How many books have you currently started but not finished? - Page 3

jtdolphins · 06-07-2011, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyndslash

i'm thinking of reading Asimov. Got any recommendations?

I going to second starting with Caves of Steel, followed by his other Robot stories. Naked Sun being very good. I like the Foundation a lot, but I think his Robot stories are better. I also liked his Norby books too.

If you like pulp stories. I would also recommend picking up a collection of pulp SF. You can find some Asimov gems in there along with other great stories. Youth by Asimov is 0.99 on Amazon, its a pulp story so short.

Back to the OP. I have only abandon 3 books, which like others equals finished in my book. I don't like doing it so a book has to have a serous problem with it.

The first wheel of time book by Robert Jordan
Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
Luthien's Gamble by R. A. Salvator

wyndslash · 06-07-2011, 09:28 AM

@jt: thanks

i'll pick up caves of steel from the uni lib, and if i like it i'll buy from amazon

but do you ever get the urge, like maybe a year later, to try and finish?

jtdolphins · 06-07-2011, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyndslash

but do you ever get the urge, like maybe a year later, to try and finish?

If I don't finish a book, then its been building for awhile. Or there was something that really bothered me.

For example in Lost Symbol, I was reading it and thinking this is just like the previous book. Then the main character said that he thought the adventure was just like the previous one. I wasn't enjoying the book anyway, but that was the nail in the coffin.

For Luthien's Gambit it was the fact the hero kept losing this special sword and getting back! The last straw was when he dropped in the bottom of a deep lake or something to that effect. Its been a long time since I read it. This was book 2 of a trilogy, so I didn't drop it quick.

wyndslash · 06-07-2011, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtdolphins

If I don't finish a book, then its been building for awhile. Or there was something that really bothered me.

For example in Lost Symbol, I was reading it and thinking this is just like the previous book. Then the main character said that he thought the adventure was just like the previous one. I wasn't enjoying the book anyway, but that was the nail in the coffin.

at least the character himself admitted it?

though it sounds so weird...

i do get pissed off with authors who churn out work after work with sometimes little added value. but hey, it's their right to sell whatever they want. i don't have to buy it xD

astra · 06-07-2011, 09:52 AM

I have 6 unfinished books but I regret reading another dozen or so.

mbovenka · 06-07-2011, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyndslash

At the moment it's five for me.

Just one; I tend to either read books all the way through, or abandon them completely. But I have Keith Laumer's 'Collected Works' on the back burner at the moment.

It's a huge book (a 7 MB Mobi, almost 100.000 'Locations' on my Kindle, and almost 7000 pages according to the Pagecount Calibre plugin) and after three quarters of it I really needed to read something else, much as I like Laumer.

astra · 06-07-2011, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbovenka

Just one; I tend to either read books all the way through, or abandon them completely

Maybe I misunderstand the question then.
My unfinished books are given up once and for all.
I never intend to come back. Too many good books are out there to waste time and persist.

wyndslash · 06-07-2011, 10:21 AM

@astra: no, no misunderstandings

this was intended to spur discussion on unfinished books

Sweetpea · 06-07-2011, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

Maybe I misunderstand the question then.
My unfinished books are given up once and for all.
I never intend to come back. Too many good books are out there to waste time and persist.

Apparently, I misunderstood the question then

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyndslash

@astra: no, no misunderstandings

this was intended to spur discussion on unfinished books

An unfinished book in my dictionary is a book that I haven't finished yet. Not one that I will never finish. Those are abandoned. And I can't remember one book I didn't start and never ever finished or will never finish... But I do have a few books that I started over a year ago and still haven't finished yet.

Pomtroll · 06-07-2011, 11:56 AM

I have been known to go back & finish some of the books in my "back burner" collection. But if I don't get to it within a year I delete it. I don't keep many books on my readers. And most of them get deleted once I've read them.

lestatar · 06-07-2011, 12:05 PM

^ this. I know myself. For sure, I must to learn the discipline on my Kindle3 to do just as you do - I am a digital pack rat of the highest order.

anamardoll · 06-07-2011, 01:40 PM

What a good thread! I'm currently stalled on "One Nation Under Sex". It's been incredibly interesting, and I *do* want to finish, but I kind of got distracted during the Harding administration and it's been weeks since I picked the book up again.

