50 or so pages— unless someone/something I respect really recommended it.

I don’t think anyone should push through a book they’re not enjoying. But what drives me crazy is seeing people who both give up on a book and post a rating/review of it. It’s one thing to say that you didn’t finish because it wasn’t for you/holding your attention; it’s another to score an entire book after finishing 1/4 of it. I saw a review recently of someone who said they tired of the book and characters and criticized the lack of character development and plot pacing. But then they said they stopped reading around page 100– out of a 600 page book! Absurd. I hate goodreads.

As soon as I realize I am not enjoying it. I bail around page 20 pretty often. It’s when I am more than 1/3 through a book when I struggle to give up because I keep thinking it might improve.

Usually 1/4 into the book.

However if a book reads very badly, then sometimes in the middle of the 2nd chapter!

It depends on my mood. There are so many books on my list and also so many that I have loved that it's hard for me to keep slogging through when something isn't working. In general, I'm dying to pop in my Air Pods and listen or sit down with my Kindle and read when I'm in the middle of a good book. I look forward to listening or reading and I love feeling that way. When I'm in different or I find that I haven't listened or read for a while, it's generally a sign that I should just give up and move on. If I've learned anything from this forum, it's that some books just aren't for some people. I have hated some of the books people on here have loved and vice versa. Doesn't make them bad books, just not the right books for me at that point, and that's ok.

It really varies. I probably made it 20 pages into “Fourth Wing” before I realized it was not for me. But I slogged all the way through “The Measure” for reasons that are still unclear.

If a book has over 4 stars on Goodreads, I usually push on.

If it's a book from the library, and I'm just not into it for whatever reason (and a lot of the time it's more about me than the book itself), I'll just return it. I figure if I really want to read it, I can check it out again another time. My mom gets kindle books from the library and free from Kindle Unlimited and if she gets it, she powers through no matter what. I'm like, you're 75 years old, why waste your time on books you don't like??!? But she's like, if I start it I feel like I have to finish it! I didn't inherit that gene, lol.

I’ll give the author three long chapters or six short ones. Life is too short to read even one more bad book!

It depends. If nothing catches me in the opening page it usually goes right back on the library or bookstore shelf. I abandoned Captain Corelli around pp 50 and I actually met the author who said that most people who gave up did so around that page as well. Which was kind of embarrassing.

Anonymous wrote:50 pages. Or if I keep putting it down.

I no longer have the desire to struggle through books, even if they are highly recommended. I learned a lot from reading The Goldfinch.

I will not do it again.

I feel the same about the Goldfinch!

Anonymous wrote:Found it: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1094807.page

OP here. Thanks! You have a fantastic memory.

50 pages. Or if I keep putting it down.

I no longer have the desire to struggle through books, even if they are highly recommended. I learned a lot from reading The Goldfinch.

I will not do it again.

Found it: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1094807.page

100 pages, but there are definitely times when it's clear after a chapter or two that it isn't the book for me.

I think there's a thread called "DNF" about this.

When do you give up on a book? Has that changed as you've gotten older? I've heard that as you get older, you should give up on what's not working for you sooner - you know what you like, you have less time and longer TBR list, etc.