BY LAURA GRIFFIN
I know a lot of busy moms.
Come to think of it, I also know a lot of busy people who don’t have kids. It’s safe to say most of the people I know (or want to know) have their hands full with a zillion different pursuits, some mundane and some interesting.
I think about these people often because they are my readers–the woman in the doctor’s office with the paperback stuffed in her purse, the guy on the subway, the mom at soccer practice stealing a few moments to read between homework and dinner time.
And, I’ll say this now without shame, I see it as my job as an author to entertain these people. I want to give them a reason to stuff that book in the purse / briefcase /gym bag before leaving the house. People’s time is precious. My time is. Yours is, too. I believe the best thing I can do as a writer is to value that time and give you a reason, right away, to keep turning the pages.
Most writers strive to do this, with varying degrees of success. The conventional wisdom is, the sooner you can interest people, the better. Otherwise, they’ll put down your book and do something else.
Is this because we live in the Age of Twitter? People’s attention span is only 140 characters long? Maybe so. I am a Gen Xer (note the shout out to Nirvana up there in the title). I know my attention span is limited by the general business of life, so I figure other people’s is, too.
I was at the park the other day with a friend of mine, and she was telling me about the last book she put down, out of sheer boredom. “I got a few chapters in and started to worry it was going to be, you know, a dud.”
That sucks. Who wants to read (or write) a dud?
I told my friend one of the reasons I like to read and write commercial fiction is because those stories usually (although NOT always, I know) tend to hook you in faster. It takes less time to get “into” the book.
She gave me a puzzled look, and so I tried to describe the difference between literary fiction and other genres… which quickly led to a discussion about mass market fiction versus trade paperback… and more puzzled looks. I started to explain it all. (Like I know what the hell I’m talking about or something. Actually, I didn’t know any of this until I entered the publishing industry and started hearing jargon all over the place.) For those of you who want the Cliff Notes, there are three major print formats in fiction:
Hardback, trade paperback, and mass market paperback.
Hardback you know. Trade paper is the next-most expensive (usually). It tends to be similar in size to hardback, with higher quality paper and larger font than you see in mass market paperback. Mass market paperbacks (usually around the $8 price point) are the smaller books, thinner paper, often seen in grocery stores, etc… Except they’re in book stores, too. So really, it’s very confusing. Mass market paperbacks often include romance novels, mysteries, sci-fi and other types of stories some people call “genre fiction”. (Notice all my qualifiers here? I’m covering my butt, because it’s tough to have this discussion without ticking somebody off).
Literary fiction tends to be seen as more “serious” or high brow. My book club reads a lot of these books. Think The Kite Runner, The Joy Luck Club, Snow Falling on Cedars, The Corrections. Sometimes these books deal with weightier issues. Sometimes they feature beautifully written prose. Sometimes they are dreck. It all depends. The same could be said about some romance / mystery / sci-fi novels, so I’m not throwing tomatoes at anyone.
Anyhoo, the point is, we can toss these labels around, but basically I’m a book lover and all I really want is to fall in love with a good book. I don’t care what it’s called in publishing circles. I just want to open the pages and be pulled in.
What’s your limit? I know editors and busy literary agents who will put a book or manuscript down after one chapter if they’re not hooked. Maybe I’m biased toward writers, but I try to give at least 50 pages. If I get 50 pages in, and I’m still not feeling it, I move on to something else in my TBR pile. I mean, the darn thing is toppling over. A girlfriend of my was telling me about putting down a certain book about a certain girl with a certain scaled-beast tattoo after she read for 150 pages and still wasn’t into it. Not me, babe. Not gonna do it. That’s too long to be bored.
The newest work of literary fiction awaiting my attention (I can’t wait to dive in!) is Freedom, by Jonathan Franzen. His last book, which came out in 2001 (!!!) was called The Corrections, and Franzen made headlines when he supposedly snubbed Oprah and was uninvited to be featured by her book club. Oops. Bet the sales department liked that. Personally, I loved the book because it features this quirky and dysfunctional Midwestern family that reminded me of my own quirky and dysfunctional family so much, I laughed out loud at many points. Some people thought it was depressing. But, you know, books are subjective that way.
