I struggled with the beginning of "The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand and "The Stand" by Stephen King
Eventually, I picked them up again, determined to finish them and I am so glad I did.

I read the first page. If it seems well written then I peek at the last page, and if that is also well written and interesting, then I read the bit in between.
Save a lot of time. Unfortunately, I sometimes (but rarely) miss what turns out to be a good book. Fortunately, my wife is more tolerant and so acts as a second opinion.

I’ve been known to force myself to continue a book only to finally give up more than halfway through. And then get mad that I wasted the time! Lol.

I can barely rouse myself from a stupor to throw a book across the room if the first paragraph is an extended description of just about anything. Grab me by the first paragraph or duck!

Yep.

It's true; you need to nab your reader quickly. As a writer, you're essentially pitching from the first line. So, that makes perfect sense to me.