| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| farmmilkmama |
Posted - Jan 23 2012 : 7:24:00 PM
...if you're going to like the book you're reading?
I've been told I'm a VERY picky reader.  I can always tell in the first chapter if its a (fiction) book I'm going to like and if it hasn't sparked my attention by then, I don't continue. Anyone else like this, or are you more "forgiving"? 
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Farmgirl Sister #1086
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com
www.thehmmmschoolingmom.blogspot.com |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Lyndell |
Posted - Apr 04 2012 : 11:55:52 AM
Hmm... I don't actually think too much about it. I'm an avid reader, so I know that certain books take me longer to read than others... I also like to start things I finish. A book has to be pretty bad for me to give up on it. So for example, if I'm reading a really dense non-fiction book I'll stick with it if the subject interests me, even if it's not a page turner. Took me months and months to finish "A People's History of the United States" because I couldn't read more than a few pages at a time, even though it was excellent and fascinating - lots to digest. Similarly, if it's a really dense novel or "classic" I might stick with it if I like the story or characters, or even just because it's well regarded or important in English literature.
In general though, I can tell a book is bad (or at least not my cup of tea) when I just lose interest entirely and find myself skimming, skipping to the back, etc. This happened when I was reading the "Twilight" series. Didn't want to knock it till I'd tried it so to speak, but I couldn't even finish the last book. And sometimes I'll just set a book down and never pick it back up... that's a pretty clear sign that I won't be finishing it anytime soon.
Also, sometimes I come back to books that I abandoned long ago and end up loving them, so something has to be said for timing, too.
I guess I circumvent a lot of the strife surrounding this by reading more than one book at a time. I usually have a few books going at once that are all slightly different in topic or genre, so I can set down a book that isn't a page turner and pick up something else depending on my mood.
http://foxgloveandfolksongs.blogspot.com |
| country_lovin |
Posted - Apr 04 2012 : 11:07:12 AM
Within the first 5 pages. Then I'll check the middle to see if it gets any better, if not, it goes back to the library. |
| DeniseMGM |
Posted - Mar 28 2012 : 2:10:47 PM
I typically give books a couple chapters, but that's it. Girl with a Dragon Tattoo is a great example of a very bad beginning. I didn't finish it. Everyone (and I mean EVERYONe) says to give it time, but 100 pages is just too much time for me.
Denise - Farmgirl #1976
www.lionsdaughter.wordpress.com |
| Calicogirl |
Posted - Mar 18 2012 : 1:45:37 PM
I give a book about 3 chapters. If I can't find it interesting by then it's back to the library.
By His Grace, For His Glory
~Sharon
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| pennyhenny |
Posted - Mar 18 2012 : 12:24:50 PM
I give the book a chance and read until the end. I have had so many books where it really takes off about half way through much like a movie.
hugs,
-missy-
Happiness held is the seed; Happiness shared is the flower.
John Harrigan |
| meow |
Posted - Mar 13 2012 : 02:04:48 AM
Hello, I love to read and have many books,I like classics and some new stuff. Have found Pretty good books at Airports,I usually read front and back jackets and intro ,then I choose a page in middle of book if it looks good I buy and read .A couple of good ones were Major Pettigrews Last Stand by Helen Simonson |
| Melissa_Foster |
Posted - Mar 02 2012 : 06:38:43 AM
When I read a book, if the first chapter doesn't hook me, I put it down and pick up another--but I usually return to it another time to see if it was just that moment in time, or I was in a different mood. Quite often I then enjoy the books.
Enjoy each and every day, no one else can do it for you. Read, write, pay-it-forward.
www.MelissaFoster.com
Check out my books: http://amzn.to/rrYSPA |
| kathleenshoop |
Posted - Mar 01 2012 : 06:50:26 AM
Identifying with characters...that's such an interesting notion! It's funny how the same character can evoke the sense of "identifying" in one person and not in another. I guess that's why there are so many books in the world! From an author's perspective, that's the hard part--creating characters that are specific and unique, yet somehow appeal to a wide audience!
http://www.amazon.com/Winner--Best-Regional-Fiction-Midwest-ebook/dp/B004XR50K6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1311971654&sr=8-2
Author, The Last Letter, The novel for every daughter who thinks she knows her mother's story...
AFTER the FOG...coming May, 2012 |
| kathleenshoop |
Posted - Mar 01 2012 : 06:42:50 AM
I am an "easy" reader...I often give a book a significant chance to hook me. I love when I'm hooked right from the first page, but I think some books need time to build the world, characters, and plot...
kathie
http://www.amazon.com/Winner--Best-Regional-Fiction-Midwest-ebook/dp/B004XR50K6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1311971654&sr=8-2
Author, The Last Letter, The novel for every daughter who thinks she knows her mother's story...
AFTER the FOG...coming May, 2012 |
| mudpony farmgirl |
Posted - Feb 14 2012 : 3:50:25 PM
I must be really picky I guess! I know from the first paragraph! The voice has to catch me right away or it's a no-go! |
| Bayou Girl |
Posted - Feb 01 2012 : 08:56:18 AM
I agree with many of you. I will allow three or four chapters to "get into" a book. I really liked the Mortal Instruments series (well the first three books, anyway). Then, C. Clare published a prequel to the series and I didn't like it at all. It has turned me off from continuing the original series. |
| Melina |
Posted - Feb 01 2012 : 08:34:12 AM
I usually give it a couple of chapters. I have to be able to identify with a character or I just can't do it. I'm too old to waste time on a book which is a chore to finish. I'm the same way with movies and tv shows. Guess I'm just getting cranky in my old age!
