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07/14/2005: "WAY too ADD"

Well, now that I got all the major hurricane prep stuff done, I can relax a little. I still have tons to do, but I can do a few things every day and keep it manageable.

So I decided to indulge in a book to help me decompress. I have a bazillion new books in my TBR pile, but I knew I had at least one started and not finished. So I looked in my PR (partially read) pile.

There were more than two books.

I have ten. TEN! Ten books that I've started and not finished. I stopped reading some after chapter one. Some after six or seven chapters. Others I made it about 3/4ths through before stopping.

There was a time when I would start a book and not stop reading until it was finished. Why can't I do that anymore? Is it me? Is it because time is so limited lately? Is it because many of the books I didn't finish are telling stories I've already read a thousand times?

Whatever it is, it's frustrating. I want to find a book that grabs me and won't let me go no matter how busy or ADD I am. I think I'm going to grab a novel from one of my favorite authors outside the romance genre (Sharon Kay Penman or Robert Jordan) and see if their book can hold me. I'd been saving their latest releases for a special treat, but I'm thinking that reading resusitation is an emergency.

Does anyone else have this problem, or am I a weirdo?

Replies: 15 brave souls responded

on Thursday, July 14th, Charlene said

Sometimes I start a book and want to save it for the right time or mood; nothing to do with how well it grabbed me! "Oh, here's a great comedy, I'll save that for Rotten Day Therapy," or "This is so gripping, if I keep reading now I"ll never get any sleep".

on Thursday, July 14th, alisonkent@alisonkent.com">Alison said

I have at least 10 if not more. If I'm not hooked in the first chapter enough to keep thinking about it when I put it down, I won't pick it back up. For me, it's the writing. It has to snag me and pull me in.

on Thursday, July 14th, Jill said

You're not alone. I go through spurts. For long periods of time I can't seem to finish a book, and sometimes, like now, I devour them ... It's cyclical. Depending on my own moods, LOL.

on Thursday, July 14th, Joely said

I've been a faithful reader of Jordan since 1993. However, in the last five years or so, I've decided he's wasting my time. I saw a quote somewhere on the blogosphere that Tom Doherty told him to keep writing that series until his hands fell off. I'm tired of reading 800 pages and knowing NOTHING about the story. So I'm done with Jordan until the Last Battle!

I've been considering a blog entry about my reading habits lately, but decided it might be TMI. This habit is becoming a good test for me. Some books I gobble right up--Suzanne McMinn's PAX book and Alison's Larger than Life--others take me forever with no end in sight. I think I should just give up on the latter.

on Thursday, July 14th, Cece said

Nope I do it too. I think jaye does too--she mentioned something about it in a book review she posted. I started Honk If You Love Read Men, read 2 of the stories and have just been so busy I haven't had time to go back and read the last two!

Glad you made it home safe Hon!

on Thursday, July 14th, Jordan said

I've been doing the same thing lately. I bet I have about twenty books I've picked up, read a bit, then put down. I'm not sure what's happening, since I have a butt-load in my TBR pile. It's starting to freak me out because most of the books I REALLY want to read.

I finally did what you did, I switched genres and started reading action/adventure monster books. I'm currently reading Meg and Link. I can also re-read old favorites, but not the new romances. It's beginning to piss me off.

on Thursday, July 14th, Teresa said

Nope. Not weird. I'm guilty of the same. For me it could be do to several different things. Sometimes I do go back and finish. Other times not.

on Thursday, July 14th, jerridrennen2001@yahoo.com">Jerri said

Nope, I haven't finished a book in about a year.

on Thursday, July 14th, jaq said

I've been suffering from this very problem for about a month now (maybe longer--but I read one 'okayish' book, whose title I can't even remember now, at some point in there). Anywho, thank goodness I picked PASSION by Lisa Valdez, earlier this week. I pretty much devoured the book in one day. And with my mood set for more of the same (erotic historical romance) I pulled an old school Brenda Joyce out of the tbr pile, and so far, so good. ;-)

on Thursday, July 14th, Danica said

I wish I had that problem. I've got an odd disorder that makes me obsessive about finishing a book, even though it's total crap, and I can't let go until every single crappy page is read. UGH.

on Thursday, July 14th, Shesawriter said

Oh my GAWD! I thought it was just me. I have at least twenty, yes, twenty books that I've started and never finished. What broke the ADD string recently? Judith Ivory's THE PROPOSITION. I just finished it. That book kept me turning the pages because the characters just leapt off the page.

Tanya

on Thursday, July 14th, Amy said

I've gotten worse about this lately too. I used to be obsessive and have to finish a book but now I find myself deciding after a chapter or two whether it's worth my time. And I've had 3-4 books going at once lately too. Not like me at all. I'm with you...ADD all the way.

on Friday, July 15th, Larissa said

Thank you, gals! I'm so glad I'm not alone! Maybe it's a moon phase. But then, it's lasted for several months in my case.

on Friday, July 15th, Lydia said

I am down to just 11 books on my romance TBR and 1 on my SF/F TBR pile. *g* And my TBR includes lots of PRs. Some of them I haven't read because I know I'll get obsessed!

on Friday, July 15th, Shesawriter said

Well, you can add six more book to my TBR pile. My amazon order just came in the mail and I'm about to order five more books. The madness never stops.

Tanya