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That's a completely amazing way to look at things! It makes me feel guilty for not being able to finish the book, now. But I also see Fairgrass' point- with so many good books out there, it is hard to stick with the ones you don't like.

Yes, but how do you manage to finish them when they don't interest you? I'm running into that right now: I started a book which promised to be interesting, by a good author (Worldwar: In the Balance by Harry Turtledove). I had high hopes, since this was the start of a series. I'm halfway through it now, and I can only get myself to read about 10 pages a day. It's just not holding my attention at all, and I feel like I'm back in college, forcing myself to read a little at a time.

What a great idea! I never thought of that *embarrassed*.

I'll admit something right now, while we're in a thread discussing ourselves at our less than bibliophilic best...I've never even touched a copy of the Twilight series... So many people loved it that I couldn't help but think it would be utterly horrible.

With Anne Rice and Laurel K. Hamilton, am I right?

And, just to keep things on topic, is there a particular genre of books any of you dislike? Aside from that odd book or two you can't stomach, is there a type of book (or even a series) that you'd do anything to avoid?

I believe I've had a couple of books that I disliked. But I usually finish them. The only time I quit a book was the first time I read There Will be Wolves. I have since read it because it was required for school.

I know now that I didn't like it and couldn't finish it the first time because I was too young for the material. The premise of the book involves witch-hunting and has a mildly (now I can say that) disturbing scene very close to the beginning, where a young thief loses his hand as punishment for his crime of stealing. When I first got to that scene as a eight- or nine-year old, the description turned my stomach and I put the book down, not to be opened again until I turned thirteen in seventh grade.

It was good to go back to the book, despite my misgivings about it. It was well written, and actually very enjoyable once I reached a more appropriate age.



Other than that one time, I've never come across a book I couldn't get through. I would, however, go out of my way to avoid reading most horror novels. Mystery, and the occasional suspense, I like. Horror jusst isn't my cup of tea.



I'm with you spot for spot on that.

I had a woman call up the library that I work at and ask if she could renew her book. I tried, and it was on hold for another patron, so she would need to return it that day or she'd have to pay late fines on it. She told me that she would have to pay the late fines, because she HAD to finish it, even though it was, and I quote, "the worst book I've ever read in my life! This book is so awful!" I asked her why she was still reading it, and she said, very proudly, "I've never quit on a book in my entire life. I always finish a book once I start it." I couldn't believe that she was willing to spend money to finish a bad book! I had to respect her determination, but I disagreed with it.

I think about it this way - there's not enough time in anyone's life to read every book you will enjoy before you die. Why would I waste time on something I don't like when there are thousands of books I will love out there waiting for me?

Now, I will finish a book, bad or good, if I purchase it, because I feel like I need to read it to get my money's worth. If it's from the library though, it gets 50 pages, tops, and if I'm not into it, I move on to one of the other dozens of books I have checked out.

For those of you who finish every book you start, do you see yourself continuing this throughout your life? When you're 80, are you going to still spend precious hours on a bad book when you have so few years left? Or do you feel a sense of pride about it, and think it would be hard to stop? I ask because the woman I mentioned in the first paragraph was easily 80.