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Reading Rules

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Finishing a book that I started was a “rule” of mine for more than half my life.  If you had asked me, I wouldn’t have said it was a rule, but that must have been what it looked like from the outside.  My three copies of Ulysses are a case in point.  Ever since my college years, I have thought I should read it but could never make it more than a couple of pages.  Then I would forget I ever had a copy and eventually buy a new one. 

At some point I read some place that so many books are published each year that even if you read a book a day, you would never get to all of them.  That’s when I did make a rule for myself – if I’m not enjoying the reading, I quit and move onto the next book.  I can be ruthless about this; more than once I have dumped a book after just a few pages. 

Today I am returning a book to the library that I have not finished.  It’s a Maggie O’Farrell, an author who I normally adore.  Every one of her books that I’ve read has earned 5 stars.  But yesterday, while listening to it on CD in the car, she broke one of my rules… the dog died.  When it happened I turned off the CD immediately to think about it.  That’s when I realized that even though I was about 1/3 of the way through the book, I hadn’t really connected to any of the characters and wasn’t enjoying it.  When I got home I looked up the summary online and found that continuing was probably not going to be enjoyable to me.  That made me ponder my reading rules.  I’ve never written these down before, in fact have never really thought of them as a list before, but here things that can put me off:

The dog dying (specially if the dog is killed)

Children dying (same caveat as the dog…)

Torture/rape (I quit Rob Roy because of this)

Graphic violence (Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy went back to the library quickly)

Child abuse (a fairly long string of abandoned books for this rule – Demon Copperfield, Swamplandia, Where the Crawdads Sing….)

Vapidness.  This probably seems a silly rule, but if the main characters are all shallow and full of themselves, I don’t see a finished book in my future.  (These tend to get rejected very quickly so I can’t even think of a title!)

I realize that these are all negative rules.  I’ve been pondering if I have any positive reading rules; the only thing I can come up with is things that draw me to books and that list is way too long to put here.  Suffice it say that the list would start with dragons and fairies!

Do you have any reading rules?  What draws you to a book?

42 thoughts on “Reading Rules”

  1. I don’t have rules as such, at least not plot points that trigger an abandonment as you describe but I do have genres and authors I eschew, either from experience or from predilection. I discontinue books from time to time when I am dissatisfied with them because of the author’s style or world view or, most likely, because the plot is heading into some dark hole I don’t want to visit.

    In general, I don’t read thrillers or action-adventure type novels. They don’t attract me. I don’t read post-apocalyptic stories. Who needs that? Some authors tend to be too dark for me. I read a couple of Cormac McCarthy books early on but found them depressing. That was my experience with Annie Proulx. I enjoyed Shipping News but the several novels I tried after that were distasteful to me. Not to say they aren’t good writers.I just can’t abide their world view.

    There are books I’ve finished that I didn’t enjoy. I’m not sure that’s better than abandonment, having books you resent for wasting your time. Lincoln in the Bardo was like that. It put me permanently off George Saunders. Even worse is when books you dislike are praised elsewhere. It feels like an alternate reality.

    I quit Hamnet 175 pages in. At that point there was not a single character other than Agnes I found interesting. Reading it felt like work. Among other things, the author had spent several pages relating how a flea had traveled. It felt to me like digressive fluff and it makes me distrustful of Maggie O’Farrell.

    Aside from the new books published each year, there are all the books published previously. Even if I take a pass on some of them I’m in no danger of ever running out.

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    1. Funny how different things strike different folks. I agree completely about Lincoln on the Bardo. I did finish that one even though I didn’t like it at all (it was a book club book [the other book club]). But I adored Hamnet, including what I thought was a fascinating way to plot out how the plague got to England.

      Not crazy about thrillers either – mostly because the ones I have read seem too implausible. And after Blood Meridien, I will never read another Cormac McCarthy!

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  2. I don’t have rules about specific negatives like dogs dying, child abuse, etc. I certainly don’t condone or encourage any negative, abusive, violent behaviors, but writers have the right to write about those topics. (betcha can’t say that five times fast!)

    Sad but true that there are evil people in the world. I’ll read some of the books that explore those topics to get an idea of how evil people think, act, etc. My rose-colored world view wants to believe that the more we know about human behavior, good and bad, the better we might become in preventing future generations from going down the “bad” road.

    My biggest pet peeves about any book are too much unimportant detail; endless mental handwringing; repetitiveness; florid writing just to show off one’s vocabulary; confusing plots, often those with timelines that jump back and forth; meandering plots that are hard to follow; and poor editing–which is usually indicated by all the above being allowed/encouraged in a particular book.

    Amazing that even that last peeve appears in so many bestsellers. My theory is that a longer book justifies a higher price just because the printing cost is higher. Bestselling authors can get away with that because they have a large fan base who will read whatever they publish. I don’t feel I can get away with that as a no-name author.

