The 33% rule?

[Phy]

I know I end up buying more books than I finish by a wide margin. I attributed it to my fickle ADDness, but maybe I've been unconsciously following this rule about finishing books.

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The 33% Rule

A recent post by Michael May ("I Give Up: A Game of Thrones") talks about not finishing books. He mentions a rule he got from Bookgasm...The 100-Page Rule: "If it's not good by page 100, quit reading."

A couple of months ago, I asked Do You Know When to Stop Reading? After that post, I thought I did. But I might have benefited from knowing The 100-Page Rule one month later when I was midway through Blindsight before I finally gave it up. I just wasn't getting into it and I'm not entirely sure why. It has been getting very positive reviews everywhere I see it mentioned.

Halfway through a book is probably the longest I've lasted through an unfinished book. I'm not sure 100 pages is enough to determine likability. It really depends on the book's size. I seem to remember Hamilton's Night's Dawn trilogy taking a while to get started as he took the time to spin up all the different story threads. Maybe a Percentage Rule would be better. Hmm...The 33% Rule sounds about right. For a 300-page book you get your 100-page acid test.

Officially stated, then:

The 33% Rule: If the first one-third of a book is not good, stop reading it.

[kshsj777]

For me, if it isn't good by the first couple of pages, I stop reading it!

[Xenia]

I give it at least 50 pages.. if by then I'm not interested it's hard to keep me beyond that BUT, I hate not finishing a book...

[Ransom v. Unman]

It's a good rule. Tragic, too, as A Game of Thrones starts getting infinitely better after page 100. If the 33% rule was applied, he probably would've finished it.

[Tarin]

How about 99% rule? :confused: The number of books I don't finish probably is lower than 1% actually. If I start a book, I finish it. Blame it a bit of OCD if you like, but I don't regret it. I judge my books by the endings rather than the beginnings.

[Phy]

It's a good rule. Tragic, too, as A Game of Thrones starts getting infinitely better after page 100. If the 33% rule was applied, he probably would've finished it.

GRRM is the exception to more rules than I can count. ;)

[Michael Scott]

As a writer, I know I want to capture the reader's interest from the first sentence, and not let you out of my talons until you've read the very last letter.

That's the intention, anyway. Having said that, I know it's difficult to maintain that kind of intensity over the course of 100,000 words or so. But every writer should make the attempt.

33% sounds generous.

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