What makes you keep reading?
This was a question I was asking myself the other day. I sat down to make reading and blogging goals for the upcoming year. I also had just been clearing out both my physical bookshelves and my Goodreads TBR shelf of books I don’t believe I’ll ever read. I was realizing that I have a kind of common thread in books on my shelves. I have the authors I really love, authors who I will read anything they write without question, authors who I haven’t experienced yet and their books are waiting to be read, and lastly there are the authors who write books that I like but I am never really blown away by. This last set of authors that I was encountering was really making me think.
When I think about it, there is a handful of authors that instantly come to mind. Every time I read one of their books I think “Hmmm, that was nice.” They consistently fall in the 3 to 3.5 star range for me. I always keep reading thinking the next one, that’ll be the one to blow me away. Yet in a lot of cases that just hasn’t been the case. Still two, three, some even four books down the line, I still am enjoying their books and left feeling slightly let down.
So then I thought, so it really comes down to what makes me keep reading? Clearly they are doing something right, since I have the urge to continuously pick up their books with that hope that it is even better than the last I read. I hear they have a new book coming out, I usually find it to sound amazing, and I add it straight to my TBR pile. Sometimes I wonder if I should stop this practice. There are so many amazing authors out there, tons I haven’t discovered yet, and I can’t help but to wonder sometimes if I am wasting my time. If it has become a consistent thing for me to read books by this author or that author that are merely good, but never great, what am I doing?
It’s probably the optimist in me. I always try to see the best in everything and I think this really pours itself into my reading tendencies. This past year was the year I finally could bring myself to DNF books on a more consistent basis. Before that, even if I was really not enjoying a book I almost always finished. Now I can look at a book and if say 50 pages in I am not hooked, I can decide maybe that is not the book for me.
So then I also was trying to figure out what is that quality that separates the good from the great. What keeps me reading these authors and passing aside the other authors who I’ve read a good book by them and chosen to pass on reading their other works. I couldn’t pin point an exact answer. I’m still trying to figure it out.
So now I pose the question to you, what makes you keep reading? Do you find yourself in a similar situation ever?
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19 Responses to: What makes you keep reading?
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On 1/4/2013
Kapri (Book Fanatics) said:
I find myself in the same situation: I read so many books that are good and I enjoy, but aren’t anything outstanding. I haven’t given it much thought, but you bring up a good point: why keep reading those ‘good’ novels when there are so many outstanding novels out there?
I guess I keep reading these good books because it usually takes me a good chunk of the book to realize that a novel isn’t anything amazing. By that point, I’m invested enough in the characters and story that I want to finish the book and see where it goes. I figure as long as I’m enjoying the book, I don’t mind spending time with it and finishing it.
Plus, those ‘good’ books make those incredible books seem just that much better.
Kapri (Book Fanatics) recently posted..Books I Did Not Get to in 2012
On 1/4/2013
Hollie @ Music, Books and Tea said:
I’m definitely the same! I think a lot of it for me is the fear that I might be missing out on something amazing if I don’t keep reading the series, but I am a lot more comfortable with not picking up a book that isn’t a part of that series if I’m not sure I’ll enjoy it. I’m not really one for leaving a series unfinished, even if it takes me a while to finish it, I will definitely do so.
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On 1/4/2013
Quinn @ Quinn's Book Nook said:
I actually DNF books often. Well, not often, but I never really feel guilty about it. There is this semi-famous librarian named Nancy Pearl. She is sort of the queen of readers’ advisory, and has written some books called Book Lust where she recommends books. I listened to her speak once, and she says that people should give a book a try by reading the first fifty pages. If, after reading fifty pages, you’re still not into the book, then set it aside and pick up another one. She does say that just because you didn’t finish a book once, that doesn’t mean another time you might love it, so don’t be afraid to try again another time. She also said that for every year you’re over 50, you can subtract 1 page from the 50. For example, if you’re sixty, then you only need to read 40 pages. Her reasoning is that by that age you’ve read so many books you know what you like.
I thought her reasoning made a lot of sense, and I try to follow that. I never feel bad when I can’t finish a book, but I give myself permission to try again at a later time.
But, anyway, as to your questions. I’m also not really sure what makes me not finish a book. The most important thing in a story for me is the characters. If I don’t like the characters, or if they are very poorly developed, I am more likely to DNF that book. I’m much more likely to keep reading if the plot isn’t as solid as I like, if the characters are well developed.
Interesting post, today!
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On 1/4/2013
Krista said:
For me, I find that, in the books I’m not really thrilled about, there will be one character (usually a secondary one) that I really like. It’s that one character that compells me to keep reading, despite my otherwise lukewarm feelings.
If, after I read the first book, and I’m full of a lot of “meh,” a lot of times, I relegate that series to my audiobook TBR pile. I’m in the car for an hour every day, so I always have an audiobook going. I rationalize that, since I wouldn’t have spent that time reading anyway, I’ll fill the time with books that I may or may not like, saving my precious reading time for books I KNOW I’ll like.
