Life's to short to read shit books... Or...

[mylittleyumyum]

Do you feel guilty for giving up part way through a book? I am persevering miserably with a Karin Slaughter crap-fest even though I have a pile of other, more enticing books waiting for me. I've also 'parked' The Testaments because I know I'll go back to it even though I lost interest about 10 pages in. I've always had this problem and I dread to think how many hours of my life I've wasted.
When I was a child I read every kid's book in our library and was always ordering more. One of my lovely teachers gave me a massive box of books and I read every one of them. Books were not to be wasted..
I need a good shake!

I rarely 'officially' give up on a book, and usually it just languishes sadly unread on my bedside while I flirt with more attractive books until it realises I've ghosted it and it goes back to the TBR bookcase with the bookmark still showing.

I have a firm policy of giving up. Admittedly, of late, I’m reading mostly genre fiction, so have no guilt at abandoning books - I’ll try harder with some books than others. But there are so many books and I have a finite amount of time left to read, I’m not wasting it on books I don’t like.

I’ve given up on books after the first page; given up on authors after the first book, or abandoned books a few chapters from the end because I just don’t care any more.

I have no shame about this.

I use Audible, I don’t like it I return it.

I am all for giving up!

Some books I know within a couple of pages I won’t finish - the writing style.

Some just take so long for anything to happen, or they don’t make any sense. Some are great, but the ending ruins it all and they’re put on the ‘never open again’ shelf.

Books are books, they’ll be read by someone. It doesn’t have to be you.

I once binned a book while strolling down the Kings Road. Yes, I was reading while walking! In a time before smartphones... (before mobiles, even!)

I used to read while walking all the time when I was teenager then boring adulting happened - I used to read bad books now I free myself to stop

There are thousands of books out there to be enjoyed. So don’t waste your time when you could be reading something rewarding. It’s the job of the author to engage with you and if it doesn’t work then it’s not something to be guilty about.

Nope don’t feel guilty, sometimes they sit under the bed for a bit if I fancy trying again. But usually I know after a few pages in if I want to continue.

If you aren't enjoying, move on.
I sometimes enjoy crap books. At the weekend I was reading some of my book out loud to DH because of the crap in it... (The book overall was enjoyable, but the meal descriptions definitely made it sound like the author had never visited the UK, so I was sharing the rather odd menus). But some books are just crap overall. Other books just aren't what I enjoy.
One of the joys of kindle unlimited... If I don't like it, I forward to the end then return it.

I give up on books, and have no guilt about it. But I try to do so before I have got half way through, because by that point I feel like I have invested so much time I need to try to finish.

Hate those books that start off great, and then get progressively worse, so you feel obliged to finish - The Starless Sea, I am looking at you.

Some books I know within a couple of pages I won’t finish - the writing style.

Don't you read a bit of a book before buying it? I wouldn't even consider that to be starting a book. I usually read a couple of chapters a bit in the bookshop to check I'll enjoy it. Or these days download the kindle sample and if I enjoy it I'll get the book from a proper bookshop.

The Starless Sea was one I gave up on after several valiant attempts. Such a shame as her first book "The Night Circus" is one of my all time favourites.

@CountFosco they’re usually library books, so not out of pocket. I read so much I’d be bankrupt if I bought all my books!

I don't make myself read a book I'm not enjoying. There are enough things we have to do in life, without inflicting more on myself. Disclaimer. I tend to have library books, or charity shop books. Or 99p kindle type books. I can't remember the last time I had a full price book. Apart from one I had bought for my birthday, which I had requested and researched and knew I'd like it. :)

Bin. Life's too short. I do think that my concentration span is rubbish lately but I have ditched a lot recently.

Just grudgingly finished a Jojo Moyes (and I usually love her books) called The Horse Dancer...god it was turgid, but usually I take them to the free library down the road.

@dementedma, I agree, I loved the Night Circus so much, which is why I stuck with The Starless Sea - kept hoping the magic would kick in.

Give up the book and move on. The guilt might linger for a bit but you'll get over it.

I've had this policy going for about 2 years now. I really love a crime writer and was so excited about the release of her new book this year. I couldn't past the first quarter. Then about a week ago I ended up finishing a single book in one evening it was so good.

If I'm not enjoying a book, I make the conscious decision to abandon it. There's no point in reading if it becomes a chore.

I give abandoned books to the charity shop so they don't go to waste.

I have a rule of 50. I give every book a chance by reading to page 50.

If I'm not enjoying it by page 50 I give it the push.

Life is definitely too short to persevere with books you're not enjoying.

Life is too short for crap literature.

Another who's of the view that life's too short to finish a book you aren't enjoying. So many books, so little time.

I don't think you'll really feel your time was that we'll spent if you press on with The Testaments.

I always give up - as others have said, life is too short and there are thousands of brilliant novels just waiting to be read. BUT - I always feel guilty when I give up on something which everyone else thinks is a masterpiece and an absolute must read. Have tried to read Captain Corelli's Mandolin 3 or 4 times but can't get past the first half dozen chapters, I just find the whole thing so dull and boring!

If the book is an old classic I will park it and try again at a later date. Anything contemporary I will give up on but that will mainly be writing style over content e.g. trying to be clever with words, too descriptive, writing in the present tense etc. I have people telling me I SHOULD persevere. Why??

I take the view that there are enough things obligations in life without making finishing books I'm not enjoying another one!