The first few chapters of a book are like going on a couple first dates. It should be exciting as the reader gets to know the world that the character lives in. We start to connect and care about the characters. We get to experience the problem the characters must resolve driving the characters forward. But sometimes, we read something and feel no connection at all. *Poof* no chemistry at all. We don't like the characters, and the world is uninteresting. I have found that most people will fall into two categories when reading: people who move on and people who cling on.
Move On's
1) I hate this book, and I'm not wasting anymore time. Hey book, it's not you it's me. We're breaking up.
I totally did this over the weekend. I was listening to the audio of Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver. I felt that there were little to no explanation about the world in the first few chapters. I also felt that the characters used personal possessives too much. Everything was too "my this" and "my that." While I know that some people think highly of themselves, I can't believe that someone would be cool with being eaten by wolves, 'cause you know whatever. THEN! Get all dewy eyed over the one wolf who decided that maiming and making you bleed all over the place was enough. The characters seemed too caught up glorifying and romanticizing the wolf or victim. Huge turn off. I will admit that I love stories of sacrifice. Reading a story about a human wolf treat and the wolf who didn't eat her is a waste of time. I decided to cut bait, dump listening to that book, and fire up the next Percy Jackson that I had waiting in the wings. It was the right choice for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed The Sea of Monsters. Common! Party ponies!
Cling On's
2) I committed to reading this book and no matter what I am going to finish it. I will love you forever book!
I have done this in the past. Often, it was for school. I know, I know. As a librarian, I am supposed to read all sorts of books of different types to make sure that I have a well rounded perspective when I get the myriad of reader's advisory questions from kids and their parents. [insert superhero librarian power pose] But, I am not the type of person who just decides that I am going to read all of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. I have an English degree, and I think that I have only ever read five of those tales including the prologue. Why waste my time with something that I will take no joy in? But, some people like to finish what they started. It's just the way they are. It's their choice to be urged to gouge out their eyes with boredom at the book they are hate reading. Just don't let them convince you to be lobster dragged into the same pot as them.
Peer Pressure
[chant] Peer pressure! Peer pressure! Peer pressure!
In the dating world, one of my friends did the online thing. Frequently, they didn't feel a spark with someone. Bam! Done. When eye rolling friends and family asked, "What was wrong with that one?" they started to get all judge-y. Encouraging them to stick it out with a person that was just meh. I even fell into that trap a few times. I wasn't the one on the date, nor was I the one asking the questions. Why should I be so invested that it didn't work out? Never mind that happiness and well being of my friend part. No spark meant do not pass Go, do not collect $200. I started to encourage and champion their ideal to only stick around if they felt that spark.
Now, I encourage all of you that are reading for fun to never feel bad when you've given up on a book. If you and a book don't have that spark together, it's not your fault. You're not a bad person for deciding to move on with your life, no matter what your lobstery friends and family members say. It just wasn't the right book for you. I am constantly surrounded by books at work. Daily, I walk in a sea of books that I will never read. It's okay. Not reading all of those books is okay. Someone else will come by to read them. Every book has its reader, and every reader has their book. If a book doesn't speak to you, put it down and move on. There are more books in the infinite sea of literacy.
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