Do you finish all the books that you start?

[SensualPoet]

I agree with ficbot [https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...6&postcount=3] on this: forget the cash out of pocket -- my time is more valuable. So, I give myself permission to "bail".

Still, something has to be pretty dreadful (to me) to quit part way through. If I am experiencing heavy weather, I will sometimes switch to something else for a few days. But if I've put something aside for, say, 30 days, odds are low I will ever return to it.

I've also been reading for a few years now ... so while I certainly try to stretch, I also have a reasonable idea if the synopsis or sample chapter appeals. I've probably bailed on 2 titles since re-discovering reading with my Kindle 2 in Nov 2009 .. and I've read about 50 books since. I can handle 4% "loss".

One final point: while I am not first in line to buy a $20 e-book, the law of averages is ok for me. My total ebook spend averages somewhere around $4 (some books free, some library books, some closer to $10 or occasionally more) ... so bailing even on an "expensive" title gets averaged in to what is overall a relatively inexpensive and very satisfying hobby: reading for pleasure.

[aagstn]

I finish 99% of the books I start and I have a bad habit of finishing something I'm not liking. A friend of mine just made this same argument that the time I am wasting reading a book I don't enjoy is much more valuable than the few dollars the book might have cost. I just have this weird mentality that I have to finish something I start and I always worry that I am bailing to soon and the book may turn around, but that rarely happens.

[crich70]

Interesting that I'm not the only one who has trouble with Kurt Vonnegut's books. He also wrote "Cat's Cradle." lol.

Originally Posted by ChaseKR

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.

[Boston]

Since I read for pleasure, I have no problem not finishing a book if it holds no interest. Sometimes if its been highly recommended, I'll put it down and give it another try later. If I still can't get into it, then its unlikely I will pick it up again.

In recent years, I do find myself finishing most of the books I start for two reasons:

- Online reviews at Amazon - I seldom buy a book nowadays without looking it up. I don't just look at the overall rating but also why people liked or didn't like a book (and compare it to what I like/dislike).

- ebooks - I find it much easier to skim through a book..often, I find books that I would normally put down do pick up once you get into them.

[matthewcplourde]

I very often don't finish a book... maybe I'm picky, maybe I'm lazy, maybe my hectic life keeps getting in the way.

I'm hoping my new iPad will make me a better reader - ie, my books are always with me on the plane, etc.

[Soldim]

Originally Posted by Jellby

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

Originally Posted by HarryT

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!

Hmm, I responded in the old thread. However, these are the kind of reactions one tends to see from older members in all kind of forums... 'We've discussed that a long time ago', 'We've had this poll in the far history' etc. Its difficult, for both sided, to define where's the fine line between welcoming and showing new members around and the 'now get of my lawn' type of reactions.

[Sandra Edwards]

No. If I don't like something (and I'll admit, it's hard to grab my attention), I move on to the next book. Life is too short for me to keep reading and waiting for something to happen that pulls me into the story.

But that's just me ~

Sandy

[Zootoo]

I'd say I finish 99% of the books too. I'm pretty good at picking books that I like to read, generally if I buy one book by an author, I'll buy all their other books too. I like to read all genres except romance lol

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by ficbot

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

That's a great perspective. Thanks! I'll try to remember it next time I want to give up on a book and feel guilty. I usually slug it out to the very last page. One of the reasons I just added a Kindle to my ereader collection was the ease at which one can sample books with little "investment" in either money or time.

[Luke King]

I've noticed a disturbing tendency since getting my Kindle. I seem to give up on books a lot more often than I used to. Has anyone else noticed this with an ereader?

The other side of the coin may be that I'm a lot harder to impress than I used to be. I've just finished Neil Gaiman's "Neverwhere", which I found on the "most gripping books" list at goodreads.

It was a struggle. I really didn't get it. The character had nothing going for him, was spineless, and basically followed a group of women through a fantasy world that Gaiman kept undermining with dumb humour.

I was like, "Neh", as the Ys would say, though I'm sure there's plenty of people who'd disagree with me.

[amy.patkins]

I finish them all!

[marty888]

Once I realized that I'll never get to read all the books that I'd actually like, I gave up trying to finish something that was a slog.

[kebuzf]

I find myself giving a book the 100 page test
If it keeps my interest I'll finish it

if not...well, I'll peek at the ending and move on
Life's too short and there's too much left to read

[bthrowsnaill]

I always read before bed. The only reason that I haven't finished books is if I find that they are giving me nightmares. I didn't used to be this thin skinned, but lately I've had a few really vivid nightmares which have made me more cautious. Of course, these nightmares have been good inspiration for my writing, so it hasn't been all bad. But getting a good night's sleep is a prerequisite for a productive workday for me, so... Examples of nightmare inducing books for me lately: H.P. Lovecraft and some World War Two books that detail real(istic) combat experiences.
If I'm reading a book that I'm not enjoying, I do tend to skim through it to make sure it doesn't pickup later.

[Luke King]

Originally Posted by bthrowsnaill

I always read before bed. The only reason that I haven't finished books is if I find that they are giving me nightmares. I didn't used to be this thin skinned, but lately I've had a few really vivid nightmares which have made me more cautious.

At one stage I was reading so much that I used to dream of text.