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Post by compeateropeator on Jul 18, 2023 18:13:15 GMT
I think we have had this question before but I am curious if this has changed since so many people are now using e- readers? A variety of books are so easily accessible no matter where you are these days.
The Demon Copperhead posts on the reading thread made me think about this. I have not read this yet but will later on as I do like the author. I will say The Bean Tree, Pigs in Heaven, and Animal Dreams were my absolute favorites by her and nothing after has really made it as high on my list. That is the great thing about books/authors - there are so many options out there that there is really no reason to read what you don’t enjoy these days.
When I was an exchange student, so many many years ago, I swear I read the entire English section of the Helsingborg (Sweden) library that year. I read stuff that I wouldn’t even think about picking up today. I like quirky, but I have to say The Breast by Phillip Roth was probably one of the strangest books I have ever read and I haven’t forgotten it even after 40 years 😆😆 Although I still read actual books, if I had access to an e-reader back then that one would not have been one of my choices. 😉
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SweetieBsMom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,599 
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Post by SweetieBsMom on Jul 18, 2023 18:18:01 GMT
I voted mostly. It would have to be really, really, bad for me to put it down before I finish.
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Post by Lurkingpea on Jul 18, 2023 18:20:19 GMT
I picked I will stop as soon as I know I won't enjoy it but I also could use mostly. Mostly I do finish them, it's only been a few that were so dumb I didn't finish them.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Jul 18, 2023 18:23:57 GMT
I put mostly. I think I my dad beat right into me that you are to finish what you start, so there's that lying in my subconscious. Plus, I also read mostly non-fiction so I'm not just reading for enjoyment, but for information. Sometimes, I need to figure out how it turns out, despite not liking it. But I've been trying to let these ideas go. I tend to check things out from the library so there's no harm, no foul if I don't finish. I just have to keep telling myself it's alright.  |
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RedSquirrelUK
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,730
Location: The UK's beautiful West Country
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Post by RedSquirrelUK on Jul 18, 2023 18:24:24 GMT
I think I have not finished 2 books in my life. One was in primary school. The other was about 10 years ago and was just too horrible and miserable for me to waste my life on. I do have a few that I started ages ago and got side-tracked, or are utter rubbish, but I don't regard those as given up, just on hold. I read voraciously, and even if I'm bored I do my best to keep on until the end.
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Post by disneypal on Jul 18, 2023 18:26:31 GMT
Movies and books, rather good or not, I tend to finish them, even if I don't like them. I just am that way.
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Post by katlady on Jul 18, 2023 18:55:03 GMT
I voted mostly. It would have to be really, really, bad for me to put it down before I finish. Same for me. I tend to finish books. One thing I like about a physical book is that if one section is terrible, I can flip through until something catches my eye, then read from there. If the rest of the book turned out ok, I’ll go back to the sections I skipped over. |
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Post by workingclassdog on Jul 18, 2023 18:57:11 GMT
99.5% of the time I do. I picked always. If it is something I am not into I might read so fast I miss stuff just to finish it. But usually I am with it all the time to the end. And no peaking at the last page, ever.
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Post by monklady123 on Jul 18, 2023 19:01:28 GMT
I voted "mostly", but I'm also "will stop as soon as I know I won't enjoy it". I usually will try to push through for a bit more just to give it more of a chance, but if it doesn't improve I stop. Too many other books to read.
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Post by monklady123 on Jul 18, 2023 19:07:54 GMT
I think we have had this question before but I am curious if this has changed since so many people are now using e- readers? A variety of books are so easily accessible no matter where you are these days. The Demon Copperhead posts on the reading thread made me think about this. I have not read this yet but will later on as I do like the author. I will say The Bean Tree, Pigs in Heaven, and Animal Dreams were my absolute favorites by her and nothing after has really made it as high on my list. That is the great thing about books/authors - there are so many options out there that there is really no reason to read what you don’t enjoy these days. When I was an exchange student, so many many years ago I swear I read the entire English section of the Helsingborg (Sweden) library that year. I read stuff that I wouldn’t even think about picking up today. I like quirky, but I have to say The Breast by Phillip Roth was probably one of the strangest books I have ever read and I haven’t forgotten it even after 40 years 😆😆 Although I still read actual books, if I had access to an e-reader back then that one would not have been one of my choices. 😉That's a totally different situation. When I was in the Peace Corps there was a small room at the PC office in the capital where everyone dumped their books when they were done reading them (most people brought a few with them when they arrived in-country). Any time I was in the capital I would take a dozen or so, no matter what books. lol. There was another volunteer in a village about half a day's ride and we'd swap our books when we got together. We were all so desperate for English that we'd read anything. In all that time the only book I remember not finishing was "The Brothers Karamazov". I tried, gave up, read something else, then tried when that was my last English language book in my house. Still couldn't do it. lol |
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Post by leannec on Jul 18, 2023 19:19:01 GMT
I'm very particular about the books I buy so I voted "Yes" ... I have been known to not finish books but I can't remember the last time ... Life is too short to waste on reading bad books!  |
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Post by librarylady on Jul 18, 2023 19:21:51 GMT
I only recently gave myself permission to put a book aside when I am not enjoying the book.
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Post by Linda on Jul 18, 2023 19:22:36 GMT
I voted mostly - probably only a couple/year at most end up DNF. And some years, none do. (and I read 150+ books/year)
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milocat
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,421
Location: 55 degrees north in Alberta, Canada
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Post by milocat on Jul 18, 2023 19:28:45 GMT
I won't force myself to read a book I'm not enjoying. This isn't homework it's a hobby and there are SO many books I want to read no sense wasting time on a book I'm not enjoying. Some I give up faster than others. Not saying I skip a high percentage but I just put it down and move on if it's not working for me.
