When Do You Put Aside a Book That Isn't Holding Your Attention?
By MARILYN
@Marilynda1225 (82584)
United States
February 1, 2018 9:32am CST
Good morning/afternoon or evening to all my friends here in the myLot world.
Here it is, the start of a new month (February) and with only 28 days it should fly by even faster.
I'm sitting here with my second cup of coffee and my mind is going a million miles an hour. I have so many things I need to get done today but I'm missing my reading time. Usually I have designated time to read each day but sadly I'm falling behind. I'm only on my second book and January is already gone.
The book I'm struggling through came highly recommended and I am disappointed. Maybe it's me? How can I be the only one not zipping through this book and raving about how good it is.
The book is A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles and I started it with great anticipation. Everyone said it started slow but after about 50 pages you can't put it down. I"m finding the opposite...I can't pick it up.
I left my bookmark in it, put it back on the shelf and will find another book to read. Hopefully one day I'll pick it back up and find myself drawn into the story and be sad when it ends.
Til then I'm looking for another book which I'll enjoy.
How far do you read a book before you give up if it isn't holding your interest?
29 people like this
32 responses
@shaggin (72021)
• United States
1 Feb 18
I rarely will give up on a book but the past two years I have quit about a book a year. I am so bored by Stephen King books which so many others love. Also everyone raved about those 50 shades of gray books and I was bored by them as well.
7 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (82584)
• United States
1 Feb 18
I didn't read Stephen King for many years and then got caught up in his Mr. Mercedes series which I loved
2 people like this
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
1 Feb 18
He's a good writer but adds way too much filler. It's like reading five pages of a description of an ashtray. No, that's not in any of his books that I know of. LOL
3 people like this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
1 Feb 18
I cannot read King anymore either.
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (50857)
• Canada
1 Feb 18
I cannot continue when a book doesn't hold my interest.
I picked one up yesterday and read the first 40 or so pages, and I put it down because I ran out of reading time, but today I picked it up and ran into a dull patch, I do hope that it picks up. Part of my new diet I have allowed myself an hour of me time, I work on the elipical for a bit and then I read, exercising the brain is important and necessary.
3 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (82584)
• United States
2 Feb 18
Glad you're fitting "me" time into your day.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (50857)
• Canada
2 Feb 18
@Marilynda1225 That's funny......I could never stop enjoying the site and you and all of my friends here. That is such precious time to me, I enjoy it each and every day, morning and night time.
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
2 Feb 18
that is what i always did. same as you except, when i wanted to read to get sleepy, i would pick it up and be bored to sleep. lol. people used to wonder about me as i would read several books at a time. one for bed, one for outside porch reading and one for living room and bath .
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
2 Feb 18
@Marilynda1225 probably different types of stories. thats how. lol
@Marilynda1225 (82584)
• United States
2 Feb 18
My daughter does the same thing. She has one book downstairs, one by the bed,and one in the car for when she's waiting at the bus stop for her kids. I don't know how she keeps the stories straight
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (82584)
• United States
2 Feb 18
I'm sure you capture your readers interest from the "get go" with your books Valerie
1 person likes this
@just4him (317004)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
2 Feb 18
@Marilynda1225 That's what I've been told from the people who read them. I get the same reaction when I read at Writer's Guild. I'm also grateful for the feedback I've gotten on my latest book I'm going to publish this year. Because of their help, I've completely revamped the first chapter. When I ask if they want me to keep reading the consensus is always yes.
@Morleyhunt (21744)
• Canada
1 Feb 18
Years ago I read a book halfway through before it actually "hooked" me in....the rest of that book was a great read. Later I rad another book by the same author...expecting a similar result. Nope...it never captured me.
If the book has not grabbed my interest afte a chapter or two...I move on.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (82584)
• United States
1 Feb 18
I'm already invested in 200 pages of this book and I'm still struggling. I'm hoping when I get back to it I'll enjoy it and see what everyone else has been raving about
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
1 Feb 18
Very, very rarely. I choose carefully and examine pages and text first.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (82584)
• United States
1 Feb 18
This book seemed to hit all that criteria when i looked at it as well as so many of my friends and relatives raving about it. I'm hoping when I get back to it I'll enjoy it and see what everyone else has been raving about
1 person likes this
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
1 Feb 18
Depends on the book. I read Cujo until I got to the part where it was obvious the stupid dog was rabid and threw the book across the room. LOL
Well at least it wasn't one of my books that bored you!
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (82584)
• United States
2 Feb 18
I feel guilty giving up but life is too short not to enjoy the book
@MALUSE (69373)
• Germany
2 Feb 18
@Marilynda1225 It is strange that we should feel guilty if we don't finish a book. I know this feeling but I've overcome it. If a book doesn't fascinate me right from the beginning -- away with it! 50 pages are deffo enough to know if it is for you or not.
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
1 Feb 18
After the first chapter @Marilynda1225 .
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (82584)
• United States
2 Feb 18
Glad that Orville is keeping you company on your walks.
What are you reading these days?
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
2 Feb 18
@Marilynda1225 Whatever is in our clubhouse library. I finished all the Boleyn books, and am reading a beach read, Glass Houses by Stella Cameron.
That Orville is driving us crazy!!! I may have to write a discussion about him. What a pip he is! I have no privacy with him peeking in the windows. lol
@Marilynda1225 (82584)
• United States
2 Feb 18
Exactly!!! That's how I'm starting to feel and not guilty putting aside a book of it doesn't grab my attention
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67086)
• United States
1 Feb 18
Sorry you haven't felt the same about the book as others have. Goodluck on the next book
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (82584)
• United States
2 Feb 18
Usually I'm excited about reading a book that comes with so many recommendations
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (82584)
• United States
2 Feb 18
That's usually what I do too but I heard so much about this book I put it on my Christmas list.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
2 Feb 18
I put it down and pick it up another time if I don´t give it away first.
That sounds like an interesting book though.
Perhaps you did not really feel like reading at that time.
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
3 Feb 18
very quickly ... if after 10- 20 pages it hasn't got my attention... then it gets put down and I pick another book...
@noni1959 (10061)
• United States
2 Feb 18
Sometimes what others enjoy we just can't get into it. I've had several recommended to me only for me to stop after a chapter. If I have to read a page over or start skimming past boring stuff, I stop. Now if someone recommends a book, I look at reviews on GoodReads before I buy.
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
1 Feb 18
I am reading Shadow district , a book about a time when th US was helping overseas and a few girls were murdered. The beginning was good but It has got so boring I am returning it to the library. I aint got time for that kind of read.
1 person likes this
@Amberlily (50)
• Trinidad, Colorado
2 Feb 18
I hate when I can't get into a book. Most of the time I just set it down and never pick it up. And then if I find a good book I can't put it down and end up reading it to fast.