I'm also stuck halfway through "A Series of Unfortunate Events". I love the series so far, but I'm at Book 7 and it's really starting to make me sad. I should have heeded the Snicket Warning Label.

shanghaichica · 06-07-2011, 03:42 PM

I have 2 but I fully intend to finish both of them. One of the best things about having an ereader for me is that if I start a book and don't fancy finishing it at that point I can leaver it, select another book from my collection straight away and then come back to that first books months later and it will remember my page.

calail · 06-07-2011, 09:13 PM

zero! well, officially, i guess one since i'm currently reading it. i MUST finish a book i start, and i can't read more than a single book at a time. although, i'm a new Kindle owner, so that may change in the future (much easier than carrying multiple books around).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pomtroll

...I finished Dune because I had to read it again for my book club. Glad I did because I got a whole new perspective reading it this time.. I first read it in the early 1970s.

oooh, i might have to re-read that book. LOVED it the first time around.

dwig · 06-07-2011, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

I forgot that I have Dubliners ripped to audio -- I've listened to a few of the stories, but have several to go...

IMHO, short story collections are a bit of a different animal than single story tomes.

I currently have 4 partially read collections in my queue. I will bounce between them as the mood strikes, though I read an individual story (or "section" in the case of the complete Celebrated Crimes by Dumas that I'm reading) to completion.

I often put the book aside after reading one story and read something else next, going back the the first book at some later time. I have 2 SF collections, a history collection (the Dumas), and a mystery collection in partially read states. Often one of the "in progress" books is some old pulp magazine. I like frequent changes of scenery (read: genre) so I bounce around.

I have only one suspended book in my stack at present which I may or may not resume.

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06-07-2011, 09:28 AM	#32
wyndslash Wizard Posts: 2,951 Karma: 3000001 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Kindle 3 wifi, Kindle Fire	@jt: thanks i'll pick up caves of steel from the uni lib, and if i like it i'll buy from amazon but do you ever get the urge, like maybe a year later, to try and finish?

06-07-2011, 09:52 AM	#35
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	I have 6 unfinished books but I regret reading another dozen or so.

06-07-2011, 10:21 AM	#38
wyndslash Wizard Posts: 2,951 Karma: 3000001 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Kindle 3 wifi, Kindle Fire	@astra: no, no misunderstandings this was intended to spur discussion on unfinished books

06-07-2011, 11:56 AM	#40
Pomtroll Guru Posts: 822 Karma: 1341819 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minnesota USA Device: Sony 350, Sony T1, Kindle Touch, Kindle PW1	I have been known to go back & finish some of the books in my "back burner" collection. But if I don't get to it within a year I delete it. I don't keep many books on my readers. And most of them get deleted once I've read them.

06-07-2011, 12:05 PM	#41
lestatar LB's lolz Mutt Minion Posts: 2,902 Karma: 5700001 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Hong Kong now but NYC forever Device: Kindle3, GalaxyTab, BB Bold9700, BB 8300, Sony Clie, Palm Vx, Palm III	^ this. I know myself. For sure, I must to learn the discipline on my Kindle3 to do just as you do - I am a digital pack rat of the highest order.

06-07-2011, 01:40 PM	#42
anamardoll Chasing Butterflies Posts: 3,132 Karma: 5074169 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: American Southwest Device: Uses batteries.	What a good thread! I'm currently stalled on "One Nation Under Sex". It's been incredibly interesting, and I do want to finish, but I kind of got distracted during the Harding administration and it's been weeks since I picked the book up again. I'm also stuck halfway through "A Series of Unfortunate Events". I love the series so far, but I'm at Book 7 and it's really starting to make me sad. I should have heeded the Snicket Warning Label.

06-07-2011, 03:42 PM	#43
shanghaichica Guru Posts: 991 Karma: 5782970 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Scribe,Kindle Oasis 3, iPad Pro 11,15 Pro Max,iPad mini 7,colorsoft	I have 2 but I fully intend to finish both of them. One of the best things about having an ereader for me is that if I start a book and don't fancy finishing it at that point I can leaver it, select another book from my collection straight away and then come back to that first books months later and it will remember my page.