Somehow we get it into our head that if we pick up a book to read for pleasure, we have a moral obligation to finish it. That’s ridiculous. For starters, if a published book doesn’t grab you on the first page, don’t take it home. If that seems too draconian, you can also invoke the Page 99 Test, which supposedly can reveal the quality of the whole book to you.
Once you get that book home, you still can’t be sure you will like it. (Unless it’s the latest book from your most beloved writer in the world.) Nancy Pearl of Book Lust recommends the Rule of 50. She says you should give every book 50 pages to decide whether you can commit to finishing it. If you can’t, give it up. No regrets. Others recommend 100 pages or even 33% as rules of thumbing through pages before you give up.
Well, I’m stubborn, so I usually get a little further into a book before I give up. Also, I’ve heard it said that when you’re reading to learn from a work of fiction, 150 pages will tell you enough about the writer’s style for that book. So I’ve settled on 150 pages.
So, what books have you given up on?
Filed under: fiction | Tagged: 150 page rule
I remember the *first* time I quit a book–I was a teenager, and the book was some generic sword n’ sorcery re-hash. I don’t know if it was a sign of reading maturity or what, I just remember the sudden dawning realization that this book was a lousy imitation of books I’d already read, even if it was about dragons.
Kind of like when your palate wakes up and you realize that McDonalds is not, in fact, very good.
These days I find that even if the book is terrible I keep reading, so I can analyze what makes it terrible and avoid it in my own writing. Even pleasure reading is work now… stupid writing classes.
It’s easier to learn from a book you don’t like. Your heart isn’t getting in your brain’s way.
Thanks for stopping by!
I have given up on many books, mostly because the writing was terrible, and the writer preachy. Other books have not held my attention due to the language content.
Very true. Bad writing makes it a lot easier to put a book down.