To read or not to read – that really is the question??
16 November 2014 
Just how much will you take when reading a book. How long will you continue to read even if you’re not enjoying it when will you eventually just flip and say ‘why don’t you smegging well smeg off, you annoying little smeggy smegging smegger??’
Basically, will you stay the course, even if you’re not enjoying the book?? I admit that I’ve reached a point where I think life is just too short and books far too plentiful to read the ones that just aren’t doing it for me. But, every now and again I will be grimly determined to finish a book even though I’m not enjoying it – this is usually because the general feeling ‘out there’ is it’s a must read book so I continue to the bitter end because I keep think something will suddenly change and a light bulb will go on for me.
One of the problems with DNFs is if they’re review books – I won’t write a review for a book I’ve not finished. That’s just a personal whim of mine and not something I sit in judgement over others on. Plus, I make it fairly clear on my ‘about me’ that if I don’t finish I don’t review. Simples. Yet, I do appreciate knowing when others didn’t finish a book and understanding why that was the case!
Here’s the conundrum – if you don’t review the books that you don’t finish then your blog seems to be full of glowing reviews of books you love. This is a good thing in itself but does also have the tendency to make you look like a pushover or as though you’re just prepared to enjoy everything that’s put in front of you – which in turn makes you look a little undiscerning! This makes me feel like I should press on and finish all the books I start so that I can review them – which in turn will lead to negative reviews, which I really hate doing!! Catch 22.
So, when is enough enough? Do you read on to the end or not?
In honesty, I’ve just read a book that clearly wasn’t for me and yet I pursued it to the end! But, in doing so, it took me a lot longer than it normally would to finish the book as I kept putting it down and I didn’t really have any enthusiasm to pick it back up again! Not only did I not really enjoy the reading of the book but I also won’t enjoy writing the review – why, oh why, did I do this to myself!! Well, I think I was trying to prove something to myself really. I haven’t quite put my finger on what that was yet. And, was the exercise successful? Well, that depends on how I measure success. It certainly confirmed for me that I won’t be reading to the end in future if the book isn’t grabbing me. And, yes, we can’t all like all the same books all the time. Something about being human…
So, when is the cake all gone for you? Do you read everything you pick up even if you’re not loving it?? I personally feel like I’ve lost so much time when I read a book that I didn’t enjoy.
Thoughts welcome please.
Books and travelling with Lynn 
I’ve seen some people list the books they did not finish, sort of bundle them in one post and give reasons why they decided to move on. They’re not really reviews, but they are explanations of their decision and their experience. I’ve done one DNF review, I had read over half the book and was clearly never going to love it. I have been quicker to give up on books lately, I just have too much I really want to read to waste my time with a book thats not a great fit for me. Among other things, I read for fun, reading books I don’t like is not fun.
I think that’s it in a nutshell. Reading is for fun and books you’re not enjoying are definitely not fun!
Lynn 😀
I’m running a personal blog, I don’t particularly care if anyone has an issue if I write a review for a book I don’t finish. However, at the start of the review I indicate where I abandoned it, and the rest of the review is usually an explanation of why I abandoned it and if I’d recommend it to other readers or not.
As to actually abandoning books, it depends. If it’s an author who’s new to me and I’m struggling with, I have no qualms about putting it down if it’s not working. If its an author who I’ve read previously and liked, I usually read through, but those end up being average / bad reviews. And then there’s some books I just can’t stand, but at the same time there’s something about them that makes me curious enough to read through. Those tend to end up as bad reviews. Basically, its like you said. Life is too short, and my to read list is far too big.
As to blogging with all good reviews, I tend to mark those readers as sycophants and make not to avoid their reviews. Its statistically impossible to like everything you read. UNLESS, that is, they have a notice somewhere, normally on their About/Review Policy page, stating plainly they don’t post reviews for books they abandon/did not like. With all the bad blood amd drama between authors and reviewers concerning reviews, I can’t say I blame em, so as long as they have something stated clearly on their blog, I don’t mind making note of their thoughts on some book I’m interested in.
Well, I hope I’m not a sycophant! I just don’t like to review something I’ve not finished because sometimes the ending can turn me around – although, that being said, can you really say you loved a book if it was only the ending that you enjoyed??
