nah. I give it 50-100 pages then give up if I’m not into it.

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Chrismae

I usually read a good size sample before buying. So I have a good idea what I’m getting into.

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Dawn

Not me life is too short

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Rowan

Yes.

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Nancy

I used to feel I had to read the whole book, but at my age, there are too many good books I have to read

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Kathy

I feel the same.

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Beth

I am one of these people.

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Julia

Absolutely not!! Too many others to read.

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Laura

No there’s just too much good stuff out there to waste time on a book I don’t like.

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Carol

Not me! I often delete a book off my Kindle when it is too boring!

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Christine

Most of the time, but on the rare occasion, I will give up if it’s horrendous!

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Sherry

I used to. But someone told me, several years ago, they don’t. They have too many books they want to read. So I tried it…stopping a book I don’t enjoy was so hard the first time. The guilt!! But now, I don’t feel bad.

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Sharon

Nope, bought one in Ireland that was awful, left it in the hotel room 2 days later. It was a stinker. I tried!

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Jamie

I bailed on my first ever book this year. Fire and Fury. After about a third of the way in, I just didn’t need to continue.

1
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Glenn

Nope, I go to the next one.

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Carol

Feel like I am cheating if I do not.

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Brittany

If it’s terrible to the point where I cannot remember what I just read then I put it down. It isn’t meant to be.

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Melissa

Not me. A couple popular ones I bailed on are Twilight and Outlander.

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Kathleen

Same with me.

1
Allie

Yup??

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Suzie

Yes

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Ruth

I use to feel that way, but I got over it. Didn’t want to waste time on a book that didn’t interest me.

1
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Charlotte

No, I give it 50 pages.

1
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Michelle

Yes!! Just in case ?

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Wendy

Almost always…It takes a lot for me to abandon a book. There is usually something that makes finishing it worthwhile.

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Lupita

sometimes i wish i could a refund on the time i wasted on whethering heights …
what a gawd aweful book ..

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Adelle

I really tried but could not finish Song of Solomon.

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Leslie

Nope

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Beth

Yes!

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Nichelle

Yes

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Jill

Yes. Even whole series. I always hope the story will get better. And if it doesn’t I still feel the need to finish the story.

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Donna

Not anymore. I’m 65 and realize that now is the time to read all those books that I was going to read “someday”, but if I just can’t get into it I’m on to the next one.

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Paula

The only book I’ve ever given up on was The Time Traveler’s Wife

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Kris

I’m working on one now. I’m slogging through it but it seems to slowly be redeeming itself toward the end.

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Joyce

Me too! Reading Everyone Brave Is Forgiven right now, and it took half the book to slowwllyyy build all the background. I almost gave up, but I am glad I stuck with it because I am soo immersed in the characters now that I don’t want to leave them!!!

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Christina

There is only one book I have never finished. Gaston Leroux’s Le fantôme de l’Opéra. I get to this one part, and boom…I am lost. Can’t get into it.

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Jenny

I try to give it a few chapters, but if I really can’t get into then I move on. My reading time is precious and I have too many books in my TBR pile to waste time on something I do not enjoy.

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Ginna

No. Ann Patchett says there are too many good books to waste your time reading a non-appealing one after you’ve given it a try.

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Amy

Sometimes. I guess it depends on why I don’t like it. I have had books I don’t enjoy end up being ones I spend months or years thinking about randomly after finishing them. You never know!

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Claire

Yes

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Ella

me, unfortunately…I always hope it gets better

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Kat

Nope. Life is too short.

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Natalie

I have, but I won’t any more. I try to be careful about choosing my books too and skim through them to get an idea if I will like it. So far, that works for me.

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Stacey

It’s pretty rare for me to quit a book that I’ve started, especially if I’ve set a goal for myself or am participating in a challenge. It helps sometimes to switch to the audiobook or pick up another book for a while. There have been a few that I just couldn’t finish! I’m currently struggling with On the Road by Jack Kerouac. ?

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Andrea

@Stacey – We finished Sophie’s Choice! We can finish almost anything!

1
Stacey

Very true!

0
Gina

For sure.

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Tonya

No! Life is too short.

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Joyce

I admire your discipline!

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Susie

Yes, but I always finish ( I can only think of two I didn’t)…I only hope they get better… sometimes they do

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Leslie

Yes.

