There are many reasons why I stop reading, and they sort of have a pecking order.
Why I stop reading on the first page:
- If the grammar, punctuation, and spelling are poor (unless they're obviously supposed to be), I stop reading.
- If the style is stiff, clunky, cutesy-poo or lackluster, I stop reading.
- If the narrative is full of cliches (the character can load 'em on, if that's the way the character talks), I stop reading.
Why I stop reading later:
- If the characters explain too much, especially the same thing multiple times, I stop reading.
- If the author shows something happening and tells me, in the narrative, that that thing happened, I'll let it slide twice but, if it happens three times, I stop reading.
- If the dialog is stiff, clunky, cutesy-poo or lackluster, I stop reading.
- If the story just goes on and on and on and none of the activity seems to matter, I stop reading.
- If I don't care about the characters, I stop reading.
Why I stop reading at any point:
- If there is gratuitous sex or violence, I stop reading. If the book is otherwise good, I skip that bit.
- If there is explicit sex or violence, I stop reading. If the book is otherwise good, I skip that bit.
- If there is sex or violence of any kind against children or animals, I stop reading. Period.
- If there is prejudice/bigotry on the part of the author (a character can be an asshat, if necessary), I stop reading.
- If the characters or action are creepin' me out, I stop reading.
Why I want to stop reading, but don't if none of my other buttons have been pushed:
- If the viewpoint character is described by looking in a mirror or other reflective surface, I want to stop reading, but don't.
- If any character rolls their eyes, I want to stop reading, but don't. If more than one character does it, I really want to stop reading.
- If the story goes a way I don't want it to (I can't help it; it's the writer in me), I want to stop reading, but don't.
- If the characters speak without using contractions (unless there's a good reason), I want to stop reading, but don't.
What can redeem a book I want to stop reading?
- Great characters.
- Great dialog.
- Great style.
- Meaningful theme.
- Colorful language.
- Unique premise/storyline.
- Information (I love Moby Dick – I've read it twice – all the bits).
- Three Men In A Boat, To Say Nothing Of The Dog, by Jerome K. Jerome
- Books 1 and 2 of the Gormenghast trilogy, by Mervyn Peake
- The Life And Death (but mostly the death) Of Erica Flynn, by Sara Marian
Marian Allen, Author Lady
Fantasies, mysteries, comedies, recipes
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