A bit like you, if I know the author `I’d probably still push on but I hate reading when I’m not enjoying something. It just makes it really difficult for me to continue, like Lisa says, reading is for fun after all. In fact when I’m really struggling with a book it puts me off reading anything at all and just makes it seem like hard work. It all comes back to the reviewing/star system as well. I don’t rate the books and try to make the level of enthusiasm apparent. I have done a few negative reviews but I think they were earlier in my blog as these days I generally leave the books I’m not enjoying – there are only the odd occasions now where I will complete a book if I’m not enjoying it – (1) is just pure dumb persistence (or optimism) and the belief that all of a sudden something will change, and (2) it’s annoying me so much that I continue to read just to see how bad it can really be!
Lynn 😀
Lol, you’re definitely not a sycophant, your reviews are way too balanced. It makes sense to not review something you haven’t fully read if you’re not comfortable with it, because of the ending. I’m definitely in the minority that does it, lol. But the reason I blog is because I like sharing my personal experiences with books, the good and the bad. Some books are just bad experiences. Of course, there’s a lot else to consider with book reviewing, but I don’t particularly care about all that, lol. But at the end of the day, I’m pretty sure you have the same problem all book bloggers have. Too many books and too few hours in the day 😀 So I’d always advocate abandoning what you don’t like, under the circumstances you feel best. As to reviewing, it’s your show at the end of the day, if you don’t want to you shouldn’t. I like that idea Lisa mentioned, though, about a post where bloggers just lay out everything they abandoned and their reasons why. I may start doing that.
Firstly, phew!! Haha.
I do try to give a reasonable explanation for those books that I did finish and didn’t enjoy – so far this year there’s only been 3 or 4 but I think they’re fairly easy to spot.
And, I confess, I really appreciate other people giving honest reviews even if they are negative – I think the way for me to look at it is – I take a lot of recommendations from bloggers who I like – and I also trust their opinions if it’s something they haven’t enjoyed (even though I might still choose to read a book). But, if nobody writes negative reviews then you’ll never get an idea for those books that aren’t working out in general. I don’t think that I’ve explained that very well – other than, if all the reviews for a book are positive – because nobody wants to write when they didn’t enjoy – well, it would be pretty unbalanced, if a hundred people read a book and only 10 enjoyed it and all those ten write reviews whilst the other 90 don’t – then it’s going to look live a very good book!
Lynn 😀
I get what you mean. It sounds to me like an easy way around it would be to feature the books you’ve abandoned. You could even go so far as to make an infrequent meme of it, where you explain why it didn’t work, whatever. It has to be something that works for you 🙂
Yeah – I think i might consider having a different tab or something – which is for DNFs! I thought about having something similar for spoilers at one point!
Lynn 😀
That’s a good idea! I used to have a category specially for Abandoned books. I may just put back one. Your post has given me a lot to think about 🙂
I won’t finish a book I don’t really like. Sometimes I wait to say anything because sometimes it’s not the book it’s my mood at the time and I do go back to abandoned books and finish them later on (just about to review one of those). I’m more likely to talk about a film I hate than a book, and if someone stops reading me because there are too many positive reviews then I won’t lose any sleep over it (which sounds a bit harsh but you know what I mean) because it’s a personal blog for those interested and I don’t consider myself a reviewer as such, I just record what I think about what I read. But as with everything else I do, it depends on the mood I’m in at the time. So probably not at all helpful 🙂
I definitely think your mood affects your reading and I’ve undeniably not been having a good month so maybe that’s not helped! It is all personal – I don’t particularly enjoy being negative about a book because I feel that it’s somebody’s ‘baby’ after all, but I won’t give a book a positive review if I didn’t like it – because I think that’s unfair on others who might then be encouraged to read after reading your thoughts and also I’m not going to be dishonest to myself.! But, more than that, I just don’t like to continue if it’s not fun. This is a hobby after all and so why would you read something you’re not enjoying. I suppose it depends on the level of ‘seriousness’ which you have about your blog and your reading really. Actually – very helpful comments, thanks 😀
Lynn
I already told you about The Dark Volume by GW Dahlquist which I felt was so badly written that the thought of reading it made me go into a bad mood. I used to read books to the very end but I have so little time I drop them within the first 100 pages.
