Thank you so much for inviting me here today. I’m a frequent visitor and often work your recommendations into my book buying list.When it’s time for me to pick a book to read I look at things like the cover (love pretty covers) and the authors (who doesn’t have an “auto-buy” author list?). But when I’m reading, the most important thing to me is the beginning. Those glorious first few pages where I hope to fall so hard for the book that it’s impossible to put the book down. Man, when I get sucked in and can’t stop reading, I am the happiest reader ever.But then there’s the other side. I read comments all the time that go something like, “The first 60 pages were hard to get through but after that…” Yeah, I have to be honest. If the action and pace don’t pick up until page 61, I’m probably off to check the next book in my huge TBR pile or re-read an old favorite. I swear I once read a review that said the first 100 pages were slow but then it got better. Hundred pages! That’s an awful lot of reading and wasted time not to be sucked into a book.That’s why I spend so much time on the beginning of a book. In general, the only thing I know clearly when I pitch a book and start writing is that first scene. That’s what pops into my head. I see it and start hearing the dialogue (yeah, I know that sounds a bit crazy). Then I rush to get the words down on page. I’ve had the hero and heroine break up in the first scene (RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW), had them enjoy some sexy times in the bathroom at a wedding (IMPUSLIVE) and had the heroine drive right through the front window of the hero’s house (GUNS AND THEGIRL NEXT DOOR). Nothing is off limits.In my newest release, WHEN SHE WASN’T LOOKING, the book begins with the exhausted hero coming off a twenty-four shift and stopping to do a wellness check on a woman who could be in trouble. The heroine is not who the hero thinks she is. That leads to a chase, a standoff, a car accident and an attack by an armed gunman. And that’s in the first few pages. I get a little winded just thinking about it…and I hope you do too. 🙂
HelenKay Dimon is an award-winning author of more than a dozen novels and novellas. Her first single title, Your Mouth Drives Me Crazy, was excerpted in Cosmopolitan magazine in August ’07 and spotlighted at E! Online. She made Cosmopolitan a second time in December 2009 with her novella “It’s Hotter At Christmas” from the Kissing Santa Claus anthology. Her books also have been published by Doubleday Book Club and Rhapsody Book Club and translated into several languages.
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HelenKay has offered one of our readers either a copy of When She Wasn’t Looking or a book from her backlist, winner’s choice. For a chance to win, tell us, how long do you give a book before you give up? Are you a 100-pager, or do you stop long before then? Contest ends 5/13/12 @ 11:59pm. Please note: you must include a valid email with your comment to be eligible.
This book is available from Harlequin Intrigue. You can buy it here or here in e-format (only $2.99!!).
It depends on the book as to when I’ll stop. If it’s because of continous errors from lack of editing then it will be a VERY short read, maybe a chapter.
Sometimes I just don’t mesh with the book, nothing wrong with it but I know I am not into the writing style. With those books it’s about 100 pages but if I had to buy the book, I will finish it.
Typically I don’t run into many issues with books that I purchase, it’s the free ones on Amazon that are DNF reads for me.
Normally, even if I don’t like a book, I will finish it. I’m always thinking maybe something will happen in the next chapter that will get me into the book. By the time I’m done thinking that, I’m finishing the book.
I’ll stop as soon as I’m disappointed. But not on a Helenkay Dimon book, she never disappoints.
If a book hasn’t captured my interest by ~50-75 pgs, I skip ahead to see if I think it’s going to get any better. If not, it’s probably not going to do so. :-/ I’ve read a couple of Helenkay’s books & enjoyed them, so no worries there! Thanks for the opportunity. KC
I stop long before 100 pages. I give a book acouple of chapters and if it doesn’t drag me into the story I pick something else to read.
Yes, absolutely! I’m 100 pager! 😀
I often feel, it’s a loss, if I coludn’t finish a book.
But when I reach 100th page, and I still can’t get into the book, I prefer to pending it for unlimited time, and move to another book.
lady_milano3 at yahoo dot com
I give a book three chapters. Not sure how I came up with that figure but it’s what I always told my kids (we made sure they read every night).
And I find it works well. If I’m not taken with a book by 3 chapters, even highly recommended, it’s just not going to happen for me.
goddessani@gmail dot com
Thanks for an awesome post and giveaway!
Grrr… I’m very OCD about finishing. Even if I hate, hate, hate it, I will still finish it in the hopes of something, anything redeeming it. Then I can say that I truly hated it, through and through 🙂
I,also, finsh a book in hopes it gets better. And some have!
ldwrncpn@comcast.net
I rarely don’t finish a book, I may read faster & skim a bit, but I want to finish it so I won’t wonder what happens. But then, I probably wouldn’t read that author again.
sallans d at yahoo dot com
I read until I lose interest in the couple. I have to be vested in the couple. I rarely don’t finish. I’m an optimist.
I can usually tell by the end of the first page, though I usually push on for the first chapter.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
I try to give the book the benefit of the doubt and stick with it until the end. I have wound up really liking a book after finishing it, although I know others gave up after the first couple of chapters. I find that sometimes the author is building the world of the book and that might take more time than some are willing to give. Again, I give the benefit of the doubt: I will get to the really good stuff and it will be worth it.
bas1chsemail at gmail dot com
Intomthe first or second chapters, Ty for the giveaways
Congrats on thn e book whoo
Kimh
kimehak@yahoo
It really depends on the book. I try to give it as long as I can stand it in case it picks up or get better. I hate to abandon one.
bacchus76 at myself dot com
Congrats on the new release, HelenKay. I’ll definitely read three to four chapters before giving up on a book.
janie1215 AT excite DOT com
Basically, i read until i had enough. If it’s a good book, this won’t be a problem. But if it’s a book that i don’t like, i read till i had enough than jump to the last few pages.
smile_1773@yahoo.com
Basically, i read until i had enough. If it’s a good book, this won’t be a problem. But if it’s a book that i don’t like, i read till i had enough than jump to the last few pages.
smile_1773@yahoo.com