    Chris in Owatonna

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    1. PS–Like Renee, I used to insist on finishing any book I started. I stopped doing that a few years ago. I’m glad to see Goodreads.com now offers a DNF category for those of us who rate/review/classify the books we’ve read. I think it’s a function of age. So many books, so little time.

      What draws me to a book are distinctive characters, sympathetic protagonists, tension that’s ever-present and builds toward the end; crisp, clever, realistic dialogue; intriguing story questions that are asked early on; satisfying endings.

      I could probably think of more draws, but I’m boring even myself with “writerspeak.”

      C in O

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      1. I should probably stay quiet today on the topic of why I read what I read…since I just opened a package with The Scarlet Thread: Sherlock Holmes in Bangkokin it. Sigh.

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        1. I see there is a Sherlock Holmes in Thailand series but I don’t see the title you mention. But no apologies necessary. There are quite a few Holmesian mysteries out there and some are quite good, some less so. As it happens, I’m in the middle of one myself: Moriarty, by Anthony Horowitz.

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    2. I just finished the third of the “Bath Fool” trilogy by Richard Russo. I had read all of them before, but some years had passed. At the end of the third one, in an author’s note, I learned that each had been edited by a different hand.
      I love Russo’s “voice” so much, that I will go back and re-read long novels just to live with it again. His Pulitzer Prize winner, “Empire Falls”, is a touchstone for me.

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  3. I find lately that I’m uninterested in anything that takes place in a contemporary setting (except Louise Penny).

    I’m finding it hard to really enter in to book worlds these days. Maybe that’s why I am enjoying Louise Penny so much, I can believe Quebec is removed from all this.

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  5. I don’t really have rules about reading. I know and accept that I will never be able to read every book that has ever been written. I am stubborn about reading though. I usually try to push through a book that I’m struggling with, even though I’m not enjoying it. I’m reading one right now that I’m not enjoying much. I get it, but the verbosity and the tangential, run-on sentences… too much for me.

    I read Demon Copperfield and Where the Crawdads Sing, and while they did indeed have scenes of abuse, neglect, and wretchedness, they were also stories of redemption and rising above the situations that held the characters down. I loved both.

    I’m often a serial reader. If I find an author that I like, I’ll read every book they wrote. If it is a mystery series, e.g. William Kent Krueger or Louise Penny, I endeavor to read the books in order. I’ve done this since I was young. I read the Little House books, and others, in order. I did not do this with Louise Erdrich, Barbara Kingsolver, and Margaret Atwood, so I missed a few along the way.

    Re: yesterday’s topic. HOA rules don’t allow signs OR flags. I’m undecided about using bumper stickers. I used to use them a lot, but I do so less often now. The world is changing, and we are being watched. People take photos of cars with bumper stickers they don’t agree with. They include the license plate in the photo, and “report” the vehicle to some unknown political vengeance committee. I’m intimidated enough by this to stop using stickers with political references. I did recently buy a pretty radical t-shirt. It’s very pretty, with flowers and a crow holding a coffee cup that reads, “Is he dead yet?”

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  6. Pick up that book.

    Book rules for Jacque:

    1. Nothing despairingly depressing that ends in abject misery. Case in point, “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle.” That one still makes me mad because I felt suckered into hope, then he burns it all down. Who needs that for a reading habit? “The Bridges of Madison County” also did that with romance which also made me mad.

    2. With a few exceptions I no longer do WWII stories. I am just done. The exceptions are/were “The Nighingale” by Kristin Hanna and Mary Doria Russell’s “The Sparrow.” The writing was too good to miss.

    3. Most social issues I skip. I did my time as a social worker–no child abuse, no abused wives, etc. A lot of Mental Health topics I skip as well. Done.

    4. With audiobooks, there are some narrators I cannot tolerate in my ears. I know AUdible tried som AI narrators and the entire thing was unsatisfying and just way off. Some of the speech patterns did not sound right. (I have also encountered this with CUstomer Service responses that sound AI despite their claims that those are humans responding.)

    5. Inane romances and macho spy stories. THey both feature women who seem to have really low standards in everything. Two sides of the same coin.

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    1. Well, you’ve made me think of another couple of rules that I had that I didn’t think of. I don’t like to read books about World War II or Vietnam.

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  7. So many good thoughts here!

    I’m finding that I have to like the protagonist, or at least be able to sympathize with her/him. And I’m willing to go to some dark place with an author once if there’s some light somewhere at the end, but there’s a limit. I just finished a Tana French (Faithful Place) that I thought was a fascinating study of a harrowing family life, but OMG I hope all her books are not that dark.

    I will drop a book if it’s too much of a slog to get to the main plotline. For mysteries, esp. the ones we read here aloud, I prefer the ones without endless second-guessing of the sleuth’s theories, without needing to know the details of what everyone is wearing all the time…

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  8. Re: Cormac McCarthy. I read All the Pretty Horses and The Road. After reading The Road, I never read another of his books. I can tolerate dark writing. Life is a balance of both light and dark, so why would I avoid reading about the darkness? However, that book is really, really dark. And it scared me a little.

