I think it's a personality thing. I started Njal's Saga years ago (my frame of reference is that I heard of it on Slashdot) and I'm about 3/4 of the way through. I haven't picked it up in years (I think it's under the bed) but someday I will, whenever I get around to it. It just doesn't matter when/if I finish it.
Contrast that with an old roommate of mine who thought of this stuff a lot more like Scott does. He would feel really, really guilty about starting a book and not finishing it in a reasonable time or at all. He felt he "owed" it to the author to finish it if started.
I just can't think that way. It took me three tries to get past page 100 of Dune but once I did, I absolutely loved the book. Same goes for Stars in my pocket like grains of sand: I took over five years to finish that book and it was really good.
Feel "guilty?" No, guilt is reserved for when you hurt someone.
Contrast that with an old roommate of mine who thought of this stuff a lot more like Scott does. He would feel really, really guilty about starting a book and not finishing it in a reasonable time or at all. He felt he "owed" it to the author to finish it if started.
I just can't think that way. It took me three tries to get past page 100 of Dune but once I did, I absolutely loved the book. Same goes for Stars in my pocket like grains of sand: I took over five years to finish that book and it was really good.
Feel "guilty?" No, guilt is reserved for when you hurt someone.