Freedom is absolutely a work of literary fiction. I know this because Newsweek just ran a cover (yes, cover) story about Jonathan Franzen, and the article talks about how it took him 9 years to complete the book. This has literary fiction written all over it. (It took way less time than that to write it, but he spent a few years coming up with the premise and so forth). That’s a long time to write a novel. But I still have high hopes that this book will be a good read because it features a discontented suburban mom (she sounds interesting) and because Franzen told the Newsweek reporter it was important for authors to write “compelling” books for today’s readers because “there is so much more distraction they have to resist.”
In other words, hook them in fast cuz they’re busy.
That’s what I think, too. Readers are, after all, here to be entertained.
What are you looking for when you sit down with a book? And when do you stop reading if the author isn’t hooking you in?
Anyone who comments will be eligible to win a SIGNED ADVANCED COPY of my upcoming anthology, written with Sherrilyn Kenyon, Dianna Love, and Cindy Gerard. For those of you who want to play the labels game, this is a collection of three novellas in the “genre” of romantic suspense. I’m so excited to share a book with these fabulous ladies, and I hope this week’s lucky winner will be excited to read it well before the Sept. 28 release date. Leave a comment for a chance to win!
DEADLY PROMISES containing three new romantic suspense novellas by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Dianna Love, Cindy Gerard, and Laura Griffin.
It’s very rare for me to not finish a book. There always seems to be something that will keep me reading, such as a connection with a particular character, a need to know who the villian is, or something about the writing or the setting. There was one paperback not too long ago that I didn’t like the characters, didn’t care who the bad guy was, and the writing wasn’t great. I didn’t make it that far into the book before giving up. Also, I recently had a book on my Kindle that I gave up on because there were too many typos, font changes, underlines, weird characters. It had nothing to do with the story. A couple of days ago, I was reading the new release by one of my favorite authors. I thought that the book was okay, interesting enough to keep me going, but not alot going on. A particular phrase kept being used (which I find distracting) to the point it really started bugging me. But, because it was a fave author or simply because the book was still entertaining, I kept with it. I ended up crying while reading the last chapter…which is a very rare thing for me. So, even though the majority of the book was simply ok, the ending was emotionally satisfying and I’m so glad I didn’t give up on it.
Hi Kris,
I hear you. Often I’ll push through if it’s a favorite author. For one thing, those are the ones I buy in hardback, so it’s more of an investment and I like to finish.
I’m slogging through a book right now. Don’t know why I keep going back and giving this author another try. I didn’t like the last one she wrote, and I’m really not liking this one. But she’s a huge best selling author, so maybe my subconscious assumes I have to like it? Or maybe it’s because I always had to clean my plate to keep those poor little children in China alive. Who dies if I don’t finish a book?
BUT … I’ve found this “formula” that says, Subtract your age from 100, and that’s how many pages you should give a book to hook you.
Terry
Terry’s Place
Romance with a Twist–of Mystery
Hi Terry,
I’ve never heard this formula! I like it. Not sure my kids would like it, but there’s a certain logic to it. 🙂
I will stop reading a book if I’m not hooked by the third chapter.
What I look for most of the times are the characters. It’s hard to explain though. I like a character with a subtle humor. For example, I love the Robert B. Parker’s character Jessie Stone. I have read all of Stone’s stories because of the wisecracking between the characters. They make be laugh out loud. There was one instance where Stone’s deputy is helping investigate a case and wants to be called Detective. Stone says no, because there’s no budget for a detective. But he then introduces the deputy as ‘detective’ to a witness and the deputy gives a big smile.
Good dialogue definitely has a way of moving things along. I will just blow through pages if the banter is really going.
hey Laura, excellent (and gentle!) introduction to a topic that just continues to boil over now and then. I love your attitude. And when I think about it, I believe I’ve been trying to frontload the action in my books more and more, but also to refine the way I do it. To get away from bodies falling from buildings on page one (not that there’s anything wrong with a stunner like that!) and include an emotional turning point as well as a plot one.
And yes, if everyone who reads a certain zillion selling book, from one’s church friends to one’s fellow authors, says basically “hang in there, it gets more interesting” then the author hasn’t done his job no matter how many lists he is topping.
Hi Sophie,
I agree about the bodies falling thing. I don’t think raising the body count necessarily makes a scarier, more intriguing suspense story. I have read amazing mysteries where there was only one death. Murder and mayhem alone aren’t enough to carry the story.
I don’t have a page or chapter limit, but if the book doesn’t hook me in by a couple of chapters, I move on to the next. So many books, so little time to waste on something I don’t want to read. I do lean to mass market but I’ve found good things in other formats too. I write commercial fiction and that’s what I’m drawn to first.
