I put a poll up on twitter a couple weeks ago. Below are the results. Thank you to everyone who answered. I also got some very cool/ funny/ thoughtful comments. I thought I’d expand it into a post using some anecdotes from my reads of the past week.
Finishing a Good Book
I finished A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World last week. It is awesome. Period. No spoilers (Fletcher requests it before the start of his narrative.) But I had a great feeling after finishing that book. It includes an epic journey, a coming of age, and a voice that I won’t soon forget… full review scheduled for Thursday. But it was the epitome of “Finishing a Good Book.”
Starting a New Book
I normally read my ARCs in order, and next up was Middlegame by Seanan McGuire. It hits on all the points on the anticipated read: a well-known author, a hyped new book, a genre I’ve been meaning to get into more (don’t know exactly how to categorize it, maybe contemporary urban fantasy?)… And from the moment I hit the first epigraph, I felt a good connection with the writing. Excellent turns of phrase and description of characters in the first couple chapters. I’m excited to keep reading!
Paul's Picks 
Neither: I like being in the middle of an excellent book. I’ve already been sucked in, but I know I still have time before I have to say goodbye to the story. It’s the best feeling.
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You are totally right. I should have made this the third option!
In the middle of a mystery or adventure or anything, it’s a great feeling.
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I love it! I always get sad when a book I love is ending, although if the ending is great, that helps. Ha ha!
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I vote for the middle. It is a happy medium. You are flowing with the story and it is wonderful. You aren’t just being introduced and you don’t have to say goodbye soon.
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I should have made that my third option!
I’m in the middle of a good one now.
What about you?
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I just started a fantastic story by Craig Schaffer. What are you reading?
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Cool!
I’m reading Spying on the South by Tony Horwitz. Must like his other ones, but takes place in the South.
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Cool! Frederick Law Olmstead is the god of landscape architecture. I studied him.. a lot.. in school. He fundamentally changed how people viewed cities and how people lived in them.
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Horwitz spends most of his time traveling the south following Olmsted’s route, but does go to Central Park and Biltmore Estate to see his legacy.
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I will need to read this. Olmstead’s work is so much more than Central Park even though that was his opus.
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Ooo tough call! I like to start a new book, that’s a good feeling… though I dont know if it’s better than finishing a book you loved… so torn on this one!
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I waffle all the time!
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It depends on the book I think. If it’s a good book, it’s bittersweet. I get book hangovers if it was a true 5 Star read. Last one I can think of was The Wolf in the Whale. (You just know the next book you read won’t live up to it.)
If it’s a book I’ve been waiting on for a while or one I’m really excited for, then starting a new book is great too.
If it’s a book I’m ambivalent about, I don’t have much feeling either way, but might feel differently by the 25-50% mark.
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So true! Books can definitely shift while reading.
I’ve been there!
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A good ending! I can put up with a meh beginning as long as it finishes up strong!
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Definitely, my vote is for finishing a good book. I’m still in my euphoria from the one I just finished 💜
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Cool! Which book was that?
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It was Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens💕💕💕
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Cool! I’ve heard so many good things!
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Finishing a good book is pretty awesome, but picking up a book and realizing after a few chapters that it is checking all the right boxes and/or is living up to your anticipation after spending months or years on your TBR, and you’ve still got 80% of the book left? That’s the real prize for me.
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That’s definitely the option I should have included. Such a good feeling to be in the midst of a good book!
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This is tough! I’d say they’re both equal for me. Maybe starting a new book is better though because finishing a good book leaves me feeling sad that it’s over lol.
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That’s so true!
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Ah that’s a tough one, it just depends on the book, I guess? It’s very rare for me to fall in love with a book in just a few pages (in 2018, I only read two books where after the first chapter, I knew I was going to absolutely love them : Unholy Land by Lavie Tidhar and American War by Omar El Akkad), so I think I prefer finishing a good book. Even if it’s sad so… I don’t know haha, very interesting question though!
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I’m def with finishing a good book. Nothing beats that feeling of fulfillment and satisfaction after a good read, as if I ate a great and satisfying meal.
A story can start out good and take a turn for the worse later.
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I hear you! That last page can really hit home.
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Can I pick that limbo period after finishing and right around picking your next book? It’s a small, tiny moment where you feel renewed. Sort of like leveling up! 😀
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Hahahahaha!!! I love that!
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