Do you keep reading.... - Page 4

Geekette70 · 12-05-2010, 02:00 AM

If I'm having issues getting into a book, I usually go back and reread reviews on it before I continue. Sometimes I can get a clue if it's worth sticking it out for in the reviews (esp the negative ones.) For example, if the negative reviews almost all mention that they stopped reading early, I might give it some more time. Or say, if the negative reviewers have reviewed other books I've read and have had similar opinions, I will probably drop it.

It may take 15-20 minutes of research to make a decision, but I rationalize that it can saves hours of reading where I could be enjoying myself instead with a good book.

One book that this method worked well for me on was "The Assassin's Apprentice" by Robin Hobb. Honestly, the first chapter or two of that book was extremely irritating (it may have been my mood, who knows?) and I really wasn't enjoying it, but after rereading some of the reviews online I decided to plod on and it turned out to be one of my favorite series of fantasy novels ever.

lila55 · 12-05-2010, 02:51 AM

If a book does not start speaking to me after 50 or 100 pages, I put it aside.

If it is, according to public opinion, a "good" book, I will try to pick it up again after a while and have another go at it - maybe my disliking it the first time had only been a mood thing. Then, if it still does not work, it means the book (however much literary value it might have) and I are just not compatible.

Books are (I think) like people - some you get along with and some you don't, regardless how great or good or nice they might be.

caleb72 · 12-05-2010, 03:10 AM

For me it depends. If I think I'm just not ready to read that book I'll put it aside and make a mental note to try again later. I got that with Midnight's Children and I'll definitely go back to it and give it another go.

However, there are those that there's just no way I was going to finish and had no intention of giving another go. Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell for example. I held on for a couple hundred pages and then dumped it like a used dishrag.

Recently, I did bypass Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness because I found the first few pages to be painful to read, but I will go back to that one.

Regards
Caleb

pchrist7 · 12-05-2010, 03:37 AM

For me it depends, like so many others here.
My mood, concentration might not be there for certain books, but then I'll return later.
It's very seldom that I just kill a book.
Normally I read one book at a time. Then again, I'm a man. ( You know no multitasking capabilities etc, according to some ;-D )

Latinandgreek · 12-05-2010, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geekette70

If I'm having issues getting into a book, I usually go back and reread reviews on it before I continue. Sometimes I can get a clue if it's worth sticking it out for in the reviews (esp the negative ones.) For example, if the negative reviews almost all mention that they stopped reading early, I might give it some more time. Or say, if the negative reviewers have reviewed other books I've read and have had similar opinions, I will probably drop it.

It may take 15-20 minutes of research to make a decision, but I rationalize that it can saves hours of reading where I could be enjoying myself instead with a good book.

One book that this method worked well for me on was "The Assassin's Apprentice" by Robin Hobb. Honestly, the first chapter or two of that book was extremely irritating (it may have been my mood, who knows?) and I really wasn't enjoying it, but after rereading some of the reviews online I decided to plod on and it turned out to be one of my favorite series of fantasy novels ever.

I like your method.

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12-05-2010, 02:00 AM	#46
Geekette70 Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Irving, TX Device: 2 Kindle 3 WiFi's and a Nook WiFi	If I'm having issues getting into a book, I usually go back and reread reviews on it before I continue. Sometimes I can get a clue if it's worth sticking it out for in the reviews (esp the negative ones.) For example, if the negative reviews almost all mention that they stopped reading early, I might give it some more time. Or say, if the negative reviewers have reviewed other books I've read and have had similar opinions, I will probably drop it. It may take 15-20 minutes of research to make a decision, but I rationalize that it can saves hours of reading where I could be enjoying myself instead with a good book. One book that this method worked well for me on was "The Assassin's Apprentice" by Robin Hobb. Honestly, the first chapter or two of that book was extremely irritating (it may have been my mood, who knows?) and I really wasn't enjoying it, but after rereading some of the reviews online I decided to plod on and it turned out to be one of my favorite series of fantasy novels ever.

12-05-2010, 02:51 AM	#47
lila55 Fanatic Posts: 595 Karma: 456534 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Stuttgart, Germany Device: PocketBook 360° , iPhone 5, PRS-650, Sony PRS-T2, Sony PRS-T3, Tolino	If a book does not start speaking to me after 50 or 100 pages, I put it aside. If it is, according to public opinion, a "good" book, I will try to pick it up again after a while and have another go at it - maybe my disliking it the first time had only been a mood thing. Then, if it still does not work, it means the book (however much literary value it might have) and I are just not compatible. Books are (I think) like people - some you get along with and some you don't, regardless how great or good or nice they might be.

12-05-2010, 03:10 AM	#48
caleb72 Indie Advocate Posts: 2,863 Karma: 18794463 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: Kindle	For me it depends. If I think I'm just not ready to read that book I'll put it aside and make a mental note to try again later. I got that with Midnight's Children and I'll definitely go back to it and give it another go. However, there are those that there's just no way I was going to finish and had no intention of giving another go. Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell for example. I held on for a couple hundred pages and then dumped it like a used dishrag. Recently, I did bypass Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness because I found the first few pages to be painful to read, but I will go back to that one. Regards Caleb

12-05-2010, 03:37 AM	#49
pchrist7 Addict Posts: 385 Karma: 6514 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3 3G+Wifi, Oasis	For me it depends, like so many others here. My mood, concentration might not be there for certain books, but then I'll return later. It's very seldom that I just kill a book. Normally I read one book at a time. Then again, I'm a man. ( You know no multitasking capabilities etc, according to some ;-D )

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