Those not-so-good books

[KanoasDestiny]

You buy a book thinking you're going to love it. You start reading it and soon realize that it isn't what you thought it would be. Do you give up reading it, or do you push through to the end?

For me personally, I can not leave a book unfinished. No matter how boring or badly written, I have to finish the book. I have read many that didn't start out so strong, but that I ended up truly enjoying. Had I given up on them in the beginning, I never would have found their greatness later on.

 

[susanne]

This doesn't work well with a Kindle, but with a real book, I've occasionally skipped ahead a little ways until I found a "hook," and then went back and started at the beginning. I would never read the end first, but doing this has given me a jump start on books when the beginning didn't grab me.

 

[ohmt]

There are only two books that I have never been able to read all the way through.

50 Shades of Grey-because I despised both main characters, the story line was terrible, and the writing was worse. The first book was great at first and then it quickly went down hill. I read through half of the second and then never went back.

Recently I bough an RL Stine book because I just had to see how his adult novels would be. I tried so hard to get through it, but just couldn't. He needs to stick with children's books.

Other than those, I don't think i've ever not finished a book, and I go through about a book a wk to 2 wks.

 

[susanne]

I love this photo, even though the room is too contemporary for my tastes. Since I prefer small houses, I've always thought a formal dining room used only for eating to be a waste of space. On the other hand, a library table where you can also enjoy a great meal with your friend (and by this, I include my books...) is my kind of room...

http://www.houzz.com...oom-los-angeles

 

[susanne]

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Ooooohhhhh!!!

http://www.houzz.com...ce-philadelphia

And here's one that is actually very much like what our library/living room will be -- minus the Eames chair...substitute a comfy overstuffed chair and loveseat.

.http://www.houzz.com...oom-los-angeles

 

[KanoasDestiny]

Oh man, I could live here! I would never want to leave the house again. I can only imagine that it continues all the way around the room.

http://www.houzz.com/photos/57270/Freed-Residence-eclectic-family-room-los-angeles

 

[KanoasDestiny]

There are only two books that I have never been able to read all the way through.

50 Shades of Grey-because I despised both main characters, the story line was terrible, and the writing was worse. The first book was great at first and then it quickly went down hill. I read through half of the second and then never went back.

Recently I bough an RL Stine book because I just had to see how his adult novels would be. I tried so hard to get through it, but just couldn't. He needs to stick with children's books.

Other than those, I don't think i've ever not finished a book, and I go through about a book a wk to 2 wks.

By the time I made it to the last Fifty Shades book, I was soo ready to move on to another storyline. I did enjoy the "story line" of Fifty but the characters really started to get to me.

Have you read R.L. Stine's Superstition (I think that's the name)?

 

[susanne]

Oh man, I could live here! I would never want to leave the house again. I can only imagine that it continues all the way around the room.

http://www.houzz.com...oom-los-angeles

I love that one! Love that chaise and I love the windows high above the book -- always nice to know what the weather is like when you come up for air!

 

[susanne]

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How did I put these here? I meant to put them in the libraries thread!

 

[KanoasDestiny]

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How did I put these here? I meant to put them in the libraries thread!

It's fine, I'm sure there are even some not-so-good books on those absolutely perfect shelves.

 

[KanoasDestiny]

This doesn't work well with a Kindle, but with a real book, I've occasionally skipped ahead a little ways until I found a "hook," and then went back and started at the beginning. I would never read the end first, but doing this has given me a jump start on books when the beginning didn't grab me.

A Kindle doesn't allow you to jump around? How does it mark where you left off in a story?

 

[Marsha Cassada]

I used to be a fan of Sir Walter Scott. I read all his books, but could not finish Midlothian. I still reread a few of his. I got started on them because I wanted to read so-called "classics". (Who in the world decides what is a "classic"?? Ever tried wading through Moby Dick?)

I also very much enjoy D E Stevenson (cousin to R L). I have all her books--except Rochester's Wife, which was very upsetting.

I used to feel I had to finish every book I started, but no longer. If I don't like it pretty quick I might skip to the end to see if it's worth following the plot. If not, I usually throw it in the trash or send it off the the thrift store. If it is an old one that has a pretty cover I offer it to an antique dealer or crafter for recycling. Books are not sacred. It is okay to get rid of some of them.

 

[Kim~Crayonboxminiatures]

When I was younger I absolutely had to finish a book I started, but now I often put it down if it doesn't grab me and I might pick it up to read later or I might forget it altogther depending on the book. Sometimes I'm not in the right "mood" so in that case I will pick it up at another time, but sometimes it's the poor story or writing and in that case I let it go.

 

[KanoasDestiny]

That's true about having to be in the mood for a certain book. Years ago I bought a book that sounded really good. I started reading it, and three pages in I had to stop. I set it aside and months later I decided to try it again. I was hooked within those first three pages and by the time I finished, I loved the author (Iris Johansen). I have since made it a hobby to buy all of her books (I have over 70).

 

[MajorClementine]

I couldn't get into the Fifty Shades books. I hated the female lead from the very beginning. I don't find a book I can't finish very often but sometimes I get burned out on a book and have to put it down for a day, week, month, year, then go back and finish it. I did that with "Wicked" and "Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies". They were good books just long and drawn out. Needed a break in the middle.

 

[KanoasDestiny]

I soooo wanted to read 'Pride, prejudice, and zombies'. Was it that slow? I don't do well with slow.

 

[Riverrose28]

Only one I can think of right now, that is Vector by Robin Cook, I think that is the author. It is on my headboard, so maybe someday I'll attempt to read the whole thing.

 

[Remali]

There was one book I gave up on, I tried to go back to it and read it, but, I just wasn't getting into it... It was the 1965 sci fi novel "Dune", by Frank Herbert. I got the book back in the early 1980's, maybe I could give it a try again and see if I have changed my mind about, but, I don't know....

 

[KanoasDestiny]

Maybe the third time will be a charm.

 

[susanne]

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I loved Dune, but if I remember correctly, it took awhile to get hooked.