There are millions of books, no need to waste your time on a bad one. I go by my gut; if someone I know recommended it I’ll stick it out longer. If it has lots of praise or I like the author I may read several chapters hoping it gets better.

I have no qualms quitting in chapter 1. I started Life of Pi and quit like 10 pages in because the main character is insufferable. I quit Dear Miss Metropolitan because I didn’t like the style of narration; the story sounds great but I don’t enjoy reading it so I move on.

Conversely, I’ve stuck it out with books that weren’t what I expected but still were interesting. Song of Achilles was one of those; it turned out to be a gay bodice ripper but by the time I found that out I was already interested in the storyline and wanted to see it through.

I generally give up after 100 pages or so if it hasn’t caught my interest by then.

Life is too short to slog through a book just because other people liked it.

When it becomes a chore. When the stupidity surpasses my ability to tolerate stupidity. When the writing is poor enough to detract from the story.

Life is too short to read books you’re not going to enjoy, OP.

My biggest enemy is boredom - I have to be engaged to keep reading. Although the last two books I’ve abandoned were for other reasons. One because of a graphic animal-abuse scene that I couldn’t make it through and one that turned into a Christian novel half-way through. None of the reviews mentioned it, but apparently the author found god and released a new, improved printing featuring extra Jesus. Blech.

30% in I ask myself if I want to continue. That’s a fair shake.

I have a Kobo ereader at my bedside table and read almost every night in order to fall asleep, so when I dread picking that up I know I either have to double down and finish the book or drop it. So far it has only happened once in recent years. That time it was Salvation by Peter F Hamilton, a hefty chunk of a book. If it’s a novella I generally try to read more often just to finish it.

You have no obligation to finish a book. There are too many good books out there to waste time on one you don’t like!

(Also you’re completely right, 7 1/2 Deaths… was such a brilliant book but his follow up had that second album problem. Hopefully the third will be great)

If I find myself skimming pages and pages. I know I’ve lost interest in the book.

I’ll give an example. I read the first two sentences of blood meridian and decided not to read it and move on. I just don’t have the time to commit unless the book really grabs me.

@1019throw Depending on the length of the chapters, but usually 3-5 of them does the trick.

When my brain starts to wander off or I’ve read a chunk and can’t remember what went on. I then ask myself if I really care what happens next, if not it’s time to ditch.

If I get bored, I drop it. Maybe I miss out on some gems that ‘get good after the 7th chapter’ or whatever, but I’m not fussed

Could be the first chapter, ¾ through the book, halfway through a series… If I’m bored I’m out lol

I have never been ashamed in just straight up throwing a book down if I’m not in pretty quickly. Not everything is going to be everyone’s taste, and classics of all genres can be dull if you don’t find the premise interesting. Too many books out there to slog through anything lol

Around the point where you start looking for excuses not to read it and need to force your way through it

I try to do it before I even touch it. 😊

The best way to do that is to select your next reads by relying on your own previous reading (that gets easier as you read more), or on the opinions or recommendations of people that know you very well or have very similar tastes.

I haven’t abandoned a single book in years. The few times I was tempted to throw something aside, it was because I was misled by hype (and comparisons that seemed promising but didn’t deliver), or - most commonly - because someone gave it to me as a present.