I love your quote, Carol! So many books, so little time…
If I have been reading a book for about 30 minutes and I am not hooked, I usually put it down. I usually look for a good relationship between the main characters as well as some hint of a problem that will be solved (hopefully) by the end of the book. I also want the book to engage me the whole time and not have lapses of just description and no action in the middle of a book. I focus more of science fiction and fantasy now because they have a tendency to have the character development and plot that I like.
Hi Stephanie,
I dislike the “sagging middle” too. That seems to be the point where my favorite authors throw a twist into the plot and add a whole new level of excitement to the story.
I almost always finish and enjoy books. Infrequently, it feels like I’m forcing myself to finish, but I keep thinking, “It’s got to get better” or I want to see how things turn our. Since I expect to finish, I really don’t have a guideline by when I need to be hooked into the story. However, I will think twice about returning to an author who’s let me down. There are a few major authors I used to read faithfully five years ago whose work I ignore now. It all started to sound the same.
Sounds like you pick your books carefully in the first place. That is a good strategy.
*eyes TBR pile warily* *juggles Kindle to see if number of books uploaded but not read increases weight* I used to finish a book simply because I felt I owed the author the courtesy–not to mention the money I spent. Now? I simply don’t have enough hours in the day. If I’m not into a book but I’m curious enough about the ending, I’ll simply skip ahead, read the last chapter or two and file it my giveaway box. Some books don’t even get that. I feel bad because I worry that readers are doing the same to my books but… You know? I owe them a good read. Not everyone will like my books and that’s cool, but I want to tell the best story I can for those who do.
Very interesting topic, Laura, and great explanation of the book “types.” Some people look at a trade paperback and can’t figure out why it would be worth more than a mass market. Happy Friday!
Hi Silver,
The whole hardback / trade paper / mass market thing can be so confusing. Especially for major blockbusters (like the Da Vinci Code) that at one point was out in all three formats at the same time. I was scratching my head over that one. I’m guessing it’s just such a money-maker that the publisher is wanting to put it out in as many formats as possible.
I think the two most essential things to me when I’m reading a book are a fast pace and humor. It doesn’t matter what kind of book I’m reading, if it’s the cutest Historical Romance or the darkest Thriller, I want the book to move fast and I want the book to make me laugh.
Of course, I want characters I want to be friends with, I want them to be my neighbors, my co workers, my family.
I want a book that will take my far away from here, to a world better than my own.
I think many readers are like you, Barbie. I know I like to read to be taken into a different “world” and I don’t necessarily mean fantasy. Just vibrant, well-drawn characters and settings that seem real. For me, reading fiction is a relaxing escape.
I’m like Barbie when I read I want a book that’s fast paced and has lost of humor. I need to feel like I know the people in the books and like them I hate reading a book where the main characters are really unlikeable. I usually try to read the first couple of chapters in a book if I’m not into it by then I’ll put it back in my TBR pile and try again later. Sometimes I’m just not in the mood to read a book and I’ll go back later a read it and love it and other times know matter what I just can’t get into the story. I didn’t know the difference in a trade paperback and mass market paperback until earlier this year and I saw a book by Shiloh Walker on a blog and they were talking about it being new in mass market paperback and I knew that I already had it. I finally realized that I had a trade paperback and that it was coming out in the smaller mass market paperback. I will admit it was a little bit confusing for while.
Hi Sherry,
I have to be in the mood for a certain book, too. Sometimes I’ll read a string of mysteries, then move onto lighter, funny books. Then sometimes I want historical fiction or even non-fiction. I tried to start a murder mystery last night and it felt too heavy, so I put it aside for later. There’s a book for every mood, right?
When I pick up a book, I want to get hooked fast. If I have to re-read a part 3 times I likely will put it down for good. And if I haven’t been hooked, I usually start getting distracted while I’m reading and don’t remember what I just read so I have to re-read.
Oh, yes! I’ve done the re-read the same sentence six times thing. Usually it is because someone is interrupting me or I’m trying to do something else while I’m reading, though. And then there are those very engrossing books where you are so captivated that the house could catch fire and you wouldn’t notice…
When I sit down to read a book I’m looking forward to an interesting story that will capture my attention, but sometimes books that I find dull or not very interesting aren’t finished. I also stop reading if I don’t remember the previous passages I just read.
