Do You Really Have to Finish a Book You've Started?

August 19, 2010

In the past, I had always operated under the principle of finishing a book, even if it was horrible, simply because I had already started it. It seems like such an absurd concept now, but I’m sure it made some kind of moral sense to me at the time. Maybe, I felt some sort of responsibility, similar to that felt during my school days. An assignment was given and must be completed. I had assigned myself to read this dreadfully long and unengaging paperweight of a novel, and I was therefore committed to finishing it.

It is very self-satisfying to read a book from beginning to end, and is often an accomplishment in itself if the book is longer than say, three hundred pages. However, the satisfaction seems to be depleted when the entire feat of dredging through the monotonous and undeveloped plot has zapped any enthusiasm that might have been gleaned from completing a novel of any length.

For the sake of diverting my now precious time to more fulfilling experiences, I have finally accepted the notion that I will not suffer some terrible consequence if I do decide to return the book I have borrowed without reading the entire thing.  So, I encourage others who may feel a sense of guilt about abandoning a poorly written work to close the cover and never lift it again.

Ask yourself: Is it really worth it, when the only reward is the fact that the book is finally over?

Jacqueline R.
Blue Springs South