--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I confess that I am a messy, disorganized…" description: "\"I confess that I am a messy, disorganized and impatient reader: if the book doesn't grab me in the first 40 pages, I abandon it. I have piles of half-r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/497/isabel-allende-266_abandon_i-confess-that-i-am-a-messy-disorganized_1046263.jpg" --- # I confess that I am a messy, disorganized and impatient… ![“I confess that I am a messy, disorganized and impatient reader: if the book doesn't grab me in the first 40 pages, I abandon it. I have piles of half-read books waiting for me to get acute hepatitis or some other serious condition that would force me to rest so that I could read more.” quote by Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/497/isabel-allende-266_abandon_i-confess-that-i-am-a-messy-disorganized_1046263.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/497/isabel-allende-266_abandon_i-confess-that-i-am-a-messy-disorganized_1046263.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/497/isabel-allende-266_abandon_i-confess-that-i-am-a-messy-disorganized_1046263.jpg) > “I confess that I am a messy, disorganized and impatient reader: if the book doesn't grab me in the first 40 pages, I abandon it. I have piles of half-read books waiting for me to get acute hepatitis or some other serious condition that would force me to rest so that I could read more.” [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author admits to abandoning books quickly if they don’t captivate early, leading to many unfinished works. **In simple terms:** Abandoning books that don’t hook early. Key Takeaway Seek books that engage you quickly. Themes reading habits patience attention span Mood reflective frustrated Type personal advice When to use this quote - personal reading choices - book clubs - library usage Key Concepts literature engagement Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide when to quit a book? - What strategies could help you finish challenging reads? A Different Perspective May miss deeper value of slower‑burning literature. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acute/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Piles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piles/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [I can be very messy and disorganized. And I don't throw away anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-ostrom/i-can-be-very-messy-and-disorganized-and-i-don-t-throw-away-anything/) [Meredith Ostrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-ostrom/) > [“Regret. It piles up around us like books we never read.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cozad-and-david-koepp/regret-it-piles-up-around-us-like-books-we-never-read/) Adam Cozad and David Koepp > [History does not unfold: it piles up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-adams/history-does-not-unfold-it-piles-up/) [Robert Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-adams/) > [“Piles (hemorrhoids) are also varicose veins, but in and around the anus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wim-hof/piles-hemorrhoids-are-also-varicose-veins-but-in-and-around-the-anus/) [Wim Hof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wim-hof/) > [Most places in the Midwest, you ski on piles of trash, like retired landfills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-goepper/most-places-in-the-midwest-you-ski-on-piles-of-trash-like-retired/) [Nick Goepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-goepper/) > [People who live inside garbage piles - that should not be happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-banerjee/people-who-live-inside-garbage-piles-that-should-not-be-happening/) [Abhijit Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-banerjee/) > [“One of the Indian boys says we must not pile any more wood,” said Kitty. “Why?” She looked at William angrily as if she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-wellman/one-of-the-indian-boys-says-we-must-not-pile-any-more-wood-said-kitty/) [Sam Wellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-wellman/) > [Successive American presidents have turned a blind eye to piles of evidence that Saudi money is being used to foment holy war against America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/successive-american-presidents-have-turned-a-blind-eye-to-piles-of/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [“battered Balinese desk. There were supposed to be three piles—those I could pay right away; those I’d pay by the end of February; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joann-bassett/battered-balinese-desk-there-were-supposed-to-be-three-piles-those-i/) [JoAnn Bassett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joann-bassett/) > [I just had an operation for piles - all my troubles are behind me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-brett/i-just-had-an-operation-for-piles-all-my-troubles-are-behind-me/) Ken Brett > [It's easier to get rid of things when you're giving them to someone who can use them, but don't let this kind intention become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/it-s-easier-to-get-rid-of-things-when-you-re-giving-them-to-someone/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [I'm quite contradictory - a bit OCD, but quite untidy. I have piles of stuff everywhere, but they make sense to me. And I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberley-nixon/i-m-quite-contradictory-a-bit-ocd-but-quite-untidy-i-have-piles-of/) [Kimberley Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberley-nixon/) > [I have a natural propensity to work on big piles of poop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/i-have-a-natural-propensity-to-work-on-big-piles-of-poop/) [Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/) > [Derek Randall bats like an octopus with piles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-engel/derek-randall-bats-like-an-octopus-with-piles/) [Matthew Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-engel/) > [Silver is used in the electronics industry and is consumed daily; stock piles of silver are dwindling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/silver-is-used-in-the-electronics-industry-and-is-consumed-daily/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) ## More by Isabel Allende > [“I am happier when I love than when I am loved. I adore my husband, my son, and my grandchildren, my mother, my dog,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-am-happier-when-i-love-than-when-i-am-loved-i-adore-my-husband-my/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [Having a point to start is important. You know that when you decide to write something it's like a commitment. It's like falling in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/having-a-point-to-start-is-important-you-know-that-when-you-decide-to/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [Music is a wind that blows away the years, memories, and fear, that crouching animal I carry inside me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/music-is-a-wind-that-blows-away-the-years-memories-and-fear-that/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [Everybody has losses - it's unavoidable in life. Sharing our pain is very healing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/everybody-has-losses-it-s-unavoidable-in-life-sharing-our-pain-is/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [“The writer and the dreamer have so much in common: They can't control the plot, they are always part of the story or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/the-writer-and-the-dreamer-have-so-much-in-common-they-can-t-control/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [People