Talk @ Books! discussion

Let's hear about it - do you quit a book past 100 pages or less? At what point and at what age did you decide life is too short not to read GOOD (which is a matter of personal taste) books?

I put down my third book of my Goodreads life (strangely I put down books all the time when I was a younger-aged child - I'm almost 49 years-old) tonight which I haven't done since August 2014.

I feel strangely OK about it and feel I may have turned a reading corner. It won't be taken lightly.

That’s funny: I DNFed two books today. I don’t think I’d have DNFed either one, or really any, even six months ago.

I stay calm and carry on to the end of every book I start. The only exception to that since I started Goodreads and possibly ever was The Lilac Girls. I got about a third of the way through that before the (IMHO) abysmal writing became too much to bear. Not the story - it was her writing that was just cringe-worthy to me. Couldn't do it.

I hardly ever DNF either, may skim certain parts but will read till the end. In my entire life I DNF 3 or 4 books.

When I was an English major in college, I had to read way too many books that I thought were absolutely unworthy of reading (mostly because of bad writing). If a book hasn't engaged me in the first 100 pages, the rest is unlikely to do so.
Having said that, I've only DNFd maybe five books since my college years.

Plus there's the whole challenge thing. If I've read half of a book and disliked it enough to put it down, do I still get to count it? Or do I have to go and search heaven and earth for another U title? LOLOL

First world problems!

Jennifer wrote: "Plus there's the whole challenge thing. If I've read half of a book and disliked it enough to put it down, do I still get to count it? Or do I have to go and search heaven and earth for another U t..."

This! 😅😂

Jennifer wrote: "That’s funny: I DNFed two books today. I don’t think I’d have DNFed either one, or really any, even six months ago."

Too funny! Similar minds....

Karen wrote: "I stay calm and carry on to the end of every book I start. The only exception to that since I started Goodreads and possibly ever was The Lilac Girls. I got about a third of the way through that be..."

Karen - I am so surprised! You are where I was. Maybe you know to pick up better books. I hear what you are saying about Lilac Girls - for all the hype, I thought it would be better written.

Susy wrote: "I hardly ever DNF either, may skim certain parts but will read till the end. In my entire life I DNF 3 or 4 books."

Susy - are you particular about what you pick up???

Loretta wrote: "I really try to finish every book I start but if just drags on and I start to skim pages, I usually stop, probably around page 100. Can’t really remember the names of the books I put down but I kno..."

I'm definitely getting there - especially with how many titles are out there calling to me, when the book I'm reading doesn't grab me. But if a reason I am supposed to read it i.e. RL book club, etc. I commit.

Parker wrote: "When I was an English major in college, I had to read way too many books that I thought were absolutely unworthy of reading (mostly because of bad writing). If a book hasn't engaged me in the first..."

Great job anyway Parker - still, I'm sure quite an accomplishment.

Jennifer wrote: "Plus there's the whole challenge thing. If I've read half of a book and disliked it enough to put it down, do I still get to count it? Or do I have to go and search heaven and earth for another U t..."

LOL! Challenges keep us tied in when we want to escape, hence the challenge concept...

@Colleen No, I’m not. So combined with not DNFing that sometimes poses a … challenge lol

I'm currently 46 years old and just in the last few years started giving up on books that I have struggled with. Until then I would fight tooth and nail to finish a book. I figured every book was bound to get better but then I realized life was too short to waste on bad books. BUT....... I don't totally DNF a book a first time. I will put it aside if I feel it has 'a possibility' of a second chance. Sometimes it could be a mood thing. Sometimes its just not worth it. I tried 2 of Jenny McCarthys books and was straight up annoyed. Those were full out DNFs!!!

@Loretta - verdict on The Brothers Karamazov? On my TBR and have never read him - is there another of his titles you've read?

stephanie wrote: "I'm currently 46 years old and just in the last few years started giving up on books that I have struggled with. Until then I would fight tooth and nail to finish a book. I figured every book was b..."

I'm 3 years older than you and I'm starting to catch up to you. :) Some of the books I have or on my TBR and I just don't like - I should just stop and get into a better one. I'm thinking that I may never read all the great books out there when I'm slogging though a loser just to say I finished it vs. DNF. I'm too old not to quit a book. I can easily stop watching a TV series so why not a book - even, gasp, a book series?

My Point...And I Do Have One made me come to this revelation - so stupid and boring and dull and....maybe if she told it live as a comedy skit it works, but not as a read. Boo!

I’ve come around to your viewpoint, Colleen. I’m DNFing things I don’t like, and stopping books I think I will like but am not in the mood for and picking others instead. I never used to do either of those things.

So disappointed that I couldn't finish To Paradise. Just too many characters with the same names by the 3rd story and I just couldn't propel myself forward. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

That's a shame, Jen -- I loved A Little Life.

Couldn't finish this - writing was good; subject of drug abuse was just too depressing. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Jennifer wrote: "That's a shame, Jen -- I loved A Little Life."

As did I, Jennifer