I have a couple authors on my list that I won’t read again. I’m wondering if I’m alone in that? It’s usually the first book I’ve read by an author, and not like the fifth and I stop, so I admittedly don’t go very far in these writers journeys because it’s like it leaves a bad taste and I won’t read anything else of theirs. Sometimes I feel like I’m missing out because other books sound good, but I can’t bring myself to read anything else because life’s too short to read books you don’t enjoy. So do you all read books by an author if you didn’t enjoy the first one you’ve read of theirs? Do you give them a second chance?
by uslope
8 Comments
I wouldn’t outright refuse to read anything else by them, but I would be more hesitant to. Like you say, life is short and there are a lot of books out there. I’m more than willing to give the author’s work another chance, but it’s not going to be terribly high on my list of priorities.
It depends on why I didn’t like the first read, to put it as simply as possible, if it was the prose I didn’t like then no I won’t grab another but if it was the plot/characters/setting I’m happy to try another if the premise interests me
It depends on why I didn’t like it. If I just wasn’t really feeling the story or something, then sure, I’ll give the author another chance. If I hated it because it was completely terribly written garbage, then no, I don’t really see the point in giving the author another chance.
But also, giving a book a chance isn’t too big of a deal if you just allow yourself to DNF if you don’t like it. Assuming, of course, that you aren’t paying a bunch of money for it… I get most of my books from the library app, so it’s not too much of an investment to give an another a try or a second chance. If I don’t like it, I can just stop reading it.
Yes. I HATED the first John Irving book I read but I’m so glad I gave Owen Meany a chance.
No, tried that with Stephen king. Read a few of his books thinking it might be the novel. Nope just don’t like his work.
I try second chances if the writing isn’t terrible in the book I didn’t like. My very first Kristen Hannah book was “Comfort & Joy”. I read it for a bookclub and it was probably the worst book I’ve read this year, but I’ll give her another chance because I hear great things about her other books.
An author I have no interest in reading again, that I’ve only read one book of, is Clarissa Wild. Middle school writing level and erotic literature don’t mix with me 🙅♀️ The one book box I’m subscribed to is featuring her this month and I used my one skip to skip hers.
If the reason I didn’t like it was the story and not the writing I would check another book by the same author. If the writing is bad though definitely not.
It depends on why I hated their first book?
If it was style of writing/authorial voice which put me off—hell no.
If I didn’t enjoy the storyline/ characters, but liked the writing style, then I would give them another go, particularly if the plot sounds good.
If I was “whelmed” by the first book overall, or it left me with a tepid feeling, I probably won’t bother looking at any other books from them. Mediocrity is just as bad as an outright bad book.