One of the reasons that I love using the library is that when I decide not to finish a book, it is a guilt free decision. This is especially true when it is an ebook. Click to check it out. Listen or read for a short time. Click to return. Am I sure I want to return it? Oh, yes. I’ve actually made it about 1/3 of the way through a book before turning it back in.
Here are the three main reasons that I quit reading a book.
Voice. I’m sewing a new set of masks for the family and I always listen to a book while I saw. I checked out a book by a really popular author that another author just recommended. “Her books have so much suspence!” Hmm. I don’t know. I didn’t get through the first chapter. The book opens with the POV character heading to a party and hating everyone and everything involved. Granted, I think we’ve all been there. But when I step into the book and the POV character is griping about her shoes, her dress, the party, the hostess, the other guests, the fact that . . . whoa! Back it goes.
Brains? What Brains? The book that I made it 1/3 of the way through suffered from a lack of intelligence on the part of the POV character. Gullible didn’t begin to cover it. It was painful to behold. I know that not everyone is a Mensa candidate but when characters are dumbed down to keep the tension high . . . that’s one of the times I click Return.
Violence. When I read YA books, the level of violence isn’t generally a problem even when I’m reading horror. Gore isn’t a huge problem for me. But sexual violence is a no go. I don’t think I’ve ever returned a YA book for this but adult books? One recent best seller combined “no brains” with “violence.” My book club avoids books recommended by a certain celebrity because of this. Myself, I don’t know why these are frequently elements of women’s fiction.
What makes you decide to quit reading a book?
–SueBE
One Writer's Journey 