Staff at Amazon prepare orders of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which came second in the fiction list of least-finished books. Photographer: James Morgan/PA

Neglected novels line our nation's bookshelves, impulse purchases and bargain "3 for 2" buys go unread and lengthy classics are left unfinished. Our coffee tables may be adorned by the latest books, raved about in literary circles and lapped up by high-brow intellectuals, but, according to a survey by Teletext, we rarely give them the time of day.

Rachel Cugnoni, from publisher Vintage, blamed the vanity of readers for the results saying that many people do not purchase books to read them, but rather to gain some "intellectual credibility for the bookshelf".

The publisher behind Eats, Shoots & Leaves, which came fifth in the non-fiction list of least-finished books was perturbed by our lack of commitment, saying: "These people must have the intelligence of plankton not to be able to get through 204 pages of a comic, readable book."

The reader cannot, however, be held accountable for books that simply don't meet expectations. So, what was the last book you gave up on and why?