Sandi Shilhanek | The Survey Says...part One

Sandi Shilhanek
November 15, 2009

Comments

43 comments posted.

Re: Sandi Shilhanek | The Survey Says...part One

Sandi: Thank you for your blog and your questions. Here are my answers.

1. I can't recall EVER peeking to see how a story will end. And if I'm reading a romance, what's the point? They all end the same way. Which is one of my gripes, the fact that the rules don't allow a romance to end any other way, even when doing so would improve it. But that's a big topic, one I won't go into here.

2. Do I finish every book I start? No way! I can tell after a chapter or two whether or not I want to keep reading. No point in slogging through a story I've lost interest in.

A book that fails to hold my attention at the start won't improve as the story progresses. I learned that the hard way back when I wasn't so picky.

It doesn't matter how much I paid for the book. If it's a turkey, I've lost my investment in money. I'm not going to lose any further investment in time.

3. I pick my reading material not according to what mood I'm in, but rather what themes and genres I'm interested in at the moment.

I'm looking forward to more of your survey questions. Keep up the good work!
(Mary Anne Landers 3:03am November 15, 2009)

1. I have peeked at the ending several times.
2. I don't finish every book I start. If I can't get into the book, I'll put it down and pick it up at a later time. It it still doesn't hold my attention then I won't continue reading.
3. I'm not really a mood reader, but there are certain times where a particular genre appeals to me for whatever reason.
(Jane Cheung 5:05am November 15, 2009)

1. No, I don't peek at the
end. I want to be surprised.
2. I don't finish every book I
start. I go in with the
intention of doing so, but if
the book is boring or the
writing is bad, or it doesn't
old my attention for one
reason or another, I don't
finish it. There are so many
other choices out there, so
why should I finish a book
that doesn't hold my interest?
As for the paying good money
for it, I can pass it along to
someone else or donate it to
the library.
3. I never considered myself a
mood reader (but sometimes my
moods affect the way I
write!). I'll have to pay more
attention in future.
(Margay Roberge 5:14am November 15, 2009)

No, not an end peeker.

I don't finish a book if it I lose interest or it's not to my taste.

I may be a mood reader : )
(Mary Hundley 6:24am November 15, 2009)

Good Questions!
1)No don't peek to the end. I like the surprise.
2) I used to finish everything but now I will put things down if they don't interest me. Some I may pick up later & others may just not be for me.
3) Yes, I am a mood reader -- sometimes I'm in the mood for historicals, sometimes a certain setting, sometimes a mystery, etc. And now that is the holidays ... I will probably try to read a holiday book.
(Pam Nolan 8:30am November 15, 2009)

Hi Sandy
I try not to be a end peeker but there are a couple books no way I have to peek but I still read the book.
There are 2 books that I have not finished I got fed up and went to another one instead but I do go back to them and finished them.
I consider myself a mood reader a little. I love historical books so if I see one I want to read I am getting it.
I enjoyed the surveys today and I'm looking forward to the next one.
Thanks
Penney
(Penney Wilfort 9:53am November 15, 2009)

No I don't peek at the end.

I very rarely give up on a book.

I am definitely a mood reader. Mood will definitely even determine whether I finish a book or not finish it.
(Joyce Mandle 10:30am November 15, 2009)

I will admit that I am a peeker- not because I have to know how it ends, but it's one of the ways I judge a good book, if the ending is as good as that first paragraph then I know I will enjoy it. With my favorite authors I don't have to peek anymore- I know that they have what it takes to sustain me.

I used to never give up on a book. But I have also learned over the years that if it takes me more than a week and I haven't gotten to at leat a quater of the way through then I am more than likely out. Now I may save it until I feel I am in a better mood to enjoy it, but a lot of the time, I just let it go.

