Booking Through Thursday: Too Short: 11/12/09

"Life is too short to read bad books." I'd always heard that, but I still read books through until the end no matter how bad they were because I had this sense of obligation. That is, until this week when I tried (really tried) to read a book that is utterly boring and unrealistic. I had to stop reading. Do you read everything all the way through or do you feel life really is too short to read bad books?

Unless I'm reading the book for school (which hasn't been for a long time!) or some other important reason, I always give myself the option to stop.

The recent "guidelines" from the FTC has made me rethink how I read books sent for review. Even though they've back tracked on saying they're going after "personal blogs" such as this one I have become more critical of the books I'm reviewing. Since many of the of the books I review are self published or published by small independent publishers and aren't big name authors or publishing houses, I used to give these review copies until the last page before I made up my mind. Now, though, I have given up on being so generous and if I'm not clicking with the book, I will stop and note that in my review.

For books I read for fun I can stop anywhere from the first chapter, to the more typical "fifty page rule" to even as late as a few chapters from the end. My reasons for stopping aren't always because the book is "bad." It could be that they are too long (I'm not much of a chunkster reader), or I can predict the ending and don't feel the need to actually read it, or the plot doesn't seem plausible.

booking through thursday

Comments (6)

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Comment #1: Thursday, November, 12, 2009 at 17:38:19

Michelle Miller

I used to force myself to finish every book, but I decided a while back that I will not do it anymore. I recently read a book that I was not happy with, but I still finished it. That was the point that I decided "enough is enough". Just like the quote you mentioned, life is too short!

Comment #2: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 12:33:33

Pussreboots

Sometimes I will go back to a book if the circumstances surrounding my first attempt are hindering the experience. For example if the book is long and I'm on a deadline, I'll often dislike the book from feeling rushed. In that case I will go back and re-try the book when I can take more time with it.

Comment #3: Friday, November, 13, 2009 at 11:37:55

Ali

Those are all good reasons to stop reading a book before the end. I have been known to put down a book with as few as 20 pages to go because I already knew how it would end.

Comment #4: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 12:38:55

Sometimes even if I do figure out the end, if the book is still otherwise entertaining me, I'll continue. For example over the weekend I read Heat Wave the book from Castle. It's pretty lightweight in terms of mysteries and I managed to figure out the plot twist. Yet, being a fan of the show and still finding the book entertaining I read it to the end.

Comment #5: Monday, November, 16, 2009 at 05:15:47

Irishcoda

Hi, thanks for visiting me! I stop reading sometimes just a couple of chapters before the end, too, if I find it's become predictable. I almost did that with the November book club choice, too, but then I talked myself out of it and slogged on to the very predictable end. Do you still review what you read? I had no idea the FTC had guidelines on book reviews.

Comment #6: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 12:43:34

Pussreboots

The new guidelines aren't directed specifically at book bloggers but there's a chance they could affect book bloggers nonetheless. The FTC is suggesting new ways advertisers and marketers must make their presence in the blogosphere and in social networking more transparent. Gallery Cat has the run down on what these guidelines are how they relate to book blogging. You can also do a search for FTC December 2010 blogging guidelines and you'll find more posts and reactions.