Yesterday, I started a new book. This book was from an author whose previous book I’ve read and enjoyed tremendously. I loved the premise of this new book and pretty much thought it a ‘can’t miss’ since her writing is, in my opinion top notch.
I settled down and threw myself into the book. After the first 20 pages, I was still waiting for the magic of her words to take over and take me away. When this didn’t happen by page 30, I had to remind myself of a certain Lisa Kleypas book that began with a perfume shop scene. It Happened One Autumn was my first foray into Lisa Kleypas’s world of historical romance and I quickly put the book aside to tackle something else. Eventually, for lack of anything else to read, I went back to it because everyone I asked had raved about Lisa’s books, and boy was I happy I did. I’ve reread that book countless times since then and it’s one of my favourites from her. So my thought was perhaps this book just has a slow start but will get better in the next 10-20 pages.
Finally on page 61 I had to cry “Uncle”. Unfortunately, this surefire can’t miss plot had failed to strike the right chord in me. I put the book down disappointed because I had enjoyed the author’s book so very much. I had hoped to put her on my auto buy list. Alas, at this point, I cannot. But I do have hopes that her next book will work for me because I won’t give up on her just yet.
So what about you? How far into a book will you read before you realize the story isn’t working for you? How far will you read before you cry ‘Uncle’ and put the book down?
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I try to give the book (and the author) the benefit of the doubt when starting a new story. Some books just can’t get to the actual point of the storyline or they confuse everyone with unnecessary details or shifts in the plot line.
That being said, in all my years as a book lover, there are only two books I haven’t finished. Ever. I still have that first book that I couldn’t get through and every once in a blue moon I will pick it up and try to read it again, with no success.
If I can’t get into it by the end of the first chapter I put it down and try something else. I’ll just toss it back in my TBR pile. However, if after three tries I still can’t get into it I can pretty well assume it’s not just a weird mood or longing for something else.
It’s funny, but on occasion I have started a book then put it aside because it wasn’t grabbing me, yet I still thought about it. Something kept calling me back. This happened with “To Seduce A Sinner” for me. It was so slow to start, I felt frustrated but I didn’t want to give up on Melisande & Jasper so I picked it up again…so glad I did! It’s now one of my most favorites by Elizabeth Hoyt.
Good writing + good characterization can overcome a slow plot sometimes.
I was raised to never give up on something, finish whatever task even if I had to grit my teeth to do it. Now as I’ve gotten older, time is short and precious. I allow myself to abandon books, but not usually before the half-way point, and then I’ll skim and skip to the end to see how it all gets resolved. I’m slogging thru something now I’m not in the mood for by a writer I love, and I WILL finish it, darn it. 🙂 About the only time I make a snap decision with a book is if someone has given it to me, and their tastes and mine differ. Then I don’t feel guilty letting it go, because I haven’t spent my own money on it.
If usually read until mid point but after that if the book is not getting better then I stop.
About halfway is when I will quit. But it has to be pretty bad to drive me to that. As it happens I am reading a Rom Suspense right now that is making me feel that way. Not sure this sub-genre is my thing. 🙁
I hadn’t realized this until the poll–never thought about it–but I give a favorite author and a new-to-me one the same amount of time: half the book. It’s all in the writing, and the book in my hand.
I can imagine where someone might give a favorite author more time, b/c they have hopes it’ll improve based on past experience and faith in the author, but I’m too busy to waste the time. 🙂 That said, if it’s a fav author, I probably buy the next book, unless the experience happens again. I think for me, it’s 2 strikes and they’re out. 🙂 That doesn’t mean I won’t come back for a later book some time, but only if I hear good things.
For an author I’ve read before whose book I’ve enjoyed, I’ll give it three chapters. My TBR pile is ridiculously large. And with my own writing, motherhood and work, I just can’t spend too much time hoping it will get better.
For a new to me author, I’ll give it about one or two chapters. Then I pretty much won’t buy them again. Time. Time. Time. I just don’t have a lot of it.
The first three chapters are the deal breaker for me. If i’m not entertained or i’m put off by something in them i probably won’t read on. Anyways the way i figure if the introduction chapters (which are usually my favorite) aren’t doing anything for me then i probably won’t like the rest of the book anyways.
I’ll try to read it all the way through but if I can’t suffer through it, I will at least attempt to make it halfway through and then skim the rest. There had been some books that by the 2nd or 3rd chapter, I had to quit and I peeked at the end. I have very little time nowadays so I want to read a good solid book.
I’ll usually give the author the benefit of the doubt and keep on reading, but the mid point is my limit.
Three chapters are my limit. There are too many great books out there to waste time with something that doesn’t hold my interest.
I didn’t vote because although I know I’m nuts, I will read it until the end (sigh).
I really try hard to finish every book I start. However, if I’m not grabbed by the quarter mark, I’ll start to skim and usually finish the book that way. Does that count as finishing? LOL. Then there are some books that are just so bad that I don’t even want to waste any time skimming. Since I’ve gotten a Kindle, I’m able to sample the book for free and that has really cut down on the stinkers.
Since my mood shifts and can affect how I feel about what I’m reading, I usually don’t quit completely on any title by my auto-buy authors. It will go back into my TBR pile until I come upon it again. I don’t mind letting it collect dust on my shelves on the off chance I can’t find something else I really want to read and the possibility it might strike a different chord in me the second or third time around.
If it’s a new author, I’ll typically give it a good three chapters and then I’ll skip through it to see if anything ever grabs my interest. If it doesn’t, I’ve gotten a quick fix at a HEA without having invested too much time.
I didn’t vote. I am one of those people who will stick with a book until the very end. I always hope it will get better. Plus I want to know how the story ends. I have stopped one book that I can remember (WAR AND PEACE doesn’t count. I tried to get into that one 3 or 4 times.). It was a horror story and I hadn’t realized it when I started. Don’ t do them, they give me nightmares.
I usually read the first few pages (or up to one chapter) and if it doesn’t capture my interest, I put it down. I might read it again but this is not a guarantee. This is regardless if the author is known or unknown to me.
If I do read it again, I try to pick the book up in a month or so and if it captures me then, I’ll finish it. If not, the book won’t get a second chance with me.
If I am reading a book and I’m not enjoying it I put it aside and start another book. Then, if I get in the mood for the book again I keep throwing it in with the other book I’m reading. Sometimes maybe it’s just the mood I’m in at the moment and the book doesn’t “click” with me. I’ve set some books aside and later I’ve tried a few more times to get into them and I’ve ended up thoroughly enjoying them! I think by the time I’m halfway through a book I know if it’s worth finishing or not.
I just had this experience with a book. I had read the Author before and had another of her books to read . I liked how it started and getting to know the characters. The problem was the Heroine is being taken advantage of by her family. After a quarter of the book passes and she still doesn’t get it, I’m done.She has this beautiful man who loves her and tries to protect her and she still insists on doing for her family. Being a doormat can be pretty tiring to the reader and so after I got to page 65 I put it down. I felt enough already. Maybe I’ll go back.
Carol L.
Lucky4750@aol.com