Lately, I have put down two books. Couldn’t finish ’em. I got about a little less than halfway through (I was trying very hard), but just had to say, “Fuggetaboutit”. I decided to ask myself why? What made these books putdownable? I came up with two reasons.
For the first book: The main character did something in her past that literally made my skin boil. Instant turn off. Whatever sympathies I had for her vanished. I put down the book and got this funny look on my face and thought, “Why in the world did the author do this?” I’m all for edgy inspirational fiction. I’m all for giving my characters flaws and murky pasts (that’s real life!). I do this with my own characters. So why did this particular character make me cringe? I don’t think it was the action itself, as much as it was the motivation behind the action. The motivation that drove this character to do what she did… it wasn’t there. At least not enough. So I put the book down.
For the second book: My disbelief was not suspended. I knew I was reading a book. Instead of getting sucked into the world, I knew I still sat in my living room, reading words off a page. What fun is that?
What lessons can I take from these two books?
1. If I have my characters do something bad, something a lot of people do not agree with, I better give that character one strong, compelling motivation to have done it.
2. My story world needs to be realistic. My characters need to be three-dimensional and my dialogue realistic. Disbelief needs to be suspended.
This first one is a little easier to fix. The second one… that’s a little tougher.
Question to Ponder: What makes you put down a book?
Careann – I hear ya. I used to never put down a book. But lately, my ability to put one down has been very liberating. Not enough time in the day to read less than stellar fiction. 🙂
It takes a lot for me to stop reading. I think that's a spillover from my childhood when my mother insisted I finish whatever I started. 😉 I almost always start skimming when I get into long narratives that feel like the author is padding the word count–i.e., uninteresting trivia without purpose. Too much of that and I'm done with it.
I'm back from the land of no Internet!! YAY! Wow… I felt cut off from the world for two days. I was thinking in my head this morning while I was shopping… I miss all my friends! Anyway…
Marybeth – that's a good sign that you want to keep reading your book! That's awesome.
Jody – I felt like you just took my thoughts out of my brain and wrote them in a comment. I also feel like it's harder to get into a book now that I write! I try to turn off my inner editor, but it just doesn't happen!
Hey Jill – I hope it's unputdownable too! Conflict is key. There needs to be lots of it.
Wendy – I hear ya girl. I need to be invested in the characters as well. I'm reading another book that I think I'm going to end up putting down. just started it yesterday. But I don't care about the MC.
Erica – TSTL!! LOL! That really is an excellent acronym. 🙂 My prayers are with you girl!!
Tabitha – that's happened to me before. I pick up a book with rave reviews and for whatever reason, I can't get into it. Just goes to show how subjecctive writing is!
Cindy – touche!
Lynette – the only reason I don't want to say is because I don't want to make it obvious which book I'm talking about because the author is actually quite good. I just didn't like this particular book. Sorry to remain mysterios!
Jeannie – I just got the email! Can't wait to read the GMCs!
Sherrinda – lots of description puts me to sleep too. Although the one author who can pull this off for me is Francine Rivers. A Voice in the Wind starts off strong in description… but wow, I call that one unputdownable book!
I need conflict and action. Lots of detailed scenery bores me and if there is not much dialogue, the book closes.
I also want to know what that character did!! LOL
yeah…you'll have to email me and let me know what the character did. oh, and while you're at it…lemme know the names of the books! (heehee!)
i'm almost done with the GMC chart for blessed…i'll be sending it your way. however…it might take a while for me to write out the 3 reasons for each scene. we'll get it done.
Those are great points! Unnecessary bad language and foul talk, especially within the first few pages, has made me put a book down before, regardless of whether the plot is any good. I, too, like to be transported. I can deal with spelling errors and poor description as long as there is still a good, moving story.
Okay, now I'm curious. What did that character do?
Lynnette Labelle
http://lynnettelabelle.blogspot.com
Well, maybe I am just a simple girl from OZ, but I'll put down a book if I just can't follow it. I am reading one at the moment which has rave reviews but it is so complex and has so many interwoven characters that I can't seem to keep up. Plus the jargon that the characters use make me feel like I need some sort of reference book beside me. I am struggling on, for now, because surely the reviewers can't be wrong…
Good morning, Katie…popping in to read your blog before heading out…
I used to slog all the way to the end of a book. I can't remember when I started saying "life's too short" and putting books down.
For some books I don't finish, I can put my finger on why right away. The character was TSTL (too stupid to live) or the plot was too slow, or something along those lines.
Other reasons are more subtle, and I don't always know what makes me put a book down. Maybe I just didn't get that author's voice, or maybe I couldn't grasp just where the story was going or what the author was trying to accomplish. Or more recently, I've found myself starting and stopping some books just because my real life is in utter chaos right now and I can't settle to read.
Anyway, fun post, and a good lesson to dissect good books and those that don't resonate with us, all in an effort to replicate what works and flee from what doesn't. 🙂
Since I started writing I find myself more willing to put a book down. It's usually for the exact reasons you mention – something isn't believable or the book doesn't suck me into its magic.
Great question! I also loved your reasons and agree 100% with them. Along the same lines, I put a book down whenever I'm not invested in any of the characters in any way. If I don't care about characters-book goes down.
~ Wendy
I'll wade through cliche's, head-hopping, and generic writing, but if the book is boring, I'm done. There has to be conflict. There has to be a reason for me to root for the main character and I have to know what I'm rooting for!
I hope the next book you pick up is un-put-downable!
Thanks for sharing your insights, Katie. I don't always analyze why I put down a book, but I probably should. Then we can use that info.to help us try not to make the same mistakes in our books. Do you think it's harder for writers to finish a reading book? The longer I write, the harder I'm finding to read another book to completion. Perhaps my critical editor just won't go away and my expectations are too high. I'm hoping the average non-writer can still find enjoyment in reading the books I put down! I know mine won't be perfect, and I'm hoping that non-writers will find it enjoyable!! (And I'll just count it a bonus if writers do too!)
Well for me it's the fact that I've read my book like a bazillion times! LOL But even then I still feel compelled to read it again. Oh, that probably wasn't the answer I you were looking for eh?
Good point, great post!