Obligatory Reading? Books as Gifts

Could you just be honest and say, "You know, I really tried to read it, but I just couldn't get into it."

Maybe you could google it and read the overview or outline about it.

I would never give a book and expect people to read it.

No you don't have to read it, and you don't have to feel bad about it either. Everyone has different tastes in books, even if she didn't pre-read it, don't look at it as any less worthy of gift giving. It sounds like she gave you the book so you guys could talk about it since it is a debatable topic that seems to interest both of you.

I am an avid reader and have found some page turners too cliche or predictable, and have thoroughly enjoyed others. I have been working on one book for almost 3 years now b/c I really want to read it, but it is so boring, so I pick off a chapter here and there in between other books I read. If she does quiz you, tell her you enjoyed the book but just couldn't get into it so never finished it.. or look up the synopsis online, you can find pretty detailed summaries that way. Besides, she can't really quiz you too much if even she hasn't read it.

I'd love to know what you gave her, and what she gave you!

Me, personally, I would never give someone a book to prove a point to them. I LOVE to read (like, I eat books, not read them), but would be a bit insulted if someone "gifted' me a book on a subject we don't see eye-to-eye on... and expected me to read it. Unless we were having an open 'research' debate (which means that we both have formally agreed "I'd really like some information from your perspective".Which only shows you how geeky I am...) So, if you haven't invited this book into your life, no obligations. Expect her to ask... and then expect to disappoint her a bit. And if she hasn't read it yet, but still wants to prove her point... well, *really*? :) "If you want to borrow it, that would be fine with me" should be enough for her.

Geez... some people. No, do not read a torturous book when there are plenty of good ones out there.

You are not to be held prisoner by your Christmas gifts. They are gifts after all, not shackles. Put the book down and get on with life. ;)

UPDATE:
I responded before I read your SWH. I take it back. You must read Sproul. ;) I love him. I have not read that particular book in particular, but have read a few others (Chosen by God, for example-it's required reading in our homeschool). I wonder if he has that one on MP3. He has so many others available that way. Check out ligonier.org to see.Here you go. I found it for free for you: http://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/last_days_according_...
;)

This is what I would do. If I was given a book by someone trying to prove a point or "convert" me, I probably wouldn't read it. I don't want to be told how to think or believe. If on the other hand they just wanted me to understand how they see something, but not did not want to CHANGE my point of view, I would try to read it. I do respect other peoples point of view and believe everyone is entitled to believe as they see fit and sometimes it's easier to get what your trying to say across with a book. IMO true friends should be able to agree to disagree and still love and respect one another.

Give it an honest chance, and then stop torturing yourself. Be honest with her when the subject comes up and just say that you gave it a try but the style just wasn't what you enjoy and had a hard time getting into the book. Not every book or every author is for everyone. Sometimes the exact same book can read differently at different times in our lives, too. So hang onto it maybe, and TELL her too, that you will give it another go after some time passes.

My husband very much enjoys eschatology and theology and currently has a stack of great books he is enjoying. Some of them he just puts down, even though they are very highly recommended... they just are too much "work" to get through. And one, he read 3/4 of and gave up a year ago, but picked it up again last month and LOVED it this go round. We used to be PCA also, but are now LCMS Lutherans and he loves reading Luther and the church fathers.

if she asks you about it, just be honest. Let her know you are struggling a little to get through it and that you might take a break and try again another time. Of course you are not obligated. However, if this is a topic you have debated, try and give the book a chance if you think you may have some interesting conversation about it.

I don't think you have to read it, nor do I think you have to lie about it. Be honest. Tell her you tried it, but couldn't get into it. I've given books to friends before and they didn't end up liking them. I wasn't offended at all.
Honesty is the way to go, because otherwise, she'll ask questions you can't answer and figure it out anyway.

My mom's boss is an author (they are English professors). He wrote a book about his time in Vietnam and it is a very touching story. Brings me to tears when he gives seminars on his book.

But the book bores me to tears.

I often get whatever books are free on my Kindle and have only not finished one of them.

We don't always like books that other people do and if you aren't into the book by 50 pages in, I'd call it a wrap.

One thing you might try is seeing if you can get it on audio. Some books that I couldn't get through at all in print are AWESOME on audio (could NEVER, EVER make it through the Lord of the Rings in print-- the audio versions read by Rob Inglis are AWESOME)

Otherwise put it in your purse and read it in small chunks in waiting rooms or on nights when you can't sleep

I'll give a book a try, but if it doesn't catch my attention after the first chapter or two, then I'll quit. Don't torture yourself, and just be honest and say that it didn't grip you like the other ones you have read by the author.

I would find a detailed review of it so I could talk about it if asked. At some point you may suddenly find that it is interesting. I have had books like that before. I tried and tried to read them and then one day I picked it up and the sentences finally made sense to me.

It seems to me that she will try to have a discussion with you on the book if it's something you discuss anyway. Either read it or don't, but don't try to fake it. If you don't, make it part of the debate. "I tried, but this guy is dry, I just can't get thru this one..."

That's it.

My take is that, if given a book with the thought that I will honestly enjoy it, I will TRY to read it. That doesn't mean I'll finish it. But I'll at least try. And, no, unless outright asked, I don't tell the other person that I didn't finish. :)

Don't be angry about it--just be thankful she cared enough to try to find a book she thought you'd like.

Just an idea not sure if this book would be there, but the website www.goodreads.com lets readers post synopisis or opinions etc about books. you could skim those and bring out a few points to make it sound likeyou got further than youdid. In some ways it's about taking the same content but getting it in a different more easily digested form.

Hi... I say, "fake it"... Google it and find the basics of the book, read the synopsis of it several times so that you are familiar with it. :) She'll never know, and you won't be bored to death!

L.

I would make it as far as I could and if she asks admit that you didn't finish. I once tried a book reading thing where a friend and I each picked out a book. He picked "As I Lay Dying" and at the end I said, "My mother is a fish!? I want my time back." We got a good laugh and any time we needed something stupid, one of us would roll out a comment about mothers and fish, so it was good for that, even if I hated the book.

google a bit about it. if the book isn't entertaining or to your like just drop it :)