For some reason, I have to finish books. I don’t know why, but even if I hate the book I am reading, I will persevere and finish it. I think it’s partly so I can give a full review, but mainly its because of the little crazy book section in my mind that forces me to read the WHOLE book. On my Goodreads profile I have books that I started last June that I still have to finish, I NEED to finish them otherwise the earth will implode and it will just gnaw away at me until I do finish it. However, for some reason I don’t feel the need to finish series. I have read so many first books in series, and have yet to buy or read the next ones. I will happily not finish a series, but a book – I just can’t do it.
I’m not sure whether being a finisher is a good or a bad thing. In a way its good – I get a full picture of the book I’m reading so I can make a pretty conclusive judgement on whether I like or dislike it. On the other hand, if I HATE a book, it takes me so long to finish it when I could be reading other books that I like. I know people that give books fifty pages. If they aren’t hooked, or don’t enjoy the book, then they put it down. I kind of envy those people. It seems so efficient and I bet the books they do read they LOVE. But sometimes it takes longer then 50 pages for books to really get going – there have being so many times when I haven’t being hooked at 50 pages, but by the end of the novel I am blown away! And if 50 pages is too short to get a feel of the book then at what point do you stop reading. 100 pages? 200?
I don’t think I am cut out for not finishing. There is just something deep inside that compels me to read on and I have yet to meet a book that is that bad that I have to stop reading.
So are you a finisher? Or do you have a cut off point where you put the book down?
Laura Noakes 
I used to be a finisher. But then I realised I was wasting precious awesome book reading time! So I though, if I don’t like it, I would be better off reading something I do like 🙂
I like your philosophy! 🙂
Thanks! 😀
I’m exactly the same, I can’t leave a book unfinished even if I’m hating it. That being said I read a book called Oystercatchers a few years ago, which I really struggled to get through and at around 370 pages it wasn’t an easy read. But I persevered and the last 5 pages were stunning, and for those last few moments it was worth the battle!
That’s the main reason why I finish – sometimes there is just a really great scene right at the end that makes it all worth it!
If I hate a book then I finish it – probably just so I can make myself really angry about it. But if a book is just boring and I can’t even read a paragraph without tuning out, then I put it down and stop reading.
So hatred keeps me interested? haha. I know what you mean about the Goodreads, oh when they sit there for so long it pains me; I had one that was on my kindle and I was halfway through then when my boyfriend’s kindle was stolen I let him borrow mine and that was the beginning of last year and I still haven’t finished it. I’m only just getting over it.
Aha that would gripe at me too! I just can’t deal with having a half read book on Goodreads!
I am pretty good about finishing every book I read even if it isn’t that good, but there are times when I just CANNOT continue.
In that case, I just put the book aside or give it to someone else, but usually do not come back to it. I also write to the author or publisher that sent it to me and explain that it isn’t what I thought it would be.
Too many good books out there to “force” yourself to read something you really have no interest in. 🙂
Have a good day…great discussion topic.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
I am lucky (fingers crossed) that I haven’t come across a book yet that is that awful, but I agree that there are WAY too many good books out there to read something bad! Thank you for stopping by!
I very rarely don’t finish a book — in fact the time I did not finish for the first time, I dedicated an entire blog post to it! (http://bucklingbookshelves.blogspot.com/2013/02/no-longer-dnf-virgin.html) I’m trying to give myself permission to DNF more often, but I still don’t really LIKE not finishing a book. I typically DO feel compelled to finish series though — it sometimes takes me a really long time to get around to the later books, but if I don’t continue, I feel like I’m missing out on the story.
Yeah me too – I hate not finishing books! Great post btw! 🙂
I used to stick with books till the end no matter how much I hated them but then I realized its pointless as I’m just wasting my time. When I stop depends on the book because unless I absolutely can’t stand it, I try to give it a chance and only stop at 100 pages or so. Sometimes I put down books and then try them again later when I’m in the mood to read them and I’ve often enjoyed them more the second time around.
It would have to take a whole lot for me not to finish a book. There have a couple times where I was not reading a book at the right time so I would put it down and return to it but that is very rare for me.
Yeah me too – I have a compulsion to finish them!
I finish most of the books I start. I generally stop reading a book if it just simply annoys me and I try not to set a page limit in case the story improves. Though I do understand about being compelled to finish. 🙂
I use to always finish a book, no matter what. I figured I had already wasted time on starting the book, I wanted the pay off on adding that book to my read list. However, I am trying to change that. My to read list is getting bigger everyday. So, I have been putting down a book that I am just not able to get into. It still isn’t perfect. I think I have only done it twice this year. I have a ways to go to break my habit of finishing everything!
I am a finisher all the way… Except War and Peace. My renewals from the library ran out and I hated it. Everything else, though, I try to plug through to the end.
Haha – that’s the one thing that stops me finishing – library and their limited renewals! 🙂
I am a finisher also. Sometimes I hate that I have to finish a book. It isn’t the fact that I have to finish, exactly, it more of…maybe it will get better in just a few more pages, often times it doesn’t. Then by the time I finish it, I feel like I wasted time. Glad to see someone else like me. New follower 🙂
Vyki @ On The Shelf
aha you are exactly the same as me!! Thank you!