That's how I felt reading The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. I kept thinking, ok, it's clever and somewhat funny and I see the social commentary but I'm not enjoying it, but I really should get through it. Not sure if I would have finished it or not, but forgetting my knapsack on NJ Transit when changing trains in Newark made the decision for me. Unfortunately, I also lost my laptop. I've adapted and revived my dying iMac.

One book I remember consciously giving up on was the Sound and the Fury. I only had one long chapter to go, but I'd had enough.