I normally don’t have a problem putting a book aside that’s just not working out for me. As a matter of fact, I usually only give a book 30-40 pages to see if it draws me in. If it doesn’t, no problem. Usually it goes back on the stacks or if I really didn’t like it then I move on.
But sometimes I keep on reading hoping things will turn around for me. Unfortunately that’s not what happened with me with The Silver Pigs by Lindsey Davis. I kept on for more than half way through the book until I couldn’t take it any more.
What is a bummer about this one is that it came highly recommended from a lot of people but you know how it is. We all have different tastes and so this one just didn’t work for me. Biggest reason why not? The characters. I found them all a bit annoying, and while I don’t have to love every character it is nice if I can relate to one or find one amusing/interesting enough at least.
So, I’ve already traded off this one on BookMooch. How about you? Any books you did not finish lately? What kept you from finishing your book?
I’m sorry this book didn’t work for you, Iliana. Let’s hope the next one would be better! 🙂
I used to have a hard time giving up on a book that wasn’t working for me, but I’m getting much better about it. Right now, I’m reading Vanilla Beans and Brodo, a memoir about an expat in Tuscany, and it is so boring. The author is not a writer, and it shows. No sense of dramatic tension, just perfunctory description. So, so blah…and Tuscany shouldn’t be blah. But it’s for my book club, so I feel obligated to finish; otherwise, I would have been done at 50 pages. (I try to give every book 50 pages or 10%, whichever is greater.)
I’m sorry this one didn’t turn out to be a good fit for you, Iliana. You tried, at least.
Ah well… better luck with your next book! I can’t remember the last book I didn’t finish… I think I’m a little more persistent than I should be!
I really struggle to give up a book, and this was one that I did like. Sorry it didn’t work for you.
I’ve been in a reading slump lately so have given up on several. I let The Help go back to the library – I’ll try it later. I’m also taking Summer Kitchen back, it’s just not grabbing me. I have enough other things to read so I don’t feel bad about not finishing a book. I haven’t always let go of books this easily, but it makes life easier if I do.
ah that’s ok…happens to me all the time… i start.. i dnt like .. i put it aside… try again. try again.. and then dump it 🙂 🙂
i wish there was a bookmooch thing i could do .. you know! some chick-lit books do that to me.. 🙂
Too bad, especially when you had such high hopes for it. I have been lucky of late and not had to give up on a book. Earlier this year though I gave up on two in a row. That was depressing.
Oh I hate that feeling! If I find myself clenching my jaw while reading. . .I know that I’m just going to have to stop. It won’t be turning around for me!
This series came highly recommended to me as well. I picked up the first book, and although I did finish it, I’ve never gone back to the series. Like you, I found the characters annoying.
I haven’t had that problem recently, but I definitely won’t keep reading a book if after 40 or so pages I’m not enjoying it at all. Life’s too short to read bad books!
Hey guys – thanks so much for stopping in. I’m so behind on blog reading but hoping to catch up at the end of the week 🙂
I’m having that same problem with The House of the Seven Gables, by Nathaniel Hawthorne. It’s just a bit too verbose for me. I expected to love it though because I’m a big fan of Hawthorne. I’m about half way through and I’m just hoping that the plot picks up.
I rarely don’t finish books, but I did give up on a Christina Stead novel recently. I’m trying to get better at not wasting my time on something I’m not enjoying.
I did not finish reading Great Expectations – as much as I tried, it took me two months to get through just about half of it. I found it an excruciatingly slow and convoluted read and kept turning to other books. Eventually I gave up and returned my copy to the library. I really do want to give Dickens a fair shot, but I suspect it will have to be with another of his books.