Do you finish reading every book you start reading? - Page 3

ski_power · 08-06-2010, 12:46 PM

I've finished every book I started except War and Peace/Anna Karennina I don't remember which one(I was just 15 at that time), which I read only 2-3 pages of. So I'm considering that I never read the book. But in general, once I'm half way through some book I generally tend to finish it.
But on the flip side, I've not read a lot of books and I'm juststarting to renew my <insert words of confusion/chaos/[mindblank]>

HamsterRage · 08-06-2010, 01:07 PM

Off hand, I can only think of one novel, Conrad's Nostromo, where I felt that the ending really made the book. But it's not that I didn't like that book from the very beginning, it's a great from beginning to end.

So I find it hard to believe that there's likely to be many books out there that I don't like (or that are simply crappy books) at the beginning that are magically going to turn out to be wonderful (or even worth the time) because of the last few pages. I figure it's better to cut my losses as soon as I feel like a book's not working for me. There are lots of other books waiting for me.

TallMomof2 · 08-06-2010, 02:01 PM

The one book I can't get through right now is Spook Country by William Gibson. I'm about halfway through and just can't make myself go any further. This is the second or third time I've made it halfway through.

I probably don't finish about 10% of my books. I usually have about 4 or 5 books I'm reading at one time and if I can't make myself go back to a book then I know I won't finish it.

simplyparticular · 08-06-2010, 04:48 PM

I used to finish everything, no matter how poorly written, etc. But now that I'm reading mostly library e-Books, where it is harder to judge the content because you can't flip through, I'm abandoning at a higher rate. I download 20 books a week from the library, and read about 6-8 of them. The others are either poorly described, so I wouldn't have downloaded to begin with, or the writing is crap.

In most cases, when I log it on my Goodreads shelf, most of the readers felt the same way as me. So maybe I should be checking review sites before selecting library books...

On the other hand, I'm reading a lot more genres than I used to.

TGS · 08-06-2010, 04:55 PM

I give everything a chance until page 70. If, when I get to page 70, the book is not engaging me or is annoying me in some way, I stop. But I have found many gems by employing my "plough on until page 70" rule, that I might otherwise have given up on.

Zyzomys · 08-06-2010, 05:51 PM

I try to finish every book I start to read, but sometimes it simply is not possible. I will read one third of a book first before I make a decision - more if a friend recommended the book to me.

mike_bike_kite · 08-06-2010, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TallMomof2

The one book I can't get through right now is Spook Country by William Gibson. I'm about halfway through and just can't make myself go any further. This is the second or third time I've made it halfway through.

I wouldn't feel bad about it - it's a terrible book by a pretty decent (SciFi) author. I give up on about 1/5 of the books I begin but I read quite a wide range of books so I don't feel too bad about giving up on a few.

anabelee · 08-07-2010, 04:10 AM

I've finished almost the 97% of the books I started, this include paper books and e-books. I read a lot, and sometimes, few with the years, I discover that some books are not the ones I thought, by several reasons: it could be that the characters don't match with me or with the idea of the book, it could be that the book is so badle written that I can't stand reading it... so if I'm bored, not interested, or something like that, I do not finish it.
I have to say that I hate to leave a book this way.

JSWolf · 08-07-2010, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nohmi2

Life is too short to be involved with books that don't interest you.

I feel the same about some recipes. "Life is too short to stuff a mushroom." (Erma Bombeck)

Cheers.

Speaking of Erma Bombeck, why are here books no available as eBooks?

Lady Fitzgerald · 08-07-2010, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Speaking of Erma Bombeck, why are here books no available as eBooks?

Are they even still in print? She passed away several years ago.

lente · 08-07-2010, 04:50 AM

No. Why read a book you don't like? It's not like you get a badge of honor for finishing a book. Sure there is a chance the book might get better, but I don't want to take the risk.

pdurrant · 08-07-2010, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Do you always finish every book you start?

Please explain why not if not. If maybe, also please explain.

I almost always finish every book I start. There have been a handful that I have felt were so awful that I've given up on them. The only one in the past year was Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop. However, others here have enjoyed it.

Valmore Daniels · 08-07-2010, 09:42 AM

I've only put down two books without finishing them: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, and The Coming of the King by Nikolai Tolstoy.

Both of them made my eyes cross ..... >.<

happy_terd · 08-07-2010, 12:58 PM

I usually finish what I start reading. I think the exceptions in my life would be the times the book got lost or destroyed.

kevinofengland · 08-07-2010, 02:04 PM

99% of the time i finish all books ive started. recently i tried to read the Dome by stephen King. I got to around 700 pages on my Sony Reader and got bored. It wasn't happening fast enough. I remember in the 80's I could not put Kings books down. I just can't seem to get into them now.
I have just read 5 of David Gemmels books and starting the 6th this evening.

I've read all Dan Browns books but the Lost symbol ending has put me off of ever buying an ebook version of his books. I think I'll just get them from charity shops now.

