Comments on: Stalled Books http://www.booksplease.org/2008/06/12/stalled-books/ A book lover writes about this, that and the other Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:14:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Danielle http://www.booksplease.org/2008/06/12/stalled-books/comment-page-1/#comment-1826 Danielle Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:47:51 +0000 http://www.booksplease.org/?p=377#comment-1826 I've been dragging the mass market edition of Les Mis with me to work everyday. I read it on the bus. It does take up space in my bookbag, but I'm afraid if I just planned on reading it at home I would never pick it up. I'm working on the Marius section and it is pretty good, but a bit slower than the first two sections. I'm hoping it will pick up again soon, but I plan on just pressing on. It may take me all summer (or longer), but I do want to finish it!! I also have a few languishing books on my night stand. I do want to finish them all, but...I'd really like to read Pinkerton's Sister by the way, but I'm a bit afraid of it--long and I wonder if I will get all the literary references, and is his writing style hard?? I’ve been dragging the mass market edition of Les Mis with me to work everyday. I read it on the bus. It does take up space in my bookbag, but I’m afraid if I just planned on reading it at home I would never pick it up. I’m working on the Marius section and it is pretty good, but a bit slower than the first two sections. I’m hoping it will pick up again soon, but I plan on just pressing on. It may take me all summer (or longer), but I do want to finish it!! I also have a few languishing books on my night stand. I do want to finish them all, but…I’d really like to read Pinkerton’s Sister by the way, but I’m a bit afraid of it–long and I wonder if I will get all the literary references, and is his writing style hard??

]]> By: Margaret http://www.booksplease.org/2008/06/12/stalled-books/comment-page-1/#comment-1792 Margaret Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:44:33 +0000 http://www.booksplease.org/?p=377#comment-1792 Simon, that is odd - I can see my sidebar - I hope everyone else can too! Lezlie, I hate having to re-read a book I've started, but sadly this often happens to me. Tara thanks for the explanation. Isn't it strange how a book can seem so compelling at first? The right book at the right time seems to be the answer. Geranium Cat, ah, I'm so glad I'm not the only one! Nan, now I understand!! Life is too short to waste time reading a book that's not enjoyable. Simon, that is odd – I can see my sidebar – I hope everyone else can too!
Lezlie, I hate having to re-read a book I’ve started, but sadly this often happens to me.
Tara thanks for the explanation. Isn’t it strange how a book can seem so compelling at first? The right book at the right time seems to be the answer.
Geranium Cat, ah, I’m so glad I’m not the only one!
Nan, now I understand!! Life is too short to waste time reading a book that’s not enjoyable.

]]> By: Nan http://www.booksplease.org/2008/06/12/stalled-books/comment-page-1/#comment-1791 Nan Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:22:18 +0000 http://www.booksplease.org/?p=377#comment-1791 I tried to delete my mistaken comment but couldn't. :<) It is 100 minus your age. Duh!! And Tara's right about if you are younger than 50. These are Nancy Pearl's words: "Believe me, nobody is going to get any points in heaven by slogging their way through a book they aren't enjoying but think they ought to read. I live by what I call 'the rule of fifty,' which acknowledges that time is short and the world of books is immense. If you're fifty years old or younger, give every book about fifty pages before you decide to commit yourself to reading it, or give it up. If you're over fifty, which is when time gets even shorter, subtract your age from 100. The result is the number of pages you should read before deciding." I tried to delete my mistaken comment but couldn’t. :<) It is 100 minus your age. Duh!! And Tara’s right about if you are younger than 50. These are Nancy Pearl’s words:
“Believe me, nobody is going to get any points in heaven by slogging their way through a book they aren’t enjoying but think they ought to read. I live by what I call ‘the rule of fifty,’ which acknowledges that time is short and the world of books is immense. If you’re fifty years old or younger, give every book about fifty pages before you decide to commit yourself to reading it, or give it up. If you’re over fifty, which is when time gets even shorter, subtract your age from 100. The result is the number of pages you should read before deciding.”

]]> By: GeraniumCat http://www.booksplease.org/2008/06/12/stalled-books/comment-page-1/#comment-1790 GeraniumCat Fri, 13 Jun 2008 17:06:41 +0000 http://www.booksplease.org/?p=377#comment-1790 I found your list very comforting, as I sometimes look rather guiltily at the "stalled books" pile. It's now the size the TBR pile used to be before the book buying compulsion got quite so serious. I stalled on one today, in fact, but since I've read about 50 pages since I first thought I might not like it, I think I have given it long enough! I found your list very comforting, as I sometimes look rather guiltily at the “stalled books” pile. It’s now the size the TBR pile used to be before the book buying compulsion got quite so serious. I stalled on one today, in fact, but since I’ve read about 50 pages since I first thought I might not like it, I think I have given it long enough!

