.. great Post - though started skimming about half way.. (i often have somethin to reflect on - or say by then & that may distract my reading ! Have taught myself (a voracious reader) to relax & come back for a 2nd ‘decent read later
So True - So Few Minutes To th Day eh ! 🦎🏴☠️🐊 re Reading some Huck Finn .. helped me finally ‘read True History Of The Kelly Gang - had put it down several times - ‘knowing it was my problem - not the unique Writing ! Huck is my remedial ‘go to’ - rewires my ‘cadence & pace.. need or prefer a smile on my face to ‘read well - but sometimes a big grin & one hand waving free. Am a huge John D MacDonald / Travis McGee fan & that’s influenced my ‘marina & maritime fiction
I love everything about what you wrote and agree wholeheartedly. I was somewhat surprised to read Joan Didion’s words about authors and, like you, strongly disagree. And, again, I am affirmed in my decision to stop reading Crime and Punishment - if I don’t get back to it before I die, it won’t be a deathbed regret.
Hollis, your book has stuck with me. When I read Emma Adler‘s example of the volta, I thought—thanks to Forms of Contention—I know exactly what she means.
Thank you for this one. I remember feeling so terrible and defeated for being unable to finish Gail Tsukiyama's 'The Samurai's Garden'. The novel wasn't delighting anymore, but I stuck through hoping something will pay off towards the end. Then I only had a few pages left and still felt cheated and disappointed. I had to stop. I doubt whether I will ever return to that one.
I also gave up on Tristram Shandy. I may try again later, but for now, I have other things to read. When I was in my teens, I tried and gave up on a lot of classic novels, simply because I could tell the story was not going to end well - I have now read many of the books I dropped then, since I've figured out how to enjoy good writing even when a story is unhappy. But a few still evade my ability to finish, such as Thackeray's Vanity Fair.
Made two attempts at Catcher in the Rye for a great English professor but never got to a place where I thought the main guy was anything but an entitled shmuk.
I went into skim mode thinking I already knew the point of this essay and agreed — I’ve internalized the sunk cost fallacy. But then I read your question: “Do we ever finish a book?” and whoa! I’m filing that away alongside other simple observations that forever changes my perspective on something. I’ve never thought of it that way. The most important books I’ve read keep turning up in my mind. I’m never finished with them, even when I’m not actively reading them. Thanks for helping me see things this way!
(I’m a bike commuter. “Do we ever finish a book?” shifts my perspective like “You’re not IN traffic, you ARE traffic” did…)
Iceberg Slim's "Pimp" is the only book I seriously tried to read and didn't finish. So ineptly written in some places that it was unintentionally funny.
"Do we ever finish a book?" What a great question!
I felt this way about The Master and The Margerita (spelling? See? I did not finish) just never warmed up to it :/
.. great Post - though started skimming about half way.. (i often have somethin to reflect on - or say by then & that may distract my reading ! Have taught myself (a voracious reader) to relax & come back for a 2nd ‘decent read later
So True - So Few Minutes To th Day eh ! 🦎🏴☠️🐊 re Reading some Huck Finn .. helped me finally ‘read True History Of The Kelly Gang - had put it down several times - ‘knowing it was my problem - not the unique Writing ! Huck is my remedial ‘go to’ - rewires my ‘cadence & pace.. need or prefer a smile on my face to ‘read well - but sometimes a big grin & one hand waving free. Am a huge John D MacDonald / Travis McGee fan & that’s influenced my ‘marina & maritime fiction
I love everything about what you wrote and agree wholeheartedly. I was somewhat surprised to read Joan Didion’s words about authors and, like you, strongly disagree. And, again, I am affirmed in my decision to stop reading Crime and Punishment - if I don’t get back to it before I die, it won’t be a deathbed regret.
Anyone who feels obligated to finish a book is a lunatic.
DNF
I join you. I just can't. I never did even in grad school. That entire genre leaves me cold.
Hollis, your book has stuck with me. When I read Emma Adler‘s example of the volta, I thought—thanks to Forms of Contention—I know exactly what she means.
It’s the best term! :) Sonnets > Shandy
Thank you for this one. I remember feeling so terrible and defeated for being unable to finish Gail Tsukiyama's 'The Samurai's Garden'. The novel wasn't delighting anymore, but I stuck through hoping something will pay off towards the end. Then I only had a few pages left and still felt cheated and disappointed. I had to stop. I doubt whether I will ever return to that one.
I also gave up on Tristram Shandy. I may try again later, but for now, I have other things to read. When I was in my teens, I tried and gave up on a lot of classic novels, simply because I could tell the story was not going to end well - I have now read many of the books I dropped then, since I've figured out how to enjoy good writing even when a story is unhappy. But a few still evade my ability to finish, such as Thackeray's Vanity Fair.
Made two attempts at Catcher in the Rye for a great English professor but never got to a place where I thought the main guy was anything but an entitled shmuk.
I went into skim mode thinking I already knew the point of this essay and agreed — I’ve internalized the sunk cost fallacy. But then I read your question: “Do we ever finish a book?” and whoa! I’m filing that away alongside other simple observations that forever changes my perspective on something. I’ve never thought of it that way. The most important books I’ve read keep turning up in my mind. I’m never finished with them, even when I’m not actively reading them. Thanks for helping me see things this way!
(I’m a bike commuter. “Do we ever finish a book?” shifts my perspective like “You’re not IN traffic, you ARE traffic” did…)
Iceberg Slim's "Pimp" is the only book I seriously tried to read and didn't finish. So ineptly written in some places that it was unintentionally funny.