Mar
20
I took 4 books with me last week when we went on our ski trip to Colorado. Daughter K thought it was silly I think to have so many with me but like I told her, I get “twitchy” if I don’t have enough books with me or if I run out of something to read! I was about 3/4 of the way through with one book and another one I knew was short enough to easily finish; couldn’t decide between 2 more so I just brought them both. AND….. it was a good thing I did that because I did something this weekend that I’ve NEVER done before, I stopped reading a book! Just quit and decided not to go on with it because I couldn’t get into it. This is rather huge to me because I usually feel like I must finish what I start, always hoping it will be better but then disappointed when through with it. I just couldn’t get into the book or the characters and in the 50 pages I read it seemed like there kept being new characters introduced almost constantly. So after struggling Saturday and a bit on Sunday morning to read those pages, I finally put it in my backpack when I got on the plane and pulled out the last book I had with me. And quite easily read 100 pages or so while on the plane trip home!
I’m a little bit pleased with myself for finally doing this! After a bit of further investigation I discovered that the book is actually part of a series and is one of the latter ones, which would explain why I couldn’t figure out all the characters! Maybe I’ll be able to do this again sometime, put a book aside that I’m not interested in so I don’t waste time on something I’m not enjoying.
How about you, do you usually finish all books you read or can you easily quit reading it?
March 20th, 2007 at 5:41 am
Hi, just stopping over from Amy’s blog. I am actually terrible at finishing books altogether. About half way through I get antsy and just read the ending. I think I’m a little impatient. 🙂
March 20th, 2007 at 7:55 am
Oh wow…I used to be just like you! I would just refuse to give up, always thinking that it might get better and I’d already invested so much time. It’s only been within the last year or two that I’ve finally given myself permission to call it quits if I just can’t get into a book. (It’s only happened two or three times since, but it sure feels good!) I used to do the same with movies, too…refuse to give up. But I’ve wised up on that front, too!
March 20th, 2007 at 7:57 am
And by the way, nobody in our family would have thought you silly…we’re all guilty of “over-packing” books for fear of running out of reading material!
March 20th, 2007 at 9:49 am
You know we’re cut from the same cloth, and I’m probably even worse. I have a serious completion complex. I have to keep going with a book. I am not sure I’ve ever given up on one. This is something I need to learn to do. Inquiring minds want to know which book you quit – was it one of the ones I loaned you?! Egads 🙂
P.S. Great question- I had this in my list of QOTD to ask over at my blog. Great minds think alike, you know! 🙂
March 20th, 2007 at 10:22 am
I have stopped reading some books, but, like you, it is difficult to do. I usually do it with the thought that I will pick them up again later (which I seldom do). I am now halfway through a book that is good, but I have already started another which is better. I have to go to work and all I think of is the book that is sitting there waiting for me.
March 20th, 2007 at 11:08 am
If the book is really boring, badly written, or maybe stressful for me, I can quit. I always feel a little bit strange doing it, but still, I can stop reading and move on to something better.
But when it’s a really good book, whenever I put it down, it’s like I left the characters hanging in that scene, waiting for me…LOL
March 20th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
I try to finish every book I start, but lately have stopped one or two and returned them to the library. I’ve noticed my attention span is not what it used to be and it really has to capture me. But, if I own it…I’ll finish it. I get in enough “trouble” buying more books that I can’t stand to tell hubby I didn’t finish it!
March 20th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
I usually try to finish all the books that I start. But there have been a few that I’ve just given up on – I can usually tell by around page 50 if it’s a keeper or not. I forced myself to finish reading THE FORSYTE SAGA a short time ago because it was part of a challenge I had joined. I had too much time invested in that book to quit.
Sometimes, a book won’t appeal to me at a specific time, but if I pick it up later, I’ll enjoy it.
March 20th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
I just have to know what book you quit reading…I’m sitting here dying of anticipation! I’ve quit several books in the last few years. Previously I would have never considered doing it, but life is just too short and there are so many books to read! I actually have gone back and finished several of them after the fact. I have to be in a certain mood or state of mind to enjoy a book.
I usually pack 6 or 8 books with me on trips even if it’s just a long weekend. I have to have plenty to choose from when I finish the one I’m working on.
March 20th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
“…before you break my heart!” Well, let’s just say I’ve started the book, The Pearl, THREE TIMES and haven’t finished it yet!
March 21st, 2007 at 10:31 am
I can not easily quit reading. I, too, feel a sense of pressure to finish what I started. I remember one book clearly that I thought I would never get into, but after the first few chapters I began to enjoy it and am glad I finished it. I’ve got one now that was loaned to me by a neighbor and I am really struggling with getting it read. I feel I have to because she was kind enough to let me borrow it and I didn’t even ask to. It was a sweet gesture and I really do want to finish it, but I just can’t get into it. Anyway, I do love that you were able to put it away. No sense wasting your time on it, huh? 🙂
March 21st, 2007 at 10:51 pm
I do give a book a good try–at least 50 pages! After that, if I’m not into it, it’s off my nightstand!