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Every novel is boring until it isn't

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Re: Every novel is boring until it isn't

#61

Post by DangitBobby »

ssenssei wrote: post #44
epihelix wrote: post #41

I'd argue that the novels the TFA author reads are boring to the TFA author -- until they're not. If you are reading a novel that works for you, it's often not boring from the opening line. Example: Anna Karenina. Gripping from the opening line (if you like the type of novel that it is; and it's fine if you don't, of course). Or alternatively, Pride and Prejudice. Again, that opener just sucks you in (if this is a bo…

> “If you are bored with this novel after three pages, you shouldn’t read any further.” The concept of DNF (“did not finish”) is pretty familiar to people who read regularly, but three pages seems far too early to make that call. The general rule of thumb I’ve encountered is closer to 100 - 150 pages. Some of the most memorable works of literature I’ve read are books I didn’t particularly enjoy for the first hundred…

> The general rule of thumb I’ve encountered is closer to 100 - 150 pages.

Practically all novels I've gotten to page 50 on I've finished. The only book I ever made it anywhere close to page 150 without getting anything back was The Fellowship of the Ring, and I think I got to page 200 before giving up (because I felt that I should be a person who liked The Lord of the Rings). It was a grueling experience. I can't fathom putting in 100 pages of joyless reading on a regular basis.

Re: Every novel is boring until it isn't

#62

Post by OroPla »

tinkelenberg wrote: post #4

The key to enjoying novels is to read them in long enough sittings to get into the flow state. If you only read a couple pages at a time between doomscrolling sessions, it will feel like a chore. Anything would.

If the novel is any good, you'll continue reading despite not setting away time and it will also be worthwhile to read in every minute of spare time you can get.

Just finished up my second re-read of an unfinished book that kinda ruined most entertainment for me by setting the bar too high. I now have to make the difficult decision to either be disappointed by another novel or to just read this one yet again.

Usually I find it a bit tough to finish books and I never re-read anything in my life before for entertainment.

So if it is a bit tough, probably the book is just not good enough for you.

Re: Every novel is boring until it isn't

#63

Post by dleeftink »

tinkelenberg wrote: post #4

The key to enjoying novels is to read them in long enough sittings to get into the flow state. If you only read a couple pages at a time between doomscrolling sessions, it will feel like a chore. Anything would.

Flow is a state of privilege, too, yet (thru reading) one most easily cultivated. Take control of your time expenditure!

Re: Every novel is boring until it isn't

#64

Post by protocolture »

ssenssei wrote: post #44
epihelix wrote: post #41

I'd argue that the novels the TFA author reads are boring to the TFA author -- until they're not. If you are reading a novel that works for you, it's often not boring from the opening line. Example: Anna Karenina. Gripping from the opening line (if you like the type of novel that it is; and it's fine if you don't, of course). Or alternatively, Pride and Prejudice. Again, that opener just sucks you in (if this is a bo…

> “If you are bored with this novel after three pages, you shouldn’t read any further.” The concept of DNF (“did not finish”) is pretty familiar to people who read regularly, but three pages seems far too early to make that call. The general rule of thumb I’ve encountered is closer to 100 - 150 pages. Some of the most memorable works of literature I’ve read are books I didn’t particularly enjoy for the first hundred…

>but three pages seems far too early to make that call.

I have a large DNF pile and most of them I could have called at 3 pages but hung on way too long.

Re: Every novel is boring until it isn't

#65

Post by protocolture »

keiferski wrote: post #37

William Gibson is one of my favorite writers, and it's funny because I think he has the exact opposite problem. Most of his novels open on the action, in some interesting location. But gradually they get weaker, with a few (Mona Lisa Overdrive, in my case) becoming a real slog to finish. I've probably read the first 50 pages of Neuromancer 20 times, but only the entire novel 3-4 times in 20+ years. There's the famous…

I remember having to reread the first 4 pages of Pattern Recognition several times to actually understand the prose. Like the information density was so high I was having trouble parsing it. But kept me hooked anyway.

