In a perfect follow up to last weeks question, as suggested by C in DC:Is there a book you wish you could "unread"? One that you disliked so thoroughly you wish you could just forget that you ever read it?
My answer:
In one word, no. If a book is really that bad, I will stop reading it...unless it is for my book club. In that case, I will persevere to the bitter end, share my opinion, and enjoy the discussion. If the entire group dislikes the book (and that's only happened once with White Teeth), it becomes a part of group lore that we bring up and laugh about for years to come.
Visit Booking Through Thursday to see more answers or leave your own.
I'm with you! If I am not interested by page 50, I move on to another one. I will finish a book for book club.
ReplyDeleteAnd some people swear by Zadie Smith!
ReplyDeleteBooking through Unread
Thanks for visiting my blog! There's no point continuing if you're not enjoying it is there! Happy BTT!
ReplyDeleteLIFE IS TOO SHORT TO READ BAD BOOKS!
ReplyDeleteThat's the second black mark that White Teeth has received (that I've seen... maybe more) in this week's BTT; I might need to move that down on my TBR.
ReplyDeleteI agree, my book club is a compelling factor in finishing some books I'd rather have not read (but the discussion's always interesting). They're also good in compelling me to start some books I'd have otherwise overlooked.
I haven't encountered something that is irredeemably bad. Books that I want to "unread" are ones written by authors whose previous reads I have enjoyed. Sometimes they just have a bad day I guess. I would like to defy time and start over again with another book.
ReplyDeleteNise' -Fifty pages is about right. Like the saying goes, life is too short to read bad books.
ReplyDeleteGautami - I haven't written off Zadie Smith yet. On Beauty is still in my tbr pile and I do plan to read it. We'll see...
Dot - That's right, reading is supposed to be fun!
Missy - Exactly!!
Matt - It is so disappointing to dislike a book by a favorite author! I didn't think of that angle...those are books I'd like to unread.
ReplyDeleteHeather - Book clubs can be boring when we all love the same books. A little controversy makes for a good discussion!
White Teeth has become the subject of many book club jokes, but I will read Zadie Smith again. The connection between On Beauty and Howard's End has me intrigued!
Good answer. I do tend to read things all the way through even if I don't like it, but I wouldn't want to "unread" it.
ReplyDeleteOh no! White teeth bad? I just picked it up not too long ago. Our book club pick a few months ago was so bad that most of us didn't finish and we quickly chose another book instead (Miles from Nowhere).
ReplyDeleteHi JoAnne, thanks for visiting my blog! I cringe when our book club discusses what book to read next...but I have to say I am learning from these books I would normally never read, and that is the point! I have white teeth on my TBR list - a bit disappointed to hear your whole group didn't enjoy it. Will still try it though.
ReplyDeleteShari,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're going to try White Teeth and decide for yourself. It got such great reviews, and lots of people out there really liked it.