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Have you ever been unable to finish a book?

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I can't, no matter how many times, or how hard I try, finish Bram Stoker's Dracula. It always gives me weird dreams, not exactly nightmares, but just weird to the point where I wake up confused and swearing. Yes, swearing, because I'm confused.
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All the time, if I find it hard going and don't like the writing and am not into it, I'll abandon a book. If it's badly written or I hate the lead character/protaganist because they are unbelieveable or annoying the 'cr@p' out of me then I'll abandon a book. If a book is not labled as a Christian type book and I buy it and have to read through pages of 'Christian' beliefs ,then I'll abandon it.
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I've been unable to finish a book because I was someplace and it was borrowed, or some reason like that...

But, when I start reading something, I sort of have to finish it if possible...maybe I should put that in the OCD thread...
I once knew a drinker who had a moderating problem...

Rest in Peace
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I've been unable to finish a book because I was someplace and it was borrowed, or some reason like that...

But, when I start reading something, I sort of have to finish it if possible...maybe I should put that in the OCD thread...
I once knew a drinker who had a moderating problem...

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yes I could not make it past the first chapter in Lord of the Rings.
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I have tried (and failed) on three separate occasions to finish Heart of Darkness but it's like there's just this mental block. I can't put my finger on what it is but I always get to the point that I just cannot pick it up again.

That said, each time I've tried I've gotten a little further through it. Maybe if I keep going I'll eventually finish. I don't know if it's worth it though...
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Yes, I have been unable to continue reading many books, and do not feel in the least apologetic about it.

Mind you, I have never drifted off to sleep while reading a book or story - yes, that is true - but have been told by someone here at SS that he fell asleep while reading one of my stories but he tried, unconvincingly, to convince me that it was NOT my story that was responsible but that he was 'tired'.

Yeah, whatever... just sayin'...

It was thoughtless, unnecessary and felt like a slap in the face.

Personally if I were to tell an author I was unable to read his or her story, I would certainly not say I fell asleep but would offer a considerate, if brief, analysis.
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I have never made it all the way through anything by either James Fenimore Cooper or Leo Tolstoy. And, no, I am not the least bit apologetic. I believe literature is like graphic art: I don't know if it's "good"; I only know what I like.
And my estimation of what is "good" is sometimes at odds with literary pundits.
"Any book not worth reading twice was not worth reading the first time." Oscar Wilde
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Quote by Rumple_deWriter
Yep. My latest abandoned book was, '50 Shades of Grey'


I also abandoned this book after a few pages of reading.

The only other book I have abandoned is the final Harry Potter book as the pacing in that slowed down too much for me to be able to keep reading.
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When I feel I SIMPLY have to read a book and I don't have one at hand, I just go, buy a lot of books at the year-round book fair nearby.Then I go on a feeding frenzy and read about 80% of the books in one stretch, whether they are boring or interesting...But once my thirst for reading is satiated a bit, the law of diminishing returns kicks in and I trudge through a single book for days...Its like when you are hungry, everything you eat tastes good and when you are not, even the best cooking can't impress you!;)
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Quote by Rumple_deWriter
Tempy, it's obvious you will have a long and glorious run here at SS. Anyone who quotes me on their third post is a most commendable keeper. ;)

But seriously (sort of) welcome to Stories Space.



Why thank you ^^
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Sadly, I hardly ever finish a book. I can't read any faster than I can talk. If I don't form the words physically with my mouth they make no sense to me. I get alot out of what I read, and enjoy reading, and read aloud beautifully, and love audiobooks....but regular reading, is slow going. I have to really love a book to finish it.
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I don't think I've ever started reading anything I couldn't finish. Even if I am bored, I will still trudge through it to see how it all turns out. I think the only book I've never finished was '50 Shades of Grey', I was bored after 4 or 5 pages and since I already knew how it ends, there was no point in trudging through it. Haven't even bothered to open the other two in the series, doubt they are much better than the first.

