tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2270232267608054642.post6111012611882399784..comments2023-11-26T11:56:44.943+00:00Comments on Becky's Barmy Book Blog: Thursday Thoughts (6) - Giving up on Booksbarmybexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17675796776481696322noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2270232267608054642.post-1929322436472283242014-06-25T20:24:19.756+01:002014-06-25T20:24:19.756+01:00I used to have a 'I've started so I'll...I used to have a 'I've started so I'll finish' philosophy when I was younger. I hated giving up on books and felt it was rude to quit. Also, since I like my money's worth, I didn't like not finishing a book I'd bought. Kind of like not wanting to walk out of a terrible movie at the cinema.<br />However, now I'm older, I'm more keenly aware of how finite my time is. I don't have enough to waste on stuff I'm not enjoying. And there are WAY MORE books in the world than I could ever hope to read. Why neglect those I might enjoy for one I'm not.<br />I don't tend to set a page limit as such. I'll keep going as long as there is the slightest spark of interest in wanting to know what happens, or the vaguest feeling like I care about any of the characters. Once those things vanish, I'm outa there. I wouldn't ever quit on the first chapter though. I'd make sure I'd given it a truly fair trial.<br />Sometimes it takes longer than others.<br />I recently read the Steig Larrson 'Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' trilogy. The first book is really tough going to start with. Lots of backstory and convoluted flashbacks, lots of characters introduced to get your head around. I came very close to quitting. Two things kept me going. I got it on audiobook which helped to get the names straight and understand the pronunciations. The other was encouragement from someone who had read them and said they got better. Since this was a person whose opinion I trust, and who tends to like the same things I do, I persevered. I'm glad I did.<br />I guess I'm saying that if you are struggling with a title, it MAY be worth checking some reviews. Seeing what other people see in the book - or not - may help you decide if it is right for you. [I never do this before I start as I don't want preconceptions. It is only if I'm wavering]madders ahatterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16907480268300419674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2270232267608054642.post-40585651927850703552014-06-20T21:32:16.976+01:002014-06-20T21:32:16.976+01:00As a blogger, I find myself constantly struggling ...As a blogger, I find myself constantly struggling with the question of "do I put this book on my DNF list?" Because I feel like it's my duty to finish all of the books I read, good or bad, so I can share my opinion on them with my followers. And somehow, if the book is bad, then that gives me more of a sense of obligation to finish. I don't write reviews for books I DNF. But, like all bloggers out there, I don't have time to wade through garbage; my TBR pile is putting Mount Everest to shame as the highest peak! I think the way I will solve it is create a sometimes post for a list of titles that I DNF'd each month, with a short summary of why. I need to put books aside more often than I do; I simply must. Sometimes I will go back to a DNF book. Every time I've done this, I have actually ended up liking the book later on! So if I DNF a book, that doesn't always mean I'll never ever read it again. I generally give a book up to 100 pages to impress me; sometimes 50, depending on how low my opinion already is. Though I have discovered with some books that 100 pages isn't enough. ;)Mara A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00484574814523220378noreply@blogger.com