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# When Do You Abandon a Book?
- URL: https://www.joeyplunkett.com/when-to-abandon-a-book/
- Published: 2026-09-04T07:19:14.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-04T14:40:39.000Z
- Author: Joey Plunkett
- Tags: Newsletter

Hi [y'all](https://youtu.be/B9s4JamlOvg?is=BcSDYnE%5F20yeFZkF&ref=joeyplunkett.com)!

- For the first time in a while I'm having trouble soldiering through a sci-fi or fantasy book. I've started books in the genre and decided they're not for me and abandoned them in the past, but generally if I get past the quarter mark I'm usually invested enough that I'm rolling downhill and enjoying it. That hasn't been my experience with [Neuromancer](https://www.foliosociety.com/row/neuromancer-william-gibson?ref=joeyplunkett.com) by Willam Gibson. There's a lot there that intrigues me, the stylized cool of its technofuturism and the way it talks about AI, but something about the story structure, the character building, and the constant use of underdescribed slang has me off kilter. [Here's the glossary](https://www.litcharts.com/lit/neuromancer/terms?ref=joeyplunkett.com), so you can see what I'm talking about. I want desperately to finish it. I hesitate every time I pick it up. Anyone else read Neuromancer and have a perspective, or felt this way about a book before?
- Rockies again, sorry. But this highlight is extraordinary. Context: they just ended their worst home losing streak ever, ten in a row, and somewhere in the middle of it they were about to win on a walk-off home run when the opposing center fielder robbed it at the wall. Really inventive ways they're finding to break my heart. [Watch it here](https://www.reddit.com/r/baseball/comments/1w4221c/highlight%5Fcolton%5Fcowser%5Fgameending%5Fhome%5Frun/?solution=5cd45b1ebc07982a5cd45b1ebc07982a&js%5Fchallenge=1&jsc%5Ftoken=7afd7253fec22262ff1c52b1703fe9ec0564e036899617f3b5eb48ab1241517c&jsc%5Forig%5Fr=&ref=joeyplunkett.com).
- A few months ago I shared [mechanical-pencil.com](https://mechanical-pencil.com/?ref=joeyplunkett.com), the site where an engineer named Bryan takes apart everyday objects and draws what's inside. The new entry is a Master Lock combination lock. [Really fun read](https://mechanical-pencil.com/products/lock?ref=joeyplunkett.com).
- Song this week was shared with me by Macy. Great pick, Macy! It's [Pale Horse by Truman Sinclair](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu0xmN2722o&ref=joeyplunkett.com). Really like the indie acoustic sound of it, the tinny drums, the DIY aesthetic. Songwriting is great too. Want to explore more from him. Fun live version [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9R2AdZiD%5FC8&t=443s&ref=joeyplunkett.com). Been singing 'Like a pale horse runninnnnn' under my breath all week.
- Finally: [Are Beavers Good at Building Dams?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1wwtGgnzg4&t=247s&ref=joeyplunkett.com) Turns out they know a thing or two on the subject.

[Til next time](https://youtu.be/KPaWQF7uBtA?is=Xry29eps0l7IPXA1&ref=joeyplunkett.com), 

Joey