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I haven't done a Friday blog hop in a while so I thought I would try out Book Blogger Hop by Crazy for Books. It's a weekly meme where one question is asked and answered. I thought I would give you a bit more insight into my and my reading habits.
What keeps you reading beyond the first few pages of a book, and what makes you want to to stop reading and put it back on the shelf?
I hate not finishing a book (as I've mentioned before, I also feel compelled to continue reading a series once I start it). That being said, I recently shelved 2 books. One I had been trying to read for more than a year and the other several months before I decided to call it quits. I always try to give a book a fair chance and read the first 50 to 100 pages.
So what keeps me reading? The characters play a big part in my decision to keep reading. I need to feel connected to them. Also if I could see myself in the story I will definitely keep reading. I read to lose myself in another world, setting, situation, etc. So a book that has good descriptions helps keep me turning the pages. I enjoy books that make me think. A book that I think about constantly because of the subject matter is guaranteed to be finished. If it is an author I read before and really enjoy, I'm more likely to keep reading even if I'm struggling to get into the story.
Why do I not finish a book? Pretty much if the above is not being accomplished in the first 50 - 100 pages then I'm likely not going to finish it or it's going to take a long time for me to finish it. One of the books I recently gave up on was because the back cover synopsis didn't sound anything like what I was reading. Maybe it would have gotten there eventually, but if that was the case, then there was way too much set-up to the story. Cookie cutter books don't often hold my interest. If there isn't a uniqueness to the plot then it will be hard for me to finish it.
I rarely don't finish a book (maybe I'm a bit of a masochist). I try to give every book a fair shot and probably way more lenient on new authors than I should be.
Thanks for stopping by my blog! Check out Crazy for Books for a list of other participating blogs. I would love to hear what keeps you reading or not. please leave a comment.
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Hopping through....and am a new follower...I agree with you completely on what makes you keep reading...check out my answer!
ReplyDeleteI can tell you why I stop reading. I can forgive some problems with the style if the story is good. If there are problems on both ends or if the style is so problematic that it interferes with the reading of the story, then I'm done. I don't have patience for poorly written (or edited books) no matter how good the story is.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteBookgirl @ My Book Addiction
Hi! Thanks for stopping by my blog! My rules for not finishing a book are very similar to yours. I try my best to finish every book I start. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteThese book blogger hop questions just get better and better. This one looks easy but I think it’s a trick question. We all know it’s the same answer – the writing – but we all have different perspectives of what good writing is.
ReplyDeleteHop on over to my blog at http://www.howardsherman.net and read my three-prong answer as I explain why I’ll decide to pick up a book or put it down in under sixty seconds.
Happy July 4th Weekend!
Howard Sherman, Implementor
http://www.howardsherman.net
I commend you for being a book finisher. I used to finish nearly every book I started. Some books really do take awhile to get good. But I'm afraid that as I've gotten older and time seems more and more valuable, I've quit on more books.
ReplyDeleteHopping through. I like books that make me think too, but not when it's at the expense of the plot. I read a book ultimately for a story.
ReplyDeleteMy Hop
I read at night when I'm already tired, so it has to keep my attention. Usually, this is both the writing and the story and, mostly, the characters. Also a book has to draw me in close--I rarely finish that distant kind of writing that keeps the reader at arm's length.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said on my blog! Sometimes I only finish books that I normally wouldn't have because I have to...
ReplyDeleteAnd like you, 95% of the time finish the book. Have to stick it out or else what I did read would've been a waste!
Stopping by via Crazy-For-Book's Blog Hop. I'm following your blog.
ReplyDeleteI'm having a giveaway on my blog this weekend so please stop by!
Holjo @ Pedantic Phooka
www.pedanticphooka.com