Lately I have had some issues with ADD. I find myself growing bored with books and putting them down to find another. Then a few days later coming back to that same book I was reading and trying again. Sometimes I realize it was just a mood problem and the book is actually great. Then there are other times that the book still doesn’t grab my interest. Is it still a mood problem or is the book really just not that good?
I figure at times mood is everything. Sometimes I have read so many erotic romances, I just can’t stand another one and have to put it down. Or if my husband is out of town, I don’t want to read about the hero that is absent a lot. Just reminds me of what is going on in my own life. It could just be that the rain that day made me sad and I couldn’t get cheered up. These types of mood swings usually get worked out and I don’t sweat it if I can get back into the book with only one time putting it down.
But what about those times you start a book and it just isn’t working for you. You put it down and a week later come back and you still can’t get into it. Down it goes again and you try a third time…but when is retrying over and over enough? How many chances do you give a book before it becomes the dreaded DNF (did not finish)?
Then there is the whole “I adore this author!” When your favorite author begins to fail you with chances, do you think it is you…or is it really the book?
Recently, I struggled with a book from one of my favorite authors. I didn’t like the heroine, but adored the hero. I started reading and put it down after about 100 pages because I just wanted to smack the heroine so bad. I tried it again a week later and made it further, but still had to put it down. The third time I said do or die, I was finishing it. I did. I was disappointed. I wanted my time back that I felt I wasted.
So how many chances should we give a book we just don’t seem to like? When is enough…well, enough?
Let’s Chat!
Shari
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I give a book until the end of chapter 3 to catch and keep my attention. If it doesn’t keep me interested by then it goes into my “for another time” list and I will try it again at some point, but not right away. When I try again if it still doesn’t work for me, I am done. I will donate the book to my local “Friends Of The Library” group or if it’s an ebook, I delete it..
That’s a great rule of thumb. Three chapters should grab my interest and if doesn’t then I don’t think the rest is going to get much better.
If I’m not into a book I’ve just started, I’ll put it aside and pick it up again in about a week or two. I’ll read about 100 pages and if the book still doesn’t work for me I’ll DNF it.
Another great idea! I tend to try and try again if I invest the money into it. But like dieting, you got to know when to say no to a book that isn’t getting anywhere!
Ahhh, I’ve had this problem a few times and it’s hard especially when it’s an author whose work you read regularly. I have never not finished a book although I was very tempted recently when an author really let me down. I started a book last night that was so bad, I stopped about 25% in and I won’t go back and finish it. Thankfully it’s not one I’m doing for review, it’s one I picked up for a personal read. Sometimes when it is one for review and I just can’t get into it, I’ll ask another reviewer to… Read more »
Oh this is a tough issue for me. I am one of those people who are compelled to finish once I’m started even if its just an absolute train wreck for me. Mood plays a huge part in what I like at the time so I do have to either not start something or set it aside until I’m ready. That doesn’t always work out so well for me when I have a review deadline. LOL