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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you always finish a book you start?

77 replies

TheCatOfAthenry · 30/01/2018 19:48

I love to read, and want to read more than I think I can get through in this lifetime. Therefore, if I'm really not enjoying something, I stop and move on.

I'm just curious to find out if many others do the same thing or if I deserve to go to a literary prison alone for this sin.

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 30/01/2018 19:49

I rarely ditch babies finishing but I have definitely done it for bad books.

I often reread things over and over though so I don’t read that many books I really don’t like

PurpleDaisies · 30/01/2018 19:50

Babies?!!!! What on earth is up with my phone.

I don’t ditch babies. I occasionally ditch books.

thepatchworkcat · 30/01/2018 19:50

No I don’t finish everything, life’s too short! I give it a good go though, I don’t give up too hastily.

Littlechocola · 30/01/2018 19:52

I’ve only stopped one before the end and that’s because it was too sad.

Gatehouse77 · 30/01/2018 19:53

Yep, life's too short to be filling my time with shit I don't like!

If it hasn't grabbed my attention or I simply don't like the characters then I couldn't give a flying what happens to them.
I do persevere with some that I hope will get better.

StayAChild · 30/01/2018 19:54

I've abandoned more books recently than I've finished. Think I've just had a bad run. I do find it easier to ditch them on kindle than an actual book. Life's too short to read something you're not enjoying.

RedHelenB · 30/01/2018 19:54

No I have to finish them even the rubbish ones.

DramaAlpaca · 30/01/2018 19:55

I'm with you OP. Life is too short to finish a bad book. I usually know within a couple of chapters if I'm going to get on with a book. If I don't I won't waste any more time on it.

insancerre · 30/01/2018 19:56

I can't not finish a book
It might get good the minute I stop reading it

toffee1000 · 30/01/2018 19:56

I have abandoned books, yes. Often unintentionally. Only book I ditched intentionally that I remember was the second of the Twilight books, which was utter shite.

2pups · 30/01/2018 19:58

Yep - all the time - if I'm not gripped by a couple of chapters it's off to the charity shop!

Life is too short for bad books (and bad coffee)

Neverender · 30/01/2018 20:10

I got one out of the library twice and never finished it. My Mum did and said it wasn't worth it...time saved!

Seniorcitizen1 · 30/01/2018 20:14

I rarely ditch a book but have tried over many many years to read the hobit and lord of rings and every time ditched them after a few chapters. I wont try again.

ScootieAllan · 30/01/2018 20:18

I don't carry on with books I'm not enjoying. Moby Dick and Ulysses spring to mind as Great Books I couldn't be arsed with after a couple of chapters. Life is too short.

toriatoriatoria · 30/01/2018 20:19

I will give up a book if I'm not enjoying it.

UnimaginativeUsername · 30/01/2018 20:21

It depends but I am increasingly likely to ditch a book I’m not enjoying mid-way as I get older (and busier).

During maternity leave I forced myself to finish all the twilight books. Looking back I should have saved myself the pain but my judgement was obviously compromised by sleep deprivation.

FuzzyCustard · 30/01/2018 20:23

I'm absolutely with you OP. Life is definitely too short to read anything that's not gripping you.

ScreamingValenta · 30/01/2018 20:23

No - I'll give it a maximum of two chapters, then ditch it. Reading should be a pleasure, not a chore.

Fekko · 30/01/2018 20:23

No it’s a matter of principle. The again sometimes it may take a while and I have to leave it for a bit, read something else then go back to it.

I started reading a huge book on the slave trade about 17 yeas ago and one of these days...

ZigZagIntoTheBlue · 30/01/2018 20:25

Yeah I've done it a few times with my book club books as it's not things I've chosen to read, sometimes it's just too much like hard work and I read for pleasure!

Bambamber · 30/01/2018 20:37

I've abandoned a book just a few pages in before. There's a possibility that I could have started to enjoy it a bit further in, but if rather spend my time reading books that I enjoy from the start

UnimaginativeUsername · 30/01/2018 20:40

I force myself to read all sorts of boring stuff at work (I’m an academic) so I like to read entertaining stuff at home.

I rarely read whole boring books at work either though - I selectively use my time to read only the pertinent bits. I do really have to force myself through the ones written by people who are trying to dress up pretty straightforward ideas in over-complex language that other people in my field seem to fawn over (if only to reassure myself that, yes, the emperor is wearing very little).

Original poster
TheCatOfAthenry · 30/01/2018 20:44

I am not alone!

OP posts:
pontiouspilates · 30/01/2018 20:46

I always used to plod through bad books. I realised that a book I didn't enjoy had already had my money and I wouldn't also give it my time. I'm a ditcher now!

AlpacaPicnic · 30/01/2018 20:51

There are too many books on my To Be Read pile, let alone my To Be Reread One Day pile to bother with a book I'm not enjoying.

But I run a library so I'm forever finding new books plus I get them all for free!

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