I am not a mood reader per se- but I will admit that if I find a good find by an author I like, then I get in a mood to read other books that are set in the same time/theme of that book. For example I just got finished reading Sara McCarty and now I find that I am in the mood for westerns, but they have to be as good as hers, or I'll just move on.
(Sara Edmonds 11:02am November 15, 2009)

Good blog Sandi!
I am not a peeker. I don't like spoilers in books or movies. If someone tells me the ending I will usually not want to read the book or watch the movie.
I usually finish all the books I am reading but lately I have put aside a book or two. I usually want to know the end or as you said give it a chance to get better.
I am a mood reader. I am almost always in the mood for a mystery, usually a romantic suspense but sometimes my mood calls for a historical or Love Inspired.
(Mary Perry 11:57am November 15, 2009)

I confess I always sneek a peak at the end of the book that I am reading. LOL. Don't know why, I just do, and it really doesn't ruin it for me either. And no I do not finish every book that I read, if its just too boring or horrible I will toss it aside and sometimes I have faith that there will be something redeeming about it so I'll toss it back into my TBR pile. And no I'm not a mood reader, I pretty much stick to what I like and my moods have no affect on that.
(Shauna George 12:10pm November 15, 2009)

No I never peek at the end. I don't want to know until the end of the book.
(Gail Hurt 12:44pm November 15, 2009)

I never peek at the end of a book. I have had books I couldn't finish, sometimes it is because of my mood, sometimes it's just a boring story. I do often try to read them at a later date, if I still find it impossible to finish I donate it to someone. Maybe someone else can enjoy it. When I but a new book I try to stick to authors I'm familiar with, otherwise I go to the library or a used book store, or borrow from a friend to save money. Then if I just do not like the story, donating it or returning the book is easy.
(Theresa Buckholtz 1:10pm November 15, 2009)

No end peeker here!! And, I'm learning to curb my penchant for finishing really bad books. Having said that, I remember tossing THE BINGO QUEENS OF PARADISE by June Park aside....and going back to get it....and loving it!!! A GAME OF THRONES by George RR Martin was another one. I had to try that sucker 4 times before I made it through, but has become one of my favorites!! I'm definitely a mood reader...don't feel I'm doing the story or the author justice if I don't pick up something I'm predisposed to like.
(Cindy Ferrell 1:23pm November 15, 2009)

Sandi, great questions! I rarely ever peek. I often read magazines and newspapers from back to front, but that's different. Books, I usually take my chances. I like to be surprised.

I'm notorious for not finishing books! If I read a book to the end, that probably means it's a keeper, or I'm reading it for quote, lol.
(Suzan Forster 1:35pm November 15, 2009)

Yep! I sometimes look at the end of a book. Usually for one of two reasons: 1. The book REALLY sounds familiar and I'm not sure if I read it or if it is a sound alike, and 2. If the books seems to bog down and I want to know if it is worth finishing (I usually finish it then).
(Karin Tillotson 1:40pm November 15, 2009)

I try not to peek at the end unless it's an impossible book and I'm ready to give up. Mood reader is a great name for whichever frame of mind I'm in reflecting the choice of the moment. Usually I have a few books going at the same time.
(Alyson Widen 1:57pm November 15, 2009)

I'm not a true end peeker but, after reading for awhile, I may page ahead to see what's coming. I really don't want to read the ending first.

As for books that I've bought that I don't like, I read them unless they're really bad. I did, after all, lay out good money for them; it's my PA Dutch heritage.

I sometimes start books and then decide that I would rather be reading another book so, I'll put it away until another time.

Usually though, it's bring on the books!
(Trudy Miner 2:01pm November 15, 2009)

I am a mood reader. Sometimes I just want a romance novel that is light and fun. Other times I want one that is hotter that h*ll.

And then there are those romance novels that are complex and tax my emotions. I definitely have to be in the right mood to read those.

As far as jumping to the end before reading the book?....I learned a long time ago not to do that. I loved the book (Olivia and Jai) and when I read the sequel I skipped ahead to find out what happened to Jai. I was so disappointed that I could not read the story.
(Mitzi Hinkey 2:34pm November 15, 2009)

I don't like to find out how the book will end at all. Most of the books I do read, I have read all teh way through. There have only been a few books that I did not finish. I don't consider myself a mood reader.
(Michelle Sauer 3:03pm November 15, 2009)

I don't recall ever peeking. And I don't plan to start any time soon!

I've only not finished a very few books, but the first one I didn't finish was by an author whom I really like, who writes standard romance historicals, both series and stand-alones. This one was one of her stand-alones, and neither I nor my reading partner could get past the beginning of the third chapter! It wasn't one of the author's early books (at least, not according to the pub info page), so that wasn't an excuse. It was just plain bad writing, AND even worse editing!! Typos ALL over the place, character names switched around and then back again, you name it, that mistake was there. A a copy editor, there was no way I could have finished that puppy! We passed it on to a friend of my reading partner, and she says that her friend liked it fine. Go figure.

