I once glued a whole batch with the grain sideways and they all turned into potato chips.

That sentient rock conversation sounds rough. Honestly, I respect the decision. There's this weird guilt people put on finishing books, like you owe the author something just because you got partway through. But reading is supposed to be enjoyment, not a chore. I dropped a mystery novel with about fifty pages left once because I figured out the killer and the writing was getting repetitive. No regrets at all, just relief. The library dropbox is a solid move too, frees up the shelf space for something better.

Heard a guy on a podcast swear by those things for avionics work, seems like they pay for themselves quick.