Some Thoughts on Abandoning Books
I’m a proponent of abandoning books.
During my blogging break, I did a lot of reading. I also abandoned two books.
Friends, life is too short to try to muddle through books you do not enjoy.
I am a fast reader, so if I find that if a book is not going fast for me, it means that I am not captivated.
Two times I gave a book a week and was just not getting anywhere.
I wasn’t excited to see what happened.
I wasn’t looking for extra fringe minutes to do more reading.
I just was blah about these books.
The first book I abandoned was Moon Over Manifest. I wanted to like it because a friend had recommended it and it had GREAT Amazon reviews. But here’s the thing, just because one person likes a book doesn’t mean that you will. Just because Amazon says you will, doesn’t mean you will.
Eventually, I just had to stop.
The other book I abandoned was my first Book of the Month book, Queen of the Night. I loved the cover, the time period and the concept, but frankly the story was redundant and just not stimulating enough. I read more than 200 pages (which is way more than I would normally give a book that I am not loving) before I finally just said, I quit!
I wanted to love it because I am so excited about Book of the Month, but that wasn’t a good reason to keep reading it.
I then picked up Yellow Crocus and it was FABULOUS. I devoured it, finishing it in one day and was SO glad I had decided to let go of Queen of the Night.
Sometimes, I find that guilt plays into not abandoning books. The voice in my head says: I paid for the book. My friend said I would like it and if I don’t, she will be disappointed. I should be thankful that I have time to read. I know the person who wrote it. And on and on and on.
Guilt shouldn’t be a motivator to read a book. Reading is a gift and should be enjoyed!
So, if you are reading a book and not enjoying it, pick up a different book! Don’t squander the time you have to read on a book you don’t enjoy. Abandoning books we’re not feeling gives us the freedom to find something better.
I’m curious – do you find abandoning books easy or difficult? Do you ever start books again that you put aside? What is your criteria for abandoning a book?
My co-worker, another English teacher, said you shouldn’t give more than 10% of a book before letting it go if you aren’t liking it. I also agree that life is too short for a bad book 🙂
Love this post! I have felt guilty in the past for abandoning a book because i have such appreciation and admiration for authors and their ability to take a concept and make it a story…but you are soooo right!!!! Just because some people love it, I don’t have to.
Thank you for this wonderful perspective!
I really hate to quit reading a book. I always seem to think that it’ll get better in just a few more chapters. However, I won’t hesitate to quit a book that has bad language or explicit content. That’s just not for me.
I’ve only recently let go of that guilt and “quit” books I’m not enjoying. It was my e-reader that somehow allowed me to do that. I think part of it was that most of the books I purchased for the e-reader in the beginning were really cheap, so I didn’t worry about the cost aspect (“Hey it was only $2.99”), but even as I’ve transitioned to using the e-reader more (and spending more on the books), I think not having and actual object to put in the donation pile has been a huge help in letting certain books go.
Oh Jessica, I’m so sad you couldn’t make it through Queen of the Night. I definitely had to put it down and pick it back up again and it took a long time. As a children’s librarian, I totally agree that you shouldn’t read a book you’re not interested in. This is especially true for kids. If you make them read a book they don’t like they will then associate reading with something negative. But it’s also true for adults! Never make yourself finish something you don’t like. Always refer to the Rights of the Reader by Daniel Pennac.
http://www2.curriculum.edu.au/verve/_resources/Connections_72_poster.pdf
I have only fairly recently allowed myself to abandon a book. Something that helped my rules-following self let go of the strange guilt or sense of incompleteness was keeping a list (in Goodreads) of books I couldn’t finish, with a brief note on why. I don’t know why that works for me, but it does!
For me, it stems from childhood when parental and grandparental units alike would coin the phrase “no one likes a quitter”…to remind us youngsters to complete chores, remain on the team, practice for band, or tryout one more time. As we become adults, that mentality (for some, maybe not all, but myself included) is not too much off the mark like what you describe here. When a book is abandoned, the “guilt” (as referenced above) might be likened to “waste”…only because of the time, effort, and money invested. No offense is meant with my statement as I am merely commenting on my own takeaway from the post and how I can relate to that same “guilt” when abandoning a book. All commenters have valid points/ideas. Like that post about the Goodreads App, had no idea, learn something everyday!
I really miss your “what I’ve been reading” posts. I’ve gotten some great book ideas from them.
It drives my family nuts. I have a tendency to read the first couple of chapters and then read the last chapter. Then I decide if I’m interested in reading the in between.:)
Hi Paula, thanks for your kind words. I post book recommendations now on my instagram account @Booksnobbery. Hope you will check it out!