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?
This question almost crosses path with last week’s Booking Through Thursday question, which concerns with books that I would unread. These two weekly literary events have been pondering similar ideas recently. Right off the bat, I do not have a page (tolerance) limit with which I gauge my reading. Even the worst book (is there really a worst book?) would merit a couple elegant, loquacious, or thought-provoking passages. It boils down to whether the subject and execution of the plot are up to my expectation. I usually read every book from cover to cover. If I’m not enjoying it, I would skim through the rest and call it a day. Notes would be meager. In that case, my review would be shorter and the book will not be recommended. Certain books have to be read in the right mood, and an understanding of the historical or social background is conducive to the reading pleasure. My current read, The Satanic Verses, is a prime example of such a book. On a few occasions I have wanted to put it aside, but my desire to understand the Islamic background and that The Master and Margarita had inspired Rushdie to write the book have kept me on track.
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A Guy's Moleskine Notebook 
I agree with your thoughts, Matt. And I forgot to mention about our reading mood! They do play a huge part in our reading. 😉
My answer is much the same as yours – my mood or frame of mind can influence my reading enormously – I must be a moody reader!
I’ve actually never thought of the skimming option until today.
Here my Monday post
Like you I generally do not abandon a book. I skim it to the end to scan for interesting topics even if I don’t think I will like the way they are developed. I had this most recently with the book “The Taqwacores” which also dealt with Islam in the disorienting guise of American punk culture. The skim gave me data points on the way verses of the Koran are referred to by surah as e.g. fundamentalists refer to a “Titus 2” woman as an obedient wife, referring to the book and chapter of the New Testament…
It is rare for me to walk away from a book, even though it has happened. I don’t have a hard fast rule. There is a little voice inside my brain that just says “enough”.
I, too, finish nearly every book I start with rare exception, and those exceptions tend to be non-fiction such as diet books, etc. Especially when it comes to fiction, I can usually find something I enjoy about a book even if I don’t love it. Off the top of my head, I can’t even think of a book I genuinely hated.
Lezlie
I hate giving up on a book…and so I have several books that I’ve started and abandoned over the years, but are still waiting patiently for my return. Who knows whether or not I will ever get around to finishing them?
If I am reading for book club I almost always try to finish the book- it makes for a more enjoyable evening if I’ve read the book. How can I be critical of it, if I haven’t finished? That said there have been books over the years which I just haven’t been able to slog through – The Known World by Edward P. Jones springs immediately to mind. Other books which have had difficult beginnings – McEwan’s Atonement, for example – ultimately become some of my favourite reads.
So, all that to say, I try to be fair…but with a couple hundred books waiting to be read, I don’t have a lot of time for crap, pretentious writing or books that fail to even entertain.
Thanks for continually asking great questions!
I don’t like giving up on a book, but skimming doesn’t work for me- I just get even more frustrated & impatient- so I’ll just toss it if it’s not working for me. I’ve given up on some excellent books, I’m sure, but that’s life sometimes.
I’ll try to get at least half way through a book before giving up; it sometimes takes me that long to connect with situations and characters. I think scanning ahead is a great idea. Like others, I hate giving up. My state of mind will often affect my decision whether or not to continue. If I’m dealing with problems or depressed, I might prefer a lighter or uplifting text, so I am willing to put a book aside from time to time. Occasionally, I’ll plan to return to a specific work when my mood is more conductive to the book’s tone or point of view.
Thanks for visiting. Oh I don’t know if you noticed, but I started a discussion group under the tab Cafe Blue.
You’ve made some excellent points and it depends on the book really. My post is up now. here
I too am a moody reader. Somedays I can read the most difficult of books at one go like I did today with The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields. Another times, I can barely even read a very easy book. It depends.
Monday is here again
Melody:
It’s funny sometimes I won’t know it’s a bad book until I have finished it!
BooksPlease:
Book is like food, it’s better when we’re in the right mood for it.
Ladybug:
Skimming makes me feel better to abandon the book altogether, especially books that I have purchased.
interglossa:
When reading ennui kicks in I begin to skim and just makes sure I understand how the book would conclude.
Sandy:
Ha! Yes, and when my inner voice tells me it’s enough, I fast-forward the book. 🙂
Lezlie:
I think even the most boring or poor-written book would warrant a good passage or two. Sometimes I might not even be taken by the story but the writing would compensate for it.
christie61:
I am very much like you. Unless I do not care of the subject, books that I didn’t get to finish the first time around will remain on the shelf, awaiting my return. I also thought that some of the books, like William Faulkner, are not meant to read at a young age. Read what your whims takes you. 🙂
Marie:
Yes, life is about making choices that suit you at the moment.
Greg S:
Book choices go hand in hand with mood. On a sunny day I would prefer to read something lighter, for the most part. Recently I have perused many novels on war, and I might hold off war novels for a while. What I need now is summer read. 🙂
thebluestockingguide:
Cafe Blue? I’ll head over there to check out. 🙂
Robin of My Two Blessings:
Three times I have tried to read The God of Small Things, but I suppose it’s never been the right moment. The book is still sitting on my shelf.
gautami tripathy:
I understand that shifting mood in readers. After Satanic Verses, which I will finish today, hopefully, I need to read something easier, more transparent, and not anything with so many dreamscapes and magical realism!
Funny you should ask. Six months ago I’d have said I never give up on a book, but I recently reorganized my personal library and discovered all sorts of books I either couldn’t get into or wasn’t in the mood for or was too daunted by to even begin. So, in an attempt to economize, I’ve decided I can’t buy any new books until I read the ones I’ve neglected.
Oh, goodness.
So far, I’ve discovered some real treasures, but I’ve also given up on several, and I’ve done my share of skimming. The ones I have not finished are all fine books, I suppose, but I’m getting older now and “so many books, so little time” has real meaning for me. Over the years I’ve developed a stricter standard of what I’m willing to spend time on and though I still love to be dazzled, there has to be substance, too,
and characters I’m invested in early on. Maybe it’s because of my arthritic hands, but what I’ve come most to appreciate are what a friend and I call “little books” . . . usually less than three hundred pages, finely honed, true gems. I won’t list the discarded — I’m sure they are favorites for someone.
A few of the treasures I’ve discovered: The Periodic Table by Primo Levi (I was always afraid I wasn’t smart enough to read Levi’s books), Max Apple’s Roommates, and (despite the fact that my arthritic hands have suffered for reading a book with over 1200 pages) William Trevor’s 1992 collection of short stories.
I don’t have a set page number that I use to determine whether a book is worth continuing with or not. I do not give up on a book often. Usually I can find something to keep me plodding through, but on the occasions when the book and the characters are completely boring me–when I just don’t care what happens and to whom–I will set the book aside.
I can see your point, although I am certainly not as dedicated as you.
I am currently reading The Jungle for book club, and it is not my cup of tea…at all. But I’m perservering through, for the sake of my club. It’s one of those book that I think or guess should be read by everyone.
Very sad and eye opening. I still eat meat though, but check back with me in a few weeks.