I am probably more of a mood reader than anything else. I must admit though, when I'm reading in public, my choice of reading materials tends to be a bit more "sedate" than it might be if I'm flopped in bed reading!

Fun survey!! Do we really have to wait a whole week for Part 2?!?

Later,

Lynn
(Lynn Rettig 3:09pm November 15, 2009)

LOL, good comments, Sandi! If you had a little box that said "All of the above" that's what I would be ticking.

1.I almost always peek at the end. If I don't like how a book ends, I won't read it. Of course, I have developed a few favorite authors over the years and I know I can trust that I will like their endings. Mary Ann, there are other books out there that have different endings. I won't read those, because I like to have a predictable HEA.

2. I used to religiously finish every book I started. It was almost like a sin to not finish it once I'd started, but lately there have been a few -- 2 that I can definitely remember, and a couple more after that -- that I have laid aside for a while and then gone back to them later. One, specifically, I doubt if I'll ever finish that one. The story line is good, the characters are good, but the language is horrible! It detracted so much from the story that I couldn't concentrate on the story line enough to even get into it.

3. Yes, I am definitely a mood reader. I will get into the mood for a good mystery, and nothing else will do. Then when I've had enough of that, a good inspirational book will fill the spot.

I got asked to review a book not that long ago. It was from a line that I read fairly often, but was a new-to-me author. I do not like violence, but do enjoy mysteries, so I said okay, I'll read it, without even knowing the title of the book. After all, a free book is a free book, eh? Well, when this book came, a) it was about a mercenary, therefore war was involved, and b) it took place in a jungle, another of my stay-away-froms. But I had promised. So I started reading it. By page 4 I was so caught up in the story I could have cared less about the jungle and the war. By the end of the book I couldn't read fast enough to find out what was happening next. I made supper with the book in my hand. I wouldn't even put it down when I had something I needed to do that us
(Donna Breitkreuz 4:41pm November 15, 2009)

No I'm never an end peaker.
No I don't read every book through to the end even if I can't stand it from the first chapter. I do though try to slog through at least 4 chapters or so to see if the story will pick up. Some are so detail laden the story doesn't really pick up in the first chapter or to for me.
(Brenda Rupp 4:42pm November 15, 2009)

Hey, that wasn't nice. I was watching the little marker, and it didn't say I was out of space. . .

Anyhow. . . I wouldn't even put it down when I had something I needed to do that used both hands, I just tucked it under my chin. Trudy, have you seen the new mini-series Marta Perry has out? It takes place in Pleasant Valley. The first one is called "Leah's Choice". It's from Berkley.
(Donna Breitkreuz 4:50pm November 15, 2009)

NOT an end peeker at all. Why spoil the finale?
If the book does not hold my attention I will put it away. I may try again at a later time.
I'm not a mood reader. I have favorite genres.
(Mary Preston 5:12pm November 15, 2009)

I am definitely NOT an end peeked
LOL! There have only been 3 out of
like 100 or so books that I haven't
finished. The first one I got half way
through and donated it to the library.
The second one I got like 3/4 done
but couldn't take anymore. I gave
that one to my sister who still hasn't
read it. The last one is sitting on my
bookshelf to hopefully be read
another day.

I am not a mood reader. I read most
everything, but my prefrence is
Historical Time Travel Romance. I
just love the "escape" that a book
can give, and it's always there when
you need it!
(Stefanie Finn 5:15pm November 15, 2009)

No, I never peek at the end of the book! Why spoil the fun even if you know it will be a HEA, you don't know how they will get there!

I read most of the books I pick up to the end. Sometimes it is a challenge to keep reading. Being optimistic I tend to think it will improve. When it doesn't I give up! In the last couple of months I've read two books that were a challenge to finish.

Yes, I am a mood reader, it might be romantic suspense or a book that I know will make me laugh or something that is "HOT" or maybe a good military romance.

