So Many Books; Some
Little Time Part Two
Assuming a book passes the three rules
of thumb I mentioned before, if a book captures and holds my interest into the
first chapter, there are other rules that I use to see if I want to continue
reading.
The Pages Versus Characters Equation: In chapter one I apply the
writing equation: The number of characters > the number of pages = confusion
for the reader. Consider that
Julia Spencer-Fleming did not introduce Linda Van Alstyne, who figures
prominently in the larger story arc, until the third book in her series. I almost
always I stop reading because most of the time in the past when I have
continued with the book I discovered the confusion reflected a lack of either writing
skills or thoughtful editing. Twice,
because I had faith in the author, I continued reading in spite on my confusion
and ended up liking the books very much.
But as a reader I had to work harder than I do in most books. I’m not willing to do that unless I
know the author well.
Too Many Paper Dolls: I don’t much care if characters who “walk on”
for one page or two are not fully developed characters. I find it annoying when
a continuing character shows only one dimension. In an otherwise pretty well
written novel I read recently one important character showed only one emotion —
rage —for nearly 200 pages. Nobody is enraged all the time; it takes too much
energy. After a while I got bored with the anger. In another work that showed
elements of quality writing every living character with one characteristic
(having a Y chromosome) was stupid, sexist, corrupt and passive-aggressive or
brutal or both. One male character
was described as benign but he died before the story started. Apparently in
this author’s universe empathy was fatal to men.
Too Much Like A “B” Monster Movie Plot: “Golly gee, there’s a
monster loose in this haunted house/summer camp/spaceship. Let’s split up and explore
the creepy dark spaces so we can almost all get killed in bloody, frightening
way.” The equivalent cliché in murder mysteries is when the heroine/hero goes
alone into the dark parking lot knowing the killer who has been stalking
her/him all day could be waiting there. I am so tired of the intrepid, reckless
protagonists, I’m about to start rooting for killers.
What convinces you to stop reading a book you have begun?
I've read books that initially grabbed me, didn't have exclamation points all over the page and that were written well (grammar, etc.), but that were predictable. That's another aspect that makes me put the book down. In romance, that inevitably happens because you have to have a HEA ending. In mystery, that's worse. An ending with a twist or something unexpected happening (a change of heart, going back on a decision or that quirk of character dominates) makes me want to read the author again.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that you have to read to the end to find out if what you have predicted actually happens. When it's predictable, you want to kick yourself for wasting your time. When it has that twist, you're happy you were fooled. Like I said in my blog last week--fool me or charm me. And that's the key--if you don't fool me than at least make me want to read to the end without having to kick myself.
One reason I might not finish a book is over-the-top cliffhangers at the end of each chapter. Sometimes this technique is done well and keeps me turning pages. However, if cliffhangers aren’t done well, I quickly get irritated. I recently read a book where the heroine’s life was in peril at the end of every chapter. The cliffhangers seemed forced and contrived. Seven chapters into the book, I found myself wishing that she would just go ahead and die!
ReplyDeletePredictability is definitely the kiss of death, as are a TSTL protagonist, and poor writing.
ReplyDeleteI recently read the first fifty pages of a well-reviewed mystery but was so bored, I didn't finish. There was nothing to engage me as a reader. The prose, while well-wrought, was emotionless, the story flat, character and setting descriptions generic. I don't believe writers have to "show" everything. If we did our novels would all be 900+ pages. But for a story to hold my attention, characters must be brought to life on the page—shown not told. It's a shame, too, because the author in question is a fine writer.
On the other hand, many readers enjoyed the book, so maybe it's my problem?
We do want to read books that offer some originality of plot and character. That's what makes novels memorable for me. I also enjoy humor in any book.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Warren, that cardboard characters make for a dull book, and particularly when there are too many characters that remain undeveloped.
If the protagonist of the story is TSTL, I have to put it down. Perhaps one of the lesser characters might be. That still bothers me, but it can work if written well. I can't take it with the character through whose eyes I'm seeing and with whom I'm supposed to identify.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't continue with a mystery from a writer I've met and liked because not much was happening after she found a body. In every chapter, she kept wondering about who could have done it, or was it suicide? Could it have been X? Maybe it was Y because Y might have a motive, etc. on and on. It's okay for a protag to have questions, but couldn't some clues be left up to the reader to pick up on?
