Thursday, June 30, 2011

Blog Hop: July 1-4


This week's question: What keeps you reading beyond the first few pages of a book, and what makes you want to stop reading a book and put it back on the shelf?

For me, what always makes or breaks a book is the characters. If the characters are really layered and interesting and I can connect to them easily, then I pour through the pages as quickly as possible to learn more about them. If I can't get on board with them or they have traits/personalities I find really off putting, then usually not even an outstanding plot can hold my interest for long. I put added pressure on myself to finish a book though, I don't often set them back on the shelf without making it to the end because I keep thinking to myself "maybe it will get better" even though it rarely does. I'm a glutton for punishment that way I guess!

It's been a while since I've done the blog hop, so I'm looking forward to "meeting" a bunch of new bloggers! If you get chance before you hop off elsewhere, check out my 1-year Blogoversary GIVEAWAY, I've got some really fun prize packs!
Posted by Jenny at 11:54 PM
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42 comments:

  1. AnonymousJuly 1, 2011 at 12:04 AM

    I completely agree! Because even if the plot is slow in the beginning, the characters can save that!

    ReplyDelete
  2. JennieJuly 1, 2011 at 12:20 AM

    Thank you for stopping by my blog!

    I feel the same way. If I don't like characters, I probably won't enjoy the book. And I also try to finish books even if I don't like them.

    New follower!

    ReplyDelete
  3. JezJuly 1, 2011 at 1:59 AM

    Mmm hmmm. Characters are the main reason I keep reading. And plot. And a tall, dark, handsome guy or a gothic girl with a past. Have a nice weekend!

    Jez

    http://jezsbookcase.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. MishaJuly 1, 2011 at 2:50 AM

    Completely agree with you! Characters are the most important aspect for me. I would like a book even if it doesn't have a great plot but has good character development.
    Have a great weekend ahead!

    ReplyDelete
  5. pussrebootsJuly 1, 2011 at 2:56 AM

    Characters were first on my list too. For the books that I'm stashing in rooms, I read in short bursts. To keep reading them I must be able to remember where I am even if I've only read a couple pages or haven't been able to read in days. Come see how I decide what to keep reading and what to stop.

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  6. JulieJuly 1, 2011 at 3:26 AM

    I agree about the characters. That's make it or break it for me. Have a great weekend...happy 4th!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Carrie at In the Hammock BlogJuly 1, 2011 at 7:34 AM

    have a great weekend!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousJuly 1, 2011 at 7:36 AM

    I was nodding along with you as I was reading your answer. Characters make it or break it for me. Without a doubt.

    I thought I was already following you but guess not...so, new follower old reader :)

    ♥ Trish My FF & BH Post

    ReplyDelete
  9. Alison Can ReadJuly 1, 2011 at 8:17 AM

    Hopping through. Overall, characters make books for me too. But it's the writing that gets me to keep reading a book at the beginning. It takes me awhile to get attached to the characters.
    My Hop

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  10. Jessica @ a GREAT readJuly 1, 2011 at 8:50 AM

    Characters are pretty important to me as well!

    Here's my Friday Hops

    Have a GREAT weekend!

    Old Follower ;)

    ReplyDelete
  11. SavannahJuly 1, 2011 at 9:13 AM

    Hey Jenny! Happy Friday! Have a great weekend :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Jamie @ BookerellaJuly 1, 2011 at 9:41 AM

    Exactly, I know what you mean! The characters are everything - if you don't connect with them and don't really even like them, it's not going to be a very enjoyable book. Thanks for stopping by my blog, following you now too!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Shalena @ Writer QuirkJuly 1, 2011 at 10:11 AM

    I'm like you - I try to finish a book but sometimes I just can't. Feels like I'm just wasting my time if I'm reading something I'm not enjoying. Glad to meet you through the hop!

    ~Shalena @ Writer Quirk

    ReplyDelete
  14. RebeJuly 1, 2011 at 11:36 AM

    Yes! Characters are so important! If I find them annoying or stupid, I skip to the end to see if they've redeemed themselves and if not, I totally shelve the book.

    http://reflectionsonreadingromance.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. LesleyJuly 1, 2011 at 11:41 AM

    I'm the same I always think it will get better and persevere, I think I should be tougher and ditch those meh books!