Hi Jeanette,
That’s funny because usually if I put a book down for a while I make a point to go back and read the last passage to remind myself what was going on.
I hate to put down a book, I’m convinced I’m a page away from when it’s going to start getting good. However, when my TBR pile is high, I’ve started throwing in the towel more often. I do probably read at least 100 pages. If the subject matter is unpleasant, I’ll stop earlier.
When I read a book, I’m usually looking for a good time, a breezy, quick read which can be in a number of genres.
Hi Anne,
One time I put a book down because of unpleasant subject matter. It was this murder mystery told from the point of view of a middle-aged guy. There was this scene where he was fantasizing about a young teenage girl, and I just lost my interest in hearing him tell me the story.
Hello Laura,
I agree with you – As a reader, I like to be drawn into the story right from the beginning. I want to be intrigued and curious to find out more. I find that if I’m not hooked by the first few chapters, I probably will not be satisfied with the book. If its an author who I have previously liked, I probably will give the book more lead way. Otherwise, I will probably put the book down & find another book to capture my attention (especially since I have a large TBR pile).
Hi Jennifer,
Speaking of being hooked right away, some authors are great at this. You can almost always rely on Lee Child, for example. And also Cindy Gerard. Great opening scenes.
I don’t think books have to grab me if I know up front that the subject matter might take some exposition and back story. There has been a lot of criticism about the first 150-200 pages of Larsson’s GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. But I like financial and legal mysteries so that didn’t bother me. What does bother me and I’ll stop reading the book is if there is no ascertainable plot. Some who write “literary†fiction are notorious for this. I like the Terry Pratchett quote, “In theory it was, around now, Literature. Susan hated Literature. She’d much prefer to read a good book.â€
I had to read SHADOW IN THE WIND by Carlos Ruiz Zafón for a book club. I would have thrown it across the room if I hadn’t had to read it. There were too many flashbacks, too much “telling “of back story, uninteresting characters and boring plot. In another example, as a new writer I will long thank Lee Child. I had not read any of his works; the roaming hero just didn’t work for me, but I was finally harangued into read one. From his first Reacher book I leaned where not to write description. This maybe hearsay, but the end of the first Reacher book I read drove me batty. In the middle of the culminating action sequence, Child has Reacher stop and give a page and half description of what he sees, not only a page and a half but a redundant one. I felt like taking a 2×4 and whacking Reacher in the ass and saying, “Forget the damn piles of money and shot the bastards!†If this scene had taken place in the middle of the book I’d have stopped reading out of pure frustration.
I do like books that grab you by the throat on page one and don’t let go till the end. I continue to rave about Toni’s books and this is one reason. But you can also capture me with longer plot setup if there is great character development and in the case of THE PASSAGE great world building and fantastic villains. Snappy dialogue with interesting characters can carry a book for me. I love Robert B Parker’s books. His dialogue is just so good and even though he wrote Spenser in the first person, he built such a wonderful character in Hawk. His books don’t work well for audio though. You don’t read through the “said†Every “he said†‘she said†smacks you in the face.
Hi Dudley,
Your comment about villains made me think of Silence of the Lambs. I did not want that book to end. The writing was so good and I was just riveted during every scene, especially the ones with Lector.
Aw, thank you, Dudley. 🙂
I just want to be hooked, and then I want to see that the author has the ability to keep me hooked. If I start reading something based on word-of-mouth referrals, and it doesn’t grab me right up front, I’ll give it a longer chance because of the referrals. (More specifically–referrals from people who’ve loved the same books I’ve loved in the past.) However, if, after 50 or so pages, I’m bored, then I’m going to put it down and chalk it up to one of two things:
1) it is, indeed, a boring book or
2) I’m not in the right mood for this book at this time.
If I suspect it’s the second option, I’ll put it in a “try again later” stack, just to see. There have been enough times that a second shot at a book ended up with me completely entranced, and I couldn’t figure out why I didn’t like it the first time. Go figure.
With books I pick up based off just browsing, or some random review that intrigued me, I’ll give the book about 3 chapters. If the craft is awesome, I’ll try a few more pages, but really, at that point, there are too many books, too well written, that I’d rather be spending my time on than something that just isn’t grabbing me.
