Do you feel guilty if you don't finish reading a book?

Shellbell1016 · Post by **Shellbell1016** » 29 Apr 2014, 17:34

I have always loved reading books. If I start a book, I need to finish it. That has been a golden rule for me from day one.

astralcolt · Post by **astralcolt** » 29 Apr 2014, 17:38

I used to feel guilty about abandoning books, so I'd slog on to the bitter end whether I enjoyed it or not. Nowadays, for the most part, I'll only do that if the book is "required reading" of some kind (like market research for a particular genre). If I'm just reading for my own sake, I'll toss a book if it hasn't engaged me about 1/3 in. Don't have time for bad books!

Ani356 · Post by **Ani356** » 29 Apr 2014, 17:49

Personally I have to finish books once I start them. I have quit in the middle of a series before, like with Twilight. I read the first book and couldn't bring myself to care about the characters enough to read the next three (or see any of the movies!!)

CrescentMoon · Post by **CrescentMoon** » 09 May 2014, 12:34

I really don't like leaving books unfinished. I have read books before that took me awhile to get into, but after starting them and reading through, the story ended up grabbing my interest and I was glad I kept reading. So I try to finish it when I can, but sometimes I can't finish because it's so boring.

haloja · Post by **haloja** » 09 May 2014, 13:24

sure..why not

Colette Marie · Post by **Colette Marie** » 10 May 2014, 05:54

It really depends. If the book bores me to death then I would not feel guilty if I do not finish it, because I feel that it is a waste of my time. But usually, I would give the book about 50-75 pages before I decide on giving up reading it.

reynolpd · Post by **reynolpd** » 10 May 2014, 19:38

I do not feel guilty at all if I don't read a book. The way I see it, it's not that the book isn't good in most cases, it's just that the book is not interesting to me. There has only been one time where I read an entire book and gave it an honest review, and it was really bad. I felt guilty then, but it was a bad book, and I was just trying to be honest.

Headbanginghunny · Post by **Headbanginghunny** » 11 May 2014, 22:56

I try to give each book a chance, especially if I have been looking forward to reading it. I try to read at least 50 pages, unless it is so boring that I can't. I also realize that waiting a long time and not looking forward to reading a book (or looking TOO forward to the end) is a signal that it wasn't meant to be. I do feel guilty sometimes but I feel mostly foolish if I read a majority of it and stop when I bought it.

monideane21 · Post by **monideane21** » 12 May 2014, 22:00

I've only not finished a book once, and I did feel guilty about not seeing it through but it was a terrible book.

prarich · Post by **prarich** » 13 May 2014, 13:55

I don't feel guilty if I don't finish a book but I do feel incomplete and I hate that feeling. I prefer give idling the book even if it is stone boring. I may skip pages and try finishing faster but I do finish it.

autumnmarie · Post by **autumnmarie** » 21 May 2014, 20:36

Not really. Sometimes I don't finish a book right away if I'm really enjoying it because I don't want it to end.

chstress · Post by **chstress** » 21 May 2014, 20:43

Since I read very fast, this is not necessary for me even if I dont enjoy the book. I have always read every single book I pick up to read; so I would not feel guilty for not finishing a book.

sammi8764 · Post by **sammi8764** » 21 May 2014, 20:53

Sometimes. I almost put down the book I'm currently reading, multiple times. The only reason I kept reading was simply because I had already bought the book, and it was new and hardback, so it was expensive. It's finally starting to get good, but I honestly can't wait to just get through it and go on to the next book. I know I probably should just stop reading it, but it's been mediocre so far and I'm almost to the end, so I really want to see if it has a good ending or not.

But anyway. Most of the time, if people tell me what happens in the book/book series (my sister does this a lot because I "read too slow") I won't finish the book, because I already know what happens. And if it simply does not interest me I won't read it either.

amansmith · Post by **amansmith** » 22 May 2014, 10:13

I do kind of feel guilty. Even if I dislike the book I usually finish it in hopes that at some point it might get better. Usually that is not the case and I am left with the "why did i even bother" feeling.