Giving Up on a Book

  

You ever get that feeling when you’re reading a book, it feels like work or an obligation to keep going with it? You just want to finish it and just move on to the next one. You feel like you’re wasting time reading a book you’re not enjoying as much as you thought you would, but can’t let yourself give up because you would feel bad about it.
Well, I get that feeling. Many times. Every reader does.

The thing is, it’s okay.  

This reading attempt can go both ways. You can keep reading and just give it your best shot and attention, maybe end up liking it ultimately, or you might not, and end up hating it or feel like your time had been wasted.

The other way which might be sinful for many to do, or to even hear about, is to give it up and just stop. Yes yes, I used to think that way too. That it’s bad to just not continue a book and would feel awful and disappointed in myself if I do so. 

But I’ve learnt otherwise. 

So, along my journey and mission to read my way through life (Yes, I know I’m saying that sentence a lot, but I like the ring of it so maybe I’ll adopt it as my slogan haha), I am trying to read every book I get my hands on. Of course, choosing the ones I’m really interested in and hear or read good things about. However, it’s inevitable to occasionally start that book that just keeps dragging you on and on, in which you flip its pages miserably (okay it’s impossible to flip the pages of a book miserably because come on, they’re still books and they are a piece of heaven, but anyhow…). 

When that book comes, I’m telling you, if you don’t like it, just put it down and grab the next one on your list. 

But... Yes of course there is a but (Did you think I would leave it at that?). Don’t judge a book by the first 30-50 pages. I did mean it when I said that it’s okay if you don’t like it to put it down, but only after you give it a chance. A lot of times, the first part of the book is slow paced and might seem boring, but then the moment you turn to the 51st page, all the action happens and suddenly you’re in love with the book and so engrossed in it. You can’t believe how many times this has happened to me. Maybe like 70% of the time.

There are many reasons for that. One of them and the most apparent is the writing style.

The authors’ writing style range so differently. They might capture you from the first chapter, the first page or even the first sentence, because that is their writing style. They start the hook of the story from the beginning to make you feel the anticipation of what is going to happen or to uncover what has already happened. 

Others, take their time starting the story and choose to show details and build up the world, therefore a probability to be slow and quiet in the beginning. Then later gets you hooked up when the action starts. That’s also their style. 

And then some, they choose for the whole book to be a slow paced and so detailed that it’s quiet throughout the whole book. They might also choose to tell you the story indirectly where you have to figure it out or capture the right scenes. So throughout the whole book, you keep searching for the story until you get it at last. They just give you a drop of anticipation quite enough to go with it.

I’m not saying that the second and third types of writing styles are bad ones, that the writers are not phenomenal writers, or the book is not an award winning one. On the contrary, these books are just as amazing. The writers just choose to tell their stories differently and at different paces.

Therefore, pay attention to the reason behind giving up on the book.

My advice is to give it a chance of 50 pages and later decide. You never know when they’ll surprise you. If you get to the point that you can’t, just stop and don’t judge yourself. At least you read parts of it and gave it your shot. Just don’t hang on to it if you’re not going to enjoy your time through it. 

If you are too stubborn and disappointingly continue, it might make your next read just as unenjoyable, whereas in other cases you would like it. It might also get you into the book slump (not being able or not in the mood to pick up another book) and believe me, that is the worst feeling. It's just this hollow feeling in your guts and mind that changes your whole life… okay that was dramatic, but yes it's not a phase of reading I like. 

So if you’re currently reading something you’re not really into, put it down and don’t feel bad about it. I did that two books ago (yes I also measure time by books). I sometimes try twice with a book to give it another chance but it just ends up on the shelf again and eventually give up on it. 

So don’t think about it too much, just choose another book and read away!

Salam!