Chicks On Lit discussion

I am trying to read Her Fearful Symmetry and I am not actually grasping the storyline at all. Is it worth me carrying on. I am on p91 and really am not grasping anything, but boring characters.

Please advise asap, as I have loads of other good books I wanna try and read as well x

I haven't read it because my mom gave me the same basic problems with the book. She pushed through it because thats how she is but she wasnt a fan and said I likely wouldn't like it.

I really enjoyed reading HFS and thought it was great book (except the ending which I thought was a bit of a bust). If its not catching your fancy at the mo, you should definitely move on to something else and come back to HFS when you have more time to get into it. I do that all the time with books that don't grab me right away and when I finally do get to read them, they were definitely worth it.

I loved reading this thread. Here I am at 58 years old and have NEVER given myself permission to quit a book once I start it. Are you guys sure it is OK? The book police won't come and get me if I quit reading God's Behaving Badly will they?

Sheila, I used to feel that way, too. LOL! Its taken me years to realize that its okay to put the book aside and start another one.

I used to feel that way as well about books - but my compromise now (if I really feel I am struggling to finish) is to flip through and then read the last couple pages.

Sheila~That is funny, I find myself watching out for the book police every now and again.
I have this book marked as a future "to read", and I've heard mixed reviews on it. When I read her Time Travellers Wife, I found myself stopping and really trying to think if what was happening in a particular timeline was indeed correct or if I was loosing it. I ended up sticking with the Time Travellers Wife, and really enjoyed it. However, I would say if you are not reading anything at all because you feel you just cant get thru this book, then set it aside. No one says you cant come back to it at a later date when the book police are busy busting someone else right? :)

Well it has been a couple of weeks and no Book Police have shown up. AND I have read 2 other books that I actually enjoyed.

I enjoyed HFS. It was a little hard getting into until the twins show up in London. Keep at it though, it does get better. Though I have to agree with Nadia, the end is a bust. I was very disappointed with the end.

I really liked HFS, but there's no rule that says you have to keep reading a book you don't like. Life's too short to not read what you want!

I hadn't heard about that new law but if you can take it Brenda so can I. I am woman hear me read!

Brenda, you crack me up! Normally if I don't like a read, I put it down within 50 pages. Too many books, too little time. Sometimes I go back to it another time & finish it, other times I don't ever go back to it. I did push through the 1st selection for our new library evening book club purely because it was our first book but I hated it. Had it not been for that book club, I would have put it down within the first few pages and been happy to never finish.

Ha, I saw your post on my feed Brenda and I had to see what this is about. I keep hoping with some books, a lot I put to the side for later, but sadly I have given up quite a few since goodreads, because now I do have five others (or maybe 100 others) waiting to be read. But love the bit about the book police.

Oh and about the topic. I loved the beginning of HFS, but was disturbed by the end, so if its not grabbing you, maybe it's time to move on as there is always books waiting.

Brenda you're killing me - what a dreadful punishment. I must just be a perfectionist because I try to finish. But I've agreeing with Vicki. Goodreads has helped me make better, more informed selections. And if its bad, and someone else agrees - then I'm gaining permission to quit. Thanks friends! Absolutely couldn't get through two of our in-person club's books this year. It was liberating to say NO and NO! Although they didn't choose them - the local library has packages they hand out for clubs. If they are backed up - you get what you get and you don't throw a fit...

That is so true. If I find myself disliking a book, I look at the negative reviews as a confirmation that it's ok to quit.

I like it. Does the 5 book penalty still apply ;)

LOL! Brenda, you've got quite the sense of humor my friend!

I don't bother with reviews - often times I like a book many others dislike and vice versa. I just go w/my instincts- if I'm really not enjoying it, I put it down & move on. Reading is a pleasure! I don't want it to be a chore- I had enough of that in my school days & when I worked for a mutual fund company.

Great! Permission to stop reading or encouragement to continue - I like it too.

I'm awful for struggling on regardless. Sometimes it's worth the effort (but sometimes not). I read Everything Is Illuminated twice - once of my own volition and once for book group and I didn't get on with it on either occasion. It wasn't the best use of time was it?

Usually, I get around dropping the book by telling myself I'll read it another time - this appeases by conscience!

Brenda wrote: "I agree, Jo! I will read a book if someone likes it, but I stop if it doesn't suit me.

I was just being silly. I am glad I made you all smile!"

You made me smile and LOL! :~)

And that's how I felt about "The Secret" Brenda!

Oh right Jo, I thought the Secret was awful. My local bookclub picked that one and everyone in the group questioned why it was such a hit.

Love the new thread idea Brenda!!!!

Em, I didn't really get "Everything Is Illuminated" until I saw the movie, and even then, I wasn't sure I really got it and I still didn't much like it. I only watched the movie because I was sick and bored and desperate for entertainment.

Marsha wrote: "Em, I didn't really get "Everything Is Illuminated" until I saw the movie, and even then, I wasn't sure I really got it and I still didn't much like it. I only watched the movie because I was sick..."

I haven't seen the film but it might help me to make sense of the book - I did find some parts of the book very moving (and a bit terrifying) but by and large I just struggled through - reading the words but not really enjoying it at all! Glad I'm not alone in finding it this way!

Well I give you guys credit. That book was one I made almost no progress in. It was a group read, many people were complaining about it and I read like 6 pages. I really did like Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close though, so I was excited, but couldn't do it.