Hi Toni,
I’ve done that before, too–putting something aside for later. For example, sometimes I’m really up for a thriller with lots of action and other times I want a story that is more driven by emotions. Also, if I get a book as a gift, I usually wait a while for the mood to strike.
Gorgeous cover. I don’t usually read mysteries but I decided to pick one up. Now I know why I don’t read mysteries. LOL The plotting is so different from the romances I love to read. It doesn’t look like there will be a love interest. The characters are quirky, but in a more quiet way than I’m used to. I’ve read three chapters, and each has a great hook at the end to keep you reading, but the start of the new chapter doesn’t follow through on the hook. Maybe a few more chapters, we’ll see.
Hi Jill,
I enjoy straight mysteries, but like you I also like to see a love interest somewhere. Doesn’t have to be a fully realized romance, but at least some balance of male / female characters to add tension.
I agree 100% Laura, entertain me!
I look for different things in different books, depending on my mood. I just finished reading Mockingjay, and I loved it. It was very dark, but I thought fit the overall tone of the series, but I’ve read lots of criticism that it’s too dark and introspective…basically, not as entertaining as the two previous volumes.
Shrugs.
I usually finish each book I start. I might complain while I’m reading it, or start to skim…but it’s kind of like dessert, I can’t leave half of it on my plate 🙂
This is a tricky question.
If it is for a review I have to finish no matter if it is a dud.
If it is a series I usually give it a bit longer to hook me because you really need to get to know the leads before you can start the real story – I’ll usually go 100 to 150 pages.
If it is just a one of it gets about 50 pages before I dump it or skim it.
The only time, excluding reviews, I push myself to finish – regardless of whether I am enjoying – is if a friend has highly recommended it. I have to trust that they saw something in it to recommend it and perhaps I just haven’t gotten to it yet.
I don’t like to give up on a book because I love them but if I keep falling asleep it is time to put it up.
Glad to hear you finish them for reviews. Sometimes I read a book that received a rave and was really bad, and it makes me wonder if the reviewer actually read it. 🙂
Hi Lori,
I’m going to have to take a look at Mockingjay. You are the second person who’s told me about it.
like your dessert analogy! 🙂
I am similar to you. I’ll read at least 50 pages. Sometimes the first chapter has to have alot of explaining especially if it’s part of a series because the author has to refresh the reader on some things. Recently though i read a series book i think it’s book 8 of the series and i swear it was love hate reading the whole thing. i stuck with it though and half way thru it all started coming together lol I literally said out loud. “OH now i get it!” My kids and husband gave me a funny look. lol I’ve read alot of books and have only found a small handful i didn’t really like so i have either gotten lucky or i know how to pick em! lol
Lisa B
I have a love / hate thing with a few series, too. I get attached to the characters, and then I’m willing to overlook an off book in the series.
Honestly, at one point I would keep reading a book even when I wasn’t really enjoying it. I almost felt guilty if I didn’t finish the book. However, now that my TBR pile rivals a mountain range, I’m okay with not finishing a book if it isn’t for me. I will give a book at least 50 pages or 5 chapters, which ever comes first. If I still don’t enjoy the book it either goes back to the library or goes in my donation box to take to the library. What might be a DNF for me might end up being a favorite book ever for someone else.
Now, if the book has really been talked about by lots of friends online, I might put it aside for a bit and come back to it later. I’ve done that before and found out I just needed to be in the mood to give a new book/author a try.
Yes, we were just talking earlier about how mood is important. Glad you give your unwanted books away. I do, too. I figure just because it’s not for me doesn’t mean someone else might not love it.
I never not finish a book. If I pick up a book to read, I will finish and then post my review about it. I am a very honest reviewer. The only time in my life that I have not finished a book was “The Bell Jar”. I just couldn’t get into that book for the life of me. It is supposed to be this famous book and all and I hated it.
Anyhow, I don’t give a page limit to a book. I will read it, good or not.
What am I looking for in a book? I want to be taken away.
– I want to be a fly on the wall and see everything in front of me.
– I want to smell the beach, breath the Highland mist and feel the heat of a hot muggy day in the south.
– I want to hear the characters talk and then cry as the characters are sad or devasted. (likewise celebrate happy moments)
– I want to relate to the characters and understand their feelings.
– I want to believe the story. Even if it is a “moresome” involving a shapeshifting wolf pack lol!
