I really need to read the article about quitting books we aren't enjoying because I just finished one I didn't really like and now I'm plowing through another one. Doh!
It was hard to do the first couple of times that I made a conscious choice to "quit" reading the book because I wasn't enjoying it. It's get's easier the more times you decide to quit.
The question is how long to keep reading an unenjoyable book? What if it’s an elongated passage that’s dull but improves a few pages later? I never know WHEN to DNF!
This is the $64k question and I don't know that I've figured it out yet. If it's just a passage, I'd try to stick with it for a while to see if it gets better. But after 50 or so pages, if the passage hasn't improved, I'd DNF it if I was reading it. I think the key to this is to know your reading style; plot vs. character based, fast vs. slow moving. For me, understanding more about what I like in my reading often provides the clues I need to know when I should DNF a book.
Thanks for your valuable insight. I’m currently reading The Vaster Wilds and not loving it yet. I’m trying to decide how long I’ll stick with it; the difficult part is that I know how much everyone else is loving this book and why am I not???
I realized a couple of years ago that my favorite books to read are plot driven novels. I want to hit the ground running and not stop until the final page of the book. While I do read some literary fiction, the slow burn, character driven, slow walk through life rarely suits my reading tastes. I hate it that it is so, but I've accepted that and now I'm much happier knowing that if I want to read and have a chance at enjoying literary fiction, I need to choose to read it when I'm not in a hurry and I have to be intentional in slowing myself down and also keeping front of mind the expectations I have of the book. Most of the time, jumping through all those hoops aren't worth it for me, so I seldom try anymore. IMO, the key to a satisfying reading life is, "reader, know thyself." It takes some time to learn your likes and dislikes, but I think that when a reader does learn those, they become a much happier and satisfied reader. I think learning this is an "intentional" choice to learn and I spent several months a couple of years ago charting my reads, figuring out the similarities in the ones I liked and disliked and it was like a lightbulb turing on when I stumbled into my sweet spot of reading. I hope this helps.
Thanks for sharing my list of bookish newsletters! And also thank you for sharing so much about book bans ~ it’s a strange, strange world out there and being informed is one of the best / things people can do in this area! That and run for school boards or be on their library boards!
Happy to share! I admire Kelly Jensen and both her newsletters and I'm using them to educate my readers and to also keep me up to date on the book banning going on across the country. I'm trying to figure out how I can get involved in Texas/my community to counteract the book banning that is going on here. I can't be on the library board until I've lived in my city for a year, so I can't do anything with that until August 2024. Until then, I'm looking for ways to use my time and skills.
I'm excited to start a new bucket list. I want to explore book fairs, libraries, and hot springs. The former, thanks to you.
You provide so many suggestions each week I can't get through them all in one sitting. I go down a rabbit hole and get lost. Anyway, thank you for the great article.
Great post, as always! ~ Book banning is (essentially) that someone decides that another person hasn't the right to express their thoughts. It's ridiculous. Nobody forces people to read it unless they want to. This goes against the constitution and our freedom of speech.
Thanks for sharing the link to all the book festivals, I’ll have to figure out which I can get to in 2024! Happy weekend, happy reading. 😊
I've started building my list of book festivals for next year. Such fun!. Happy Weekend to you, too!
Maybe our paths will cross at a book festival?!?!
That would be fun!
Loving this article on what scares thriller writers! 😦
I did too!
I really need to read the article about quitting books we aren't enjoying because I just finished one I didn't really like and now I'm plowing through another one. Doh!
It was hard to do the first couple of times that I made a conscious choice to "quit" reading the book because I wasn't enjoying it. It's get's easier the more times you decide to quit.
The question is how long to keep reading an unenjoyable book? What if it’s an elongated passage that’s dull but improves a few pages later? I never know WHEN to DNF!
This is the $64k question and I don't know that I've figured it out yet. If it's just a passage, I'd try to stick with it for a while to see if it gets better. But after 50 or so pages, if the passage hasn't improved, I'd DNF it if I was reading it. I think the key to this is to know your reading style; plot vs. character based, fast vs. slow moving. For me, understanding more about what I like in my reading often provides the clues I need to know when I should DNF a book.
Thanks for your valuable insight. I’m currently reading The Vaster Wilds and not loving it yet. I’m trying to decide how long I’ll stick with it; the difficult part is that I know how much everyone else is loving this book and why am I not???
I realized a couple of years ago that my favorite books to read are plot driven novels. I want to hit the ground running and not stop until the final page of the book. While I do read some literary fiction, the slow burn, character driven, slow walk through life rarely suits my reading tastes. I hate it that it is so, but I've accepted that and now I'm much happier knowing that if I want to read and have a chance at enjoying literary fiction, I need to choose to read it when I'm not in a hurry and I have to be intentional in slowing myself down and also keeping front of mind the expectations I have of the book. Most of the time, jumping through all those hoops aren't worth it for me, so I seldom try anymore. IMO, the key to a satisfying reading life is, "reader, know thyself." It takes some time to learn your likes and dislikes, but I think that when a reader does learn those, they become a much happier and satisfied reader. I think learning this is an "intentional" choice to learn and I spent several months a couple of years ago charting my reads, figuring out the similarities in the ones I liked and disliked and it was like a lightbulb turing on when I stumbled into my sweet spot of reading. I hope this helps.
That’s a beautiful article about Jesmyn Ward. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for reading Andrea!
Thanks for sharing my list of bookish newsletters! And also thank you for sharing so much about book bans ~ it’s a strange, strange world out there and being informed is one of the best / things people can do in this area! That and run for school boards or be on their library boards!
Happy to share! I admire Kelly Jensen and both her newsletters and I'm using them to educate my readers and to also keep me up to date on the book banning going on across the country. I'm trying to figure out how I can get involved in Texas/my community to counteract the book banning that is going on here. I can't be on the library board until I've lived in my city for a year, so I can't do anything with that until August 2024. Until then, I'm looking for ways to use my time and skills.
I'm excited to start a new bucket list. I want to explore book fairs, libraries, and hot springs. The former, thanks to you.
You provide so many suggestions each week I can't get through them all in one sitting. I go down a rabbit hole and get lost. Anyway, thank you for the great article.
Like Jessica said above, maybe we'll run across each other at a book fair/festival. Thanks for reading Patti!
There are some beautiful hot springs in New Mexico. :)
I love New Mexico!! I can't wait to visit the hot springs down there... and do some exploring around the state.
It's a very spiritual place.😊😊
Oh I know, which one of the enticing things I will explore. New Mexico is a best kept secret in the US.
It would be wonderful to meet in-person as well as some of our fellow readers and writers. That's what it's all about, connecting and community.
Great post, as always! ~ Book banning is (essentially) that someone decides that another person hasn't the right to express their thoughts. It's ridiculous. Nobody forces people to read it unless they want to. This goes against the constitution and our freedom of speech.
I agree wholeheartedly!! And so much of the book banning now has its motivations in the political BS that is happening.
Thanks especially for mentioning empathy, which I worry about constantly. The world desperately needs so much more of it.
I agree! Thanks for reading.
Such great links (as always). Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for reading!