Over the past two weeks, while I was admittedly a tad bit obsessed with Mockingjay, I was also trying to read Ann Packer’s The Dive from Clausen’s Pier for one of the book clubs I nominally belong to. Alas, it was not meant to be.
I can’t tell you what the book is about. I vaguely remember someone making it into a Lifetime TV movie-of-the-week with that actress I think of as Dawn, Buffy’s surprise little sister from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” (I think she’s been on “Gossip Girl” as well.) Anyway, I don’t know the plot because I barely read any of the book.
My first attempt at reading went a little something like this: start reading, make it ten or so pages in, fall asleep on couch. During my second attempt, I managed to read at least three or four chapters before, once again, falling asleep.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I’m willing to chalk one fall-asleep moment to being tired. But twice is the start of a pattern, so I stopped reading and put the book aside, resigned to the fact that I was just not into this book.
I hate putting books aside, giving up on them before I’ve finished. I know authors work really hard on their stories and that there are far more authors who write than there are authors who publish. So I feel compelled to at least make a real effort with every book I read because I honestly want to appreciate the work the author has done.
At the same time, however, I am acutely aware of the fact that not all books are going to appeal to every reader. You can’t force affection for books, much like you can’t force affection for boys or Brussels sprouts. While sometimes love and affection can grow over time, if the initial spark of interest isn’t there, chances are it’s not going to show up, no matter how hard you try (again, much like with boys or Brussels sprouts). Sometimes you just have to know when to let go.
What do you think, bookworms? Do you like I gave up on The Dive from Clausen’s Pier too soon? What criteria do you use if or when you decide to stop reading a book? What’s your tolerance level policy for books you simply cannot stand?
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