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what makes me stop reading a book?
 IWSG monthly post |
I don't usually stop reading a book once I have started. But sometimes I have. Once I got a box of old books from an old lady - she was goind to throw them away, and there were many good old novels there. Of course their style was old fashioned, but hey - so is Jane Austen's and still I find her stories charming. |
But at the bottom of the box was a book I had never heard of. Curious, I opened it and read the first two pages. After that I snapped to book shut, went to put on my shoes, walked out and carried the book straight to the garbage bin. It was written by a Christian priest, or at least that what he called himself. And those first two pages were full of condemnation to anyone of a different religion. Fire and brimstone fell on top those poor souls who dared to have been born into different religious societies. And he said they deserved to go to hell.
Right. I see religions and structures built by men, trying to explain the reason of existence and creation. And this "priest" who was supposedly serving a religion of acceptance and law, was lecturing a completely different message. If in his mind the other religions deserved to go to hell, then I considered his message deserved to go to garbage.
Also occasionally, if a novel doesn't "move", I may get bored and forget to continue reading. This is in a bit of a contrast with the fact I love long books, especially historical novels - but if the characters are "deep" enough, with an interesting inner life, with flaws as well and strengths, the book becomes interesting and the scenes surrounding the characters are just catalysts showing their inner life. Which, after all, is the most important thing in a book for me. So the "moving fast" may also mean that the character doesn't change at all.
And sometimes I stop reading a book because of lack of time. Like now, when I write this, I am writing two essays and my dissertation for my MA. I have a novel or two (or three) I don't have time to read right now, but they are waiting for me to have more time. I do intend to continue reading them.
So counting these three I'd say I stop reading a book if it spreads a hateful message, if the characters have no inner depth or if I don't have time to read.
What makes you stop reading a book?
Do you have a great story about this? Share it!
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