think that they will sit down and produce the great American novel in one sitting. It doesn't work that way. This is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/people-think-that-they-will-sit-down-and-produce-the-great-american/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [“He had a principle: if you lend money and never see the person again, that's money well spent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/he-had-a-principle-if-you-lend-money-and-never-see-the-person-again/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [“Catholics form a majority in Chile, although there are more and more Evangelicals and Pentacostals who irritate everyone because they have a direct understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/catholics-form-a-majority-in-chile-although-there-are-more-and-more/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [“At times I feel as if I had lived all this before and that I have already written these very words, but I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/at-times-i-feel-as-if-i-had-lived-all-this-before-and-that-i-have/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [In 2011, I announced that I was going to retire, and my agent panicked. So she says: 'No, no, no. You have to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/in-2011-i-announced-that-i-was-going-to-retire-and-my-agent-panicked/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [I have lived with passion and in a hurry, trying to accomplish too many things. I never had time to think about my beliefs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-have-lived-with-passion-and-in-a-hurry-trying-to-accomplish-too/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [I'm surrounded by the scene of aging. I myself am in my 70s and not getting any younger. Although I'm very healthy, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-m-surrounded-by-the-scene-of-aging-i-myself-am-in-my-70s-and-not/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [I try to write the kind of books I like to read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-try-to-write-the-kind-of-books-i-like-to-read/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [“Intimacy needs time to mature—a shared history, tears shed, obstacles overcome, photographs in an album. It’s a slow-growing plant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/intimacy-needs-time-to-mature-a-shared-history-tears-shed-obstacles/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [ The idea of the book \["The Japanese Lover"\] came in a conversation that I had with a friend walking in the streets of New… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/the-idea-of-the-book-the-japanese-lover-came-in-a-conversation-that-i/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) [Explore all 552 Isabel Allende quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) ## More Abandon quotes > [Humans are, as Sartre put it, 'condemned to be free'. To insist that science, or God, objectively defines moral values is to abandon our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenan-malik/humans-are-as-sartre-put-it-condemned-to-be-free-to-insist-that/) Kenan Malik > [The purpose of a spirit filled life is to demonstrate the supernatural power of our living God so that the unsaved multitudes will abandon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-l-osborn/the-purpose-of-a-spirit-filled-life-is-to-demonstrate-the/) [T.L. Osborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-l-osborn/) > [However, however, if the goal is to abandon America's free enterprise economy, if the goal is to convert America into a submissive member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/however-however-if-the-goal-is-to-abandon-america-s-free-enterprise/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [I would leave at once, but it would be cruel to abandon a lady in a foreign land with a maniac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-would-leave-at-once-but-it-would-be-cruel-to-abandon-a-lady-in-a/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [When we fall utterly, something gathers us up. But our falling must be without reservation, without expectation, without hope, though not hopeless. You cant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-housden/when-we-fall-utterly-something-gathers-us-up-but-our-falling-must-be/) [Roger Housden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-housden/) > [every subjective phenomenon is essentially connected with a single point of view, and it seems inevitable that an objective, physical theory will abandon that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-nagel/every-subjective-phenomenon-is-essentially-connected-with-a-single/) [Thomas Nagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-nagel/) > [Can you dissolve your ego? Can you abandon the idea of self and other? Can you relinquish the notions of male and female, short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/can-you-dissolve-your-ego-can-you-abandon-the-idea-of-self-and-other/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Every great thing starts with an idea, followed by a doubt and finally a resolve to abandon or pursue. Victory is a treacherous journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/every-great-thing-starts-with-an-idea-followed-by-a-doubt-and-finally/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [Those who have been once intoxicated with power, and have derived any kind of emolument from it, even though but for one year, never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/those-who-have-been-once-intoxicated-with-power-and-have-derived-any/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Do not lose hope; St. Joseph also experienced moments of difficulty, but he never lost faith and was able to overcome them, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/do-not-lose-hope-st-joseph-also-experienced-moments-of-difficulty-but/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [It is a dangerous and fateful presumption, besides the absurd temerity that it implies, to disdain what we do not comprehend. For after you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-dangerous-and-fateful-presumption-besides-the-absurd-temerity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Don't give up because things are hard, but work harder, when you think of giving up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/don-t-give-up-because-things-are-hard-but-work-harder-when-you-think/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [Sex is not the ultimate high, but the ultimate high hangs out around sex. The ultimate high is the dance with another person, played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/sex-is-not-the-ultimate-high-but-the-ultimate-high-hangs-out-around/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [I care so deeply about this matter that I'm willing to take on the legal penalties, to sit in this prison cell, to sacrifice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-care-so-deeply-about-this-matter-that-i-m-willing-to-take-on-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I've been to unpretty places with the roles I've played, and I'm attracted to reckless abandon. I like being taken to the edge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhys-ifans/i-ve-been-to-unpretty-places-with-the-roles-i-ve-played-and-i-m/) [Rhys Ifans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhys-ifans/) Browse all 1,142 Abandon quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I confess that I am a messy, disorganized and impatient reader: if the book doesn't grab me in the first 40 pages, I abandon it. 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