I made a pact with myself a couple of years ago. If I don't like a book in the the first couple of chapters, I'll give it no more than 3 long chapters or 5 short ones to pick up the pace and stir my interest. I know some books start slower and/or take a little more effort to get into the characters and/or reveal some of the plot points. But if I reach that point and I'm still not riveted, then I'll read the end. Based on that, I'll either skip-read the book or skip it altogether.

I just took that route with the monthly book club selection. We tried a different approach this year to choosing the books, and we ended up with most members resorting to or deciding the best-seller lists were the only way to find interesting gems that are great for discussion, provoke thought and introduce us to talented new or new-to-us writers.

Wrong, book club members. Yikes, we have a motley list this year--depressing reads that mean spending time with dysfunctional families filled with manipulative and ghastly children as well as abusive, neglectful or mentally unstable parents. While I understand conflict sells books and keeps readers engaged, I want to see redemption, character growth, and for goodness sake, at least one character I can actually root for and bond with, not feel I couldn't care less if the entire cast drops into the ocean and never resurfaces, because they all deserve to be there.

I abandoned the book of the month and instead, ordered 2 books I have wanted to read, based on television adaptations, one recent and one going further back in time. OMG, I am on a riveting, exciting ride with "Sworn to Silence" by Linda Castillo. I actually want to keep reading. I stayed up late two nights in a row and had trouble making myself go to bed. The plot flows, I care about the characters, the backdrop makes me feel I'm standing right there in the snow and feeling the biting cold. It's raw and hard to read in places, but I do, because I have to...and not because I want to participate in the book club meeting.