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Lea

Me

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Tori

Yes. It’s a terrible trait LOL

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Toni

No way! There’s always more on my TBR list.

1
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J.a.

Nope – used to, but not anymore. Sometimes, though, I persevere through a few chapters to give it a chance.

1
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Susie

No, life’s too short and there are so many I want to read!

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Debra

I used to make myself finish a book if I started it, but no more. I suppose aging has made me value my time more! ?

3
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Liesl

Only recently. I’m hitting the big 5-0 and my time is more precious now. ?

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Brenda

Used too but when turned 50, no more, may not have time to read everything I want ☺

1
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Liesl

Exactly.

0
Jan

I generally like books by Richard Paul Evans but found “The Looking Glass” very dry…. However, I did finish it

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Mary

Never.

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Tracey

Twice… but I will get back to them…. want in the right frame of mind to read them.

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Lori

I used to, but life is too short and I have too many books to read. 🙂

1
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Colleen

Nope 60 pages and I am out. Following grad school, I decided I was not getting paid to read a book. If I’m on the fence then maybe 100 but it if is bad, I chuck it. Life is short and there millons of books to read.

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Nancy

Not any more.

1
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Guy

I try to give books a chance, even if they don’t start out too well, but there comes a point when you decide that life is too short to reach schlock even if it is a best-seller.

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Yesenia

✋? I’ve only bailed on 2 and that was because one was a part of a series (but I first struggled through the first book and half of the second) and the other was a tome that I just couldn’t keep on reading.

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Donna

Not since I turned 50.

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Miriam

Yes. I have to find out what happens.

0
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Gageby

Yes.

0
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Jillian

Yep, even if I will never touch that book again.

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Caroline

Not any more, but it gives me an awful feeling. Hate non closure.

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Alicia

I’ve only ever wanted to give up on one book, but it was assigned reading, so I stuck with it; Moby Dick

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Renee

Not any more.

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Aidan

I used to, but now with 3 kids under 4 and a growing stack of books I want to read I’ve realized there is no point in forcing it!

0
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Nancy

No

0
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Amy

Yes, Fly Me. Horrible but I finished!

0
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Myrna

I used to think I had to finish a book but now I feel that time’s too valuable . I’m 82 and plan to live forever ( so far so good) but just in case, I have to move on to another recommended one.

7
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Peggy

If I don’t stop reading all the comments on the Great American Read I’ll never have time to read abother book!

7
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Kathleen

never! life is too short to read a bad book

1
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Lyle

If it’s generally considered a “great book”, but I get bogged down, I might set it aside for a few years and then come back when I am more mature, or something. I set “Moby Dick” aside 3 times before I read it all the way through on the 4th try at about the age of 50. I still haven’t been able to get through “Catch 22” or “The Sound and the Fury”; I plan to attack these two books again when I am 70. (I simply haven’t found “greatness” in either of these two books, yet.)

0
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Lynn

Not as much as I used to, but it is very difficult to make the decision to stop reading.

0
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Patti

Yes. Once I start reading I have to finish.

0
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Susan

Yes. I even finish all in the series even if I hate the first book. Ugh!

0
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Peggy

Why?!

4
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Brenda

Nope….just can’t. There are too many good books out there to be read to waste time on one that I don’t enjoy. Life is too short

4
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Randi

Haha! What I just said without first reading other comments. We seem to be on the same page, so to speak!

1
Randi

I used to be that way but not any more. There are so many books I want to read and relatively little time left (on the wrong side of 50) so I don’t want to waste time on a book that doesn’t draw me in.

3
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Linda

no…if I read at least 50 pages and it’s not interesting, not going to finish it!

0
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Charlene

There was a book I didn’t finish, but otherwise I always finish.

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Barb

Not any more! There are too many other books out there that I want to read. Why waste valuable reading time on a book that is not doing anything for you? Different books speak to different people.

0
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Cass

The only book I permanently gave up on was Freedom

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Belén

I can’t stand not finishing a book, I can’t help myself ?

2
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Kahlea

I finish almost any book I start, unless I had to return it to the library. I don’t go through the trouble of rechecking it out, if it’s a book I don’t enjoy reading.

1
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Tracy

I’ve only ever given up on one book – The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie.