Chicks On Lit discussion

I've been TRYING to read this book "Dream Stone" for about two weeks. During those two weeks i've snuck in more interesting reads in the midst and finshed those books, while making not 50 pages into "Dream Stone" its not BAD its just my brain dosn't seem to think its worth my time, or something... Any thoughts? Im haivng a hard time abandoning it, and I don't know why. I feel liek I should just fnish it and be done wtih it, but I don't wanna! Anyone else ahve similar expereinces with books?

I feel extremely guilty when I don't finish books. BUT-if it is totally not worth it, just make yourself give it up.

It sounds like you're still trying to decide if your book is worth it or not? Maybe force yourself to read a chapter a day or something if you're determined to finish it...

But, ultimately, life is too short to force yourself to read rubbish. There are too many great books out there to suffer through bad ones.

I usually give a book 100 pages to tell me why I should continue to read the book. If it is, then I will enjoyably read the whole book through and through. If it isn't, I have no qualms about letting it go with its tail between its legs. I have far too many books that I want to really read, I don't have time for a book I don't want to read.

The book that gave me the most trouble in 2008 was Inkheart. I really wanted to like it and kept forcing myself to read it. I finally just had to say "I do not care about these characters, nor am I curious about what is going to happen." So I closed the book and took my bookmark out.

I agree with Allison - there are too many books out there to waste time on the ones you don't like.

Sometimes when I am having trouble reading a book I will find some people that read it for suggestions. Sometimes it can be slow the first 75 pages and then you suddenly can't put it down. Do you know anyone that has read it? Also look at reviews, which can help.

Or, you can always abandon ship! But I try at least 1/2 way before the abandonment.

Meg,
No. NO one I know eads the same stuff and most of the people that have read the book here, on Goodreads, are not active embers at least not any more. I'll give untill page 100 to spark my imagination, if not by thn then I'll toss it out the window. Or at least take t back to the lirary.

25-50 pages max. I used to be more forgiving before GRs, now I realize there are too many great books. Maybe Ill pick it up again later if the mood strikes me or I find a new reason but I move on quick.

When I'm having that problem w/a book, I put it down & move on to something else for while & come back to it when I feel like it. Maybe you're just not in the mood for it now but will be another time.

i give a boo 50 pages, if i sort of like it.. i go 100 and then ditch it or keep going.
i used to think i HAD to finish whatever i started but then i got to thinking there are tooo many GOOD books out there to waste my time on a not so good one!

I frequently have this problem and once I get to that point, I usually put it down. I like Operandi's solution. Give it 100 pages. Problem is though, some authors start out with a bang, then it peters out.
I finished Edgar Sawtelle, but really struggled with it. I have several books I cant even start, much less finish. That Potatoe peel pie book is one of these. I have been assured it is a wonderful book. Its just all those letters. Im not much of a reader of letter writing books.
Wicked was a book I couldnt finish.
Lucky was a book I couldnt start.
Right now Im reading The hour I fist believed and it has been pretty good so far, but I have a feeling Im about to lose interest.
So, maybe Im evolving as a reader. I know I am into instant gratification and I do not get that with many books. Maybe Im evolving into a writer. I hope that is the case.

Give it up if it honestly doesn't interest you. My thinking is if I find myself reading other things while I'm supposed to be reading something else, then that something else obviously isn't interesting enough to me.

Sometimes it is just a matter of it not being the right book at the time and sometimes it is just never going to be the right book. Have to distinguish between the two for yourself. KWIM?

I agree, put it down, maybe later it will have more meaning in your life but it isn't worth plodding through just to say you read it. I have discovered many wonderful books that I started before and couldn't stick with but ended up reading later.

Gloria wrote: "I've been TRYING to read this book "Dream Stone" for about two weeks. During those two weeks i've snuck in more interesting reads in the midst and finshed those books, while making not 50 pages in..."

I think I had the same problem with that book. Is it written by Glenna something and the second book in the series? I was thinking maybe it was because I waited too long in between reading the first and second. But I had to bulldoze my way through it and only read it as an in between book.

Peanut wrote: "Give it up if it honestly doesn't interest you. My thinking is if I find myself reading other things while I'm supposed to be reading something else, then that something else obviously isn't intere..."

what is KWIM??

