Tips For Finishing A Book You Don’t Like
We’ve all found ourselves staring at a book that part of us wishes we never picked up. However, that doesn’t always mean we should put the book down!
Some people claim that not finishing a book gives them a sense of joyous freedom, but in truth, that’s probably a short-term sensation and a hollow victory. It’s not always an option, either. After all, there are many reasons you might need to power through a book you don’t like. Perhaps you need to get through the book as part of your academic study? Or could it be a friend recommended a text to you, and you’re trying to be a good pal by seeing it through? Whatever the reason, it’s important to have a few techniques at your disposal that will help you finish the books you don’t like. We’ve suggested some for you below!
Open Your Mind
Even books you don’t like can tell you something about yourself. After all, knowing what you don’t like can define you just as much as the things you do like! What are your tastes when it comes to reading? What genres don’t appeal to you? Which writing styles grab your attention or bore you to tears? There can be a lot of intrigue where criticism is concerned, and it’s worth exploring further.
You could also consider the wider context of the book to keep you engaged. Who is the text for? Has it had a cultural impact? What have other people said about it? Sometimes you need to step outside of yourself when reading a book and view it through another person’s perspective.
Keep A Reading Journal
It’s hard to read something you’re not enjoying. However, it can be even harder to read something you’re not enjoying in a passive, isolated silence.
No one likes a serial complainer. Although, that doesn’t mean you can’t complain at all! Keeping a reading journal may help you air your frustrations with a book in an introspective, healthy way. You can leave no stone unturned, and better understand the source of your grievances.
Of course, it’s not just about venting negativity, either. Keeping a journal of any kind can bring perspective in tough times, and help you look at things in a different way. Maybe a reading journal could help you understand the book on a deeper level, and thereby enjoy it more than you otherwise might have done.
Either way, the overarching point here is to be an active reader, rather than a passive reader. Consuming a book you’re not enjoying can feel mind numbing, but with a reading journal, you’re keeping your thoughts churning and sharp. If nothing else, you may give yourself extra fuel in the tank to actually finish the book!
Beating Your Elders
No, we’re not suggesting anything violent here. Instead, we’re referring to you developing better reading habits than the generations that came before you. As of July 2024, it’s estimated that half of UK adults are no longer reading regularly. Even the grown-ups who made reading a key pillar of their identity have let the written word fall by the wayside. Consequently, there’s a lot at stake when it comes to your generation’s interest in reading. You might ask yourself, ‘if adults aren’t reading, why should I?’. Well, the truth is that interest in books is objectively waning. Libraries run by hardworking experts and volunteers are closing down left and right.
For every book you read, you have an opportunity to keep the love of them alive and course correct something terrible that ‘so-called adults’ have let happen. The goal of every generation is to do things better than the ones that came before and knowing you can do that with your reading may motivate you to finish those books!
Schedule Your Book Reading
If you’re not enjoying a book, you may make excuses to put off reading it. Consequently, it could be a good idea to give yourself a strict reading schedule that you can commit to. Once your reading time is mapped out, you can feel more motivated to see things through, rather than leaving it up to ‘vibes’. Finishing your book becomes a mission, rather than just an idle way of passing time when you have nothing better to do.
Set alarms on your phone, mark your calendar, or even set voice note reminders for yourself. There’s no shame in needing an extra push to finish a book… or several.
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I'm a freelance copywriter with an undergraduate degree in English Literature. I've written for many different outlets, including but not limited to marketing agencies, graduate recruitment websites, and online training companies. I've even interviewed a few famous actors for student and arts blogs too! Covering a wide span of material has been incredibly rewarding, as I get to turn my experiences in the arts, education and careers into helpful advice. I sincerely hope you'll find something to your liking here!
