Do you finish every book you start? - Page 3

Rich_D · 08-04-2010, 07:17 PM

I'll give it a chance but I'll know after a chapter or two if it is worth my time.

banjobama · 08-04-2010, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

If I make it through the first chapter, I will finish it. I have had too many books redeem themselves at the end to quit.

This makes me want to go back and read all my abandoned books.

Solicitous · 08-04-2010, 07:46 PM

I finish every book I start, though not always in one sitting. I might put it down and come back to it a month or two later and finish it. Some books are bad, but I am not one person who can leave a story unfinished.

Guns4Hire · 08-04-2010, 08:13 PM

While I finish every book I start, I may have to come back to it. Lot a times if a book languishing or boring to me I will put it away and read something else. Then come back to it a few weeks later. 90% of the time the book is fine after that. It turned out not to be the book but was something to do with me. The other 10% I find its the book.

Lady Fitzgerald · 08-04-2010, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

If I make it through the first chapter, I will finish it. I have had too many books redeem themselves at the end to quit.

That's why I will stay with a book to at least 1/3 to 1/2 of the way through. However, even if the last chapter were to prove to be positively stunning, having to read through that much bad book just wouldn't be worth it.

MartinParish · 08-04-2010, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by banjobama

I don't.

If it's not holding my interest after, at most, halfway through, I don't spend any more time on it.

I finish nearly everything I start...unless it's so downright terrible I can't endure it anymore.

Fbone · 08-04-2010, 10:41 PM

I just quit reading Live Free or Die by John Ringo.

There was only death if I continued reading that book.

It was my first Baen book.

ATDrake · 08-04-2010, 11:36 PM

There's a reason why there's a meme that goes "OH JOHN RINGO NO", and it sounds like you've just encountered it.

But there's plenty of good stuff at Baen. I suggest trying Lois McMaster Bujold. She's got a really nice novella up at the Free Library.

Or Rick Cook if you like light comedy with computer programming in it.

Sweetpea · 08-05-2010, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald

That's why I will stay with a book to at least 1/3 to 1/2 of the way through. However, even if the last chapter were to prove to be positively stunning, having to read through that much bad book just wouldn't be worth it.

Once, I picked a book from my parent's shelve. I was somewhere between 10-15. I started reading the book, but just couldn't get to the half-way point. A few months later, I tried again. Same result. Only at the third try did I finish the book. It's one of my most favourite books of all. One of those that I'll try to find a hardcover as soon as our lounge is done (which means I'll have bought four copies of it, paperback, ebook, audiobook and finally hardcover, five if you count the mini-series that was made from it).

The book was Shogun by James Clavell.

astra · 08-05-2010, 04:25 AM

If a book doesn't appeal to me I quit. I give it a fair chance, 1/3 to 1/2 of the book. I must admit I rarely do it. Then again, I never ever buy on impulse. I always do a good research before I acquire a book.
I have checked my Goodreads bookshelves. There are approximately 300 books and only 6 are marked as unfinished. Although, to be honest, there is a dozen of books I was not supposed to read. It was a waste of time

I deeply regret of reading them, when I could enjoy their betters.

DDHarriman · 08-05-2010, 05:44 AM

No

If the book begins to not interest me anymore, away it goes and the next one comes along for reading…

I read mostly for pleasure and no way I will be getting myself out of that just “because” I feel “obliged” too…

stargazertony · 08-05-2010, 06:56 AM

The author has about 10 pages to hook me. If not, then the book's gone.

Quake1028 · 08-05-2010, 11:26 AM

Wow, 10 pages is harsh. That's like giving a TV show about a minute to hook you in

.

PG4003 · 08-05-2010, 11:40 AM

I don't finish every book I start. I even created a Collection on my Kindle that's called "Reading/Abandoned" and I put unfinished books there. Sometimes it's a story that I'm just not in the mood for at the time and I'll go back to it.

nursedude · 08-05-2010, 11:58 AM

I give each book a fair chance but if it hasn't really caught my attention by the time I'm halfway in I shelve it for a while. I may come back to it at some point but then again I may not.

