Crime, Mysteries & Thrillers discussion

When starting a book and you don't like it at first, how much more will you read to find out if you'll start enjoying it?

Just the first chapter If it’s a short one I’ll try the second

Usually only the first chapter. I find the 1st chapter very telling as to how the rest of the book will be. If a book is good, it will grab my attention by page 2.

Usually the first 20/25 pgs. If it doesn’t grab by then or if the writing is too clunky, I move on to another book.

I know that life is too short & tons of awesome books are out there but i dont like to leave things hanging. so, i power through hoping it gets better in the middle until finishing its last page despite disliking it in the end.

It varies.

One book was so bad, I quit it after 5 pages. Others I've gone as far as 150 pages if something about them made me feel they would get better but didn't by that point.

It depends. If the book has been highly recommended I will stick with it longer in hopes that eventually I will see what it is that everyone was so excited about. But I’ve walked away after just one chapter in some cases.

I will probably finish it. But I am a lot more picky about choosing which book to read in the first place.

I'm a little OCD and have a hard time stopping a book once I've started. I keep thinking "it will get better". Sad to say it doesn't always get better. There's been a time or two that I just couldn't push through though.

I'm a bit like Sheri on this - I don't like giving up - I keep thinking it must get better, especially if it's a prizewinner.
But now, I've got a bookshelf on Goodreads for "Gave it my Best Shot". Thomas Pynchon - is firmly on that bookshelf after my failed attempt at "Mason & Dixon"

It depends on the book. Some books are really horrible in the first chapter. Those are the ones I jump ahead with and skim over chapters to see that the quality of writing improves. Others will keep me reading for a few chapters and if the story isn’t moving or is just not improving, I close the book. Sometimes I read a lousy book until the end because in-spite of itself I need to know how it ends lol! There are so many many books that I feel no guilt in closing a book and reading the next in line. Most books are worth reading but if I run into one that isn’t I just move on.

Maureen wrote: "I'm a bit like Sheri on this - I don't like giving up - I keep thinking it must get better, especially if it's a prizewinner.

My personal experience is that the more everyone raves about a book, the more awards it wins, the more I like it less. Pick a book, any book rated "The Best Book of _______" and chances are I tried it and gave up because it bored me to death.

It varies. When I am reading for a club...I will stick it out because I know I have to discuss the book.
If it is something I picked up then if it doesn't hook me within that first chapter then t goes in the not read pile.

50-100 pages, depending on the length of the book. I hate not finishing a book so I almost always plow through it, but I remember throwing my MP3 player (it was a few years ago) across the car on my way to work. The book was truly awful! This author would have to pay me to read that drivel. Hahaha

Camisa wrote: "It varies. When I am reading for a club...I will stick it out because I know I have to discuss the book.
If it is something I picked up then if it doesn't hook me within that first chapter then t g..."

Camisa, that’s the only reason I might read half of a book before calling it quits.......but I must admit those are usually the most entertaining discussions 🤣

Martha wrote: "50-100 pages, depending on the length of the book. I hate not finishing a book so I almost always plow through it, but I remember throwing my MP3 player (it was a few years ago) across the car on m..."

I've never actually thrown my MP3 player but I've felt like it. :)

Camisa wrote: "It varies. When I am reading for a club...I will stick it out because I know I have to discuss the book.
If it is something I picked up then if it doesn't hook me within that first chapter then t g..."

That's usually me but when my book club read one book this past year I couldn't make myself finish it and thankfully I wasn't the only one who couldn't.

It depends. I used to force myself to read a book from start to finish. I was chatting about that with someone (it might have been Jenny) who said to me you know you don't have to finish reading a book you don't like. That simple sentiment gave me permission to put a book down if I didn't like it.

I generally give it about 50 pages and if I'm not enjoying it I either put it down or I'll get the audio version and try that. Sometimes I can get through and even enjoy a book on audio that I have a hard time reading (classics come to mind).

Gem wrote: "It depends. I used to force myself to read a book from start to finish. I was chatting about that with someone (it might have been Jenny) who said to me you know you don't have to finish reading a ..."

I love audio books. Especially for really long books.

SherryRose wrote: "Gem wrote: "It depends. I used to force myself to read a book from start to finish. I was chatting about that with someone (it might have been J

Me too and I listen to them at 1.5 to 2 times speed, so for long books it goes even faster.

Gem wrote: "SherryRose wrote: "Gem wrote: "It depends. I used to force myself to read a book from start to finish. I was chatting about that with someone (it might have been J

Me too and I listen to them at 1..."

I do the same!

SherryRose wrote: "Gem wrote: "SherryRose wrote: "Gem wrote: "It depends. I used to force myself to read a book from start to finish. I was chatting about that with someone (it might have been J

Me too and I listen ..."

There are times when I don't know what I'd do without audio books.

I feel the same way Gem.

My daughter used to live 5 hours away and I'd listen to an entire book going and coming. I like audio.

Sheri wrote: "My daughter used to live 5 hours away and I'd listen to an entire book going and coming. I like audio."

I love an audiobook in the car. It makes longer trips far easier.

SherryRose wrote: "Sheri wrote: "My daughter used to live 5 hours away and I'd listen to an entire book going and coming. I like audio."

I love an audiobook in the car. It makes longer trips far easier."

Yes it does and once or twice I was so into it that I missed my exit.

Sheri wrote: "I missed my exit”

When I used to commute an hour each way to work this happened to me often, particularly if I had planned to stop along the way for an errand.

Years and years ago a program called Radio Reader used to come on NPR in the morning on my way to work. For 30 minutes I was in heaven. Made going to work not so bad. :)

Sheri wrote: "SherryRose wrote: "Sheri wrote: "My daughter used to live 5 hours away and I'd listen to an entire book going and coming. I like audio."

I love an audiobook in the car. It makes longer trips far e..."

Oh oh! LOL