A general fiction that was well written but I'm not a fan of short stories
A mystery/thriller that was a great read, full of twists and turns
A psychological thriller that was a bit slow and not twisty enough
A supposed comedy that was the most ridiculous book Ive ever read
A medical/legal thriller that I was disappointed in as it dragged on and on
I belong to a book club. Two of the members, actually they are sisters, said to the group that they give themselves to put a book down when they've read as many pages as they are years old. I thought that was a good rule of thumb until I wrote it down here and now I think it stinks. The old one is the more one has to read. There are too many books out there to read ones that aren't good.
@randystreat I'm not sure about that as a lot of books are still setting the scene at page 63. I agree that that we don't have enough time to be reading rubbish when there is so much choice out there but I just cant bring myself to give up on a book.
Very interesting list. Of course our local library does not have any of these titles. By H Coben there is one title available 'the woods' and i will give it a go.
I would have liked the short stories as well, the 'frying pan' title, but that is not available.
Thanks so much for sharing.
@randystreat@kjarn
I have a connection on goodreads (out of the total of 3) and she's mostly posting books to which she gives 1 star and expresses how disappointed she was. And i can't help thinking: why waste the precious time reading a disappointing book.
Yes, Kathy, you are right that sometimes a book becomes more interesting on page 63. Some go even beyond 63. But I guess, as a reader, you can figure out when to put it down. And yes, sometimes you say to yourself: let's try some more pages. And you find yourself at the end of the book disappointed by it. But that should be once in a while, right? I find it sad to keep reading bullshit and acknowledging it. But maybe she's not posting the good books she's reading.
Not that I or you should care... :) I only wanted to make conversation, I think.
@monikozi I’m on Goodreads, I’m not sure why your connection on there bothers if she only posts negative reviews, I feel sorry for her if that’s all she reads. We all read books that we like more than others and I’m sure we’ve all read quite a bit of rubbish, I’m glad that I read way more good than bad. Making conversation is always welcome
Oh sad to have a disappointing batch in the main. @kjarn@monikozi I'm on good reads too. I'm with Kathy - I rarely don't finish a book as even the ones I'm less pleased with often have something to give I find. I have only ever not finished 2 books in my life - Wuthering Heights (tedious romantic drivel of the worst kind - although I did eventually read it as I was leading a Brontë literary walking weekend - and On the Road by Jack Kerouac, tedious romantic drivel of the male, macho kind - happy to be dissuaded by any fans). These days I try and go by recommendations and reviews from newspapers/magazines/other writers I respect and I also read a fair bit of classic literature which generally has stood the test of time or non fiction about things I'm interested in.
@boxplayer@kjarn
I also read the 1-star-rating kind of books. And as Kathy says, i'm happy that i read more good than bad. And yes, sometimes, a disappointing one does not come alone. 😁 but that makes one enjoy more the good ones that eventually show up.
I had a professor in university who recommended us to not only watch award-winning films and not only read great books. He used to tell us that in order to have a better scale for grading, one needs to experience the entire range. And the idea is not to be stuck with the same kind (from either end). So, yes, i think a mixture is the healthy way.
@monikozi oh yes totally, sorry didn't mean to imply that I only read high brow - I love reading all types and genres although I aim for the ones that are respected in their field (whether low brow or high brow).
@boxplayer it is sad to have such a disappointing batch but I’m thankful it doesn’t happen very often. I think I’ve only ever not finished 2 or 3 books in my life too although I can’t remember what they were.
@boxplayer no need to apologise. I did not understand it like that.
That teaching of the professor is one of the ideas that has stuck with me since then. And i love it and i love to share it with people. That is all.
Oh, and he said one more which has stuck to me: Neither is the dictionary a bad book to read. I love this one too. And during university years i used to get lost in reading the dictionary. I still enjoy it, but i do it less often.
The professor i am talking about was a Classical English Literature and Culture professor. Very knowledgeable, very learned. Yet a self-aknowledged impractical man: couldn't change a light bulb. I can't even imagine him doing that, or with a screwdriver in his hand. He taught us Shakespeare. It was like having Shakespeare in the auditorium. Impressive man. And he used to smoke pipe.
Amazing how you get through so many books in a month - it’s inspiring - I love Harlan Coben thrillers so I’ll download this one now. Still struggling to finish one book - photography has somehow got in the way of my reading
A bit disappointing that you only found the one that you really liked. Katharine has just started a Harlan Coben, but an author I really don't get on with.
@monikozi@kjarn@boxplayer Interesting discussion, but unless a book is one for book club (I challenged myself to read those) I won't finish a book on occasion because I find a gazillion other things to do rather than read it. However, sometimes I have pushed through to 100 pgs and am so glad I did. That happened when I read the first of a series I recently started. It clicked and I couldn't put it down and have sucked up books 2-6 as well of the series. I read little "high brow" and mostly fiction. I may have less time left in my life than you 3 so I don't want to waste it. Besides, taste is all in the mouth anyway.
@randystreat ooooh! I couldn't agree more. Except the 'less time'. That we never know. So, why waste it. How was that line? 'You can not save time. You can only spend it'.
I would have liked the short stories as well, the 'frying pan' title, but that is not available.
Thanks so much for sharing.
I have a connection on goodreads (out of the total of 3) and she's mostly posting books to which she gives 1 star and expresses how disappointed she was. And i can't help thinking: why waste the precious time reading a disappointing book.
Yes, Kathy, you are right that sometimes a book becomes more interesting on page 63. Some go even beyond 63. But I guess, as a reader, you can figure out when to put it down. And yes, sometimes you say to yourself: let's try some more pages. And you find yourself at the end of the book disappointed by it. But that should be once in a while, right? I find it sad to keep reading bullshit and acknowledging it. But maybe she's not posting the good books she's reading.
Not that I or you should care... :) I only wanted to make conversation, I think.
Ooh sorry long essay - reading is my passion!
I also read the 1-star-rating kind of books. And as Kathy says, i'm happy that i read more good than bad. And yes, sometimes, a disappointing one does not come alone. 😁 but that makes one enjoy more the good ones that eventually show up.
I had a professor in university who recommended us to not only watch award-winning films and not only read great books. He used to tell us that in order to have a better scale for grading, one needs to experience the entire range. And the idea is not to be stuck with the same kind (from either end). So, yes, i think a mixture is the healthy way.
Long essays are fine - reading is my passion too
That teaching of the professor is one of the ideas that has stuck with me since then. And i love it and i love to share it with people. That is all.
Oh, and he said one more which has stuck to me: Neither is the dictionary a bad book to read. I love this one too. And during university years i used to get lost in reading the dictionary. I still enjoy it, but i do it less often.
The professor i am talking about was a Classical English Literature and Culture professor. Very knowledgeable, very learned. Yet a self-aknowledged impractical man: couldn't change a light bulb. I can't even imagine him doing that, or with a screwdriver in his hand. He taught us Shakespeare. It was like having Shakespeare in the auditorium. Impressive man. And he used to smoke pipe.
Ian