The “Should I finish this book?” thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Loved Gentleman in Moscow, though admittedly it was a little slow going in the first quarter. If you are still early on, I'd consider sticking it out a bit longer.

My category of "maybe DNFs" of 2025 are:
(1) Olive Kitteridge (I like Strout's other works but have never much liked "short story" formats);
(2) Pillars of the Earth (not bad, but I was listening on Libby and that is just NOT a format that was going to work for that book);
(3) the Doorman (realized again that I'm not much interested in "lives of the rich").
I'm currently wondering whether to continue with Culpability, now about 20% in. It was recommended to me by several people but the characters are so flat and stereotypical--sort of talking heads for whatever the author might eventually say about AI & modern life.

I may pick up all these books again but currently a bit on the fence.

I had a similar experience with Culpability in that I had to return it to the library when I was only 20% in and debated just letting circumstances take their course. I ended up getting it out again and finishing it and thought it really picked up. I think it gets a little more complex as you go but there are definitely a few of the characters that feel stock. Maybe try one more time? It's a pretty quick read.