Where Do You Draw the Line?
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Where Do You Draw the Line?
| Wed, 02-23-2005 - 8:38pm |
At what point or page number do you decide that a book just isn't interesting for you, it's time to cross it off your list and get on to the next read?

Pages
I don't have any specific page number or anything. Just when I feel that my interest will never be captured.
Julie
I usually go a handful of pages past the point I lose interest... I've got to give it the benefit of the doubt if I've started it and hope it picks up.
I almost never make a conscious decision to give up on a book. I usually just end up picking up something else or even stop reading all together for a while. In fact, there's only 1 book that I can remember putting down on purpose, Confederacy of Dunces, which I still refuse to finish.
It's usually circumstances that keep me from finishing a book and sometimes I don't get back to ones that I've really enjoyed. I think I'll adopt the group's attitude that "life is too short to read bad books" philosophy though from now on!
Beth
www.lverose.com
La Vie en
Beth, uh, does that mean A Confederacy of Dunces will not make its way into any of your gift book baskets?
Celestlyn, I can't help but laugh at your noting The English Patient. It popped into my head at this question, too! It was for the movie though. It's one of a handful of movies that was worth sticking it through for the very last scene. It was an amazing and exceptionally moving scene, but boy was the rest of the movie an effort! I couldn't begin to imagine how long the book must be. The movie is 3+ hours!!
Beth
www.lverose.com
La Vie en
Oh, Teri. I can't tell you how happy you've made me! I thought I was the only person alive who HATED this book. Hated a book. I wouldn't have imagined it. It was awful and it made me depressed to pick it up each time.
I read it (and kept on for more chapters than I'm willing to admit) for the very same reason as you!! One of my favorite columnists on Slate said it was her favorite book, too. An insightful political commentary I believe she called it. I'm at a total loss as to what the insight or commentary was!
The only reason it won a Pulitzer was because the author killed himself after he completed it. I will not offer further opinion at this point at the risk of offending someone here... ;-)
I'm so relieved I'm not alone...Thank you!! LOL!
Beth
www.lverose.com
La Vie en
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