[JohnH]

Almost every thread seems to bring up books/series that people either do not like or became disenchanted with.

This is not about that.

However I would think that everyone who frequents this forum has at least one book that they have given up on. Something that they just could not finish.

So what is the breaking point for you in general? Not really in specific terms (I think we have had enough of particular author/book/series bashing). Rather what makes you go no further with a book?

Do you have a page limit? Do you try more than once and if so how many times? Or doe sit vary due to prose, plotting, characterization etc? Is each case significantly different?

I just wondered as I have seen many give a cut off point of a 100 pages or less and found this something I really could not do.

I tend to try try again. Of course this is probably not the best approach, but I have found that many books I do not take to the first time, end up becoming some ofthe my favorite books. The Thomas Covenant series is one that immediately comes to mind. Really hated the first seventy pages or so and gave up three times atleast before picking the book up a couple of years after the first try and finishing it, books two the then newly released book three.

So how much effort do you put into a book? How much of an obstacle is that first fifty or one hundred pages?

Yes there are truly bad books out there. There are books that I just will never take to (this is different than books that are poorly written imo). I realize that not every book is for me however disappointing that may be!!!

[Mithfânion]

Hi John

As I've indicated in another thread Kiss of Shadows by Hamilton is just so unbelievable ridiculous that it loses all believability. I stopped, because it's a waste of time.

I don't like quiting a book, it feels like a bit of a failure, irrational as that may be. I felt that way with Lord Dunsany's King of Elfland's daughter. Here we have a book that is praised and praised by critics and by the established ranks at several boards I visited in the past. Liking Dunsany seems to be some sort of indication that you have a taste for the finer things in life, that you're educated.

Now, IMO, the King of Elfland's daughter is downright terrible. I find the flowery prose frustrating, something which is highlighted by the fact that absolutely nothing happens, or when it does it seems so irrelevant. The characters are more bland than I would have ever thought possible. The Elfland never inspired in me that sense of awe that I'm looking for in other races. Tolkien did that much better in his Silmarillion. Interestingly I have no problems with Tolkien's (and Mc Killip's )rather lucious style. But Dunsany just bogs me down with his elaborate descriptions.And as I said, I felt that nothing happened. Just a dull piece of work.

Now, I've tried more than once to read this boo, thrice in fact. But every time I run out of gas when I've finished twenty pages.

For books in general, if I really don't like a book after the first fifty or hundred pages I'm usually done with it. I'll try once more later (see next paragraph) but since there's so much great stuff out there I really don't feel obligated to punish myself. I want to like my reading, especially since I have to read enough compulsory college books as it is.

If I hear from others that a book picks up after a hard start I'll be inclined to start again. An example is Gardens of the Moon, first book in a fantastic series by Erikson. Difficult in the beginning, but improves by factor X after that.

As for Dunsany, a nasty side effect is that I've now lost interest in other older authors, like Eddison, Morris, Fletcher Pratt, Hope Mirrlees.



[This message has been edited by Mithfânion (edited February 12, 2002).]

[Bardos]

Reasons I give up on a book:

1) Boring
2) Irritating characters
3) A moron for the main character
4) No new ideas in the book; all copy/paste from someone else.
5) Shallow characters, world, plot, etc.
6) Badly written --meaning that I cannot understand what is written in the book.

[Mithfânion]

Any examples on number three Bardos?

[Bardos]

He-he... You know what I'm going to say, so let it be thus. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Crysania]

It varies from book to book. Like I didn't get far in Wizard's First Rule. So I put it away and tried to read it again a year or two later. I got to the same point and was just vomiting. So I forced myself to skip ahead. Then I skipped some more. Then I skipped to the end and immediately sold the puppy back.

With the Recluse book, I could only get a fourth of the way through... just too predictable.

But with Kate Elliot, I loved the first book but then couldn't get through the second. I was too irritated by her characterization of the lead female. So it's all different things and all different times I'll give up.

Oh, and I really enjoyed the first two books of the Riftwar - the Magician books, but even though Arutha was my fave character in those books, I couldn't stand the whole salivating over a 17 year old plot line in the third book - so I've put that on hold till I'm really hard up for reading material...

http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Midus]

I drop a book the lead characters inspire contempt. When I start to think "This character shouldn't be saving the world; he should be getting beat up in the locker room" I'm done.

[ChrisW]

Umm I could be wrong but I tink Bardos just bashed an author without naming him http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/wink.gifThough like Mithfânion i'm interested in #3.

Redemption of Althalus by David Eddings is one book I gave up on. I was about 100 pages from the end and well I didnt intend to stop reading it but my brain must of decided that as I already knew how it was going to end it would make me forget to finish the book.

Brooks shanarah(what ever the name is) first book though is the only fantasy book i've given up on after only a few chapters. That was just to tolkienish for me http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/wink.gif

[Alucard]

My general rule of thumb is that if I'm halfway through a novel, and still don't really care to find out what happens, then off with it (Sometimes I'll go a little further if I'm hurting for reading materials). But if I can't even reach that halfway point, then houston, we have a problem.

I never did finish the sword of shannara. In fact, I don't even know where I stopped. Somewhere near the end I think.

Got about halfway through Joanne Bertin's first dragonlord book and lost interest. Not really sure why. I don't remember very much about the book except that it had a great prologue, but never quite picked up after that. At least as far as I read. I remeber going at least halfway, though.

David drakes isle of something or other also got the axe. Don't remember the exact title. I'm thinking lord of the isles, but could be wrong. Anyway. About two hundred pages in, I realized that I didn't like his writing style and wasn't going to any time soon. It had a few good ideas, but not enough to keep it afloat.

There have been others, but I'm pretty much just repeating the same story here.

[Bardos]

Cal, read the topic!! http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif This topic is NOT about bashing, as JohnH said. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/frown.gif

But, since you asked... http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/wink.gif No, 3 is not about Rand, if you think WoT, Cal (thought, in the begining of WoT he was); it is Fitz Chivalry. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

{I think I've put too many emotions this time http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/biggrin.gif}

[This message has been edited by Bardos (edited February 13, 2002).]