Books - Are you a perseverer?

If I'm really not enjoying a book and am so unengaged that I can't remember the names of any of the characters, I give up.

Someone whose taste is similar to mine recommended The Paying Guest by Sarah Walters (I loved her book The Little Stranger). I found it boring and repetitive and eventually gave up.

What I find really irritating is a book that, for the most part, has been really engaging and then has a ridiculous resolution. This has happened to me today. I read several glowing reviews of a book called Why Did You Lie? by an Icelandic author. It quickly sold out at Waterstones and I had to wait for a new delivery. Up until about two-thirds of the way through I really enjoyed it and then, to my mind anyway, it became completely implausible. What a disappointment. I must remind myself not to rely too much on fabulous reviews.

One book that I nearly gave up on because suddenly there were several pages of what I found to be very boring Greek mythology was The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I didn't give up though and it turned out to be perhaps my favourite book of all time.

I used to always finish a book, it just seemed the right thing to do and I read a lot and am quite fast. Nowadays I think I'm never going to get to read all the good books there are so won't waste my time. I am however re-reading some books I loved when I was younger, including Poldark, which is still good (like the dramatisation).

I agree with those who say life is too short. I gave up on Captain Corelli's Mandolin and Love in a Time of Cholera but will persevere if it's a book club read.

If I can't get into a book in the first chapter I'm onto the next one. Too many books to read,not enough time !

It's pretty rare for me to give up on a book, though I admit I am selective about what I start in the first place. When buying a book, I try to make sure it's something I really want to read, either from reviews or personal recommendations or authors I'm familiar with.

I belong to a book group so have read some excellent books I'd never have picked up of my own accord, which is probably the downside to the self-censoring I've described above!

Definitely abandon any book I'm not enjoying, I'm with the 'Life's too short...' folk. As for 'Girl on the Train' - I think I managed about 40 pages then it was off to the charity shop.