Unless its for a class, I've never understood the drive to finish a book that I hate. Life is too short. I can't begin to count the number of books I left unfinished. Now and then I'd go back to one on a recommendation, and found it better the second time around. But usually they are quickly forgotten about, and I move on to the next book. There's just too many good books out there to waste my time!

I frequently abandon books that simply don't work for me, even if others praise them. Unless as Cindy said it is for a class, I read to please myself. I feel no obligation to complete a book I don't enjoy. Well, maybe for book club, but even then I have limits.

Funny that you mention Shardik. It was by far my favorite of Richard Adams's novels, the only one I thoroughly liked. Tastes differ, and that is a good thing, responsible for bringing us a rich variety of choices.

Rosefolly

I just abandoned "The Botany of Desire" by Michael Pollan. Interesting at first, but then slowly sunk in to boredom. I rarely give up on books (and had a rule where I never gave up on them as I felt sorry for the authors). However, now I realize that there are so many books out there and so little time that it's ok to not finish a book. I am not in school any more so life goes on if you don't like it and put it down.

Besides, life is too short for bad books.

I think I will take all your advice and give up trying to finish books I just don't enjoy. It took me a MONTH to try and finish Gone With the Wind when I should have just thrown it aside with a carefree "Fiddle-dee-dee"! :)

btw, Watership Down is my favorite Richard Adams.

I have been attempting to read La Nilssen, autobiography of Birgit Nilssen, the opera diva. Despite good reviews, which is why I got it, its pretty heavy going. A star she is, but the self-congratulatory tone is a bit much. Of course, she also thows in some very amusing parts, but they don't make it worth the effort. So tonite, I threw it aside. QED

I have started Foucault's Pendulum three times and never got past chapter 2. I won't try again.

There are some books that appeal greatly to some people, or even to many people, but just aren't for everyone.

I love Watership Down too but did not like Shardik and remember being disappointed by it. Focault's Pendulum was the same disapointment since The Name of the Rose was so good. Dava Sobel's books I have tried to like and cannot and did not finish either Galileo's Daugher or Longitude.

>Dava Sobel's books I have tried to like and cannot and did not finish either Galileo's Daugher or Longitude.

I loved both of those, but then I am a history buff of that time period, and already had a little background in each story. They fascinated me (and in the case of the latter, angered me how many women's lives were wasted because of the practice of sending your daughters off to convents).

Now Focaults Pendulum, I am so on your bench. Eco writes books that I should like, but I couldn't even get into Name of the Rose.

Now that I am older, I never, ever hesitate to abandon a book that is not working for me. Time is so limited -- I don't want to waste it. I will usually give a book about 30 pages and then if the characters, plot, or venue do not engage me, back it goes.

My latest abandoned book is "The Maytrees" by A. Dillard. Heretofore, I have greatly liked everything I've ever read by her, thus I was a bit surprised.

Often, I've been tempted to delve into "Foucault's Pendulum" but everything written above just confirms my initial hesitation.

I couldn't finish "Seabiscuit" for some reason. It was a book club choice and most people loved it, but for some reason, I could not get into it and returned it to the library unfinished.

It's like a whole new world now that I have realized that I don't have to finish books. I am reading a book of short stories right now by Kim Edwards and am toying with the idea of not finishing it. The stories are ok, but nothing stupendous.

Whats funny about Seabiscuit is that it was probably the last book I'd think of reading. I was a horse fan back in Jr Hi, but since then have never cared to read about them, or about racing. But my sis raved about it, told me it was more than racing, so I tried. Wow, was I hooked. Put enough historical or cultural perspective in a book and I'd read Foucaults Pendulum, probably!

woodnymph - Of Annie Dillard's books, have you read "The Living"? It was quite different from anything else she wrote, it being fiction, and quite a large work, also. I really enjoyed it. She is a fearless writer, I think.
I read a description of "The Maytrees" in the Bas Bleu catalog which said that the first half was not very inviting, but the last half was thouroughly engrossing. I like Dillard well enough to give it a try, I think. Maybe it should go on my Christmas list...?

I recently abandoned "A Glastonbury Romance" by John Cowper Powys. I enjoyed what I read but was overwhelmed by the sheer size of the book (page count 1120). I plan to return to it, but other books keep jumping into the queue.

I just received "Fire in the Blood" by Irene Nemirovsky today. I'll finish it tomorrow. I thought her "Suite Francaise" to be one of the best books I've ever read.

I also do not hesitate to abandon a book unless I must read it for some reason. Even book club books do not seem to warrant forcing my way through them. I do give it my very best shot, but at 50 pages, or sometimes 100 if I feel there is hope, I am done. It also makes it easier to explore new authors when the need to finish a book is removed. It's okay to try on clothes and not like them, just as it is okay to try books and not finish them. Like the others mentioned, life is too short. I am quite serious and somewhat anal about reading, but it is a hobby, and hobbies are meant to be enjoyed.

PAM

Thrykas, no, I've not yet read Dillard's "The Living." Maybe I will look for it.

Yet another I abandoned recently was "Suite Francaise".

Even I abandoned Foucault's Pendulum, and I hardly ever quit on a book.