Page 2 | How do you get through books you hate?

MelonSorbet · 22/08/2026 11:58

ACOTAR isn't exactly highbrow literature, I'm pretty sure you'll understand what's going on just fine without having to read a whole other series that you hate.

TonTonMacoute · 22/08/2026 11:52

I don't

Original poster

autumnleavesonthefloor · 21/08/2026 18:55

Xiaoxiong · 21/08/2026 14:18

I'm in the same boat but somewhat ahead of you - enjoyed ACOTAR (though fully recognising what a pile of enjoyable silliness it is). Tried the first Crescent City one and hated it within the first 100 pages. Hated it!! So I stopped - I won't read more than 100 pages of any book unless I'm being examined on it or it's written by a friend, life is too short and there are too many wonderful books in the world.

According to the internet, apparently all we need to actually read for the next ACOTAR book is:

the final portion of CC2, House of Sky and Breath, beginning when Bryce reaches Prythian.
the Prythian/Nesta/Azriel material in CC3, House of Flame and Shadow.
Pay attention to the Silene/Theia revelations, the Prison/Dusk Court material, and the final disposition of the Starsword

Not sure what the final bullet means but I'm not above just googling what those are (won't post here in case people don't want spoilers). Not wasting my time with more vomiting (the main character in the CC books seems to do nothing but be sick all the time!!)

For me they’re obscenely long, but I am actually enjoying number one this time. I picked up the paperbacks and strangely I think that’s helping

OP posts:

Original poster

autumnleavesonthefloor · 21/08/2026 18:54

JinksySaur · 21/08/2026 14:22

I don't.

People who force themselves to read books they're not enjoying have low self-esteem.

How so?

Im not doing it for clout, im doing it to make sure i understand another book!

as it goes im actually really enjoying it this time around. I think a break from it and then going back was useful!

OP posts:

PrettyLittleRose · 21/08/2026 18:48

JinksySaur · 21/08/2026 14:22

I don't.

People who force themselves to read books they're not enjoying have low self-esteem.

What a bizarre comment.

DoAWheelie · 21/08/2026 15:01

Just read a plot summary, or ask on reddit for a breakdown of the relevant plot points.

Likeiloveyou · 21/08/2026 14:59

I don’t. I give it about fifty pages then I am done.

cariadlet · 21/08/2026 14:48

I used to feel that I had to keep reading a book once I'd started it but now give up when I don't enjoy them.

The exception is books that I'm reading for book club because I do try and finish those. If I'm really not enjoying a book, I skim read so that I get the gist of what's happening. One book was so badly written that it made me angry. I ended up using little post it notes to mark particularly cliched expressions or similes that didn't make sense. That helped me to get through it.

NotWavingButReading · 21/08/2026 14:41

There is no point in a book where I'm not willing to give up. I DNF more than I read.

However if I had to finish a book I speed read. Skim all pages with irrelevant details, it's something you can get better at with practice and get through a book very quickly. I mean you wouldn't be able to pass an exam but you'd get the gist.

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 21/08/2026 14:35

JinksySaur · 21/08/2026 14:22

I don't.

People who force themselves to read books they're not enjoying have low self-esteem.

That’s pretty mean

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 21/08/2026 14:35

Can you just do Wikipedia or google the ones you don’t like. My dd had this with a series she liked

JinksySaur · 21/08/2026 14:22

I don't.

People who force themselves to read books they're not enjoying have low self-esteem.

Xiaoxiong · 21/08/2026 14:18

I'm in the same boat but somewhat ahead of you - enjoyed ACOTAR (though fully recognising what a pile of enjoyable silliness it is). Tried the first Crescent City one and hated it within the first 100 pages. Hated it!! So I stopped - I won't read more than 100 pages of any book unless I'm being examined on it or it's written by a friend, life is too short and there are too many wonderful books in the world.

According to the internet, apparently all we need to actually read for the next ACOTAR book is:

the final portion of CC2, House of Sky and Breath, beginning when Bryce reaches Prythian.
the Prythian/Nesta/Azriel material in CC3, House of Flame and Shadow.
Pay attention to the Silene/Theia revelations, the Prison/Dusk Court material, and the final disposition of the Starsword

Not sure what the final bullet means but I'm not above just googling what those are (won't post here in case people don't want spoilers). Not wasting my time with more vomiting (the main character in the CC books seems to do nothing but be sick all the time!!)

HoppingPavlova · 21/08/2026 14:09

Just don’t. Google will fill in any gaps you need.

PrettyLittleRose · 21/08/2026 14:08

autumnleavesonthefloor · 20/08/2026 07:01

Sarah J Maas has announced the 6th and 7th books in her ACOTAR series, which means that I need to read the Crescent City series. The issue is I absolutely hate it, but it’s key to understanding the next books! Any tips please?!

Why carry on reading a crap book? I would bail a few chapters in if it wasn't grabbing me. Like if I start a new show on Netflix or something and it's 8 or 10 episodes long, if it doesn't grab me/get me hooked by the end of the second episode, I'm out. Not wasting another 6 to 8 hours of my life watching something that is boring me, and not piquing my interest.

Same applies with books.

MrsMitford3 · 21/08/2026 14:06

HealthyLiquorice · 21/08/2026 14:03

@MrsMitford3 I was put off watching it because of the dreadful book! But I do love anything from that period in history, so maybe i should give it a try, thanks

Absolutely loved it.

Feel like it's a winter watch. DH and I absolutely loved it.

Roaring fire, glass of red wine-just perfect!

MrsMitford3 · 21/08/2026 14:04

I also don't.

Life is too short.

It was The Road that did it for me.
No offence to anyone who loved it but I was reading for my Book Club and suddenly thought "what a load of pretentious wank" and shut the book.

Never again will I waste my life forcing myself to read something I don't enjoy!

Try a AI summary?

HealthyLiquorice · 21/08/2026 14:03

@MrsMitford3 I was put off watching it because of the dreadful book! But I do love anything from that period in history, so maybe i should give it a try, thanks

Hoppinggreen · 21/08/2026 13:59

I don't
I'm not doing A level english lit so don't have to read anything. I have been known to turn up at Book group and say "didn't finish it"

DramaAlpaca · 21/08/2026 13:56

I don't, but if I had to I'd skim read.

FillTheGoldenCupWithRoses · 21/08/2026 13:53

I don’t

MrsMitford3 · 21/08/2026 13:51

@HealthyLiquorice The Wolf Hall series with Mark Rylance is just bloody brilliant literally have a look at that?

HealthyLiquorice · 21/08/2026 13:48

Speed reading, skim over the unnecessary fluff, and take more time over the bits which are more relevant to the story. Also set yourself a target like 30 pages a day, or 15 mins a day.

This is how I managed to get through Wolf Hall, although why i was so determined to finish it, I haven't a clue! Maybe I just lived in the hope it would get better. Then maybe I would understand why so many people love it (although I still don't)

SmallIslandLife · 21/08/2026 13:35

I don't. Life's too short to read books you don't like. I'm only a few months short of the age my mother was when she died and am acutely aware that my time is valuable and running out. I only read/watch what I want and ditch the rest.

FKAT · 20/08/2026 08:30

Chris Ryan said that the SAS deal with torture by breaking time down into tiny parts and surviving to the next one. If I can just live through the next 30 seconds, and then the next 30. Have you thought about that? Just think one page at a time. If you can get through the next 30 words, you can get through 300,000 eventually.