Monday, June 1, 2009

Musing Monday

This week's Musing Monday prompt:

How much time (or how many pages) do you give a book that you aren't really enjoying before you'll set it aside? If you're reading it for a book group discussion, or for review, will you give it more of a chance then, say, a book you're reading for your own interest? Why, or why not? (courtesy of MizB)


It is a rare book that I do not finish. I will typically give a book at least 100 pages before giving up on it. Many times, the best part of a book doesn't happen until the middle, so if I keep reading it sometimes turns into an enjoyable read.

If I'm reading a book for my Book Club, I will give every effort to read it before giving up on it. I have only given up on one book for the Book Club and that was CAN'T WAIT TO GET TO HEAVEN by Fannie Flagg. To me, this book was pure torture to finish and then once I got to the Book Club, I found out I wasn't the only one who did enjoy the book. It was surprising to me, because I thoroughly enjoyed Flagg's FRIED GREEN TOMATOES AT THE WHISTLE STOP CAFE.

Also, as a book reviewer, I receive numerous review copies and I find that many of the "self-published" books are the ones I don't finish, although I have found some true gems from the self-published world.

Because I respect writers and authors, I will try to give a book my fullest attention. If I truly don't like a book, I am loathe to give an extremely harsh review, so I will try to find something good about the book and then tell my readers it is not a book I would recommend.

5 comments:

Brooke from The Bluestocking Guide said...

I finish all books, even if it is years later. mine

Mari - Escape In A Book said...

If it were a book that I'd been given for a review I would have finished it, if not I would have given up after about 80-100 pages.

There is so many great books out there, I wouldn't want to spend too much time on books that I don't like.

Here my Monday post

Liz Brooks said...

I agree with Ladybug-there are too many good books out there to waste time on bad books.

I typically give a book the first chapter to grab me.

Robin M said...

It depends on the book really.If it is a review book, I give it more of a chance than others. I've discovered self published are a bit more harder to finish. My post is up now here

Nise' said...

The same is true for me, there are very few books that I don't finish, but I do have a 50 page rule.