Guilty.

[mistymassey]

I'm the first to admit I'm a greedy little brat where books are concerned. I want them all, right now, and it would be best if you just step out of my way if you're between me and a shiny stack of brand-new books. Sometimes I don't really enjoy a book, though. And I can't help feeling bad about not loving the story. I know how hard people work to write a novel. I've been through it myself now, so I respect the effort more than I can describe. But when the story doesn't grab me, there's not much I can do. That's when I decide to remove the books from my home (usually to donate to the library sale or to one of the classroom teachers.) After all, I won't be reading them, so why keep them in the house, right?

I just pulled four books off my TBR stack. These are all books that received great critical review, and books that I already tried to read once or twice (three times in one case.) But I know I won't finish them, so I pulled them out.

And now I feel like they're staring at me with pitiful puppy-dog eyes.

Does anyone else ever feel this way? Like you're a mean old witch for abandoning a story that you just didn't love?

Comments

[museclio]

Yes, I've finished REALLY bad books because of it...

[cellymcfae.livejournal.com]

I know exactly how you feel... *sigh*

[ladyleo.livejournal.com]

One book I went back to after putting it down. "Wicked"

The other, I threw across the room and haven't looked at it again (a gf got me the first of the LK Hamilton Vampire series... I had never thrown a book before, haven't thrown one since.)

[madkestrel.livejournal.com]

The only book I ever threw across the room was Panda Ray, a science fiction mistake. Actually, my best friend and I later burnt it in her driveway. It was that bad.

mm, hmm

[melanie-griffin.livejournal.com]

They languish unless they're given a home where they can be loved for themselves. Good to put them in a second chance, I say.

I've never thrown a book, but I've written a character doing it. Does that count? :)

~ Melanie

[mindyklasky.livejournal.com]

I used to feel bad. Then, I decided that my time is just too valuable, and I owed it to myself to move on. I put the books that will not be read into a bag for the Library book sale, and then I drop them off at the Library, without looking through again, in case I change my mind.

Horrible

[piratejenny.livejournal.com]

I have a horrible compulsion to finish any book I start (unless I start it at work and have no time to finish it, though it pains me). I say horrible because there are some truly horrible books out there. And I wonder how some of those get the critical acclaim they do, yes indeedy.

But you know you left us hanging--what books are staring at you? Inquiring minds want to know.

Re: Horrible

[madkestrel.livejournal.com]

Okay, before I list them, please remember that these are all perfectly fine books, by wonderful people, and I can't for the life of me figure out why I'm not loving them, 'kay?

Carnival
Children of Men
Living Next Door to the God of Love and
Lud-In-The-Mist

I tried Lud three times, and I fall asleep every time. Even if I read it at lunchtime!

Re: Horrible

[piratejenny.livejournal.com]

Cause everyone has different taste? You're the second person I know who didn't like/couldn't finish Children of Men. I haven't tried any of the above, so I can't say.

Re: Horrible

[madkestrel.livejournal.com]

I know, I'm a wimp. *hangs head* I used to review books for the local paper (about 150 years ago!) I didn't always like the books I reviewed, and I said so. Then when I got serious about my own fiction writing, I kept being told that I'd better not diss anyone else's work, or I'd risk my own chances.

I heard it so often that now I'm gun-shy. :D

Re: Horrible

[piratejenny.livejournal.com]

Heh. That's where tact comes in handy. This is why I'm glad I'm not a writer. Tact and I don't get along.

Re: Horrible

[strangertides.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was going to ask the same thing, though I figured you were just following the rule about "if you can't say something nice...". Anyway, I finished Lud but was unimpressed. Haven't tried the others.

Re: Horrible

[madkestrel.livejournal.com]

After Tim's and Neil Gaiman's glowing reviews, I thought for sure I'd love it. Oh well.