Today's Booking Through Thursday question:
Do you take breaks while reading a book? Or read it straight through? (And, by breaks, I don’t mean sleeping, eating and going to work; I mean putting it aside for a time while you read something else.)
I do take reading breaks. It depends on the book. Sometimes you just can't put a book down. Love those compelling reads that keep you up until 3 a.m., even though you have to be up and functioning the next day.
But that doesn't happen to me as much as it used to, mostly because life gets in the way. I'm so tired most of the time that I can fall asleep on the most compelling book. So now I do take reading breaks. If something doesn't really grab me, I find I put it down and forget about it for awhile, maybe read something else in the meantime, and then I might pick it back up again. But I also occasionally give up on a book entirely--something I never used to do when I was younger.
I'm really much more compassionate with myself these days. I've relaxed the reading rules. I don't beat myself up if I don't finish a book, or if I want to take a break from it.
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12 comments:
What a thought-provoking question! I would say that I'm stubborn- I persist with a book even if it isn't doing anything for me. For example, I powered through "Cleaving" by Julie Powell even though I thought that it was awful. However, I do find that since I've started blogging I will give up on a book entirely from time to time. There are so many great books out there that it seems silly to continue with something that's not doing it for me.
Certain books I have to finish from beginning to end. With others, I need a break!
Here is my BTTpost!
I love those books that tempt me to stay up past my bedtime too!
I agree - those books you can't put down are a special experience. But for the most part, I do take breaks, and sometimes long ones (as in the case of Lolita, which I DO want to read, but which keeps getting bypassed). As you say, life and tiredness do get in the way! :-)
Jonita--exactly--there are so many great books out there that I feel like I don't want to waste my time if something isn't doing it for me. Definitely different than when I was younger, and possibly more stubborn :)
gautami--I know, some books inspire you to keep on reading, no matter what!
Nise'--It's one of those love-hate things--love the feeling of being so immersed in a book, hate looking at the clock and seeing that it's 2am!
litlove--I take really long breaks, too--mostly because I get distracted by other really good books. Maybe I just have ADD!
Considering how I usually have several books going on, well yep, I take breaks. It's been such a long time since I've read one of those sit through and read all night kind of books. Oh I miss that.
I expected to race through my last book, but it was a little slow at the beginning and I took quite a long break from it.
Iliana--I've found my reading pattern has changed somewhat since I started blogging--I usually have more books going at once!
Bybee--It all depends on whether or not the book catches your fancy. If it's slow at the beginning, sometimes I take a permanent break from it!
I find that because I used to be able to read a book non stop when I was younger, my eyes aren't thanking me for it nowadays! So I have to take regular breaks, otherwise I have really bad eyestrain. I've just found this blog and really like it.
Spangle--thanks for stopping by! I recently had to get reading glasses for the first time--ugh! But it has helped my eyestrain immensely :)
I know it's possible to find books that would always grab me, but I do try! If I am not engaged, I put it down and look for another one in the pile.
Matt--me, too--the pile is so big, there's always something that will appeal!
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