I'm reading on a Sony Reader, so everything in the public domain is free. I'll start it and if I don't like it I'll quickly delete it.

As for books I buy, I usually give it 100+ pages. Given that rule...I've slogged through at least 95% of the books I've bought or borrowed.

Know What I Mean Deb.....i think LOL

ohhhhhhhhhhhh.....ok. LOL.

If you can't get into it then ditch it. Reading should be something you enjoy, not a chore.

It really depends on my mood or on my time or why I picked it up in the first place. If it is for a book group discussion and I want to participate then I will slog on through it no matter what, unless my time runs out and my mood gives way.
Most of the time if it is just something I picked up on a whim or for fun to see what it was about...it gets the page test and then booted or rejoiced.

Since I'm in college, reading what I want to read is a priceless luxury for me. Therefore, I don't want to spend this precious time reading something that I'm not into. My tolerance is quite short when it comes to my me-time. However, in the summer when reading time is more prevalent, I tend to stick it out for a while because I don't like putting down books unfinished.

Generally I try to give a book 50-100 pages depending on the size of it. There has only been 4 books that I have gotten rid of that I had read about 100 pages of, but it happens. Recently I woke up and realized I have 223 books on my shelf waiting to be read, I really can't spend time on a book I dislike.

I used to feel guilty, but seriously, life is too short. If every time you're picking up this book and you feel like "ugh, let's try it again," then it's not worth it to me. Reading should be something we WANT to do, not have to do, right?! There are too many other good books out there, whether they be on our huge TBR lists or not!

You know it varies from book to book for me. Some books I can still force myself to read it...but there are some that I just cannot stand. But since I checkout most of my books from the library if I cannot read it during the 2 weeks I have checked it out for (and not because I never had the time) I just return it. However, in the case of some by W. Faulkner and Under the Tuscan Sun it was a quick decision. I attempted through half of the book and gladly took them back. I do try to read at least 100 pages or half the book, which ever comes first!

I recently (almost) got over the 'gotta finish if you start it' way of thinking! I agree, too many good books out there. ...still have a hard time giving up on some like "Three Cups of Tea" that comes highly recommended but I just haven't been able to get into. Do I just give it up?? :)

For the most part, if a book doesn't grab me in the first 1/3, it's over. That would be 50 pages for a 150 page book and 300 pages for a 900 page tome. I figure the fraction works best on most books.

I usually do the 50-100 pages thing, too. It depends on why I picked the book up in the first place. If a friend recommended it to me I'm more likely to push myself through it. If it's just something I grabbed from the library I don't worry about it as much. Maybe someday I'll get back to it, maybe not.

Jennifer wrote: "I usually do the 50-100 pages thing, too. It depends on why I picked the book up in the first place. If a friend recommended it to me I'm more likely to push myself through it. If it's just somethi..."

Hi Jennifer--I'm the same way about recommendations. I have a hard time putting a book down that a friend has lent/recommended. Right now I'm having that problem with In Cold Blood by Trumen Capote. My friend loved it, and it's got great reviews...I'm 200 pages in and feel asleep reading last night. :(

I give a book 100 pages to interest me. If it can't, I choose another.

For me , it's a combo of the amount of time that has gone by since starting it and how many pages . I usually start questioning my interest after 100 pages or two weeks .

Depends on the book and why I'm reading it. If it's an author I have enjoyed in the past, I'll give it more of a chance. If I'm reading for a book club, I'll usually persevere. If I have too many books from the library, and I'm not sure of them, I'll probably read a few chapters and decide if I want to continue or not. Two books I just finished that I wasn't too sure about: Go Set a Watchman & One Hundred Names. The first, I would not have finished if I just wanted to enjoy it because I didn't really, but being a long-time fan of To Kill a Mockingbird, I wanted to see how it would end. So many mixed reviews and, for me, it was a disappointment. The second one, I was about ready to bring it back to the library; put it aside for a few days, then decided to give it one more chance; ended up really enjoying it. But, there are times, a book is just not working for you, and you have to be willing to move on. Harder, I think, if you've spent money on it.