And, sometimes, despite my love of one particular character, I can’t even listen to a book, it’s irritating me so much. In those cases, I go to Goodreads and read all the spoilers to find out what happens. :)
Krista recently posted..Book #138 – Crimson Frost (Mythos Academy #4)
On 1/4/2013
Krista said:
I should add that, in nearly every case, if I don’t finish a book or a series, it’s because I can’t stand the main characters. It was thus with the House of Night series. The world building was good. The mythology was good. The story arc seemed to be going in a good direction. But, for the love of all that is holy, I. Could. Not. Stand. ZOEY. And, it’s hard for me to care about a book when I can’t give a crap about the main character. Y’know?
Krista recently posted..Book #138 – Crimson Frost (Mythos Academy #4)
On 1/4/2013
We Heart YA said:
Wow, great question… *thinks*
Like Krista, characters are usually the main factor for us. Pacing is another big one, but we can be patient (or hold on tight to a roller coaster ride) if we are enjoying the characters.
We Heart YA recently posted..New year, new… vlog?
On 1/4/2013
Linda @ Books, Books, Books said:
My biggest problem is that I love to read (like I’m sure all of you do). Often it’s not until I’m done with the book that I sit back and realize it disappointed me. I’m pretty patient, and will wait lots of chapters for a story to develop, so that also lures me into finishing books that aren’t excellent. I know that occasionally I hit on a gem that had a slow start, so I persist. I can think of one YA book I’ve never finished, and one adult book. There are lots, however, that have disappointed me, and one author in particular that I kick myself if I pick up one of his books!
Linda @ Books, Books, Books recently posted..Happy New Year 2013!
On 1/4/2013
Erica said:
I never thought about it that was that “good” books make incredible books that much better. I love it :)
On 1/4/2013
Erica said:
I’m HUGE on characters as well. If I cannot stand the characters, the book usually becomes a DNF for me.
On 1/4/2013
Erica said:
I am DNFing books more and more lately. I usually do a 50 page rule, but if I’m on the edge I’ll generally read a bit more. Maybe to page 75 or so.
On 1/4/2013
Erica said:
I am not as good with the being patient if the pacing is off, but like you, I am much more forgiving of that when I am enjoying the characters.
On 1/4/2013
Erica said:
Oh the fear I might keep missing out on something awesome – that’s the BIGGEST motivator in me keeping reading I think.
On 1/4/2013
Anne said:
I’m like you – I have a really hard time DNF-ing anything. Most of the time I have to trick myself into it. I’ll promise myself that I’ll go back to the book I want to put down after I finish this one, and then I just keep putting it off until the book *has* to go back to the library lol.
With authors it’s a little easier – since I order everything from the library instead of buying, I end up just putting off ordering things by the authors in the middle, and figure I’ll get there eventually. It’s not a perfect system – sometimes I’ll miss a really good one! But it works for me.
Anne recently posted..Discussion Day: Recommendations Without Reviews
On 1/4/2013
Sarah said:
I don’t have much DNF books, because I’m very picky when I read a book, I do a lot of blog/goodreads reviews reading and add a book to my TBR if most of the people I share a similar taste with like the book, I’ve done random picks up here and there and regret it. I do read books by authors I like, in most cases, I don’t my hopes up too high, for each book has it’s own tone and feel, and usually, I don’t get disappointed.
As when it’s a series, I try to finish it, sometimes the characters are so annoying, I give up, I sometimes hate them so much, that I just don’t care what happens to them, (but in the case of Zoey (House of Night) I’m still wishing to hear that she got some STD and died! )
In my opinion , reading should invoke some kinda emotion, but if all it does is bore me, I put back in my TBR and try again later, if it doesn’t click again, then bye bye birdie!
On 1/4/2013
Kristilyn (Reading in Winter) said:
I try to be an optimist about my authors … but sometimes I just won’t BUY a book if I’m not totally pleased with one of their works. That’s why I love my library! Then I’m not wasting my money. :) And really, I have so many books on my shelves that I haven’t read because I’ve read nothing by that author, and I always find myself reading the same authors, or authors who are similar to them. Maybe I need to take more chances in my reading. :)
Great discussion!
Kristilyn (Reading in Winter) recently posted..BOOK HOARDER’S SELECTION (19): For Darkness Shows the Stars, by Diana Peterfreund
On 1/5/2013
Emily @ Brave New Shelf said:
To be quite honest, I’m very rarely “hooked” on a book. Sure, I’ll be reading and will continue reading because I enjoy a book, but it doesn’t happen often that I will be reading a book and will feel a NEED to get to the next chapter. It’s kind of sad when I think about it, but at the same time it makes finding those books that much sweeter.
That’s also why I prefer books from a library. I started one series that spans over ten books. I liked the first one well enough, but not nearly enough to spend $100+ on the entire series.
Because I haven’t bought these books, it’s a lot easier for me to give up one that I don’t like. No gain, but no loss either.
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On 1/6/2013
Clock Rewinders on a Book Binge (18) | Reading In Winter said:
[...] (at The Book Cellar) asks what makes us keep reading a book or an [...]
On 1/6/2013
Miss Remmers said:
I like this concept as well!
Miss Remmers recently posted..Fitness Friday – New Year/New Me!
On 1/6/2013
Miss Remmers said:
I give a novel 50 pages and if it hasn’t caught my attention and I don’t have a definitive reason to keep going – I put it down.
Miss Remmers recently posted..Fitness Friday – New Year/New Me!