At what point do you give up on a book?

Or do you keep on keeping on no matter what? I *never* leave a book unfinished. I think the only book I've EVER not finished was the second book of the Vampire Diaries series and that's because I thought it was god awful. I've actually considered going back and finishing it just because it bothers me so much that I never did.

Anyway, I can't stand the book I'm reading now- even though I know most people rave about it. I have like 50 pages left and I'm sooooooo close to calling it quits. I actually get angry reading it. But I feel like I CAN'T. I have to finish. Anyone else like me out there? How do you slog through it?

At what point do you give up on a book?

I HATE giving up on books! I've finished plenty of books that I didn't enjoy but I did give up on one - Eat, Pray, Love. I know people rave about that book but I just couldn't get into it.

If I'm not enjoying a book, I usually stop reading it and pick up something else. Then I'll come back to it to finish it. I tried reading Eat, Pray, Love twice and quit both times. Lol

Re: At what point do you give up on a book?

Wow- that is on my to-read list, too! It always baffles me when it's a wildly popular book. My unfinishable book right now is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. I've been reading it for over 2 weeks now and it feels like even longer.

ETA: I did it! I plowed through the last 50 pages on my lunch break. If this was a fictional story, there's no way I would've stuck with it. It did annoy me way less towards the end though. And this is why I hate giving up on books!

Message edited 2/28/2014 2:09:04 PM.

At what point do you give up on a book?

There has only been one - A Discovery of Witches. I was only reading for a goodreads book club, not my thing. It was so poorly written - like every scene was soooooo looooooooooong and totally drawn out. It was painful. I can power through most things, but even skimming this book just wasn't happening.

Re: At what point do you give up on a book?

Re: At what point do you give up on a book?

Posted by halfbaked

Posted by LINewbie

There has only been one - A Discovery of Witches. I was only reading for a goodreads book club, not my thing. It was so poorly written - like every scene was soooooo looooooooooong and totally drawn out. It was painful. I can power through most things, but even skimming this book just wasn't happening.

I heard that before!!! That's actually what's stopped me from picking it up. It sounds like it should be right up my alley, but I'm so hesitant. Ah there's plenty of other things to read!

Re: At what point do you give up on a book?

I used to be like that. I HAD TO finish a book no matter how bad it was but my MIL said to me one time that "life is too short for bad books especially for someone who loves to read" and the next time I hated a book, I just forced myself to stop.

Now since I did it once, I can always do it and I'm happier for it

Re: At what point do you give up on a book?

Interesting topic!

Only put one book down and never tried again, Atlas Shrugged. Just couldn't do it after less than the first chapter.

Maybe i'll try again. I think it has a lot to do with your frame of mind at the time.

But like you, I don't put books down. Guess I just push on.

Re: At what point do you give up on a book?

I used to try & fight my way through a book. But now if I don't like it I give up. I haven't been able to read Life of Pi & the curious incident of the dog in the night. I tried a few times because I've been told how good they are.

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Re: At what point do you give up on a book?

At what point do you give up on a book?

I used to try to push through, but now if it becomes a chore and I dread "having" to read it, I'll just move on to something else.

Re: At what point do you give up on a book?

I rarely give up on a book.

I can't think of any that I started and never finished...

I was thisclose to giving up on Unbroken. It took me weeks to read it. It was a great story- I just wasn't captivated by it.

At what point do you give up on a book?

I never left a book unfinished until ain't no sunshine when she's gone. Just horrible. Also horrible was emily giffin's matter of the heart...or heart of the matter. Im in bed with the a tummy bug, just finished gone girl. I ordered unorthodox a few days ago. Wish it was here already. Looks interesting.

Re: At what point do you give up on a book?

Re: At what point do you give up on a book?

I've given up on The Crying of Lot 49, Middlemarch, and Life of Pi (I maybe got through the first 40 pages).

I hate hate hate doing that, especially the one by Pynchon because it's supposed to be so good, but I had to put those three aside. I knew it would be too much of a chore.