The Seduction of Reading: How Long Does it Take You To Commit to a Book?

[#1]

Novels:  I can't commit to any author.   That may sound harsh.  I have very little loyalty, even though I may say I do at times..depends on my mood, and who I'm talking to.

I'll stop when it gets to the point of not giving back what I want at that moment.  Having expectations is always a risk.  Recommends is also a risk.  Sometimes you take the risk, sometimes you don't.  I've followed through on books that are recommended, it can be painful to finish, at times...but you do, seemingly not wanting to let someone down by not finishing the book.   Simply said:  That's dumb.

I can read one chapter and know what it will tell me...but then, if I don't feel it, I sometimes push on, in hopes of better reading....Half way through, I'll either continue, or throw it into the trash.

[#2]

I tend to try and finish every book I start.  It might take quite a while in some instances - if a book doesn't catch my attention within 50 or so pages my attention wanders and (since I have many books to choose from if my ADD kicks in) I'll get another one to read but I'll come back to that first one eventually and it'll get finished in bits and pieces.  I'm stubborn like that.

However, if it's a book I neded to have finished (for book group or school) I'll plug away at it.

[#3]

Melissa,

That hardly sounds like ADD to me, though maybe you're talking tongue in cheek.  Or maybe it's ADD you've conquered.  I, like Kathy, am far more stingy with time.  I don't finish a lot of the books I start.

I once read an editor's interview in which she was asked how she knew when a manuscript was good.  She said that "I start reading, and if I sense humanity on the first page, I'll keep going."  I guess the implication is that more books than we admit are written without integrity or soul.

[#4]

When feeling cynical, as I was last night, I tend to vacillate, even in my own decisions about how and why I approach a book. 

At the moment, I'm reading three books simultaneously.  I'm committed to this at this moment, because it's what I want to do.

Last night,  I had just finished reading three [online] chapters of a book I'm supposed to be getting next week.  I committed to a discussion on this book, and I'm not happy with how it's starting out.  I've read all of the previous books by this author, and I've enjoyed them.  Not great writing,  but good, and entertaining.  I know the author, and like this author.  But this author had deliberately changed writing styles for this book.  I'm not happy with this outcome, but I woke this morning understanding why it had to be written this way.

Where do you stop commitment?  Or can you, really?  [Yes, I'll get the book and finish reading it.  And yes, I'll be in the discussion and say kind things.]  I just hope the next book will be back to the old style of writing.  The one I grew to love.

[when I said I throw a book into the trash, that was meant figuratively.  I give books away, I'll never destroy one.]

[#5]

It's tongue-in-cheek   I have the attention span of a gnat somedays and many, many new books to distract me from ones I'm not quite into as yet

[#6]

This may be better left to the psychologists (know a good one?), but I think people often don't take into account the externalities that affect one's enjoyment of a book, a meal at a restaurant, a movie, or other forms of entertainment.  Did you have a bad day that day?  Are you angry with your spouse?  Did the maitre d' come across as a little aloof.  These are all things that, I believe, will affect our view not only of the overall experience we have at a restaurant, but also our view of the quality of the actual food.  If the restaurant was recommended by a really good friend, if you're with the girl you're head-over-heels in love with, or if you got a big raise that day, I think your perception of the quality of the food similarly will be influenced.  And I think it's no different with books, movies or theater.

[#7]

All in all I get the feel for the writing and if the book holds my attention in the first 50 pages.  Now, it all depends on where I got idea of the book.  If someone suggested it to me for fun or discussion, I may push to finish the book.  But, when I keep falling a sleep while reading it and my mind wanders away from the book it is just a shame.  I keep trying.

I hope to not find books that fall into this category.  If I purchased the book I almost feel ashamed of not completing it and setting it aside, I spent the money and I could have purchased something else. 

So, I guess I am one of those ones that will keep going on in the book.  I just hate the thought that I wasted my money.  And I will not throw away a book.  I, too, would much rather donate it to the library or give it to someone else, even if I didn't like it - someone else may.  It just feels so wrong to throw in the garbage.

[#8]

Another thing:  If I feel I've wasted my money on a book...my question is:  Why waste your time, as well?  Your time is worth something.

Of course, there will always be books that will not click for you at that moment.  Always influences, of all kinds, govern this.

