The blog also lists Joseph Heller's, Catch-22 and J. R. R. Tolkien's, Lord of the Rings. Now I can understand the later - it's long, it's allegorical and I know I would find it tedious. However, my husband loves it and has re-read it several times. On the other hand, I loved Catch-22 and I have even thought of re-reading it. My husband, I know, wouldn't go near it. I am amazed that we have stayed together as long as we have - more than 30 years.
Back to abandonment, in books, that is. I know that I am guilty of putting down a book and never picking it up again. I don't usually do it after the first 50 pages though, which is usually the rule of thumb for abandonment (can I say that?). I generally stop reading a book within the last 100 pages. I did that with Edward Rutherfurd's, Sarum. I was fascinated by the early descriptions of the evolution of England, however, the closer it got to the present, the more I lost interest. I never finished Irving Stone's, The Agony and The Ecstasy either - probably because I'd had enough - lots of agony for a little ecstasy. I know that I was enjoying Leon Uris' Trinity, however, a terrorist act by the IRA stopped me in my tracks, err pages, and I didn't have the heart to finish the book.
I have put down Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, however, I intend to finish it. I just have trouble with Fantasy.
I joined the site Goodreads.com today and while I was picking out my list of preferred genres, I came across a heading that I had never seen before, Manga. I had actually heard about these Japanese style comic books, but had never seen them classified as Manga before. Now I was thinking of turning my Nanowrimo book into a graphic novel hmmmm.
Have a wonderful day!!
Interesting post. I've skipped around the topic of book abandonment before on my own blog. I've mostly mentioned it in connection with Books That Suck, but your point that a good book to me might be one you abandon after the first chapter makes a lot more sense.
ReplyDeleteI have a hard time dedicating time to reading. It would have to be REALLY good if it were fiction or something I am interested in learning more about (non-fiction). Not much of a fiction reader or tv-er.
ReplyDeleteI had to stop a book my daughter brought me about a young man's coming of age. She said the other was better, but I am not in the habit of stopping a book and found I couldn't just pick up another one by the same author.
ReplyDeleteI read the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy and joyed all the layers of time going on at once. It took a lot of concentration to keep up with who was who. It was great fun and very funny.
Mostly I read fictionalized procedural crime books, but I will always read a new Odd Thomas by Dean Koonz (sp) or anything written by Laurie King.
Cool article. Thanks, Carol.
I had no idea that lots of people don't finish books. I guess since I usually do.
I'm sorry. Placing 50 shades of grey (soft porn) or JKR's books among "good reads" stretches credulity.
ReplyDeleteI do understand why some of us would put down a book- I did that with James Joyce thrice; until I was in a mood to slog through it. (I generally desire to finish a book in an hour or two; yes, that's about 160 pages an hour.) But, there's a difference between a "good" read and a "beach" read...
Alana,
ReplyDeleteI've never heard the term "abandoning a book" before, but I'm guilty of the practice. Unfortunately I oftentimes start a book, only to pick up another one, and then another one, until I have too many books going at once. Then an intriguing magazine will come in the mail--well, you see my problem. I'm working on it, though! MUST FINISH ONE BOOK BEFORE BEGINNING ANOTHER ONE! There. Now that I typed that BOLDLY surely I'll concentrate on it! :)
I loved Sarum but White Teeth and The Line of Beauty left me cold. As for How to be Good, best not to ask....
ReplyDeleteI shamefully admit that I don't have enough time to read as many books as I would like to. To make matters even worse, if I am not interested, I tend to leave the book and never touch it again. I need to me more disciplined. as for 50 shades, well, I shamefully admit that i gave up after a couple of pages. Something must be wrong with me.
ReplyDeleteIf I remember correctly, I abandoned every single Stephen King book that I started to read.
ReplyDelete