So … you’re halfway through a book and you’re hating it. It’s boring. It’s trite. It’s badly written. But … you’ve invested all this time to reading the first half. What do you do? Read the second half? Just to finish out the story? Find out what happens? Or, cut your losses and dump the second half?If a book doesn't work for me after 50 pages, I usually dump it. If I am halfway through a book and have to plod through it, I skim the second half to finish faster. Why waste time reading something that doesn't work for me when I can read interesting stuff in the same time?
What do you think? What works for you?
Good idea -- skimming. That way your time invested in the first half isn't totally wasted.
ReplyDelete50 pages or so is the cutoff for me, too.
Yes I sometimes do that too. It depends on the book and the reason why I started reading it in the first place. ;) (Which you already know since you visited my blog and read my answer there, but I thought I should repay the visit!)
ReplyDeletehttp://islandofvoices.blogspot.com/2010/05/httpbtt2.html
I usually just keep trudging away, and I'm not really sure why.
ReplyDeleteI used to keep going but usually give up after 50 pages nowadays. There are too many books out there I want to read! Although I did keep going with a 'bad' book recently in the hope it would get better (it didn't).
ReplyDeleteYeah, there's no point wasting time on a really bad book... unless it's like my answer at The Crowded Leaf.
ReplyDeleteDitto! I have a 50 page rule as well.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to shake off my habit of trying to finish every book I started, so I usually end up reading a lot more than just the first 50 pages, usually 100+, but the point at which I give up is getting shorter.
ReplyDelete50 pages is not enough for me usually. I like your skimming choice though, I do the last 2 chapters.
ReplyDeleteMy response
http://teawithmarce.blogspot.com/2010/05/btt-half-way-give-up-or-complete-book.html
I agree when I'm reading for pleasure. When I don't like the book at all, it's pretty easy to abandon it.
ReplyDeleteI can't give up on it.
ReplyDeletehttp://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/2010/05/booking-through-half.html
I am a plodder and just don't like to give up on books at all.
ReplyDeleteThe older I get the faster I pitch a book. I used to read up to 100 pages. Now I read 50 if it's moderately interesting, 25 if it's annoying or if I can't stand it.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. I a 50 -60 pager too!
ReplyDeleteI am just like you!! Time is too precious to be spent on such a lame book
ReplyDeleteBook that doesn't appeal me in the early pages will not make me curious of how it's going to end. I just let it go and move on to the next book
ReplyDeleteIf I'm halfway through a book I'll skim the rest, too.
ReplyDeleteI skip ahead, I skim, or I stop. You can read more here.
ReplyDeleteI start skimming, which usually works well. When I get to the point where even skimming is painful, it's DNF file time.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could give up on books. I always feel the need to stick it out til the bitter end!
ReplyDelete