greengolux writes about Chuck Palahniuk's somewhat repulsive short story Guts, and the dilemma of whether to stop reading a story or not. Various comments take up the theme, and everyone who has read this story did confront the issue of whether to continue or not. When it was published in the Guardian I started to read it, figured out where it was going, and put it aside unread. Take a look at the story ALL IN CAPS ON METAFILTER if you want to see for yourself, but I don't recommend it as (as far as I can tell) it is gloating body-horror of a cheap and nasty kind (IMHO).How likely are you to abandon a novel part way through?
Virtually never
4(20.0%)
Very unlikely - only if I really hate it
5(25.0%)
If it wasn't any good I'd reluctantly give up
5(25.0%)
If I didn't like it I'd stop reading without qualms
1(5.0%)
I stop reading them all the time, they have to work to keep me
5(25.0%)
How likely are you to abandon a short story part way through?
Almost unthinkable, I'd have to finish it
4(21.1%)
Only as an active protest, if something really offends me
3(15.8%)
It does happen, with stories I don't like
7(36.8%)
Meh, if I think it's wasting my time I'll put it aside
5(26.3%)
Do you think this is representative of your personality?
Yes, I like to stick at things
5(26.3%)
Yes, I find it easy to walk away
3(15.8%)
No, reading is different from other things
8(42.1%)
Something else (please comment)
3(15.8%)