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    1. I’m not sure what year it was that I read “The Road”, but I know that I was so far pushed down by it that I followed up with one or two of the “Mitford Books” and maybe even some Beverly Cleary, just to re-set my soul.

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      1. I do that too. Sometimes I need to read something refreshing or completely different after reading something that brought me down or messed with my mind. The Road was definitely like that. I don’t remember what I read next, but I do remember thinking, “Okay, no more of THAT.”

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      2. Just this afternoon, I recommended the Darling Dahlia series by Susan Albert Wittig to a friend who is a little stressed and overwhelmed by the state of things these days.

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  9. I don’t have rules for reading. If I don’t find the characters or subject matter are of interest, no matter how well written it is, I simply don’t read it. I want books that expand how I look at the world, see and understand things.

    I don’t mind stories that aren’t told in a sequential manner, so long as I trust the author. I have to believe there is a reason why certain issues are raised, certain information temporarily withheld, and trust that in the end, the author will give answers that make sense to me. I don’t find most straight forward stories believable. To me, interesting stories are complex.

    Perhaps that why I love the tangled web that so many Russian authors weave. I love the twists and turns of destiny, chance, or whatever propels a story to it conclusion, whatever it is. I prefer stories that leave room for interpretation at the end, including outcomes that are not positive or hopeful.

    OT – I’m having a hard time of life in this rehab facility, but am stuck here, I’m afraid, for at least a couple of weeks. Thanks, tim, for your insights. I will email you when I have a better idea of what I need in terms of equipment. A wheelchair, for sure, and probably also a chair for the tub.

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    1. During rehab you will likely meet with an OT (Occupational Therapist). This person can help you find appropriate equipment. If you need a wheelchair, make sure to get one with a flat seat, not a seat made of vinyl that sags to make folding the chair easier. Those things are torture devices because you can’t move in them. If the OT helping you is worth their salt, they will come home with you on a visit prior to discharging you. They will assess your living space – how will a wheelchair work? Are there stairs? Can a ramp replace a stairway? Can you use a walker inside? What is the bathroom like? A chair in the tub is a good idea, but it won’t help if you can’t step over the side of the tub. A walk-in shower is best. Ask for a toilet seat riser too. It makes things much easier. They will order the equipment for you from a medical supply company, and they will bill Medicare, or whatever insurance you have, for the cost of that equipment. You shouldn’t have to look for equipment on your own. I’m willing to help too.

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      2. Thanks, Krista. It is my hope that the wheelchair is just s temporary thing, but I appreciate the pointers. The OT person appears to be very capable, so I’m sure I’m in good hands.

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  10. I can’t say I have any strict rules for reading. I think it depends on the reason I’m reading. If it’s for entertainment, I would stay away from darker subjects. But if I’m reading because I want to learn or understand other perspectives, I wouldn’t shy away. For example, Beloved by Toni Morrison centers on a horrific event, yet it’s one of the most important books I’ve ever read. As a former English major, I’m always drawn to the classics, but I also read a lot of contemporary literature.

    I like nonfiction, especially history, biography, and memoirs. I like fiction but tend to avoid most “genres,” like romance, thrillers, horror, etc. Once I find an author I like, I tend to seek out their other titles.

    I belonged to a book club for several years in which the other members chose books because of their length and reputation for being a difficult read. One month they chose Infinite Jest, which I gave up on quickly. A couple of others I didn’t even bother to try.

    I did, however, get through Ulysses in college, thanks to a charming Irish professor who explained most of the obscure references.

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    1. I, too, gave up on Infinite Jest. Just too damn many footnotes, but like you, made it through Ulysses due to the Dr. Epstein who was a Joyce scholar. Made all the difference in the world.

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  11. I don’t think I have any rules in particular. It does bother me, though, if I suspect an author is trying to write something that will appeal to book clubs. That feels manipulative. Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons felt like that. (My previous book club chose that one.)

    I saw a posting that there was a library discussion group reading The Author’s Guide to Murder, and I checked that out on Libby just out of curiosity, but returned it almost immediately. Three mystery writers collaborated on this mystery about three mystery writers solving a mystery. It was so contrived I could not imagine ever tolerating it for more than 30 pages.

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  12. Yeah, I don’t disagree with you, for you. I will give up on a story now and again, but there are no hard and fast rules about why. That dog dying thing – well there goes “Grapes of Wrath.”

    Usually if the writing is good and the plot pulls me along, I will finish. But hey, reading is personal.

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  13. my rule is if it hasnt grabbed you by the time the page number matches your age you have permission to quit. now i have to read 70 damn pages of this nothing book.
    i know now when to quit.
    thanks for the reminder. im quitting the book im on now…

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