Ever put down a book because you were afraid of what would happen?

dynabook · 01-25-2016, 03:53 PM

I have tried to read "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" but only got to the point in which she was picked up to be taken to a manor as a governess/nurse(?).

I have an impression from somewhere that something bad happens to her and I am so invested in her well-being that I can't read further.

Does this happen to you or do you say "It is only fiction, I will continue"?

I have had this happen to me with others books but managed to keep on with a feeling of dread. Maybe I am not as invested in the character or I feel it will turn out okay in the end. But Thomas Hardy takes no prisoners.
--MH

eschwartz · 01-25-2016, 04:35 PM

The purpose of a fiction book is to watch the main character suffer.

Okay, not really. Only sometimes.
But if it is the type of story that doesn't have a happy ending, presumably you started reading it because you wanted that.

Freeshadow · 01-25-2016, 06:09 PM

Nope never. As eli said. It's the suffering we learn from rom and grow through.

Phogg · 01-25-2016, 06:59 PM

I generally dump books if they wander into graphic sex.

FizzyWater · 01-25-2016, 07:02 PM

Back when Mary Stewart's Arthurian Saga was being released, I stopped and never did read the fourth book (The Wicked Day). I don't read lots of fantasy and only knew the most basic details of the legend of Arthur. If I'm remembering who's who correctly, Stewart made Mordred so sympathetic, I couldn't stand to read the next step (where he turns into the villain of the piece).

I'm also pretty sure I have a few books that are 1 or 2 in a trilogy that I never did read because I was collecting them to read the entire series at a go, and I heard it ended up going in a direction I knew I wouldn't have liked.

4691mls · 01-25-2016, 07:22 PM

This reminds me of the TV show "Friends" when Rachel and Joey put the books they were reading in the freezer because they were afraid of what was about to happen. Maybe the OP can try that

DiapDealer · 01-25-2016, 07:56 PM

I'm more likely to put a book down when there IS no fear of what might happen.

elaysee · 01-25-2016, 09:10 PM

I had Barbara Hambly's last three Winterlands novels on my TBR shelf for 15 years after hearing about a central plot thread and just not wanting to go there at that time in my life. From there they grew into The Books I Dread in a ridiculous fashion.

Minor spoiler, wouldn't demolish the whole series, but you mightn't want to know if you haven't read 'em and plan to:

Spoiler:

eschwartz · 01-25-2016, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I'm more likely to put a book down when there IS no fear of what might happen.

How boring.

Rbneader · 01-25-2016, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phogg

I generally dump books if they wander into graphic sex.

Me too. If I wanted that, I wouldn't be reading a book.

I also quit books that are too depressing. If everyone is a slimeball and everything is horrible I get bored. Or if the same thing happens over and over to certain characters.

Purple prose doesn't always result in putting the book down, but it does always result in me mocking it.

barryem · 01-25-2016, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dynabook

I have tried to read "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" but only got to the point in which she was picked up to be taken to a manor as a governess/nurse(?).

I have an impression from somewhere that something bad happens to her and I am so invested in her well-being that I can't read further.

Does this happen to you or do you say "It is only fiction, I will continue"?

I have had this happen to me with others books but managed to keep on with a feeling of dread. Maybe I am not as invested in the character or I feel it will turn out okay in the end. But Thomas Hardy takes no prisoners.
--MH

I read "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" decades ago and I remember that feeling very well. I'm sure I put the book down a few times but I always picked it back up.

I will tell you this: that book is worth suffering through. It's an amazing and powerful and beautifully written story. And yes, something bad is about to happen but it gets even worse down the line.

Stop if you have to but not for too long. This isn't a book you want to miss.

Barry

Turtle91 · 01-26-2016, 01:09 AM

I don't care for the scary suspense type books, but I have stopped progressing in a series that I absolutely love because I don't want it to ... end. A 36 book 'series' that I've read 35 of, multiple times. And I can/will read them again...but if I ever read that last one...

BTW, I have the book, wanted to support the author. It's called Magician's End.

eschwartz · 01-26-2016, 01:42 AM

How odd. The last few Riftwar books utterly disgusted me, which is why I haven't finished the series yet.

Of course, the Empire Trilogy is still one of my favorite series' out there.

HarryT · 01-26-2016, 03:03 AM

Probably not a good idea even start a Thomas Hardy book if you don't want anything bad to happen to the protagonist. One thing you can be certain of with Hardy is that the protagonist will not "live happily ever after"

. He or she will end up miserable, depressed, dead, or some combination of the above.

For goodness sake don't read Hardy's "Jude the Obscure". Has to be the most depressing book ever written

.

