Readers - Quitting on a book

I generally give it a few chapters. I have no problem quitting a book that isn't interesting to me.

The older the I get, the quicker I will give up. You know the saying *so many books, so little time*? Well, now that I am in my late 60's it is getting truer!! :laugh:A couple weeks ago I gave up on one about a 1/3 of the way through but generally it's a couple chapters.

ETA: The only books I'm glad I didn't give up on are the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The first part with all the history/politics was SO dry I wanted to scream.

It depends on the book. If it's really bad it might only be a few pages in. Life's too busy to waste on a crappy book

It certainly is.

I quit on one after page 3. It was a murder mystery and almost every other word the F word-very similar to an espisode of Gordon Ramsay.

That is so me too! Life is too short to read bad books and mine's getting shorter! I'll generally give it a couple of chapters or so.
That's a me too again! I was lucky though - my lovely sister-in-law warned me and encouraged me to stick with it... glad I did!

I rarely read something unless it truly sounds good to me or I've had it strongly suggested by a number of people as not just a good book, but something they specifically think I'd like. So, I can count on two hands the number of books I've ever given up on. I usually give them at least 100-150 pages, and at that point, I feel I've given it a good honest try.

I usually read about half of a book before giving up ...

I will say that now that I have an e-reader it is waaaaay easier to toss books aside ... when they were hard copies I felt compelled to finish them for some reason   

I have a very narrow window .  Too many good books to read and enjoy.
I Keep a list of all the books I start and don't finish, and it is extensive.

I usually give it a couple of chapters.

My BFF is an English professor, and she often sends me obscure-ish contemporary literature. It's almost comical how I read a few chapters, then put the thing down. A couple years later, I'll find the book on my shelf, give it another shot, and find myself utterly enchanted. She has yet to send me a book that didn't captivate me (once finally finished) - I now trust her judgment, and I let myself put her books down to "rest" (LOL) for awhile if they don't appeal right away. I know they'll be there when the moment is right.

I'm usually curious to know how the story ends, so I will push through. I'm trying to get better about that. I, too, have too many books and not enough time. I've finally given myself permission to skim if it's really not holding my interest.

I've also started putting books back on the shelf if I find myself putting off my reading time. Some books are worth it, and some I just have to be in the mood for, so if I've chosen one that is not working for me, I put it back and pick up something that I know I'm going to like.

There is only one book in recent memory that I just quit. It was The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald. The first couple of pages were so hard to follow, it was like it was in a foreign language. I just wasn't getting it at all. I put it back on my shelf to read later because it had apparently won awards, but after a while I knew I was never going to want to read it. I finally gave it away.

About two years ago, I gave myself "permission" to quit reading. So many books, so little time.

I try to read about 100 pages. Sometimes it takes a bit to warm up to a book.

Even so, I still only stop reading about 3 or 4 percent of all the books that I start.

Lisa

I decide while I'm reading the kindle sample.

Last year, an old friend I haven't socialized with since primary school wrote a crime novel. Reviews were ok so I decided to support her and buy it without even trying the sample (I was taking a walk on the wild side). I couldn't get through the first chapter. The writing wasn't for me.

Paige.

I will give it a few chapters.

I used to make myself finish a book if I started it. Now I'm older and wiser and realize there are too many books I want to read to waste time on one I'm not enjoying!