I struggle with DNFing a book. I mean in theory I know there's nothing wrong with it. If a book isn't working then I should just put it down instead of forcing myself to continue with something I'm not really enjoying. When I start a book I feel like I should finish it even though the times I've slogged my way through a book I wasn't interested in usually has me hating the book, the author, the books near it on the bookshelf and just in the middle of a big reading slump. This year I'm trying to get better about just putting a book down and calling it a day. This year one of the things I wanted to focus on was not forcing myself to finish books that I just wasn't clicking with and here are a couple of my DNF experiences so far.
Because You're Mine by Colleen Coble was highly rated on Goodreads and the cover definitely caught my eye. So into the library bag it went. There were crumbling mansions, Irish people, and all kinds of Gothic elements so I figured it was my kind of book. 17 pages in I started to have doubts and by page 59 I just didn't care anymore. This is the kind of book I wrestle with when it comes to DNFing. I don't hate it. I found the writing style very readable but when it came to the story line and the characters I just didn't care. So do I read the remaining 250 pages and finish up a book that at best was going to be just okay or do I call it done - no harm no foul, no more time wasted? Actually when I put it like that it seems pretty obvious but in the heat of the moment it just doesn't seem that easy. I did make myself read 50 pages and by that point the villain is so patently obvious and exaggeratedly villainous (there's mentions that he hates all animals and there's some kittens who I don't think come to a good end but I wasn't sticking around to find out) that I just couldn't take it anymore. So back into my library book it went and I felt immediate relief!
Then came
Chateau of Secrets by Melanie Dobson. This was a review book from back in 2014 that I really wanted to read. It was dual time line with family mysteries and an old chateau in France. It sounded like my kind of book. I was really looking forward to it but it was one of those books I just felt like I was skimming along the surface of the words. I was never pulled in. I never believed these characters were real. I didn't hate it. There was no eye rolling moments but I just didn't care. When I voluntarily called my cell phone provider to discuss my plan instead of reading this book I figured it was time to call it done.
How do you feel about DNFs? What was the final straw with your last DNF?
I'm not crazy about DNF'ing since I often feel I have time already invested in a book, and my OCD- ishness makes me ant to finish lol, but I still do it sometimes. I have a pretty popular YA book that I'm just bord with, and it's just sitting on the Kindle. I may finish it but... I may not!
ReplyDeleteLOL about calling your cell phone provider. Yeah that's probably a good indication...
I used to struggle though if I lost interest but not anymore. I will never read all the books I want to in my lifetime and I have started that DNF shelf and move down on. The book you mentioned, Because You're Mine, that would have completely sucked me in with a description like that. Gothic elements and Irish characters....I would have been on it but I would also have abandoned it for the same reasons....kittens and a bad guy that's obvious. Nope!
ReplyDeleteI say I will DNF but I have a hard time when it really comes down to it. I find myself skimming to the end of books like that. There are books I do DNF and it usually means I really don't care about the book at all.
ReplyDeleteI too have a hard time DNF ing a book but lately there are a few that I should have done that to. I hate writing negative reviews but had no choice as I did have to review fir Netgalley and First To Read. I may think 3 times before I request a book from now on.
ReplyDeletesorry for not fir :)
ReplyDeleteI still struggle with the DNF issue...!!!! I feel sooooooo sorry for the poor book. BUT I am growing a bit of a thicker skin lately. Or at least I intend to grow a thicker skin. What I did decide to do is to be stricter with my TBR list. By now I have build up a friendship base on Gooreads that I have a lot of faith in. If I have a book on my TBR list that somebody I know who is like-minded rated badly, I will delete it from the shelf. So that helps with the DNF issue.
ReplyDeleteNetgalley is a problem. I feel I HAVE to finish the book to give an honest review. Luckily I don't request a lot from there. Book Club is also a problem. Especially when somebody has asked me to read a book. I also HAVE to finish it to give my honest review.... Need to work on that!!!
Haha calling your cell phone provider rather than reading does certainly say something about the book!
ReplyDeleteI also hate to give up on a book but I know I would much rather spend my time on books I enjoy than making myself read something I don't like just for the sake of finishing it.
My mom also struggled with DNFing a book. I've never really struggled with it, but sometimes I do feel like "well, I've read so much all ready, I should just finish it."
ReplyDeleteI've been DNFing a lot lately, though. Reading Slumps SUCK!
I DNF, I put aside too. If it's a case of "it's not you, it's me" I don't feel guilty about not finishing it. Everyone is different with varying tastes, so therefore not every title suits every need.
ReplyDeleteI do give each a fighting chance, especially if blogger friends recommended it, since I most often follow similar reading paths. But I don't beat myself up over DNFs, especially library books and $1.00 thrift shop books. All that was lost was basically my time if I stop. Too many good books ahead of me to dive into!
I try to read at least a quarter of the book before I decide to DNF it. If I'm yawning and don't even have the energy to pick it up, I know it's a DNF. Also, sometimes I'm not just in the mood for that type of book and instead of torturing myself, why try to get further?
ReplyDeleteIf it is just plain old really bad writing I will DNF even if it is a review book. If it is not exactly my cup of tea, or it's just kind of bad writing and it is a review book I will usually keep going. If it is personal reading, I will DNF. Ha ha.
ReplyDeleteI used to hate to DNF a book...but my rule is to give a book 50-100 pages before deciding, especially if there is something appealing about the book.
ReplyDeleteBut if I no longer want to keep reading, there is no guilt, since life is too short for books that don't keep my interest.
Thanks for sharing.
I don't dnf very often. I do feel the need to try and finish most books that I start. I did dnf a book a few weeks ago. I had read 40% of the book and didn't care what happened and just wanted to move on so I stopped. It does feel good to set a book aside when you aren't enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteI don't fret over DNFing anymore, there are just to many books out there to drudge along in one I am not liking. If I finish it it's not getting a good review so why force myself.
ReplyDeleteI've DNFed books I'm not clicking with as well. I've decided to just read books I enjoy and put down the ones I don't but sometimes it's hard when it comes to ARCs. :(
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that you're doing this. Life is short and there are lots of great books out there waiting to be read. :)
Ergs. Yeah that would be a no go and one I'd bail on, too, I think.
ReplyDeleteI struggle with the DNF issue as well and it's only within the last couple of years that I've given myself permission to put a book down and call it quits. And even after that I've only DNFed maybe 4 books. I look at it this way though, my reading time is valuable and there are so many more books out there I want to read, my time can be better spent than on a book I hate.
ReplyDeleteI used to never DNF. But now that I have so many books I want to read, I just have to do it if a book is not catching me. Or if it is as cheesy as one I started this past week. :-) I just don't review them since I don't think it is fair to review one I didn't finish. Although I will give reasons why I gave up on it.
ReplyDeleteI try not to DNF and at least read 50% of the book. So far this year I DNF'd 1 book because it was too boring lol. It was an ARC from Netgalley so at least I didn't buy it! I would have been made if I paid for the book lol.
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