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

[Mom2Grey]

When I was halfway through 'Dracula' and the plot was moving so slowly I considered putting it down.
But no, I would have felt too guilty about that one so I read it through to the end.
Took me an entire month to read but I'm glad I can now say "I've read Bram Stoker's Dracula...".

But a really, really crappy book? No, I wouldn't waste my time.

[prarich]

Yes at times I do, especially when I know it is a good book and a must read.

[Dream Catcher]

I only ever did they once because I was really busy. I eventually went back to it though.

[free_reading]

I wouldn't say I feel guilty, however, I don't like the feeling that I have quit something. Furthermore I find it hard to walk away from a story that I have already put time into.

[kaylahar6]

Yes, unless the book was really bad.

[lbuckman]

I used to feel the need to finish all books. Now I tend to think I need to finish a book if it is a classic, but otherwise I tend to stop reading a book if it doesn't catch my attention fairly quickly.

[TL7]

I don't feel guilty. I love the free samples on the ereaders because I usually read a couple of paragraphs to get a feel for the writer's style before I decide I want to buy a book. If I don't like his or her style, I don't buy the book. There is nothing wrong with not liking the way someone communicates an idea to the reader. I, for example, don't like Steinbeck. Sacriliage, according to my friends, but he's depressing. I get enough of depressing during the day; I don't want to wallow in it when I'm reading for fun. I could tell based on the first couple of paragraphs that I didn't particularly care for him when I was forced to read The Grapes of Wrath. I stopped on page thirty-two, skipped to the end, read the last chapter, and was done. I thought his other works would be better...no such luck. I simply don't like his style. I'm not going to finish TGoW, either, and I don't feel guilty at all.

[MRosalina]

Absolutely not (unless it is for a school assignment or something). I feel more guilty if I force myself to read something i am not enjoying, it feels pointless or a waste of time.

[sarah92480]

I wouldn't call it guilt, exactly...I always say, "I'm not a quitter" and will read even a crappy book all the way through. I don't feel badly if I don't read it, but I feel better when I can say I finished it.

[Iggy_86]

Only for 5 minutes or so. The one who should feel guilty is the author. Just kiddin'.

It doesn't happen very often. I'm selective beforehand and I usually persist in the task at hand.

[dianaan]

A bit... But I'm starting to teach myself to get rid of this feeling. It doesn't make sense to finish reading a book if I realize it's crap in the first 50 pages

[SheldrakeWriter]

Yes I do feel guilty, but there came a point with Howards End and Sons and Lovers, for example, where I just didn't care any more what happened on the next page. In my book, that's the time to put it back on the shelf. I seem to have a lot of luck with coming round to books I used not to find interesting, so in a few years I'll try again.

[amcdaniel_01]

I do feel guilty and I really wish I didn't, but I guess it's just one of those strange quirks about me. No matter how terrible a book is, I will read it, even if that means just skim reading.

[Dream Spinner]

Most of the time.

[pyjama]

No I don't. If I cannot get interested in the book but still finish the book, I feel guilty for having wasted my time.