I never used to do that, now I'll be doing that to sometimes 3 books I've got on the go, at a time. There's no stigma attached to not finishing a meal if you start it and don't like it, or you'd even be forgiven for walking out on a crappy movie, but heavens, not finish a book? what's WRONG with me!

Is that bad?

(I never managed to even START "A Suitable Boy" never mind finishing it - though I'm about to read Wally Lamb's "I know this much is true" AGAIN)

ZombieKitten said:

is it because the books you have chosen recently are crap, or has your attention span eroded to the point that you can no longer finish any book?

whistle said:

could be little of both, or a lot of both?
I'm reading Mr Spaceman at the moment

it's probably crap, but keeps my attention!

I do that these days. Just can't seem to read novels. I've started 'The Idiot' 3 or 4 times, getting to about halfway on one occasion. I always start again from the beginning though, so maybe that's my problem. But it's months or even years between picking the book up. Got at least three other books like that too. The follow-up to 'The Kite Runner', 'Picture of Dorian Gray' and a trashy thriller or two.

i often run out of steam halfway through a book, usually realizing that if i'd just pick something else to read, i'd probably be reading more often than i am. this summer i've been making myself finish books i've abandoned in the past. i just recently finished a book i started 11 years ago.

I do that alot. I started reading Gandhi's autobiography and I've JUST hit that wall and don't think i'm gonna be able to finish.

I'm going through that right now. I'm reading 1 nerdy book that I'm trying to get through. In the mean time I'm reading CLUB DEAD and DRINK, PLAY, FU*&.

ZombieKitten said:

Not to further your habit, but I don't recommend taking the time to finish that book. It's not worth the effort, in my opinion.

And if it makes you feel any better, I've started (and stopped) "A Confederacy Of Dunces" four times, having yet to make it more than 2/3 through the book.

I do that for too many books! Even those that I'm enjoying...I can't help myself from jumping to the final chapter and then just being done with the book sometimes.

I've been itching to get a new book, but I said I wouldn't start anything new until I finished Dracula once and for all

I rarely abandon a book, but I have on a few occasions. I read 40-50 books a year and the last one I abandoned was James Frey "A Million Little Pieces". Once I learned it was mostly bullshit I couldn't ready any further.

I made it through a Suitable Boy and it was worth it.

Anxiety said:

Occasionally I wonder if it is not just us running out of steam but the authors themselves.

So many times I have encountered the piece of art (music, movie, book) that has a great idea and sucks you in initially, but doesn't seem to have an inspiring way to pull it all together in the end.

ZombieKitten said:

I ALWAYS finish my meals no matter how bad (there are children starving in Africa) and have NEVER walked out on a movie. Likewise, I've also finished every book I've started.

The one exception being Neil Gaiman's Stardust. I was fooled into thinking it was a comic book when I bought it, but it turned out to be like a real book with lots of words and stuff. I started reading it twice and still haven't finished it. And I refuse to see the movie until I do!

maybe all these books suck

jillybean said:

it's my favourite book though

I've done this my entire life, Zombie. After 37 years, I could likely still count on one hand the number of books I've read from cover to cover. I just don't have the attention span or linear thought. I happen to retreat and return, jumping around and reading bits and pieces out of order until I've taken in the whole story in some odd combination.
[Edited 8/24/09 15:49pm]

Lammastide said:

this

I

cannot

believe





Wow!

The first time I read Stephen King's "The Stand", I did it in 2 days. The book is over 1,000 pages

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I envy you. I just can't sit still long enough.

I suppose if a normal brain directly downloads information, my brain processes things like a bittorrent client.
[Edited 8/24/09 16:00pm]

sextonseven said:

the only times I don't finish a meal is usually at my mother in laws house and movies if the master chooses something crap, that really turns out to be so crap I'd rather read one of my crappy books instead

Lammastide said:

I hear you

I always read Letter to the Editor about the previous issue of a magazine, since I didn't bother reading the articles properly

ZombieKitten said:

Always cleaning my plate is no doubt because of some traumatic incident when I was kid at the dinner table.

I've had to suffer through some bad films that my family rented (Ghost Rider ), but I'd sooner fall asleep in the middle than get up and leave the room.

spelling
[Edited 8/24/09 16:31pm]

sextonseven said:

you're the eldest right? subsequent kids often get away with not eating everything, but the eldest HAS to

ZombieKitten said:

Yes, the rules always seemed a little less strict for my brother.

sextonseven said:

Max often just sits with us, without touching anything on his plate. Oscar would never have got away with that at his age In trying to do what we believe is best, we mess up our babies

Anxiety said:

Was it worth it though?

Lammastide said:

This is me too. Nice analogy!

ZombieKitten said:

I've been doing the same thing lately....I buy a book read half and abandon the book....it's not that the book is bad.....is just that I get lazy.

Lammastide said:

I envy you.

ZombieKitten said:

maybe need to use an apparel like me: glasses!

ingamilo said:

I have been considering getting my eyes tested you might be onto something!

Quiter!