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Post by nightnurse on Jul 18, 2023 19:29:47 GMT
The first book I DNF was Anna Karenina. I knew what was going to happen to her before reading it, I just had no idea how eager I was going to be for it to happen. Whiny, self absorbed characters and the ridiculous way the author romanticized being poor… yuck.
After that, I realized I don’t have to read anything I’m not enjoying. Especially with free or cheap e books. My time is valuable. If I’m not sucked in during the first few chapters, I put it away and pick something else.
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Post by Zee on Jul 18, 2023 19:32:40 GMT
Mostly. I will slog on trying to see if it gets better, but I don't mind not finishing a book if it's just not a good read.
I like to take a chance sometimes on the Kindle Deal of the Day and some are truly awful. Some are actually enjoyable if they've enlisted the help of an editor. It helps to read a sample first if I'm on the fence.
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Post by bunnyhug on Jul 18, 2023 19:34:37 GMT
I finish almost everything, but if I'm not enjoying the final 1/4 or so, I have been known to skim ... Often I put books on hold based solely on a review or someone's suggestion, so those books I'll give a chapter or two to see if I really want to read them or not--if I went physically into the library more often, I'd do more of my vetting there!
I'm usually reading 5 or 6 books at once, so I do read based on my current mood. Some books take longer than others, depending on the denseness of the prose, but once I've actually started a book, I rarely quit before it's done.
I don't read ebooks, so I can't say if I'd be more or less likely to stick with a stinker, lol!
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Post by Mary_K on Jul 18, 2023 19:42:18 GMT
About 25 years ago I was reading a book that I just was not enjoying. I kept at it because "it just has to get better!".
I finished it and it was awful.
Right then and there I decided I would never waste my reading time again - toss it if I'm not enjoying it!
Mary K
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Post by mnmloveli on Jul 18, 2023 19:43:54 GMT
I chose “mostly finish” books I start. I think that’s because I have a huge list of authors I follow and tend to stick with them. The past 2 years I have tried quite a few new authors and books recommended on the PEAS’ weekly reading thread, and have been very lucky.
I think life is way too short to read a book that doesn’t bring you joy and/or excitement. I have no problem not finishing a book, even though it doesn’t happen often. Too many books waiting in the wings looking for my attention.
READ ON………..
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Post by lisae on Jul 18, 2023 19:46:34 GMT
I do mostly audiobooks and finish most of them. Occasionally something is just not to my taste and I return it. I usually give it an hour or more of listening time to be sure.
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Post by lainey on Jul 18, 2023 19:52:53 GMT
No, I ruthlessly DNF, reading isn't meant to be a punishment.
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Post by pepperwood on Jul 18, 2023 22:10:47 GMT
I used to always finish a book I had started. However, now that I almost always read ebooks on Kindle, I don't feel guilty not finishing an ebook.
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momto4kiddos
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,151
Jun 26, 2014 11:45:15 GMT
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Post by momto4kiddos on Jul 18, 2023 22:33:51 GMT
I used to struggle through every book I started, then I decided life is to short to struggle through books I don't like.
With that said I finish most of the books I start.
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RosieKat
Drama Llama
PeaJect #12
Posts: 5,377
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Post by RosieKat on Jul 18, 2023 22:35:32 GMT
I'd say mostly, although I have discovered that I won't be receiving a failing grade if I don't finish one I don't like. (That was the most liberating discovery!) But I find that there's something I enjoy in most books, whether it's pure escapism or the opposite extreme or (more likely) something in the middle. I've also learned what books I don't tend to enjoy and so I'm less likely to pick those up to begin with. I think you raise a good issue, compeateropeator, about the Swedish library. I am probably less likely to pick up weird random books now that I am a 99% Kindle user. |
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Post by epeanymous on Jul 18, 2023 23:26:21 GMT
I generally do. Every once in a while I will have a book I find impossible to actually read, but that is maybe once a year.
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Post by mellyw on Jul 18, 2023 23:27:48 GMT
I used to be a weird stickler for finishing a book. Somewhere along the way I realized life is too short, with way too many books to put myself thru that. I’d still say mostly though
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Post by alsomsknit on Jul 18, 2023 23:43:09 GMT
Mostly.
A number of years ago my answer would have been always. Had a string of 4 books (purchased) that I forced myself to finish. What are the odds of choosing 4 horrible books in a succession? I quit reading for at least 2 to 3 years. Completely ruined reading for me.
At the first desire to read, I picked up To Kill a Mockingbird. My favorite book for quite a time, at that point.
It is much more important to protect my enjoyment of reading than to “quit.”
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Post by imkat on Jul 18, 2023 23:54:43 GMT
I go to the bookstore and buy my books, but you raise a good point about it being easier to abandon an electronic copy.
I purchase each book, and I have a pretty good idea of what I will like and not like. Two books that I recently abandoned were gifts. I tried, but I knew it would not be a good experience.
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Jul 19, 2023 0:31:15 GMT
I selected "mostly".
I'm guessing somewhere around 80% finished and 20% not finished.
I have started a few fiction books(I usually read romance fluff - Danielle Steel type books), and gave it 2 or 3 chapters and didn't finish. Either didn't like the story or didn't like the writing style.
I've started quite self help books, and didn't make it through the first chapter.
I've started several self help books and didn't read the whole thing from start to finish.....did more a skim through, and read certain chapters or subject matter that was of interest to me.
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Post by busy on Jul 19, 2023 0:41:08 GMT
I’m a “mostly” - but I don’t read past the first chapter if I’m not enjoying it. (I’m just pretty good at picking books I’ll like.)
There are already more great books out there than I’ll be able to read in my lifetime. I’m not going to waste my time on ones that arent for me. Also, reading for pleasure should be, you know, pleasurable! Not a task to be slogged through.
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