> I'm of the school of thought that says, fine. I'll fail to finish some books.
I think you're right, it's definitely partly a matter of taste or mindset. I must have a similar mindset to you, and maybe other people have a different attitude. I'm not worried or anxious about being unable to finish a book this week, or this month or even this year. Maybe it's also about setting reasonable expectations, and as the OP writes, not guilt-tripping yourself when you don't keep a brutal and impossible to maintain pace. Most of what is worth reading isn't easy to get through in 7 days.
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.
I think you're right, it's definitely partly a matter of taste or mindset. I must have a similar mindset to you, and maybe other people have a different attitude. I'm not worried or anxious about being unable to finish a book this week, or this month or even this year. Maybe it's also about setting reasonable expectations, and as the OP writes, not guilt-tripping yourself when you don't keep a brutal and impossible to maintain pace. Most of what is worth reading isn't easy to get through in 7 days.