The morning breeze has secrets to tell you. Do not go back to sleep.
Rumi |
| buggysmum |
Posted - Feb 01 2012 : 05:03:24 AM
I am really picky about my reading. Probably too picky. But I usually give it around 3 or 4 chapters before I give up, unless the writing is awful, and then I give up sooner, because it's just not worth the time. |
| vintagediva1 |
Posted - Jan 28 2012 : 2:08:15 PM
Stephen King recommends reading 20% before deciding to toss it
Michele
www.2vintagedivas.etsy.com
www.sissyandsisterstitch.etsy.com
www.dreamingofspringtime.etsy.com
Love that good ole vintage junk |
| sjmjgirl |
Posted - Jan 25 2012 : 8:15:14 PM
I read the book cover mostly. It has to be really, really bad for me to give up on a book.
Farmgirl Sister # 3810
Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
- Dalai Lama |
| traildancer |
Posted - Jan 25 2012 : 1:28:33 PM
I have read all the Diana Gabaldon books (the Outlander series) except the newest one. I really enjoyed them. However, I tried to read her Lord John books (I think that's what they are called) and just couldn't.
The trail is the thing.... Louis L'Amour |
| AmethystRose |
Posted - Jan 25 2012 : 07:06:39 AM
I gave up on Diana Gabaldon's series a few books ago. I read the first one when my daughter was a baby. It was supposed to be three books. The daughter is now twenty one, and the series isn't finished. I also had the Outlandish Companion, a reference book which you needed to refresh your memory when the next book in the series was released. When she released books that were not part of the series, I lost interest. |
| graciegreeneyes |
Posted - Jan 24 2012 : 7:36:24 PM
Definitely writing style and voice for me - I am pretty picky too. Any more I give it two chapters, then it's over if it hasn't caught my attention or sympathy. There are just too many books in the world that I'm never going to have the time to read to waste time on one I don't like:)
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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| avlfarmgirl |
Posted - Jan 24 2012 : 6:14:57 PM
First sentence--should be engaging and well written, regardless if it's a guilty pleasure or a learning opportunity
It's what you do that makes your soul. ~Barbara Kingsolver |
| Amie C. |
Posted - Jan 24 2012 : 5:24:37 PM
Alyce, I gave up on Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" series with only a couple of chapters left to go. Not a huge fan of Harry Potter, but I thought this series was worse. It started out with such promise, but then turned out to be simply mean-spirited and derivative. That whole long anthropological episode in the second book was just a rip-off of CS Lewis' "Out of the Silent Planet"--and so many other ways in which he seemed to be trying soooooo hard to be the anti-Lewis.
Also, his strong female protagonist got so much weaker as soon as her male counterpart came into the story...it bugged me that even their names seemed to be casting them as representatives of gender-assigned qualities: "Will", reason and action; "Lyra", poetry and the arts. Grrr...sorry, I don't want to bore you all or insult the many people who really loved these books. Zipping it! |
| Bear5 |
Posted - Jan 24 2012 : 3:06:04 PM
I usually know the book will be good by the first chapter. But even if I don't know, I cannot not finish reading a book.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
| jessabelluh |
Posted - Jan 24 2012 : 2:53:22 PM
quote:
Originally posted by farmmilkmama
So if there is something that turns you off to a book you thought you might like, what is it? For me, it's generally the writing style or the voice.
That's what usually does it for me too.
~jess |
| GirlwithHook |
Posted - Jan 24 2012 : 11:40:53 AM
Gosh...a couple of chapters, maybe? I sometimes do the "peek to the end" thing too. What turns me off varies a lot, but it's usually the writing style. I remember that I tried several years ago to read a memoir written by a college student who was raising his brother, but the entire thing was so full of text-speak and smug hipster-ness that I put it down without even checking it out of the library.
On a similar note, has anyone abandoned a series without finishing it? I basically did that with the Harry Potter books: devoured the first four, was uncertain about the fifth (although it grew on me), hated the sixth, and put the seventh down unfinished. (Please don't ever ask me about J.K. Rowling and characterization unless you want to see smoke pour out of my ears!)
A hook, a book, and a good cup of coffee.... |
| traildancer |
Posted - Jan 24 2012 : 10:39:41 AM
I will read the frontsipiece and can often tell if I even want to check out the book. Once I start to read I can usually tell in the first chapter. Sometimes the writing style is just too pedantic. A few times I have stuck it out for more than one chapter hoping for improvement. Doesn't happen. But I make exception for the classics.
I HAD to read so many books and retain information in college that I don't waste my time on something I don't like. Plus I no longer read for retention. Solely for pleasure.
The trail is the thing.... Louis L'Amour |
| Amie C. |
Posted - Jan 24 2012 : 09:35:57 AM
Usually I can tell from reading a few pages. Once I get into a book, there are very few I won't see through to the end. Often I don't know for certain what I think about a book until months, even years later, when my mind has had time to sort out the wheat from the chaff, so to speak.
But when the very last chapter ruins it, that's the worst! |
