I know that a lot of readers are perfectly fine with not finishing a book. They say that life is too short to waste time reading something that you're not loving. I do agree with that. There are so many books that I want to read, and of course I'd rather be reading a book that I love rather than something I'm having to force myself to finish.
But I have a hard time giving up on books! First of all, I always wonder if maybe things are getting ready to turn around. Maybe the next chapter is the one where the book goes from mediocre to amazing. I'm afraid to put a book aside, not knowing if it's going to get better later, and I just didn't give it enough of a chance. Also, there's the fact that I can be stubborn and it bugs me to not finish something that I've started.
Lately I've been having this issue with middle grade books. I love children's books! I especially love clever, imaginative, memorable children's books. But over the past few months, I've read a lot of dull, repetitive middle grade stories. With most of them, I've been so tempted to just stop. The thing is that most of those books are quite short and easy to get through. Even if I'm not loving them, it seems silly to not take another day or so and just finish it. {I have to admit that I wouldn't feel that way about a big, intimidating book. I wouldn't have a problem with quitting a 500 or 600 page book that I wasn't enjoying.}
And then I think about books that weren't easy for me to read (certain classics like Bleak House come to mind). The plot might have dragged at times...maybe I was bored and had to pull myself through it. But by the end, I'm usually glad that I finished reading those books. (Even Wuthering Heights, one of my least favorite books ever. At least now I never have to wonder if I'm missing out on that one, ha!)
So what about you? Are you okay with not finishing a book, or do you feel the need to keep going? Do you read a certain number of pages before stopping, just to make sure?
I'm the same way. I feel the need to finish books. Admittedly, some of the "snoozes" can take a while to finish as I set them aside for something more tantalizing; however, I always finish them. Wuthering Heights was a book I don't like too much either. I remember reading it when I was nine or ten. I picked it up as an adult to see if my feelings changed, with some books they have, not so with that one. ��☺️
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not the only one! Wow, it was quite adventurous of you to read Wuthering Heights that young! :) I read it when I was 19 or 20 and was incredibly disappointed, especially because Jane Eyre is one of my favorite books. I guess I didn't realize that the two sisters' stories would be so different.
DeleteIf the books have problematic content, especially poorly written books or if they are poorly written and boring, I personally think that I should put them down. I really want to try to stop myself from reading too many silly books anyway as it is a waste of time and rather degrading to the mind. There are too many well-written pleasant reads out there for breaks from heavy fiction.
ReplyDeleteAs far as classics go, if I have enough other classics that I want to try, then I am fine with not finishing a classic that I find boring.
Yes, I agree that there are some books that are just a waste of time. But every once in a while I enjoy a silly, fluffy book. :)
DeleteI feel the need to finish books too. I think it's mostly because I usually buy books instead of checking them out from the library, so there's a bigger investment at stake. I would stop a book if it was truly terrible or had gratuitous immorality, but thankfully I haven't run across any books like that recently. I don't usually buy books without having seen a pretty strong recommendation from "somewhere", so I think that helps. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, that's definitely a factor for me, too, though I forgot to mention it. I'm much more likely to not finish a library book than a book I've purchased. :) I feel like I have to get my money's worth!
DeleteI have to say there are maybe, and in my lifetime, a half-dozen books I have not finished. I struggle through waiting for that moment when it gets so good I cannot put it down. Two come to mind immediately. The Runaway Jury by John Grisham. I COULD NOT get into this book. I later saw the movie with John Cusack and loved it. I picked the book back up and yet could not finish it. The second one was Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Again, same story. I saw the movie that coincidentally starred John Cusack and loved the movie. So yes, I finish even if the book isn't good but have failed to finish a few.
ReplyDeleteWell, you sound a lot more committed to finishing books than I am! :) Sometimes it just happens that the movie is better than the book. I put aside The Princess Bride for years because I couldn't get into it. I finally finished it last year but still much prefer the film. :)
DeleteI just google the ending....hehee
ReplyDeleteI just don't think I could stand to do that, ha! :) I try my best to avoid spoilers.
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