Debate: Should book clubs allow members to skip books they hate?

I heard my neighbor say her book club kicked someone out for not finishing a novel they called 'boring.' That got me thinking, is it better to force everyone to read the whole thing or let people opt out and still join the discussion? What's your take on keeping it fair?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_evan1mo ago

@cameron318 makes a good point about the three chapter rule, but honestly this whole thing reminds me of how people treat life in general. Everyone expects instant gratification now, whether it's movies, meals, or even friendships. If something doesn't give them a dopamine hit right away, they toss it aside and move on. Maybe forcing yourself to finish a book you hate teaches you something about perseverance, or at least helps you understand why others see value in it. What's the line between respecting your own time and missing out because you quit too soon?

cameron3181mo ago

Three chapters is my cutoff - if it hasn't grabbed me by then, why waste my limited reading time forcing it? That way you still give every book a fair shot but don't drag down the whole group's energy with someone who is checked out.