Re: Every novel is boring until it isn't

#66

Post by zem »

epihelix wrote: post #41

I'd argue that the novels the TFA author reads are boring to the TFA author -- until they're not. If you are reading a novel that works for you, it's often not boring from the opening line. Example: Anna Karenina. Gripping from the opening line (if you like the type of novel that it is; and it's fine if you don't, of course). Or alternatively, Pride and Prejudice. Again, that opener just sucks you in (if this is a bo…

btw for people into science fiction and fantasy I highly recommend Ursula Vernon (writing as T Kingfisher) as someone who has me deeply invested almost from the get go. I mention it not just because I'm a fan, but because I consider that specific aspect as one of her greatest skills.

Re: Every novel is boring until it isn't

#67

Post by bsder »

amaricano wrote: post #18
bsder wrote: post #5

No, NOT every novel is boring from the get go. And some novels ARE boring. And the fact that so many people recommend the ones that are is the bloody problem. The first thing to accept is that different people like different things. If someone likes the Beatles, you wouldn't immediately jump to recommend Handel or Black Sabbath. And, yet, this is EXACTLY what people do all the time with literature. Oh, you liked that…

You did not read the article completely, did you? For someone with wise father, you are not being wise yourself. The writer is exactly talking about this subjectivity.

One can read the entire article AND disagree with the fundamental premise.

Reading should not feel like wading through slop. Period. If it does, that is simply bad writing.

Too many people don't have the guts to simply say "No, I do not like that; there are better things I can read."

Re: Every novel is boring until it isn't

#68

Post by keiferski »

atombender wrote: post #60
keiferski wrote: post #37

William Gibson is one of my favorite writers, and it's funny because I think he has the exact opposite problem. Most of his novels open on the action, in some interesting location. But gradually they get weaker, with a few (Mona Lisa Overdrive, in my case) becoming a real slog to finish. I've probably read the first 50 pages of Neuromancer 20 times, but only the entire novel 3-4 times in 20+ years. There's the famous…

Gibson is one of those writers who are much better prose stylists than plotters. I enjoy reading his prose immensely, but he's been stamping out books with the same template for ever: an expert is hired to do something. Turns out there's a man with unlimited cash flow funding everything, but was hiding his true intentions (usually in order to lay a trap), which are revealed, and then some McGuffin is saved or elimina…

Yeah it does seem like he picked his story structure in 1984 and decided, “well, that’s done, now on to the interesting parts.”

Re: Every novel is boring until it isn't

#69

Post by eszed »

OroPla wrote: post #62
tinkelenberg wrote: post #4

The key to enjoying novels is to read them in long enough sittings to get into the flow state. If you only read a couple pages at a time between doomscrolling sessions, it will feel like a chore. Anything would.

If the novel is any good, you'll continue reading despite not setting away time and it will also be worthwhile to read in every minute of spare time you can get. Just finished up my second re-read of an unfinished book that kinda ruined most entertainment for me by setting the bar too high. I now have to make the difficult decision to either be disappointed by another novel or to just read this one yet again. Usually…

Don't leave us hanging, brother! What's the book?

Re: Every novel is boring until it isn't

#70

Post by OroPla »

eszed wrote: post #69
OroPla wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the novel is any good, you'll continue reading despite not setting away time and it will also be worthwhile to read in every minute of spare time you can get. Just finished up my second re-read of an unfinished book that kinda ruined most entertainment for me by setting the bar too high. I now have to make the difficult decision to either be disappointed by another novel or to just read this one yet again. Usually…

Don't leave us hanging, brother! What's the book?

Not necessarily something everyone enjoys as much as I did. But I wish everyone to find a book that he enjoys as much as I did:

https://www.webnovel.com/book/reverend-insanity_799685840600...

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