There are times when I struggle with trying to finish a book.    My general rule is to read the first third then decide whether to continue or not.   there are a number of reasons to abandon a book.   It can be uninteresting (to me).   It can have poor writing.    It can move interminably slowly.   It may use literary gimmicks.    It may be a series of cliches (pulp fiction).   It may be just too long and demand too much, where an alternate book may be more accessible.

recently I have started, but have not finished a series of books, for various reasons:

• A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving (I may return).
• A true-life WWII book of survival – The Twelfth Man.   A pretty good account, but weaker unengaging writing.
• The Witchwood Crown by Tad Williams.   1000 pages and many, many new names and places!   I like his writing, but I was not up to it.
• One of the Leaphorn and Chee books by Tony Hiller.    Just a bit flat.
• and some others that did not get past the third chapter.

At times it is best to stick with reliable authors.   I have two books on the go right now by fine authors – John Mortimer (Rumpole) and Peter Robinson (Inspector Banks).