I wouldn’t be afraid of just reviewing books I like and not mentioning ones I don’t. I do the same thing for films. I watch lots throughout the year but only review the ones I feel like reviewing (or get screeners of). I find it easier to review films than books.
As for how one feels when reading, how about using reading to discover why one feels a certain way?
It’s definitely easier to review things you’ve enjoyed because you’re so much more enthusiastic about it. It’s definitely more of a struggle to review the negatives. Fortunately I don’t really read the ones I’m enjoying any more – I used to feel compelled to finish every book – don’t know why!
I’ll check out your link.
Ta 😀
Lynn
Haha, that clip is excellent – I love it!! It’s like addressing a load of thoughts I’ve been thinking all in one little clip! Awesome. Still don’t know how you find all these things 😀
Lynn
That’s from the anime Psycho-Pass (a great TV series) and his name is Makashima Shogo. He is one of the most charismatic villains I have ever seen in an anime/TV series. I highly recommend it.
Thanks Jason – I’ll check that out. I loved the clip!
Lynn 😀
This year, in fact this month I have packed in reading a spate of books I would not enjoy enough to review. With more and more books on my to-be-read list I feel less guilty about spending time on books I don’t enjoy enough.
Aw, that’s not good for you!! I know – too many books, too many books!
Lynn 😀
It depends if I promised to read it like an ARC or if a friend asked me to. I used to always finish them but recently it’s much harder.
It’s a difficult one to get around and definitely becomes harder.
Lynn 😀
For me it’s about how much I am enjoying reading a book. If it’s easy and pleasant enough to read then I’ll keep going even if aspects of the book end up making me rant later. But I have given up on a few books I am sure are “good” eg The Bone Clocks, A Tale For The Time Being, just because I don’t have the energy atm with a toddler and being pregnant to get into books that require much effort! I only review books I finish though, and am extremely selective about which books I will accept for review (so 95%+ of the books I review are ones I’ve chosen spontaneously to read).
Spontaneous books are good!! Particularly with all your hormones running rampant! You should read purely books you love and keep happy!
Lynn 😀
Every time I see this question asked, I feel like a chump. I read everything from cover to cover, even if I’m hating it. It’s a habit I’ve been meaning to change because life is too short for crappy books but I just can’t! It’s in part due to my OCD tendencies…it just nags at me if I don’t finish something. Still trying to work on that…sigh.
But on the other hand, at least I’ll never have anyone trying to tell me my opinion isn’t “valid” just because I haven’t finished a book. Not that it has happened to me ever, but I see Goodreads reviewers get jumped on all the time by other disgruntled users who take exception to bad ratings on certain books.
I must say that I sometimes feel that there’s a certain ‘bullying’ feel to some of the comments that go around on Goodreads which I definitely avoid getting involved with! I used to always finish every book – but I’ve realised that was in a universe and time where I didn’t have quite such tall stacks waiting to be read – which is my own fault I own but I can’t help it – I have a problem and want to read everything! Putting down the ones I’m not enjoying does free up a little time I suppose. I used to be similar with the OCD about books – now, I simply lie to myself – I put the book I’m struggling with to one side and pick up another, I tell myself I’ll finish it soon but in actual fact after I’ve left it for a week or two there’s no way I’m going back but in my mind it never really becomes a dnf. (even though I never actually finish it!). It’s my way of cheating myself. The funny thing is, if you were watching a tv series and not enjoying it you simply wouldn’t continue or if you were eating something you didn’t like the taste of you wouldn’t carry on eating! It’s a funny compulsion that seems to be definitely prevalent amongst book lovers. It’s like we feel disrespectful if we don’t complete something! Or it’s like a personal challenge each time you pick up a book.
I admit I really appreciate people finishing books and giving their honest opinion even when they weren’t enjoying them – otherwise the blogging universe would be all one sided just full of glowing reviews because nobody ever reads anything that they’re not enjoying!
