Today BTT asks a question that's close to my heart – do I really believe life is too short to read bad books? ("Do you read everything all the way through or do you feel life really is too short to read bad books?" )And the short answer is I'm a believer! In fact, I always thought I was the one who invented that line about life being too short to waste any of it on bad books. And I don't seem to be changing my mind with the passing years, folks.
Of course, I read purely for pleasure now – no longer have to read anything for school or work. And that's a luxury I'd be reluctant to part with. It's one of the reasons I've cut way back on requesting or accepting books for review – I really don't want to be committed to finishing a book that just doesn't interest me. Even if it's a book that's enormously popular with other readers. I just don't want to invest the time.
I usually give a book the "fifty page test" – if its author hasn't put me under his or her spell by that time, I move on to the next book waiting on the shelf. Goodness knows there are always plenty to choose from. And more and more I'm finding I really only need twenty or fewer pages to know if a book is going to be readable. In fact, sometimes I can tell after scanning the opening sentences. At this rate, in ten years I really will be able to judge a book by its cover!
I'm a believer, too, but I still end up reading whatever I start. However, I now limit my review books as well. I want to read purely for pleasure, too.
ReplyDeleteHaha very funny! Here is mine: http://thecrowdedleaf.wordpress.com/2009/11/12/booking-through-thursday-november-12-2009/
ReplyDeleteAfter visiting my 90 year old father last weekend, I'm a believer too. We need to enjoy life while we can!
ReplyDeleteI have the 50 page test/rule too!
ReplyDeleteYes, it's best to let books go after twenty or thirty pages, if they aren't working. If I think it's just my mood, I will just set the book aside for another time, but if it's just bad--it's gone!
ReplyDeleteI am another one that is much more careful about requesting books anymore. I just have so many I want to read
ReplyDelete..that being said, this last year I ended up being surprised by a number of books, loving one that did not sound that good and not loving ones I thought that I would. You just never know.
so if you turn out being disappointed by a book...just say no!
Yes, if a book doesn't grab me by 50 pages, I'm out too! Life's too short!
ReplyDeleteI've found that I usually give a book the 100-page test, though I don't do it consciously. If a book isn't really interesting me, I naturally move on to something else with the vague idea that I'll "get back to it later." 70% of the time I never do.
ReplyDeleteIf a book is REALLY bad, I put it down in a minute. Life is so much nicer when you don't have to slog through horrible books.
www.whosabiblioaddict.com
I don't have rules but I definitely won't waste my time.
ReplyDeleteMy response
http://teawithmarce.blogspot.com/2009/11/booking-through-thursday-to-short.html#comments
50 pages is a generous test - I think it shows enough respect for the writer that if you stop, you have good reason!
ReplyDeleteI think a 50 page test is a pretty good rule to have. I can think of a few books I have suffered through in the past that would not have passed this test.
ReplyDeleteYou answered this question EXACTLY as I would have!
ReplyDeleteI'm a believer, too- even though I'm a fairly recent convert! I can't be bothered with books I'm not interested in anymore, even if I've agreed to review them. I'll just find some other way to talk about them on the blog. LOL
ReplyDelete