Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy discussion

What would be some things that would make you stop reading a book? It takes a lot for me, but if the characters are weak/cliched, if the dialogue doesn't ring true or if a situation is totally unreal, that's almost always a deal breaker for me.
And to be honest, part of it could be jealousy, as in I agonize over a word sometimes, and this pap gets published?

Butt secks.

And heroes/heroines that are so incredibly TSTL that they find their way onto either my "Smack a Bitch Upside the Head" or "Makes Me Want To Cut a Bitch" shelves.

But mostly butt secks.

I usually quit because it is boring me to death. Or if something about the writing is just irritating me. I do give them 100 pages at least before I just quit entirely.

I rarely ever abandon a book partway through in hopes it'll get better, but I just quit reading Outlander because I was bored out of my mind (I gave it 300 pages).

@Lethal - love the shelf names lol :)

I personally love the 'Outlander' series, but I can see how they are not for everyone..

Anne wrote: "I personally love the 'Outlander' series, but I can see how they are not for everyone.."

I know loads of people like them and I've actually been loaned the copy I've gotten from a friend. I just couldn't get into the story despite wanting to. I don't think it helps that it's first person with a lead character called Claire. I'm Claire and that always throws me.

If the writing style is 'flowery' like they're trying to make a word count. Ridiculous words for body parts...I can't tolerate a 'love sheath', 'love pike', 'rod of love'....seriously. No. Bad. Bad. Bad.

~Jennifer~ wrote: "If the writing style is 'flowery' like they're trying to make a word count. Ridiculous words for body parts...I can't tolerate a 'love sheath', 'love pike', 'rod of love'....seriously. No. Bad. Bad..."

Or my personal fave...man lance *snicker*

lol I've seen that one too.

Nairabell wrote: "~Jennifer~ wrote: "If the writing style is 'flowery' like they're trying to make a word count. Ridiculous words for body parts...I can't tolerate a 'love sheath', 'love pike', 'rod of love'....seri..."
How can we forget----'throbbing member?'

Or Weeping core?

I don't ever put a book down. It might take me months to finish, but finish it I will! Don't know why I feel the need to finish books I start? But I won't let them defeat me ;P I already have more books I wanna read than time, so I really should learn not to waste my time on a book that doesn't do it for me. But I've sometimes discovered that books take a while to get going, and thereafter becomes amazing. Maybe I just wanna give 'em a chance? ARGH.... I don't know!!!! ;P

I've got to agree with Lethal Lovely on the butt secks thing. YUK. I'm not a huge fan of first person POV since I find it much harder to get into the story especially if that first person makes me want to smack her (or him, but it's usually her in PNR). I'm also not a fan of unrelenting dark, grim, angst, angst, angst. A little goes a long way.

Nanna -Danish Dhlite- wrote: "I don't ever put a book down. It might take me months to finish, but finish it I will! Don't know why I feel the need to finish books I start? But I won't let them defeat me ;P I already have more ..."
I hear you on that one, but sometimes, it's just so bad that I just can't.

I can not handle the word 'cunt' being used to describe a woman's sexual organ. I was raised to think it was a bad word, and even though I know that the literal definition of the word is a woman's vagina, I can't get past it. I've pushed myself past it sometimes, just replacing the word in my head with something easier for me to swallow, but sometimes (especially if the story line just isn't great.)I can't get past it. I also agree with a lot of the other terms used previously in this discussion but for obvious different reasons. When I'm reading a book that uses a term like 'rod of love' I just burst out laughing and can't get into it again.

I have to go with boring. I will give a boring book about 100 pages but if I am starting to think about the dishes in the sink it's time to put the book down for good.

Nikka wrote: "I can not handle the word 'cunt' being used to describe a woman's sexual organ. I was raised to think it was a bad word, and even though I know that the literal definition of the word is a woman's ..."

Nikka, I feel the same way about the word "pussy". Cunt doesn't bother me that much, oddly enough, but I feel like "pussy" is such a dirty word-& not a good dirty. I'm also like that about "cock". It sounds like the sound someone would make when their getting ready to hock a loogie.

really irritating characters, not necessarily TSTL but just irritating. the most recent book that i just could not tolerate was Shadowland and i know that lots of people adore this series, but seriously? first the characters name is ever. yes, ever. and second she is super irritating. shes a teenager so by definition shes basically TSTL, but still. i cannot get over what a dumb name she has and how everything about her and the story just makes me want to literally rip the book apart and burn it and then punch the author. sorry, man it feels good to get that all out *steps off soapbox now*

Jennifer wrote: "really irritating characters, not necessarily TSTL but just irritating. the most recent book that i just could not tolerate was Shadowland and i know that lots of people adore this s..."

I actually liked the first two books in that series, but when I got to Shadowland, I couldn't even finish the book. I had to look up to see what TSTL meant :P, but I agree with you. Plus, it was the third book in the series and the story line was going absolutely nowhere.

Sheri wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "really irritating characters, not necessarily TSTL but just irritating. the most recent book that i just could not tolerate was Shadowland and i know that lots of pe..."

i really liked the first book, thought the second was just ok but i was still interested, but when i got to shadowland enough was enough. im glad im not the only one who felt that way about it though! (i had to look up TSTL the first time i saw it too!)

I very rarely put down a book! I usually attempt to force myself through, which I managed with Stephen King's It and Christopher Moore's Wicked.

There have been two recently that I had to walk away from. The first was Dead is the New Black. I tried for a few days to get into it, but it was just way too young or something for me. The other was Amulet by S. Wolf. That one was just way too much information on girls "taking care of" themselves and other girls with no additional story line presenting itself.

A book has to be super bad for me to put down. I finish even the bad ones as I too keep hoping it will get better. Some just never do. And then I rant that I wasted money on the crap. Boring is key, bad writing is the lock.

I will read a book because I brought it and feels like because I did not read it, it would be a waste of my money and I hope that the story will get better. I read one book at a time instead of adding the whole series to my TBR list encase I don't like the first book. What is 'TSTL'and or where can I look to find out what it means? :-)

Anika wrote: "I will read a book because I brought it and feels like because I did not read it, it would be a waste of my money and I hope that the story will get better. I read one book at a time instead of ad..."

TSTL = too stupid to live :)

I have a hard time just putting a book down. Even when I'm bored to death with the story, I have a need to get to the end to find out where the story was going. If after a few hundred pages, I just know that I'm getting close to wanting to stop reading, I'll start skimming ahead and finally just read the end. Technically, I've finished the book. I just might have skipped most of it to get to the end.

The biggest turnoffs for me are dull characters or pointless story lines. I have had a few books where I hated what was happening with the main characters, but that was just personal choice and not any indication of poor writing.

I just started a book recently, it was a historical where the hero pretty much forces himself on her. She was saying no and thinking this is wrong, this is a sin but of course she lets him have his way, and they JUST met that day. And of course he claims her as his and tells her they will be together and he is already in love with her. I like a little more build up to the romance. I want to see them fall in love. I couldn't finish it.

I don't blame you.