These days I mostly read favorite authors so I don't usually worry about not liking a book. The two I mentioned above were both new to me authors! One book was a much deeper subject matter than I realized, the other a first time book, not sure I will read the new one just out!
(Donna McClure 5:29pm November 15, 2009)

I usually read the end before buying a book, so most times I read it to the end; it has happened that I haven't read and if I haven't enjoyed the book by page 50 I usually give up and box the book up; I do keep the books since I have in the past after a few years gone back to read it and finish it! And yes I am a mood reader sometimes reading old favorites only because I am down a wee bit or just jumping on a book I have heard so many comments about.
(Diane Sadler 6:00pm November 15, 2009)

Sandi,
I have sometimes peeked at the end. Just can't seem to help myself sometimes.
Most of the time I finish the ones I start, but there have been a few times I could just not make myself finish.
I pretty much just buy based on what catches my eye or by what series I am reading.
(Julie Harper 6:10pm November 15, 2009)

After reading your post I did some soul searching as to my reading habits.

1. Do I peek and reading the ending? No but I use to.

2. Do I finish every book that I start. No but again I use to. Reading is my relaxation so if I don't like a book I don't force myself to read it. However, I will keep the book in case I change my mind.

3.Am I a mood reader? Yes definitely. Currently I am only reading holiday themed books.

Thank you for an interesting article.
(Rosemary Krejsa 6:11pm November 15, 2009)

great turnout! Questions we all want to answer I guess LOL

I don't peek as I started reading mysteries and don't want to know who did it.
I do finish most but like you put the ones I don't finish back in the TBR as I may want to read them someday LOL and I am a mood reader sometimes I have to read the first few pages of several books in the genre to find the one I want!
(Barbs Ferris 6:40pm November 15, 2009)

Great post, Sandi.

I used to be a peeker. It started when I was reading a book and was curious to find out which guy the heroine would end up with. To my surprise, she didn't end up with either one at the end of that book, the story wouldn't be resolved until several books later. I put it down right away, and though the series is now done, I never went back to it. That turned me into a peeker for a while, but I've gotten away from it now. Like having to wait for my answers.

I have finished almost every book that I've read. I can only think of 2 instances where I didn't completely finish, but skimmed the end of the book because I just couldn't do anymore. Usually if I'm reading a difficult one, I'll start another book and make myself read a chapter in the book I don't like before I can read the new book. Typically, once I get into it a ways, it picks up and I can finish it without a problem. Thankfully, I don't have to do this very often.

I am a mood reader in that I will certainly go through my TBR pile until I find a book that fits the kind of story I feel like reading. I don't think I've ever had it happen after though that I wished I had read it at a different time.
(Jamie Kersten 8:14pm November 15, 2009)

Hey Sandi!

I never peek at the end of a book, but my girls do w/every book they read.

I can only recall a couple of books that I didn't finish. I remember one book that was a real struggle to finish and I wondered at the end why I wasted so much time trying to like it.

I think I'm a bit of a mood reader. Sometimes I like something meaty and suspenseful, others I want something a tad more erotic and others I was just plain sweet.

Fun topic, as always!
(Laurie Damron 8:22pm November 15, 2009)

1. I used to check the ending of every book before I read it. Now, I sometimes forget to.
2. There have been very few books in my life that I have not finished reading once I got past page 50 or so. Some books have put me off on the very first page. However, those are very rare because I vet every book before I decide to read it. I'd say that I finished more than 99.9% of books that I began unless the circumstances were beyond my control, e.g., lost the book or had to give it back to the library and was never able to borrow it again.
3. Yes, I think I'm a mood reader, at times anyway. I definitely have to be in the mood to read more difficult books like some non-fiction and I go to my "feel-good" authors when I feel pressured in any way.
(Sigrun Schulz 9:47pm November 15, 2009)

1. Are you an end peeker? No. That
seems like cheating, or opening your
christmas presents early. The story
leads up to the ending. It won't make
any sense if you don't know how you
got there. It kind of ruins the story if
you know what is going to happen.
2. I've only not finished one or two
books. One was a horror story that I
knew would give me nightmares. The
other I had to stop and just never got
back to it. Like you, I keep reading a
bad book hopin it will get better.
3. I am sort of a mood reader. I pick
things for my personal reading by my
mood, but I read for work so pretty
much have to go with what is there. I
will say I can choose what I read at
work, so I guess my mood comes into
play there too.
(Patricia Barraclough 11:57pm November 15, 2009)

Let's start with the survey:

Q. Are you an end peeker?

A. No.

Q. Do you finish every book you read?

A. Generally, yes. I've only not finished one, and that was because the sentence structures were so bad and the story seemed way too unbelievable that I lost interest fast. I kept on reading because I thought it would get better, but never did. I gave up on it, and it was really the only book I ever stopped reading.