    ReplyDelete
  16. KristenJuly 1, 2011 at 11:48 AM

    Great answer, thanks for stopping by my blog earlier! Now I'm a new follower! Happy Friday :)

    Kristen @Such A Teenage Bookworm

    ReplyDelete
  17. Jenni ElyseJuly 1, 2011 at 11:59 AM

    I'm a "maybe it'll get better" person too. I'll usually muddle through all kinds of books just because I hope it will catch my interest at some point.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Megan @ Book BratsJuly 1, 2011 at 12:30 PM

    I think for me plot comes before characters. If there's no plot, there's no point!

    Thanks for stopping by my blog! Following you back!

    Book Brats

    ReplyDelete
  19. SarahJuly 1, 2011 at 1:54 PM

    The characters are definitely important. Give me a great plot and likable characters, and I'm there! :)

    Thanks for stopping by my follow friday and book blogger hop and following! I'm an old-ish follower. :)

    ♥ Sarah

    ReplyDelete
  20. Alexis @ Reflections of a BookaholicJuly 1, 2011 at 3:51 PM

    I'm into the characters as well. I really dislike books with boring or annoying characters.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Kaye M.July 1, 2011 at 5:22 PM

    Thanks for stopping by! New follower <3

    ReplyDelete
  22. Cathy KeatonJuly 1, 2011 at 5:25 PM

    Thanks for stopping by my blog, Jenny!

    I totally agree with you here. If I don't like the characters, then great writing and great plot just won't pull me back from that place where I know I want to drop the book. I still might suffer through it, if it's not a very long book just to see what happens, but it's rare that I'll change my mind so drastically. (But, it's happened before.)

    I'm glad I found a cool new blogger to follow, too!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Madigan MirzaJuly 1, 2011 at 6:24 PM

    Yeah, characters who are Too Dumb to Live really get on my nerves! I think one of the things I really like about genre fiction though, is that the plot usually races along. So much adult contemporary is just long-drawn out navel-gazing where nothing really happens. I've been DNF'ing a lot of books lately. I've got to get on the ball and start finishing a few!

    ReplyDelete
  24. MickeyJuly 1, 2011 at 7:31 PM

    I think that too! I'm always afraid I'm going to get right before the best part of the book, so I just keep reading :o)

    Thanks for stopping by!
    Mickey @ imabookshark

    ReplyDelete
  25. Bookish BrunetteJuly 1, 2011 at 8:53 PM

    You know... I'm horrible! I can tell from the first like 15 pages of a book whether I'll love it or it'll just be 'okay'...

    ReplyDelete
  26. PatriciaJuly 2, 2011 at 3:27 PM

    I am your newest GFC follower. My answer to this weeks question.

    I started reading a book the last month and it was suppose to be a very good book. But after giving it a couple of chapters I just couldn’t get into it. I put the book aside to read another day. I don’t like to do that because I feel as if my mind might have had too many distractions and I didn’t give the book a chance. So I always try to wait for another day to give it another go. I have so many other books calling to me from my to-be-read list that it can really be distracting. READ ME! READ ME!
    I prefer reading and reviewing Christian Fiction but I do read a varity of other books. I just can’t handle too scary or gory. Suspense and Mysteries I like. No explicit adult books either if I do find one I really want to read I just skip over the x-rated stuff. So what genre do I read?

    http://itstimetoreadmamaw.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  27. Pedantic PhookaJuly 3, 2011 at 3:10 AM

    Stopping by via Crazy-For-Book's Blog Hop. I'm following your blog.

    I'm having a giveaway on my blog this weekend so please stop by!

    Holjo @ Pedantic Phooka
    www.pedanticphooka.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. AveryJuly 3, 2011 at 11:44 AM

    I put added pressure on myself to finish a book though, I don't often set them back on the shelf without making it to the end because I keep thinking to myself "maybe it will get better" even though it rarely does.

    This describes me perfectly! Especially when I am reading a book that I have received to review. I fell so bad not enjoying the book and while I would like to put it aside I never do...

    ReplyDelete
  29. Tales of WhimsyJuly 9, 2011 at 7:15 PM

    Amen. If I can't connect it's a deal breaker.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Website Designer Saudi ArabiaJuly 11, 2011 at 8:28 AM

    If something inspirational and interesting is there in the first half then the craze automatically rises to be dedicated to books. And in the middle also if the excitement loses then the mind gets lost in some other path.

    ReplyDelete
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