Earlier, I mentioned that I was having a hard time struggling through Stephen King’s latest novel, Lisey’s Story.

In particular, the far-too-numerous appearances of a euphemism for the f-word, an “inside joke” between the book’s two main characters, was getting on my nerves. I decided I’d stick with it a little longer to see if it got less annoying.

Then, while that little word’s appearances grew less numerous, more words and phrases, like bools and “strapping it on” have become more and more frequent. Eventually, I have some lingering confidence, there will be a clear explanation of what the hell these little ditties mean. But I’m tired of sitting through them while I wait.

I feel like I’m attending a party of close friends who are speaking in their own little code built from shared experience, and I’m forced to nudge someone next to me to explain what they’re talking about. The problem is that as a reader, there’s no one to nudge.

It may be the greatest novel King has ever produced. If so, I guess I’ll just miss out. After lasting through the first 129 of 509 pages, I just can’t take it any more. And despite my frustration and my general lack of patience, I still, for some reason, feel somewhat guilty about giving up. I shouldn’t feel guilty; after all, I’ve invested my time to get through more than a fifth of the book, so it’s not like I haven’t paid a price. But somehow, I still do.

What I also feel, besides guilt, is concern. I wonder if my manuscript will keep the reader interested after the first fifth is over. I think it will, but is that enough? How can I really be sure?

I’ll be taking Lisey’s Story to the local used book store. And because I treat my books with kid gloves, they’ll probably be delighted to put it on their shelf.

In any case, while I’m pondering those thoughts, I have started a new novel, a debut novel, in fact, from Joe Hill. Heart-Shaped Box is about a man who finds a strange online auction offering the chance to buy the ghost of the seller’s step-father. The lead character buys the ghost (shipped in a heart-shaped box), thinking that he’ll enjoy the novelty of claiming that he’s made such an odd purchase. But things don’t quite go as planned….

It’s an interesting concept and I’ve read some early positive reviews about it. While this isn’t Hill’s first published fiction, it is his first published novel, so there’s the bonus of getting to read a first major work. I hope that one-fifth of the way through this one, I’ll agree with all of those great reviews.

And that brings me to the next Willoughby Poll. You’re reading a book and while you give it what you consider a noble effort, you’re just can’t get into it. How long will you give it to pique your interest? When you think of a reader giving it the “old college try,” what does that mean to you?

The responses are somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but pick the one that’s generally closest to what you’d do. Vote now!