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I've had to endure a book a few times, but not often. Some I have indeed given up on, usually due more to lack of respect for the reader, rather than a boring or tough slog. I like to avoid such stories though, but quite difficult to get a sense of a book just from the front & back cover elements (blurb etc), and I do not like reading reviews ... I like to judge for myself, without any preconceived notions other than my own.
Short stories for me are rather hit and miss. I have probably read more good than great ones, with some being outstanding, and some make you question why the author bothered. I think the effort is worth it for the occasional real gem. What I often do, is read a few short story collections at the same time, often different genres, taking turns, just to vary the experience regularly. Sometimes I will read a short story collection over a much longer period, and just intersperse a short story between other novels. Most of the short stories I read are by authors I read the novels of.
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