[#9]

At what point do I commit...  That is an interesting question, I had never really thought about it before.  My reply should start with what drives my reading habits.  First and foremost, reading has brought me joy ever since early childhood.  Secondly, it is therapeutic for me.

My employment requires complete and total secrecy, my family knows where I work but that don't know what I do.  What complicates this is the fact that what I do is extremely interesting.  My 90 minute commute (one-way) gives me time to leave my world of intrigue, purge my thoughts, and go back home without any kind of temptation to talk about work.  Reading is a fantastic medium for this, and this is how a book can "pay be back". 

Having said that, not just any piece of literature will do this.  Whether it is Foreign Affairs, something from Stephen Hawking, or Dean Koontz (fiction is usually my literary meal), I will not touch it if it doesn't captivate me by the end of the first chapter.  In fact, I will quite often make the decision within the first 10 pages.

I absolutely REFUSE to waste my time trying to FIND something in a book that has some kind of redeeming value for me.  There are too many good things to read out there for me to play the game of "maybe it will get better" with a book that might or might not be shooting blanks.    

[#10]

Funny thing happened on the way to my “Unabashedly Bookish” response– I had several “I changed my mind” moments. At first I wanted to say that I commit to a book early on, or I quit reading. Then I thought about the book club obligation I just fulfilled – writing a review for a book that intrigued me but did not excite me; I read it all the way to the end, because that’s what I was supposed to do. Then I thought about all the books I have begun, put aside, and picked up again, books like Hesse’s “lass Bead Game” and “Ulysses” by James Joyce. Neither one I have read all the way through, though I admire both greatly. Then there was “The Book of Ebenezer le Page” which was really hard to get into, and the many hours of reading were long and arduous, but it happened a year ago and I am still glowing when I think about Ebenezer. Finally, I just began to read “To The Lighthouse” by Virginia Wolf (I know, I’m probably the only person who has not read it a long time ago) and have been committed from the very first page. As a matter of fact, I lingered over the first page and tasted my deeply felt affinity for the little six-year old James Ramsay. Nothing will make me stop reading this book. So, I guess I am unpredictable.

 

And the news today about the deaths of two public cultural figures, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson, makes me want to stay up all night and read, read anything, because we never know how much time is left.

[#11]

Thanks for all the great responses!

Lurker: I know you're right.  A recommendation from anyone you love changes your initial register when walking in. 

Melhay and Kathy: Trust takes me about 50 pages, too.  And Kathy's got a great point, for sure.  Time is money. 

Zack, it sounds like your life itself is a novel.  I want to know more!  Do you write?

Sunlt: I loved Michael Jackson to the core.  I have a wart on my belly named after him.  I was sad last night too.

[#12]

Ilana, forgive me for asking...did you say you named a wart on your belly after Michael Jackson?  I'm scratching my head at this one...and giggling...do you name all of your warts, or just this one?

[#13]

I do!

[#14]

Okay......This is a first for me.....I'm almost afraid to ask the significance of this!  And the placement of 'said name(s) to wart (s) '  ...... But, you know me, I will anyway...as I'm still giggling, and trying not to choke on my lunch!

[#15]

Its a very loaded question for me....I do sometimes listen to suggestions,not that often..I  only have one person in my life that knows exactly what I like/love to read.When I am going out of my comfort zone,or just looking for a new Author,certain critics that I respect will influence my decision.Booksellers that I know well(I forgot) will have an influence on me as well..But in the end,I try very hard to read books that I really like/love,and if it doesn't meet my criteria then that author is done.It only takes one book for me,no second chances!!!.New Authors have really caught my attention,.young up and coming..,I am in the process of going into another genre that I haven't paid much attention to..will see how it goes,.Also after reading some good posts by" dhaupt" and" PaulH,regarding "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,,I had my Daughter buy it  and she is now reading,the next one..I forgot the name..I am really liking "Blogging Booksellers"  the pulse of the Bookstore...Having some other posters read what I like as well,is a great feeling..Moving on to Center Stage in July..looking at 2 Authors,but already pre-ordered one..can't commit  to discussion..Vtc...

[#16]

For me I give a book the first two chapters. If I'm not engaged or intrigued I move on. I don't feel obligated or haunted by the books that I've put down never to finish. Life's too short, there are too many books out there for me to explore.