]]> By: Tara http://www.booksplease.org/2008/06/12/stalled-books/comment-page-1/#comment-1789 Tara Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:40:26 +0000 http://www.booksplease.org/?p=377#comment-1789 I have a few like this myself. Started, put down, and not terribly compelled to pick up at the moment. Some of these will be finished, others will eventually go back on the shelf, bookmark still in place. Regarding Nan's rule, if you're under 50, then you give it 50 pages is what I've read in the past! It's a good rule, I think, though sometimes I don't even need that many pages. I have a few like this myself. Started, put down, and not terribly compelled to pick up at the moment. Some of these will be finished, others will eventually go back on the shelf, bookmark still in place. Regarding Nan’s rule, if you’re under 50, then you give it 50 pages is what I’ve read in the past! It’s a good rule, I think, though sometimes I don’t even need that many pages.

]]> By: Lezlie http://www.booksplease.org/2008/06/12/stalled-books/comment-page-1/#comment-1787 Lezlie Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:40:39 +0000 http://www.booksplease.org/?p=377#comment-1787 I find that if I put down a book, I never seem to get back to it. And if on the off chance I do, I have to start all over! :-) Lezlie I find that if I put down a book, I never seem to get back to it. And if on the off chance I do, I have to start all over! :-)

Lezlie

]]> By: Simon T http://www.booksplease.org/2008/06/12/stalled-books/comment-page-1/#comment-1786 Simon T Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:57:28 +0000 http://www.booksplease.org/?p=377#comment-1786 Oh, your sidebar disappeared until I clicked on 'comments'... odd... Oh, your sidebar disappeared until I clicked on ‘comments’… odd…

]]> By: Margaret http://www.booksplease.org/2008/06/12/stalled-books/comment-page-1/#comment-1785 Margaret Fri, 13 Jun 2008 05:51:22 +0000 http://www.booksplease.org/?p=377#comment-1785 Jacquie, I've read reviews of The Innocent Man both praising and criticising it - I wonder where you and I will stand. Nan, you may be right and yet I really wanted to read all these books when I first got them. I'm intrigued by your equation - what happens if you're under 50 ...? :>) When I'm in a bookshop or library if the first page doesn't appeal the book stays on the shelf! Unfinished Person (love your name!) Heroes was great last night. I hope you get to see it. Raych I do just the same. I think my attention span is getting shorter:>) Jacquie, I’ve read reviews of The Innocent Man both praising and criticising it – I wonder where you and I will stand.
Nan, you may be right and yet I really wanted to read all these books when I first got them. I’m intrigued by your equation – what happens if you’re under 50 …? :>) When I’m in a bookshop or library if the first page doesn’t appeal the book stays on the shelf!
Unfinished Person (love your name!) Heroes was great last night. I hope you get to see it.
Raych I do just the same. I think my attention span is getting shorter:>)

]]> By: raych http://www.booksplease.org/2008/06/12/stalled-books/comment-page-1/#comment-1784 raych Fri, 13 Jun 2008 04:01:22 +0000 http://www.booksplease.org/?p=377#comment-1784 I'm always 'stalling' books, so to speak. But then I forget what was happening, or start confusing them with other books I'm reading. I try to stick to one or two books at a time, but sometimes whatever you're reading isn't grabbing you. I’m always ‘stalling’ books, so to speak. But then I forget what was happening, or start confusing them with other books I’m reading. I try to stick to one or two books at a time, but sometimes whatever you’re reading isn’t grabbing you.

]]> By: unfinishedperson http://www.booksplease.org/2008/06/12/stalled-books/comment-page-1/#comment-1782 unfinishedperson Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:29:09 +0000 http://www.booksplease.org/?p=377#comment-1782 I hear you on Heroes...unfortunately, we don't have cable or satellite and we'll wait until it comes out on DVD, I guess...or my sister tapes it for us. I hear you on Heroes…unfortunately, we don’t have cable or satellite and we’ll wait until it comes out on DVD, I guess…or my sister tapes it for us.

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