View Poll Results: Do you finish reading every book you start reading?
Yes. I finish a book no matter what.	38	20.99%
No. I'll leave a book unfinished.	139	76.80%
Go away.	4	2.21%
Voters: 181. You may not vote on this poll

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Mercury Falls "is a blast from start to finish"	robkroese	Self-Promotions by Authors and Publishers	34	10-26-2010 03:34 PM
Do you finish all the books that you start?	socal9	General Discussions	29	09-24-2010 07:25 PM
Do you finish reading every book you start reading?	JSWolf	General Discussions	56	08-12-2010 05:52 PM
What book(s) did you finish even though you didn't like it?	Ea	Lounge	79	03-10-2009 05:40 PM
What do you do after you finish reading a book?	TheEternalVortex	Lounge	12	04-25-2008 02:12 PM

08-04-2010, 07:17 PM	#31
Rich_D Fanatic Posts: 581 Karma: 1314896 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA Device: Android phone, Kobo Glo HD, nook ST with Glo (backup)	I'll give it a chance but I'll know after a chapter or two if it is worth my time.

08-04-2010, 07:46 PM	#33
Solicitous Wizard Posts: 1,434 Karma: 1525776 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: TAS, Australia Device: Astak Pocket Pro (Black), 2 x Kindle WiFi (Graphite), iPod Touch 4G	I finish every book I start, though not always in one sitting. I might put it down and come back to it a month or two later and finish it. Some books are bad, but I am not one person who can leave a story unfinished.

08-04-2010, 08:13 PM	#34
Guns4Hire Reading...Since 1970 Posts: 610 Karma: 7819 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nova Air C, Nova Pro, LifebookMars, BoyueT62+ Glowlight, NST, PB360	While I finish every book I start, I may have to come back to it. Lot a times if a book languishing or boring to me I will put it away and read something else. Then come back to it a few weeks later. 90% of the time the book is fine after that. It turned out not to be the book but was something to do with me. The other 10% I find its the book.

08-04-2010, 10:41 PM	#37
Fbone Is that a sandwich? Posts: 8,189 Karma: 100500000 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	I just quit reading Live Free or Die by John Ringo. There was only death if I continued reading that book. It was my first Baen book.

08-04-2010, 11:36 PM	#38
ATDrake Wizzard Posts: 11,517 Karma: 33048258 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Roundworld Device: Kindle 2 International, Sony PRS-T1, BlackBerry PlayBook, Acer Iconia	There's a reason why there's a meme that goes "OH JOHN RINGO NO", and it sounds like you've just encountered it. But there's plenty of good stuff at Baen. I suggest trying Lois McMaster Bujold. She's got a really nice novella up at the Free Library. Or Rick Cook if you like light comedy with computer programming in it.

08-05-2010, 04:25 AM	#40
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	If a book doesn't appeal to me I quit. I give it a fair chance, 1/3 to 1/2 of the book. I must admit I rarely do it. Then again, I never ever buy on impulse. I always do a good research before I acquire a book. I have checked my Goodreads bookshelves. There are approximately 300 books and only 6 are marked as unfinished. Although, to be honest, there is a dozen of books I was not supposed to read. It was a waste of time I deeply regret of reading them, when I could enjoy their betters.

08-05-2010, 05:44 AM	#41
DDHarriman Guru Posts: 860 Karma: 4380 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Almada, Portugal Device: Cybook Gen3, Sony PRS 505, Kindle DXG and Samsung Galaxy Note	No If the book begins to not interest me anymore, away it goes and the next one comes along for reading… I read mostly for pleasure and no way I will be getting myself out of that just “because” I feel “obliged” too…

08-05-2010, 06:56 AM	#42
stargazertony Connoisseur Posts: 92 Karma: 906 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SouthWest Pensylvania Device: Kindle 3, iPod Touch, Pre-electronic devices	The author has about 10 pages to hook me. If not, then the book's gone.

08-05-2010, 11:26 AM	#43
Quake1028 Guru Posts: 917 Karma: 9155462 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Tampa, FL Device: See signature	Wow, 10 pages is harsh. That's like giving a TV show about a minute to hook you in .

08-05-2010, 11:40 AM	#44
PG4003 Addict Posts: 381 Karma: 987250 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Kentucky Device: Kindle PW I & II, Kindle Voyage, Fire HD 7", Fire HD 8.9"	I don't finish every book I start. I even created a Collection on my Kindle that's called "Reading/Abandoned" and I put unfinished books there. Sometimes it's a story that I'm just not in the mood for at the time and I'll go back to it.

Advert

Advert

08-05-2010, 11:58 AM	#45
nursedude Zealot Posts: 131 Karma: 17102 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo (Original), KT, iPad 1, iPhone 4S, iPad 3rd gen	I give each book a fair chance but if it hasn't really caught my attention by the time I'm halfway in I shelve it for a while. I may come back to it at some point but then again I may not.