I don’t think I am picky because most of the books I choose to read all seem to take me away. There are of course duds out there but I will still read them if I have started. I’ll just be sure to share my thoughts on Amazon or Goodreads. (As I appreciate others who to the same.)
Hi Michelle,
Sounds like you look for a very vivid story. I love those, too. I don’t need tons of description, but enough details to feel as if I’m right there.
Like you 50 pages is usually my limit, if it hasn’t grabbed me by then, chances are it won’t. I try lots of authors and also different genres by known authors but that doesn’t mean the book will be great or even somewhat great. So 50 pages it is. I don’t read any literary works simply romances, fantasy and paranormals; I must buy 100-200 a year and only read what I enjoy.
Hi Diane,
100-200 books a year?!? That is fantastic! It sounds a lot like my book habit. 🙂 I can never bring myself to say “no” to a book purchase for myself of my kids.
I need to get hooked on the characters in a story. I can overlook minor plot problems or even saggy middles, as long is I love the characters. Although, I have to admit poorly edited books can annoy me into stopping. Typos drive me nuts!
Hi Janel,
I agree that characters make a big difference. I have read some lame plots just for a chance to hang out with some amazing characters.
I’ve read some duds, but I do give it a second chance before I give up on it. I want the story to pull me in so much that I don’t want to put it down because I need to know what happens next.
How nice of you to give books a second chance, Jane! 🙂
If a book doesn’t grab me by the 3rd chapter or so I usually put it down for awhile. If I remember it, I will go back and finish it. I have given books a second chance and they’ve become keepers for me. Sometimes it’s just a ‘need to be in the right mood’ thing. If I put a book aside and forgot about it. Bad news.
Hi Scorpio,
Sometimes I put a book down and come back, too. I did this recently with a mystery where I though I was giving up because the plot was slow, but later I kept wondering who the killer was, so I had to finish.
Hi Laura
What do I look for in a book? I’m looking to be entertained.
Not educated-done with school- not preached at-have church for that, and no- I don’t want to read about the boy who was kidnapped, sold to slavery, forced into war and slept on the floor of the outhouse.
I want adventure, romance and suspense, with laughter and love thrown in.
If the book doesn’t catch me by the first couple of chapters, I don’t finish it. Doesn’t mean I won’t read anything by that author again-there’s quite a few authors I’ve read and not enjoyed one of their books.
Just like not all clothes fit all people, not all books fit me.
Your new book looks great. I’ve enjoyed your books and I’ve read Cindy Gerard and love her “BOI’s”. Hope it goes to the of the list!!!
Catherine,
I read books for these reasons, too. I like to be taken on an adventure. Sometimes I pick up a book that I KNOW is going to depress me, but I just have to read it anyway because it was highly recommended. Lovely Bones was like this, and I actually thought it was more uplifting than I expected.
There was a time when I would finish every book I started but as I have gotten older I have gotten fussier. If I don’t find a book exciting I will give it a while before I put it down but if I don’t like the characters or if the plot seems silly then I put it down right away. When I don’t care what happens to the people in the book then it’s time to stop reading.
Hi Maureen,
Yes, it’s all about caring about the characters. Did you see the formula above? Take 100 minus your age, and that is how many pages you should give a book. Life’s too short…
My mood does set the tone for what I read from day to day. What can I say other than I am female or as I choose to say, “I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar!!” Seriously, after taking so many college courses where I was forced to read books I despised I also give a book three chapters before I turn it out to pasture. I hate getting bogged down in a boring, over-rated book. I have my favorites who have let me down in the past. In some cases I felt like I am reading the same book with a different title. I know it has to be hard to come up with some fresh material but that’s where I believe research could be fun especially if it’s somewhere fascinating or places where very few are allowed.
Funny you should mention this, Lisa. I was a huge reader until I hit about 20, and being forced to read all those dry books in college turned me off reading for years. I didn’t get back into again until my mid-20s and it felt like I’d redicovered a long lost friend.
I love reading books that have a great storyline. If it hooks me i put everything in my life on hold and finish reading the book. Usually I read it into the wee hours of the morning.
Elisa,
I love reading into the wee hours, too. A guilty pleasure. 🙂
I’ll give a book about two or three chapters to catch my interest. If it doesn’t, sometimes I’ll put it aside, read something else and then try the first book again.
If I get really frustrated, I’ll just put it in my ‘read’ pile and give it away.
Hi Kathy,
Sometimes those books you put aside might catch your attention later. I do that too!