Lynn 😀
you know, i’ve faced this problem alot lately too. when it comes to reviews, i always finish the books otherwise i can’t do the review. plus, i feel like i owe it to people to read the entire thing, and give it an honest review (even if that means giving it a low rating) so they can decide for themselves whether or not it’s worth reading for themselves. otherwise, all my reviews would be 4 or 5 stars for the books!
sometimes though, it gets dissapointing to keep reading a book that isn’t that good, especially when you have a big TBR pile of books you’d rather be reading. that’s what’s the hardest!
http://www.notyetread.com
http://www.wholly-books.com
You’ve totally hit the nail on the head tbh. I really feel that sometimes my reviews all seem to be glowing and yet I hate making myself read something that I’m not enjoying! I think part of it for me is now that I do have such a lot of books waiting I don’t want to expend the time on those that I’ve decided already that I don’t like. I never give up with a book until I’ve given it a really good try – at least 100 pages and sometimes twice that – in fact the few books that I’ve not enjoyed and yet finished reading I’ve ended up resenting even more because of the time they’ve taken! Plus I find that if I’m not enjoying my current read it kind of puts me off reading at all which is why I eventually have to put it to one side – otherwise I’d just stop reading altogether!! Hah! Imagine!
Lynn 😀
I won’t stay the course if I’m not enjoying a book. If I’m not grabbed early on it is rare that I will keep reading. If I do, it is probably because I am familiar with the author’s work and am giving him/her the benefit of the doubt or because someone I trust has warned me that the book starts of slow, or meh, but gets much, much better.
There are times when a book doesn’t strike me as bad, I just cannot get into it. Sometimes those will go back on the pile to try again. More often than not, however, if I purposefully stop reading a book (as opposed to just getting distracted by the next shiny thing) I won’t go back to it.
Sometimes I get distracted by the next shiny thing – which I then start to read at the same time as another book that then gets abandoned as a result (which is very naughty, particularly if I was enjoying it!).
I know what you mean about giving authors you’re familiar with a bit more of a chance – I do the same.
Lynn 😀
I do that far too often. Which is why I am a fan of shorter books (400 pages or less, preferably closer to 300). With shorter books I am more likely to be able to find time to get bigger chunks of reading time in and actually enjoy the adventure before the next book clamoring for attention leads me astray.
It’s reassuring to know we’re all so similar with our love of new books! How’s your renovations coming along – all finished?
Renovations are not quite done, but are getting closer. I took a break for a week or so as we had too many commitments, but I started painting again over the weekend and will do more during the week.
Argh, it’s making me feel so guilty!! Our place is a disaster zone – it’s got to that stage though where it all feels a little bit overwhelming. I just need to focus, breath deeply and think ‘one room at a time’!! Plus it means I’ll have to put my books down 😦
Did I just see in your comments that you’ve bought a 60 inch tv – wow! You’ve got your own little cinema experience right there!! That is a HUGE tv! Respect!
Lynn 😀
I think 3-400 pages is such an excellent length for a book. That being said, I don’t mind the likes of Sanderson and Rothfuss going over that amount!!
Lynn 😀
It has taken me a while to get used to it but I do stop reading if I am not enjoying a book, although it is rare I completely dislike a book. I don’t write reviews for books I don’t finish instead I just mention them in my end of month post and perhaps why they didn’t do it for me.
Yeah, I’m sort of toying with the idea of having a round up that includes those books I haven’t finished – it seems like the fair thing to do in a way.
Lynn 😀
I very rarely abandon books midway, but if I do I don’t review them (they just quietly vanish from my ‘upcoming’ list). I think it’s basically like you said, I don’t enjoy reading bad books or writing negative reviews :(. I sometimes feel like I should drop more books, since we have limited life and infinite books and all, but often I just really hope that the book will take a turn for the better and become amazing. Sometimes they do!
I have been known to read a few incredibly long books that didn’t pick up at all! But I was just so convinced they would. I’m more likely to give a book more benefit of the doubt if it’s come strongly recommended for me by a few people who I really trust.
I know, I hate writing negative reviews.
Lynn 😀
Yeah, that’s the downside, when you get to the end of a long book and it’s like, “Hm, that’s all? I’d like those hours back…”
I know – it’s just that you could have been using those hours on another book!!
Lynn 😀
Yes! After we redid the living room and brought in our new furniture we splurged on a new television and surround sound system. It is like our own mini-theater, which is fun. We’ve had several get-togethers with friends to watch Doctor Who and various movies or sports activities since we’ve got it all installed, so I’m glad we spent the money.
It’s totally cool and great for get togethers.
Lynn 😀