View Poll Results: Do you finish every book you start reading?
Yes, I finish every book I start reading	30	28.30%
No, I do not always finish every book I read. (please explain)	76	71.70%
Voters: 106. You may not vote on this poll

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08-06-2010, 12:46 PM	#31
ski_power Book eater Posts: 181 Karma: 2068 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kindle 3 G 3G (<-lol)	I've finished every book I started except War and Peace/Anna Karennina I don't remember which one(I was just 15 at that time), which I read only 2-3 pages of. So I'm considering that I never read the book. But in general, once I'm half way through some book I generally tend to finish it. But on the flip side, I've not read a lot of books and I'm juststarting to renew my <insert words of confusion/chaos/[mindblank]>

08-06-2010, 01:07 PM	#32
HamsterRage Evangelist Posts: 435 Karma: 24326 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Kobo	Off hand, I can only think of one novel, Conrad's Nostromo, where I felt that the ending really made the book. But it's not that I didn't like that book from the very beginning, it's a great from beginning to end. So I find it hard to believe that there's likely to be many books out there that I don't like (or that are simply crappy books) at the beginning that are magically going to turn out to be wonderful (or even worth the time) because of the last few pages. I figure it's better to cut my losses as soon as I feel like a book's not working for me. There are lots of other books waiting for me.

08-06-2010, 02:01 PM	#33
TallMomof2 Kindlephilia Posts: 2,017 Karma: 1139255 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Snowpacolypse 2010 Device: Too many to count	The one book I can't get through right now is Spook Country by William Gibson. I'm about halfway through and just can't make myself go any further. This is the second or third time I've made it halfway through. I probably don't finish about 10% of my books. I usually have about 4 or 5 books I'm reading at one time and if I can't make myself go back to a book then I know I won't finish it.

08-06-2010, 04:48 PM	#34
simplyparticular Guru Posts: 610 Karma: 1395952 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New York Device: Oasis 3 & GlowLight 4	I used to finish everything, no matter how poorly written, etc. But now that I'm reading mostly library e-Books, where it is harder to judge the content because you can't flip through, I'm abandoning at a higher rate. I download 20 books a week from the library, and read about 6-8 of them. The others are either poorly described, so I wouldn't have downloaded to begin with, or the writing is crap. In most cases, when I log it on my Goodreads shelf, most of the readers felt the same way as me. So maybe I should be checking review sites before selecting library books... On the other hand, I'm reading a lot more genres than I used to.

08-06-2010, 04:55 PM	#35
TGS Country Member Posts: 9,058 Karma: 7676767 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Denmark Device: Liseuse: Irex DR800. PRS 505 in the house, and the missus has an iPad.	I give everything a chance until page 70. If, when I get to page 70, the book is not engaging me or is annoying me in some way, I stop. But I have found many gems by employing my "plough on until page 70" rule, that I might otherwise have given up on.

08-06-2010, 05:51 PM	#36
Zyzomys Hooked on Phonics Posts: 122 Karma: 24 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Ottawa, Canada Device: Kindle	I try to finish every book I start to read, but sometimes it simply is not possible. I will read one third of a book first before I make a decision - more if a friend recommended the book to me.

08-07-2010, 04:10 AM	#38
anabelee Zealot Posts: 114 Karma: 583 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Vigo, Spain Device: Woxter Scriba 150, pocketbook 360	I've finished almost the 97% of the books I started, this include paper books and e-books. I read a lot, and sometimes, few with the years, I discover that some books are not the ones I thought, by several reasons: it could be that the characters don't match with me or with the idea of the book, it could be that the book is so badle written that I can't stand reading it... so if I'm bored, not interested, or something like that, I do not finish it. I have to say that I hate to leave a book this way.

08-07-2010, 04:50 AM	#41
lente Enthusiast Posts: 35 Karma: 58 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: bebook	No. Why read a book you don't like? It's not like you get a badge of honor for finishing a book. Sure there is a chance the book might get better, but I don't want to take the risk.

08-07-2010, 09:42 AM	#43
Valmore Daniels Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,592 Karma: 2822668 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kindle	I've only put down two books without finishing them: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, and The Coming of the King by Nikolai Tolstoy. Both of them made my eyes cross ..... >.<

08-07-2010, 12:58 PM	#44
happy_terd Banned Posts: 13,045 Karma: 10105011 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Finally made it to Walmart. Device: PRS 420	I usually finish what I start reading. I think the exceptions in my life would be the times the book got lost or destroyed.

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08-07-2010, 02:04 PM	#45
kevinofengland Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: England Device: Sony Reader 505	99% of the time i finish all books ive started. recently i tried to read the Dome by stephen King. I got to around 700 pages on my Sony Reader and got bored. It wasn't happening fast enough. I remember in the 80's I could not put Kings books down. I just can't seem to get into them now. I have just read 5 of David Gemmels books and starting the 6th this evening. I've read all Dan Browns books but the Lost symbol ending has put me off of ever buying an ebook version of his books. I think I'll just get them from charity shops now.