Usually, I get books by authors I like or books that sound like I will like them, so it makes them easy to finish.

Q. Are you a mood reader?

A. Most definitely yes! I find that I can get saturated with the same types of storylines and need change, which is why I read so many different genres and have added YA authors and some biographies into the mix.

If I find I am not getting anywhere with a book, I take the time to figure out why. Usually, it's because I'm not in the mood for it.

However, since Oct. 30th, I've been devouring Rachel Caine's Morganville Vampires Series because, well, the cliff hangers were that good and the characters were well defined to the point that I just needed to know what happened to them. I've been so distracted by this series, that I honestly couldn't really get into anything else until I had some sense of completion, which finally came by Carpe Corpus, Book 6 of the series.

Now, I am actually in the mood to catch up on some of the stories I haven't had the desire to read yet!
(Carrie Hinkel-Gill 1:00am November 16, 2009)

1. I never peek at the ending of a book.

2. I finish almost all the books I start.

3. I am a mood reader. I go thru my ereader and tbr pile a find a book that fits my current mood.
(Lisa Holstein 8:23am November 16, 2009)

I don't peek at the ending.
If I am reading a book I can't get into I put it down unless it is for bookclub or review.
(Joy Hoormann 2:36pm November 16, 2009)

1. Do I peek and reading the ending?

I did that when I first started reading romances at age 16 and eventually figured out that there always is a happy ending so I don't do that anymore.

2. Do I finish every book that I start.

Absolutely!! I always keep telling myself that it will get better. Sometimes it does, and sometimes, it doesn't. I've only not finished a book maybe 3 or 4 times over the years.

3.Am I a mood reader?

Not really.
(Debbie Beverley 4:19pm November 16, 2009)

Well, haven't peaked at an ending since high school. Does that count, considering how long I've been out?

There is only 1 book I can recall not finishing. It was for an assignment in my 12th grade psychology class. The most booooorrrring book I have ever read. Literally could not keep my eyes open to read it. Don't remember what I got on the assignment, but assume I grasped enough of it to pass.

As for being a mood reader, I'll have to say some of the time. Sometimes the back blurb just doesn't seem to interest me at that moment, and I look for something else. Considering my tbr pile, that's not really hard to do:)

Great topic Sandi! This was a lot of fun.
(Amanda Reeder-erdly 12:35pm November 17, 2009)

1, I don't think I've ever peeked at the end. I think I in general love the journey too much to do that. I don't even peek on the books I don't finish lol.

2, I try to finish all the books I read, but if I can't get thru it then so be it I move on, there are soo many other fun books out there!

3, Im not sure if Im a mood reader. I think Im more into the genre but then again, this time of the year I enjoy reading christmasy stuff lol.
(Anne-Kathrine Ubberud 11:56am November 17, 2009)

I sometimes look at the last page to see how many pages are in a long novel. I can read the page number without seeing one word of the text. My wife can't. If she looks at a page she sees the entire page at once.

If I were to read the last page I would consider the book read and never touch it again.

I try to finishe everything I start. If I do put a book aside I usually won't ever go back to it.

Ray
(Ray Getzinger 9:34pm November 17, 2009)

I don't like to peek and it is rare that I drop a book before I've finished it. I pick my books by genre; I like variety!
(Ilene Pedersen 7:46pm November 18, 2009)

Sometimes I do peak at the end of the book if I feel that the book is going soooo slow, or is repetitious, etc. And no, I refuse to continue with a book if I am not enjoying it. Unfortunately, I have to enjoy the book from the beginning or else I will put it aside. I cannot see wasting my time if I don't care for the book. And I have to admit, if someone recommends a good book that they have read, I will look up reviews, and that determines whether or not I will purchase the book. And if I am in a store and near the book area, if a book cover catches my eye, I will pick up the book and read the back cover. But I won't purchase the book just for the cover; it has to be interesting for me.
(Peg Fragale 11:41am November 29, 2009)

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