DiapDealer · 01-26-2016, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I'm more likely to put a book down when there IS no fear of what might happen.

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

How boring.

Huh-what?

01-25-2016, 03:53 PM	#1
dynabook Techno-geek Posts: 225 Karma: 1116651 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: PRS-T1 (Black), PRS-T3S (Black), Kobo Aura ONE	Ever put down a book because you were afraid of what would happen? I have tried to read "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" but only got to the point in which she was picked up to be taken to a manor as a governess/nurse(?). I have an impression from somewhere that something bad happens to her and I am so invested in her well-being that I can't read further. Does this happen to you or do you say "It is only fiction, I will continue"? I have had this happen to me with others books but managed to keep on with a feeling of dread. Maybe I am not as invested in the character or I feel it will turn out okay in the end. But Thomas Hardy takes no prisoners. --MH Last edited by dynabook; 01-25-2016 at 03:55 PM. Reason: Typo

01-25-2016, 09:10 PM	#8
elaysee Groupie Posts: 167 Karma: 1319590 Join Date: Jun 2012 Device: iPad/MapleRead	I had Barbara Hambly's last three Winterlands novels on my TBR shelf for 15 years after hearing about a central plot thread and just not wanting to go there at that time in my life. From there they grew into The Books I Dread in a ridiculous fashion. Minor spoiler, wouldn't demolish the whole series, but you mightn't want to know if you haven't read 'em and plan to: Spoiler: The series involves demonic possession, and the influence from Hambly's marriage to a drug addict is quite apparent, in what happens to one of her viewpoint characters.

01-26-2016, 03:03 AM	#14
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Probably not a good idea even start a Thomas Hardy book if you don't want anything bad to happen to the protagonist. One thing you can be certain of with Hardy is that the protagonist will not "live happily ever after" . He or she will end up miserable, depressed, dead, or some combination of the above. For goodness sake don't read Hardy's "Jude the Obscure". Has to be the most depressing book ever written . Last edited by HarryT; 01-26-2016 at 06:21 AM.

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01-25-2016, 04:35 PM	#2
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	The purpose of a fiction book is to watch the main character suffer. Okay, not really. Only sometimes. But if it is the type of story that doesn't have a happy ending, presumably you started reading it because you wanted that.

01-25-2016, 06:09 PM	#3
Freeshadow temp. out of service Posts: 2,818 Karma: 24285242 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Duisburg (DE) Device: PB 623	Nope never. As eli said. It's the suffering we learn from rom and grow through.

01-25-2016, 06:59 PM	#4
Phogg PHD in Horribleness Posts: 2,320 Karma: 23599604 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: In the ironbound section, near avenue L Device: Just a whole bunch. I guess I am a collector now.	I generally dump books if they wander into graphic sex.

01-25-2016, 07:02 PM	#5
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	Back when Mary Stewart's Arthurian Saga was being released, I stopped and never did read the fourth book (The Wicked Day). I don't read lots of fantasy and only knew the most basic details of the legend of Arthur. If I'm remembering who's who correctly, Stewart made Mordred so sympathetic, I couldn't stand to read the next step (where he turns into the villain of the piece). I'm also pretty sure I have a few books that are 1 or 2 in a trilogy that I never did read because I was collecting them to read the entire series at a go, and I heard it ended up going in a direction I knew I wouldn't have liked.

01-25-2016, 07:22 PM	#6
4691mls Wizard Posts: 2,776 Karma: 30081762 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: US Device: ALL DEVICES ARE STOCK: Kobo Clara, Tolino Shine 2, Sony PRS-T3, T1	This reminds me of the TV show "Friends" when Rachel and Joey put the books they were reading in the freezer because they were afraid of what was about to happen. Maybe the OP can try that

01-25-2016, 07:56 PM	#7
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,882 Karma: 207000000 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	I'm more likely to put a book down when there IS no fear of what might happen.

01-26-2016, 01:09 AM	#12
Turtle91 A Hairy Wizard Posts: 3,395 Karma: 20212733 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Charleston, SC today Device: iPhone 15/11/X/6/iPad 1,2,Air & Air Pro/Surface Pro/Kindle PW & Fire	I don't care for the scary suspense type books, but I have stopped progressing in a series that I absolutely love because I don't want it to ... end. A 36 book 'series' that I've read 35 of, multiple times. And I can/will read them again...but if I ever read that last one... BTW, I have the book, wanted to support the author. It's called Magician's End.

01-26-2016, 01:42 AM	#13
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	How odd. The last few Riftwar books utterly disgusted me, which is why I haven't finished the series yet. Of course, the Empire Trilogy is still one of my favorite series' out there.