Books When do you usually know it's time to give up reading a book?

[Nokra]

I'm currently reading The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy for my English book club in Germany and it's proving to be a real struggle. I'm over 60 pages in (out of 437) and it simply is not grabbing me. In fact, I'm finding it extremely confusing, jarring, and actually rather off-putting because the book constantly is switching perspectives and times, and there is a constant flood of indistinguishable characters with Indian names (many of which have multiple names). My brain hurts.  

 

Normally I would just slog through, especially for a book club book, but maybe I've finally hit the point where I'm willing to give up on a book.

 

When do you all reach that point? When do you decide that it's time to spend your time elsewhere? 20 pages? 50 pages? 50%? Never? 

 

And if you feel like sharing, what are some books that you've given up on? 

[IdeaOfEvil]

I've never given up on a book,  but I have skipped entire sections to move passed a point that I've ever struggled with.

 

Last I can remember, I was reading Bram Stoker's Dracula, and when I got to the chapter where Mina is asking questions to the old port man about what happened on the Demeter I had to skip it entirely. The language and slang were giving me headaches, and if I didn't skip it I know I would have stopped reading the book entirely. And once I did, I didn't miss what I didn't read in the slightest.

 

So, you might find it beneficial to not entirely drop a book, but maybe skip ahead to another chapter just to see if something changes and piques your interest there.

[sexy_shapiro]

It’s relative to the size of the book. If you are at least 1/4th into the book and it still isn’t connecting then there’s a good chance it just isn’t for you.

[CastlevaniaNut18]

I can only think of one book I just totally gave up on. It was some shitty thriller that had the dumbest characters. I didn't feel bad since someone had sent me a pirated copy for my Kindle. 

[TheLeon]

I drop books all the time, just as easily as I'll stop playing a game or watching a TV show if I'm not enjoying it. I don't really get a feeling of satisfaction from finishing a thing just to finish it, so I don't  bother.

[Pikachu]

I would give up after two or three chapters if it's not grabbing you. I couldn't finish reading Bram Stoker's Dracula because the book moved too slowly. I skimmed through the middle sections, but it wasn't grabbing me.

[Dre801]

If it hasn't grabbed me by the time I'm like a quarter to a third of the way in, I move on.

[Kal-El814]

I normally read in bed to relax before falling asleep, if I fall asleep while reading, I bail.

[RedSoxFan9]

As a punishment for picking a bad book, you keep reading until you finish it.

[johnny]

When I don’t want to read it. 

[Nokt]

I usually just stop reading them. I always start out a book strong by reading 50-70 pages up front, then I try to read a few chapters a day after that. If the book fails to catch me I'll cut down to like a chapter a day before I just stop reading it altogether. I'll find something better to do with my time.

[ALIEN-gunner]

A good book will always grab me right away. If it doesn't it tells me it's not written well and not worth sticking with it to see if it gets better. 

[Spawn_of_Apathy]

Usually when I “forget” where I put it. 

[gamer.tv]

The only book in recent memory I've stopped reading was Atonement after maybe 50 pages or so (3 Chapters ish).