ReplyDeleteI couldn't finish with Sophie's Choice, although I know it's a highly reguarded book, because the main character for way too many pages and maybe chapters obsessed about sex. Maybe it was because he was a young guy and that was normal. It wasn't that I was offended by it, it was just that I got bored.
Two mysteries I read recently had things that annoyed me; three characters talking, and half the time I didn't know which one it was, and in another book the murder weapon, a gun, was traced to the owner, a minister, and he had no idea how it could have gotten out of his locked safe. And yet he was never a suspect, nor was his daughter.
I had to stop reading a book three chapters in because every other page the author kept describing how special her heroine was. By that point, I didn't care.
ReplyDeleteI'll also put down books for the reasons other commenters have mentioned.
Good point, EB. I read that in the movie "War of the Roses" the actors had to stand together and refuse to shoot a happy ending that would have weakened the movie.
ReplyDeleteSusan, I had not thought about that one.Thanks.
ReplyDeleteVR, I have a similar reaction to a writer whose works are considered classics. If I don't get pulled in emotionally, I won't finish the book.
ReplyDeleteJacqueline,
ReplyDeleteFor me humor and/or surprises will keep me reading.
Thanks Linda,
ReplyDeleteUm TSTL?
Gloria, Yep, a mystery should have clues.
ReplyDeletePamela, If the heroine was so freaking special, the writer could have just shown it and stopped talking about it.
ReplyDeleteIt's unusual that I'll stop reading a book once I've started. I slogged through the middle third of The Count of Monte Cristo because I had enjoyed the first third so much, & the last third was just as good as the first. It was just the middle that meandered nowhere for me.
ReplyDeleteI also stopped reading The Hobbit, because I don't enjoy overly-verbose descriptions of places. Yes, let me know the overall look & feel of a forest, but don't go into such minute detail describing a tree. *yawn* I put the book down after page 20, I think, & haven't read any of his stuff since.
Otherwise, I generally try to get through a book once I've started reading it. Though, I will go into skim mode when a book drags on too much for me.
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ReplyDeleteOh, another book-killer for me is a tense dangerous situation, maybe one requiring instant action or silence and sneakiness--and the protagonist goes into a passionate clinch with love interest, maybe even has a quickie. NO!
ReplyDeleteAnd here I'm starting a new work in progress, so thanks for an entertaining reminder of what not to do!
ReplyDeleteI had to comment on Alyx Morgan's comment of THE HOBBIT, with an addendum that sometimes we need to give books a second chance. Maybe we're not in the right mood, spirit, who knows. If a book receives rave reviews and I can't get into it the first time, I will often put it back on my shelf and try again in the future. I've found some great books that way, and kicked myself for not reading them sooner! (And sometimes, I still couldn't get into them, often for the reasons Warren stated, and back they go.)
As for THE HOBBIT, I also put that one down. It was written in a time when you didn't need that quick one-two punch to grab a reader. You described the trees to the nth degree, because you could. But my stepmother insisted I try it again, bought me the set, and so I forced myself to sit down with THE HOBBIT and read for her sake. Once I got past that slow beginning, it was pure bliss, and I eagerly read the tree descriptions right along with the other stuff. Same with LOTRs. I've re-read all of them many times, (skipping over the boring stuff , which I noticed wasn't included in the movies.
Some of my favorite current authors today were on my TBR chance #2 shelf, found and savored later when I was apparently in the right frame of mind.
LOL! Linda. I'll have to remember that one. Thanks for tipping us.
ReplyDeleteIt's usually a thriller that turns me off when the writer dumps so much story up front. If he/she expects me to remember who's on first that early with no reason to really care, he/she is wrong. I'll take time to smell the roses, if the writer gives me something to smell. A great build up to a bang still works for me.
ReplyDeleteStilted dialogue and flat characters, which often go together.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I don't read books written in the present tense with very rare exceptions. Actually, genre writers tend to do that less frequently than literary writers.