<p>If I start a book I always feel like I just have to finish it (unless it’s poorly written, then I don’t hesitate to put it down). Anyways, I started Gunter Grass’ The Tin Drum in June, and it’s going slowly because I’m overwhelmed with other stuff. I’ve reached almost halfway, and the writing is extraordinary, but I don’t really like the story that much. I’m debating giving it up, but it’s so not my nature to do that. </p>
<p>Wisdom? Similar experiences?</p>
<p>I loved, loved that book, but if you do not, I would not hesitate to put it down. So many books, so little time. You can find something you do love.</p>
<p>In the meantime so you don’t feel so incomplete, why don’t you hunt down the movie and watch it.</p>
<p>It does lack the gorgeous writing, of course, but it’s powerful and full of visual imagery. It was directed by Schlondorf (sic?), one of the darlings of German cinema.</p>
<p>You will at least find out Little Oskar’s fate.</p>
<p>Of course, the story is of Germany.</p>
<p>I think you can lead a full and complete life without finishing The Tin Drum. If you’ve gotten halfway through and you don’t like it (I didn’t, although I did finish it) Walk Away. So many books, so little time. My own rule is if it’s not working 50 pages in I let it go. (You’ve read more of The Tin Drum than most people ever will.)</p>
<p>If you are like me, this doesn’t happen very often (where you don’t fall in love with a book). Put it aside and start another one (it’s ok, give yourself permission to 
) See if in a couple of weeks or a month you are still wondering about it. Bet you won’t be attached to the concept of finishing it anymore.</p>
<p>Sadly, I’ve wasted a lot of time in my life, reading on, hoping the book will get better. It never does.</p>
<p>I read The Tin Drum when I was about 10 ( I loved to read, but had little access to books- I read The Valley of the Dolls around that time as well)
The Valley of the Dolls made more sense to me.
…well in a manner of speaking.</p>
<p>I used to always finish books when I was younger and thought our time on earth was endless. I still remember reading Madeleine L’Engle’s first book when I was a young librarian. It was truly awful, but I wanted to like it since I loved A Wrinkle in Time so much as a child. </p>
<p>Now I only read about 50 pages and if I’m not captivated, I move on. There are a lot of books that just aren’t worth the time investment.</p>
<p>My rule is 100 pages (I have dumped a few at 50, though…). If I am not interested in finishing at that point, I feel like I gave it a good try. Too many books, too little time. I feel no guilt at all over this rule. I do get most of my books from the library or inexpensive used book sales, so I feel no “sunk cost” effect from having paid for it.</p>
<p>I vary. Some years ago I was in a book club. We tried to read “White Teeth”. All of us hated it. I stopped when I just didn’t care about any character. I recently slogged through an alternative future sci-fi book that I just hated because there were a few things I really liked. I foolishly started the second in the series, and then gave up when it was clear that none of the aspects I liked were of interest to the writer.</p>
<p>No. Life is too short to read books you’re not enjoying.</p>
<p>Wow, I expected more “you have to finish it” responses. Earlier this year, I almost gave up on John Barth’s Sot Weed Factor, but I hung in there and was ultimately glad I did (800 pages worth). I can’t imagine reading The Tin Drum at 10 emeraldkity! </p>
<p>Guess I’ll decide soon, though.</p>
<p>I think I was past 40 when I gave myself permission to not finish books. As said above, there are so many books out there to like. I see you’ve been reading it since June. (If I were you, I’d have forgotten the beginning by now.:)) I find that when I’m reading a book I dont’ like, it stretches out further and further, and I end up not reading as much, when I might have finished several other books during that time.</p>
<p>I love Thomas Pynchon, but I only got halfway through both Mason and Dixon, and Against the Day. I 'd really like to go back and reread and each of them; but I just couldn’t get through them at the time. Sometimes another go at it will work better, and sometimes it’s just not the book for you.</p>
<p>I was also a person who couldn’t stand not to finish a book, but I’ve reached the age when I can rationally compare my life expectancy with the number of books I’d like to read. So, recently I stopped reading a P.G. Wodehouse novel because it wasn’t as funny as the dozens of other ones I’ve read.</p>
<p>I am in the 100 page camp. Some that I have loved have been slow to start…or I am just slow to grasp If a book doesn’t have my attention in the first 100 pages I move on. I’m sure I have given up on some excellent books with this approach, but I’ve also saved myself hours of reading something that just wasn’t for me.</p>
<p>Yup, me too Hunt. There are way way way too many great books to read in our short life. I’m all for letting go of the book that isn’t great. </p>
<p>I also believe it is a fine principle to apply to many things in life, besides books. Persistence and ‘sticking it out’ are grossly overrated ideas in our culture. Sometimes it makes sense because you have to give things a chance to turn around or for you to adapt, you have obligations or commitments to others, or sometimes you have to go through tough stuff to get to the good part! But those aside, I mostly think life is too short to do unpleasant things in our leisure, or to remain in a miserable situation when there are so many better options out there!</p>
<p>Twice, I have put down a book after reading nearly 100 pages and said, “no more”, but come back to it.</p>
<p>The first one was “Mists of Avalon”. I had young babies and not enough sleep and although I liked the story, I kept getting confused about the plot and characters. I picked it up again when the kids were a bit older and absolutely inhaled the book, and have re-read it two or three times, since.</p>
<p>The second one was the first Harry Potter book. I didn’t get what all the fuss was about. It was only because a dear niece of mine encouraged me to try again. I loved that book and every other one, since.</p>
<p>I have put down books and never picked them up again, but I usually pause and reflect on the experience I had with these two books before donating cast-offs to friends or the local library…will I change my mind? If not, they are gone off my personal bookshelves.</p>
<p>Since I generally get my books from the library, I give them the two week try out. If I’m not done by then, or don’t quickly look to see if it’s renewable, then I turn it in and say to myself “I can just put that back on hold later”. And I pretty much never put a book back on hold. I also always finished books before I was 40. What will never change is that I rarely read the inside jacket and I never look at the last page first. I love to pick a up a book and have no idea what it is going to be about.</p>
<p>I am another follower of the “100 page rule”. There are too many books out there to be read that I don’t feel guilty at all about not finishing one.</p>
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<p>I’ve discovered that sometimes it’s more about where you are in life at that particular moment than the actual book. Occasionally, I’ll go back and re-read a book I loved, only to wonder ‘what was I thinking at the time?’</p>
<p>But I do give myself permission these days not to finish books for the same reasons stated here - life’s too short. I find my attention span is shorter and a book that weighs in at 500 pages had better be darn good if I’m going to invest that much time in it.</p>
<p>I once read this rule:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Give the book at least 50 pages before you qui5</p></li>
<li><p>If x years over 50, then you can decrease that by each decade beyond 5-. For example, For example, at age 80, you only need to hang in there for 20 pages (50 minus 30) pages before deciding to move on…</p></li>
</ul>