I'm halfway through a novel that comes up on practically every list of modern classics. I admire the writing and understand what it's doing, but I actively avoid picking it up at night. Part of me wants the satisfaction of finishing; another part remembers the stack of books I actually want to read. Is there a good reason to persist after several hundred pages beyond being able to say you've read it?
Deciding whether to stop a well-regarded novel halfway through
- books-reading
- stop
- well
- regarded
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3 replies
If you’re reading for pleasure, quitting is allowed. There’s no medal for finishing a book that makes you feel like you’re doing homework in...
If you’re reading for pleasure, quitting is allowed. There’s no medal for finishing a book that makes you feel like you’re doing homework in a bad mood.
I’d say there’s value if you’re still getting something specific out of it, like style or structure. If it’s just dragging you by the collar, move on.
I stopped a famous novel at about the same point you’re describing and never regretted it. The stack of books I wanted to read was already l...