Originally Posted by Geekette70
If I'm having issues getting into a book, I usually go back and reread reviews on it before I continue. Sometimes I can get a clue if it's worth sticking it out for in the reviews (esp the negative ones.) For example, if the negative reviews almost all mention that they stopped reading early, I might give it some more time. Or say, if the negative reviewers have reviewed other books I've read and have had similar opinions, I will probably drop it.
It may take 15-20 minutes of research to make a decision, but I rationalize that it can saves hours of reading where I could be enjoying myself instead with a good book.
One book that this method worked well for me on was "The Assassin's Apprentice" by Robin Hobb. Honestly, the first chapter or two of that book was extremely irritating (it may have been my mood, who knows?) and I really wasn't enjoying it, but after rereading some of the reviews online I decided to plod on and it turned out to be one of my favorite series of fantasy novels ever.
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