30 September 2011
WHY DO YOU PUT A BOOK DOWN AND DECIDE TO FINISH IT LATER?
Before I began blogging, I used to read one book at a time.
Now that I blog, I noticed that I tend to read three, four, even five books at
a time. Why? I think it's because now when I read a book, I feel obligated to
finish it and write a review. I've also noticed since I've began blogging my
TBR pile has increased (and yes, it's mostly my fault).
When I'm reading if I get bored, or if something annoys me
about a book, I put it down and pick up another. I often find that I sometimes
have to force myself to pick the book back up again. Reading is feeling like a
job at times, instead of pleasure. I have a stack of review books from another
site that I review with that I've had for weeks (okay, months) because I just
couldn't get into the books and there were so many other books that I was more
interested in. I feel so guilty, because by requesting the books, I feel
committed to reading them and writing a review on them, and I want this review
site to send me more books, which I would completely understand if they stopped
since my slow butt hasn't been reviewing every book I requested.
Also, I think the reason why I stopped reading one of the
books because I was so excited to read it that while I was waiting for my own
copy, I read reviews that others had posted on the book. The reviews were mixed
and some of the reviews affected my feelings of the book even though I haven't
gotten to what the other reviewers were talking about yet. I'm just dreading
getting there and therefore, dreading reading the book!
That's lame huh?
Anyhoo, I have several questions.
1.
What makes you put down a book when you have a
large TBR pile and can pick something else up very easily? Is it the plot, characters,
writing, a combination of the above? What is the last book you put down (even
if you intend to go back and finish it) and why?
2.
If you read more than one book at a time, why
did you pick up that next book? How many books do you read at a time?
3.
When you're reading a book, do you check for
reviews on that book before or after you read it? Why? If it's before, has it affected
you reading the book, have you ever gotten bored because you saw something that
was coming that you thought you didn't like?
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5 people posted their 2 cents:
I try really hard to read only one book at a time these days. I used to always have at least 3 or 4 books going, but now, I will usually stick with one and finish it. I have to say, the books I put down most often tend to be my most anticipated ones. If they don't grab me right away, I tend to put them down and then come back a few days later. It's like I can't bear for them to disappoint me.
I'm trying not to read so many reviews because I do find that my reading experience can be spoiled by knowing too much about the book. The last book I put down and haven't gone back to (although I'm working back up to it) was Jeaniene Frost's Destined for an Early Grave. I had cruised through books 1-3 and loved them, but then I made the mistake of reading the reviews for book 4 and I didn't like what I read of the plot. Hence, I put the book down (over a year ago). The funny thing is that I bought books 5 and 6 anyway, even though I'm stuck on book 4. I swear, I'm going to pick it back up and get through it LOL.
I buy books when I'm in a certain mood. So I'm super excited but then that mood might pass. It is the same way when I pick up books to read. My mood shifts and I'm not into it anymore but it isn't the book's fault.
Also, I might pick my next book while I'm reading another. But when I start reading it, I still have lingering thoughts or feelings about the previous that I can't focus on the new one. Usually this happens when I go from one genre to another. I read a really serious book that made me think and I go to a romance. I can't take the romance seriously and I have to stop reading and come back to it.
I agree that it is hard to pick it up again no matter the reason you put it down.
@Jen
When I grow up I want to be like you. LOL. I wish I can get back to reading one book at a time. Though to be fair, if I open a book and I'm really into it, I focus on that until it's over.
I so want to stop reading reviews on books that I know I'm going to read anyway. But I'm one of those people who loves spoilers. SIGH. However, like in the instance of the one book when I saw a spoiler about the switch of a character, I was filled with so much regret that I don't know if it was that that or just the characters that didn't connect with me.
@Alexis
I totally get about picking up books based upon your mood. I do that too. I get in the mood for something or a certain genre and I stick for that for awhile or re-read everything I have in that certain genre. I'm with you, that's when I notice I tend to read several things at the same time as well.
I'm trying to pick up the books I mentioned again, but it's like I'm still forcing myself. SIGH.
Could be all those things you mentioned, but sometimes, just my own sheer mood is a factor in whether or not I put down a book. That, and let's be honest, sometimes I need time to process what's happened in the book thus far. Like with anything else, ye ole brain needs a break. That's a lot of it right there. So yes, I do tend to read a couple at a time. Usually three. No more, unless it's a short novella or something like that. I got conditioned reading that way in college and it seems to help me process stories better.
2: Now to the question of why would I be gung ho for a story one minute and not by the time I finally got to it? Meh, like you said, I think sometimes we build stuff up in our heads and the real life version doesn't turn out to stand up to those expectations. I can't tell you how many times that's happened with me. ;) Maybe it's just not as good as all the hype I bought into in the first place.
Reviews: I usually only check the reviews, as I'm reading, if something is really bugging me about a story. I don't generally use them in making my purchasing decisions.
@Julianne
Great insights. Maybe it's a good thing that I'm reading so many books at a time and not that I have the attention span of a toddler like I thought!