What do you do if a book isn't interesting?

Heidi76 · Post by **Heidi76** » 25 Sep 2012, 09:02

I used to think "finish if you start", but I don´t anymore. If the book isn´t interesting enough, I´ll put it away, and grab the next one from my neverending TBR-pile.

brad786 · Post by **brad786** » 11 Dec 2012, 12:10

I give it a try until it cracks down my patience completely and then it is kept in a place in my book shelf where I can't find it that easily

MelMariah · Post by **MelMariah** » 15 Dec 2012, 03:06

This gets me every time.
I feel like because I've started the book I MUST finish it but then if it's just awful I usually put a bookmark in it and put it away, reassuring myself "Oh, I'll just finish that one when i'm done with this one."

booklvr62 · Post by **booklvr62** » 21 Dec 2012, 07:35

I stop reading it and move on to another, "too many books,too little time' to waste my time with a book that I am not enjoying.

clintessential · Post by **clintessential** » 25 Dec 2012, 14:32

Depends on several factors. If the book is unreadable and I despise the author(Hemingway and Tom Robbins are
especially despicable. Not only are they contrived, they're so self-absorbed they are unaware of how dangerous
an environment they've created for themselves. Hemingway has been sufficently emasculated by DATo(you did
a commendable job Sir), so anything I might do would be seen as excessive and amateurish. Robbins on the
other hand.......is the image I most associate with the expression "pilloried in the public square." He's the snot
nosed frat boy that you hope didn't into grad school, lost his student deferment, got drafted, spent 364 days
in Vietnam, and on his last day in Nam is killed by friendly fire. 5 guys in his squad pitch in and hire a sniper
whose been in Nam for 7 years, to "put two behind his ear" just as he steps on the ladder of the C-130 that's
leaving for Travis in 30 minutes. After luxuriating in a daydream like this, the disposition of the book is of little
consequence. Really, it's the thought that counts. Others deserving of a similar fate include:
1. Spike Lee
2. E.L. Waters
3. Seymour Hersch
4. Bill Mahr
5. Keith Olberman
6. Barbra Streisand
Though not always the case, the closest benchmark to my own would be the creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone. If they hate someone, the chances are good
that I do too. I realize that not all of these people are writers, but their point-of-view
is certainly respresented by an author somewhere.

fitzml · Post by **fitzml** » 25 Dec 2012, 19:04

if a book doesn't draw me in in the first chapter or two, it probably won't, so I usually stop reading after that. I've tested this theory by finishing a couple of books recently that a co-worker gave me just to be polite. They were pretty boring to start with and ended the same way they began.

Mad3ine · Post by **Mad3ine** » 25 Dec 2012, 19:10

I read well past the moment the book bores me and if it doesn't pick up, then I take it back to the library. I'm a big user of libraries. I just don't have the room for all sorts of books I'm only going to read once. I only keep history books.

PainKillerIndy · Post by **PainKillerIndy** » 25 Dec 2012, 19:18

I usually buy well reviewed and well received books, so I finish those. But on few occasions I was given books that don't interest me at all. I give them a try and after a few chapter if there are no sparks I STOP and I don't look back.

hazelk · Post by **hazelk** » 26 Dec 2012, 17:27

I discard and move on to the next and continue until I find one that grabs me!! my reading time is too important to waste , for me there a lots of bum books out there!!

BooksNJoy · Post by **BooksNJoy** » 29 Dec 2012, 02:54

Who never have to read a boring book for high school or university?
If I MUST read such a book I do it so that I am able to understand what the teacher is dealing with. I found that sometimes the analysis of the book is much more interesting than the book itself.
When it's for my own pleasure, I read half of the book and then I decide whether I go on or move on.
The're books I start and find no interest but with time ( mostly years) I decide to read them anyway since maturity makes you aware of plenty of things.

RaRa · Post by **RaRa** » 31 Dec 2012, 11:35

I usually read it anyway.. I'm not sure why, it's like I'm holding out in hopes that it'll get better.

Shapewear · Post by **Shapewear** » 02 Jan 2013, 05:23

I will gift if some one like that book and resell the book.

cherry7up · Post by **cherry7up** » 05 Jan 2013, 21:25

The minute I find a book to be boring, I give it the entire next chapter to become good. If it doesn't, I stop reading it.

Eevee · Post by **Eevee** » 05 Jan 2013, 22:06

I'm also on Team 50 Pages, an idea that I got from librarian extraordinaire Nancy Pearl:

“If you're 50 years old or younger, give every book about 50 pages before you decide to commit yourself to reading it, or give it up. If you're over 50, which is when time gets shorter, subtract your age from 100 - the result is the number of pages you should read before deciding whether or not to quit. If you're 100 or over you get to judge the book by its cover, despite the dangers in doing so.”