Reading a book is making a commitment.
By megamatt
@megamatt (14292)
United States
September 23, 2011 12:03pm CST
When I decide to read a book, it is obviously something based upon the description or the cover that has caught my interest. When I start reading however, it is just something that I feel the need to see through right to the bitter end. I mean, how many books have you read that have had a shaky first few chapters and really kicked it up later? Granted, there are times where the end could be very bitter but that's the case with anything that we do. I can really see how most people would not want to read three fourths of dullness to get to an exciting last fourth of the book or something like that. However, I think that I have a compulsion to see things through. Reading a book is like a relationship, as it might not be smooth sailing all the way through and in hindsight, it might have not been the best decision sometimes.
1 person likes this
10 responses
@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
23 Sep 11
Well I usually finish every book that I start. I can't remember the last time I put a book down with no intention of ever finishing it. But I don't know... I never see reading a book all the way to the end as some huge commitment. It's something that I accomplish every week. I've read some books that started out a way I didn't like, but ultimately were great books that I was glad I finished (and the other way around!). But I've never thought of it as a commitment of any kind.
@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
26 Sep 11
That's part of the reason that I like to finish every book I start even if it seems like I don't like it... I might be surprised. I almost gave up on "Raising Dragons" because I felt it had a shoddy first chapter, but I kept going anyway and not only found out the rest of the book got infinitely better, but I also found one of my absolute favorite book series and authors. If I'm not pleasantly surprised, I don't think it's a loss. I learned how to stick with something all the way to the end even when I wasn't enjoying it, which is a skill I think we need to have in day to day life.
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
24 Sep 11
I don't go into a book with expectations,unless I've read something by that Author before,maybe part of a series..If I have read part of a series,I'd have an idea of what to expect,the style of writing,the Characters,where I could see things developing..With a New (to Me!
) Author,I'll go along with things as they develop to see where I'm being taken..There's not many books I'd not see all the way through,as good or bad,I like to see if the commitment was worth it at the end.I did stop reading one book in a series when I realised what the punchline was that the book was building towards..a not very good Pun that tied up the loose ends that had kept the story going.. All books are about making money,but some more so than others...
) Author,I'll go along with things as they develop to see where I'm being taken..There's not many books I'd not see all the way through,as good or bad,I like to see if the commitment was worth it at the end.I did stop reading one book in a series when I realised what the punchline was that the book was building towards..a not very good Pun that tied up the loose ends that had kept the story going.. All books are about making money,but some more so than others...@megamatt (14292)
• United States
26 Sep 11
It does seem like many times it is going in a direction that I might not like. Yet, I don't know. There is just some kind of morbid curiosity that I have, to see if they actually did went there and perhaps the complete build was a rather morbid curiosity to say the very least. There are times where authors have both good and bad works, different series of books. Thanks for responding. Its appreciated. Have a nice day.
@krajibg (11923)
• Guwahati, India
23 Sep 11
Hi megamatt,
My case is a little deferent from yours. Usually I do not read the best sellers where it full of coincidences, murders, decamp and the likes. Once the book has get into the p
Another thing that distracts my involvement is the rambling of the story.
Once again I say not all is not worth reading
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
26 Sep 11
Indeed while there is something for everyone out there, there is really not a lot of times where everything is not for one person. There are a lot of times where if a book gets praised often enough for whatever reason, I might not get into it. Is that because the praise has raised by expectations up to a level that it cannot exceed? Or is it because its just not for me? That really is a question a lot of the time that I answer. Still indeed while there is much quality, not everything is worth reading and its going to be down to the tastes. Thanks for responding. Its appreciated. Have a nice day.
@toniobacasno (233)
• Philippines
24 Sep 11
I have read a lot of book. I've read the whole Bible, not only twice. I've read all of the Vampire Chronicles series of Anne Rice (except Interview With The Vampire). Only this year, I think I've read more than three whole books, mostly about web development. Reading is not only for the sake of reading, you have to understand what you're reading. If you read a book without learning from it, then you gained nothing and you just wasted your time.
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
26 Sep 11
Perhaps, perhaps not. I find that there are times where you can get many values. One of them are learning something, that much I will agree to. In fact I will agree with a hundred percent. However you can still learn something and it still be an entertaining experience. If its not entertaining enough to keep my interest, then its not going to really be all that valuable to begin with and its not going to stick in that mind. Thanks for responding. Its appreciated. Have a nice day.
@silpatenneti (72)
• India
24 Sep 11
I read books by seeing its cover page,and the backside page,in backside they give some description about that book.mostly i select detictive novels,love stories,books which have suspence,etc.i read it when i get time,but i dont have a comittment we should finish it now.because if we think like that we can't enjoy that book.so i study relaxly when i get time.
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
26 Sep 11
I really do admit that there is not as much time to read these days as I was like. That would really one of the break neck natures of life. There are just a lot of times where we are going to really not get all of the reading that we are going to get done. Still its just something about me, that if I started it, I'm going to have to finish it. Thanks for responding. Its appreciated. Have a nice day.
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
26 Sep 11
Indeed covers can really be rather misleading when you really think of it. Of course, it really is the first thing that we see. As we delve deeper, we are going to find out more about the book. Whether or not we enjoy reading the book or not, that is only something that can be determined as we read it. It could be good from the start or start slow and pick up soon. Thanks for responding. Its appreciated. Have a nice day.
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
26 Sep 11
You always do in fact wonder what is going to happen next. When you get emotionally invested in a character in a book, you obviously are going to really want to find out what happens to next. They are almost like a real person you know, you are intrigued about their life. You want to see it through, through every stage of the relationship. Each and every step is going to really be rather interesting, as we continue through that relationship as we read our book of choice. Thanks for responding. Its appreciated. Have a nice day.
@blademaiden (734)
• Romania
26 Sep 11
Reading is better than a relationship. You don't have anything to lose from reading a book. You gain knowledge and new perspectives on things, but in a relationship you can be hurt badly...
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
23 Sep 11
Although I have gotten a bit lazy with reading for a while I tend to start one and even if it is not a very good read I can't put it down until I am done with it.
It may take me a bit longer to get through it but somehow I find it must be finished or I will never know if I can honestly critique properly and or refrain from that type of book and or author again. So yes same as a relationship, I give it my all and at some point I must decide if it is working for me and or not and or how to avoid the same in the future.
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
26 Sep 11
Yeah I tend to be that way, where every single page is important. Even if it is a few hundred pages of trash, I won't know that unless I rather finish every single thing. There might be a few redeeming moments. There have been times where some authors have had stinkers, that I have read good books from before. Although it is a rather bad thing when that is the first exposure to the author. Talk about getting off to a bad taste right away. Thanks for responding. Its appreciated. Have a nice day.
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
26 Sep 11
It is rather sad in many ways that actually physically reading an actual book has become a rather lost art. There is just something great about sitting down with an actual book in your hands. The feeling of the paper, flipping through the pages. It is just a rather wonderful feeling to say the very least. The Internet for all of the great things it has, has kind of corrupted this. Reading can be a joy and also relaxing, a commitment that more people should do. Thanks for responding. Its appreciated. Have a nice day.
