Do you finish all the books that you start?

socal9 · 09-19-2010, 12:02 AM

I was just wondering how many of you finish all the books that you start reading. When I was younger, I would start reading many books but would leave quite a lot unfinished because either I had some other things to do or I would get bored with the book. Now however I tend to try to finish whatever book I started reading. When the book doesn't seem to interest me greatly, I keep reading in hopes that I may find something of value to me later in the book. (I must add here that I try to read books that have gotten generally good reviews).

Recently however I stopped reading a book about 15% through because the writing seemed like it was for teenagers and I couldn't believe some of the situations that turned up in the book.

Was wondering how all of you handled your reading. Do you finish what you started or if not, how much of a chance do you give it? 10%, 25% of the book?

jeffcobb · 09-19-2010, 12:47 AM

The only book I ever started and then quit was Cryptonomicon. Neil Stephenson I think. Its not that it was bad, I just could not get any interest traction on it. I may try it again some day; some folks I deeply respect have suggested it.

ficbot · 09-19-2010, 01:29 AM

I used to; I would feel guilty if I spent money and then did not finish, like I was not getting my money's worth on the book. Then someone on this forum said I should think about how my money was already wasted, did I want to waste my *time* too? And now I do not feel guilty about abandoning a book if it is not working for me

That happens less often now as I am much more careful about what I buy, of course

Fbone · 09-19-2010, 01:58 AM

Actually, I finish few books that I borrow from the library. It's one reason I dont purchase books. There's a 75% chance I wont like it and give up.

BSquaredInOz · 09-19-2010, 02:13 AM

No, life's too short to read something you're not enjoying (unless you have to for study or some other purpose like that). These days I am pretty good at selecting things I'm fairly sure I'll like but if I get it wrong I give up and move on to something else. If I'm unsure about a book or author I'll borrow from the library rather than spend money on it "just in case".

Cheers, Bernadette

Jellby · 09-19-2010, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by socal9

I was just wondering how many of you finish all the books that you start reading.

Do not wonder anymore, you have all the answers here.

patrickt · 09-19-2010, 04:50 AM

I don't finish all but it's rare that I can't make it through a book.

HarryT · 09-19-2010, 07:36 AM

Jellby has kindly provided a link to the previous discussion on the subject:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93397

Can we please continue the discussion there? There's no point in having duplicate threads.

Thanks!

Maggie Leung · 09-19-2010, 10:21 AM

Nope.

SeaBookGuy · 09-19-2010, 12:50 PM

I'm an avid library borrower and purchase very few books; so, I've had it happen that I've gotten out a few books here and there that I've known from the first page I wouldn't be able to get into, wishing I'd taken the trouble to look through the book more closely.

It's pained me the couple of times I've bailed on an audiobook after spending an Audible credit ($11) for it.

To answer your question, as a rough guess I'd say I bail on perhaps 10% of the books I start, perhaps slightly more.

jeffcobb · 09-19-2010, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BSquaredInOz

No, life's too short to read something you're not enjoying (unless you have to for study or some other purpose like that). These days I am pretty good at selecting things I'm fairly sure I'll like but if I get it wrong I give up and move on to something else. If I'm unsure about a book or author I'll borrow from the library rather than spend money on it "just in case".

Cheers, Bernadette

Bernadette;

A sad fact of my life is that as an engineer, I have to spend a disproportionate amount of my time reading/studying tech manuals to keep my skills current. This invariably involves a lot of starting and stopping in different sections of the same book and/or cross-referencing stuff in different books. The long and short of it is that I have less time than I would like for just pleasure reading so when I do get a chance, I do everything I can to finish a novel, even it is just mediocre. However even with the free time I have, the constant tech reading I have to do has noticeably take a lot of the joy of reading from me that I used to have since I was very young. One of the reasons I look forward to retirement (if and when it comes) is so I can get off the tech-study merry-go-round and just read for the fun of it.

Lemurion · 09-19-2010, 04:42 PM

Nope. If I don't like something I'll read something else. I don't have the time to read books I don't enjoy.

bobavey · 09-20-2010, 02:01 PM

I've started a few books that I did not finish, but that doesn't usually happen. Usually I can tell within the first few paragraphs whether or not I'm going to like a book.

crich70 · 09-20-2010, 02:07 PM

I tried reading "Cat's Cradle" once. Couldn't make heads or tails of it and gave up. I try to finish what I start reading, even if it is some time after I started. At least with ebooks the bookmarks can't get lost. lol.