“Many people hear voices when no one is there. Some of them are called mad and are shut up in rooms where they stare at the walls all day. Others are called writers and they do pretty much the same thing.”

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Quote by fallingdove
Sadly, I hardly ever finish a book. I can't read any faster than I can talk. If I don't form the words physically with my mouth they make no sense to me.


Oh, I'm exactly the same way btw...I read at the same speed whether I'm reading to myself or saying the words out loud, so it takes me about 5 minutes per 1k words or so to read something...

So...if someone submits a 10k story here, it would take me almost an hour to read it...
I once knew a drinker who had a moderating problem...

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I struggled through Beautiful Creatures, and then I started on the second book for some reason and I just couldn't finish it. I tried reading Beautiful Darkness twice. It was just too slow and boring for my tastes. There have been some books that I had to stop reading because they were too slow, but then a while later I'd try again and get really into it.
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Quote by Tempy
Quote by Rumple_deWriter
Yep. My latest abandoned book was, '50 Shades of Grey'


I also abandoned this book after a few pages of reading.



Haha... I managed to trudge through the first one (50 Shades), took me ages. Started the second one, I really dont know why, and ended up abandoning it by page 20.
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Many times...very often I grab a new release book from library just for fun, randomly read few chapters, decide it's not my taste then return.
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I left 50 shades of Grey after reading 100 odd pages. Generally I complete a book, if I start it.
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Quote by Louise
All the time, if I find it hard going and don't like the writing and am not into it, I'll abandon a book. If it's badly written or I hate the lead character/protaganist because they are unbelieveable or annoying the 'cr@p' out of me then I'll abandon a book. If a book is not labled as a Christian type book and I buy it and have to read through pages of 'Christian' beliefs ,then I'll abandon it.


I'm the same way. I'll abandon a book if it's badly written and or I thought it was good but turn out that I was wrong about it.
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If you are having trouble finishing a book try audio version. It can be easy to become background noise and you can easily miss finer details but all in all it can work for if you wanna listen and go for a walk or just lounging around doing whatever. smile
Crazy old ape
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Many times. Sometimes I start a hefty tome and realize that I just don't have the time for a hefty tome. Sometimes I find the book just doesn't do anything for me (Da Vinci Code). Sometimes another, more interesting book comes along and lures me away.

A mighty warrior meets an unusual challenger. The Last Challenge of Jadek Prynn.

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Quote by Noraj
yes I could not make it past the first chapter in Lord of the Rings.


I couldn't either. And I can't make it past the first ten minutes of the movie either.
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I've ordered a couple of books before because they really sound interesting, but then I just become exasperated with the way they're written. If I can't finish a book, then often times I can't look at it or I'll feel guilty. Also, I think there's only been one or two series that I've been able to finish.
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Quote by Noraj
yes I could not make it past the first chapter in Lord of the Rings.


Here here!

I have never read LOTR either. BORING!

I read the best part of Anna Karenina before losing interest in it. I have never treid to read any other classic Russian literature since...

One of the first books I can remember struggling with was 'The Kraken Wakes' by John Wyndham. It took me three attempts to read it from start to finish (I'd read all of his other books by then) and was delighted to discover that it is actually (IMHO) one of his best novels!
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There have been a few books I didn't finish. If a book fails to capture me in the first chapters, I'll abandon it. But when it does, I'll keep on reading till the end.
If life seems jolly rotten
there's something you've forgotten
and that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing

from Monty Python's "Life of Brian"
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I think everyone has a phase when they cannot read. Lately, i've been trying to read but, I just can't. There was a time when i couldn't keep a book down until it was finished. But now, it seems like everything's wrong with books and me. Only if someone can relate to this! I'm still trying.
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The only book I never finished, but skimmed was Catcher in the Rye. Save your praise. I don't like this book. I hate it worse than Heart of Darkness & that I did finish in college.