ChaseKR · 09-20-2010, 07:08 PM

I'm guilty of this every once in a while, most recently with "Player Piano" by Kurt Vonnegut. It may be the only book of his I try reading.

09-19-2010, 12:02 AM	#1
socal9 Member Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southern California Device: waiting for kindle	Do you finish all the books that you start? I was just wondering how many of you finish all the books that you start reading. When I was younger, I would start reading many books but would leave quite a lot unfinished because either I had some other things to do or I would get bored with the book. Now however I tend to try to finish whatever book I started reading. When the book doesn't seem to interest me greatly, I keep reading in hopes that I may find something of value to me later in the book. (I must add here that I try to read books that have gotten generally good reviews). Recently however I stopped reading a book about 15% through because the writing seemed like it was for teenagers and I couldn't believe some of the situations that turned up in the book. Was wondering how all of you handled your reading. Do you finish what you started or if not, how much of a chance do you give it? 10%, 25% of the book?

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09-19-2010, 12:47 AM	#2
jeffcobb Groupie Posts: 152 Karma: 700 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Las Vegas Device: Nook, CoolER	The only book I ever started and then quit was Cryptonomicon. Neil Stephenson I think. Its not that it was bad, I just could not get any interest traction on it. I may try it again some day; some folks I deeply respect have suggested it.

09-19-2010, 01:29 AM	#3
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	I used to; I would feel guilty if I spent money and then did not finish, like I was not getting my money's worth on the book. Then someone on this forum said I should think about how my money was already wasted, did I want to waste my time too? And now I do not feel guilty about abandoning a book if it is not working for me That happens less often now as I am much more careful about what I buy, of course

09-19-2010, 01:58 AM	#4
Fbone Is that a sandwich? Posts: 8,280 Karma: 101696762 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	Actually, I finish few books that I borrow from the library. It's one reason I dont purchase books. There's a 75% chance I wont like it and give up.

09-19-2010, 02:13 AM	#5
BSquaredInOz Member Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Adelaide, Australia Device: Sony PRS-650	No, life's too short to read something you're not enjoying (unless you have to for study or some other purpose like that). These days I am pretty good at selecting things I'm fairly sure I'll like but if I get it wrong I give up and move on to something else. If I'm unsure about a book or author I'll borrow from the library rather than spend money on it "just in case". Cheers, Bernadette

09-19-2010, 04:50 AM	#7
patrickt Wizard Posts: 1,221 Karma: 8381518 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico Device: Paperwhite 4 X 2	I don't finish all but it's rare that I can't make it through a book.

09-19-2010, 07:36 AM	#8
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Jellby has kindly provided a link to the previous discussion on the subject: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93397 Can we please continue the discussion there? There's no point in having duplicate threads. Thanks!

09-19-2010, 10:21 AM	#9
Maggie Leung Wizard Posts: 1,449 Karma: 58383 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: Kindle, iPad	Nope.

09-19-2010, 12:50 PM	#10
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,029 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	I'm an avid library borrower and purchase very few books; so, I've had it happen that I've gotten out a few books here and there that I've known from the first page I wouldn't be able to get into, wishing I'd taken the trouble to look through the book more closely. It's pained me the couple of times I've bailed on an audiobook after spending an Audible credit ($11) for it. To answer your question, as a rough guess I'd say I bail on perhaps 10% of the books I start, perhaps slightly more.

09-19-2010, 04:42 PM	#12
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	Nope. If I don't like something I'll read something else. I don't have the time to read books I don't enjoy.

09-20-2010, 02:01 PM	#13
bobavey Bob Avey Posts: 117 Karma: 501082 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Broken Arrow, OK Device: none	I've started a few books that I did not finish, but that doesn't usually happen. Usually I can tell within the first few paragraphs whether or not I'm going to like a book.

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09-20-2010, 02:07 PM	#14
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,310 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	I tried reading "Cat's Cradle" once. Couldn't make heads or tails of it and gave up. I try to finish what I start reading, even if it is some time after I started. At least with ebooks the bookmarks can't get lost. lol.

09-20-2010, 07:08 PM	#15
ChaseKR Connoisseur Posts: 85 Karma: 12 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle 4 Touch, iPad 1 3G	I'm guilty of this every once in a while, most recently with "Player Piano" by Kurt Vonnegut. It may be the only book of his I try reading.