The DNF Files!
Happy Tuesday! This week we are talking about those books we did not finish and reflecting on why. I know a few of these will be popular reasons, but I also know that some are unique to me.
- Too slow to start - If a book cannot capture my interest within the first 10 - 15%, I usually give up. If it's an author I love, I may hang in there a little longer, but you know, too many books, too little time.
- Too dark - I DNFed this one book that had this really cheerful cover, and then it had murder, abortion, lying nuns, abuse, and all sorts of other dark things. I like to know what I am signing up for and don't like be surprised like that.
- Terrible characters - I tend to read a lot of books with little plot. If the plot isn't there to capture my interest, the book has to have characters I can care for. Sometimes, there is no one to like, and I find it difficult to keep reading.
- Pacing issues - When a book starts to drag, I can tire quickly. I always hope it will pick up, but sometimes, that just doesn't happen.
- Too boring - I am ok with slice of life books, quiet books, but something has to happen. I have started and not finished a few books where NOTHING happened in 50+ pages. Come on!
- Too political - When I am reading a book that is not about politics, and the author keeps injecting political things in the book, I will DNF. I know some people like this stuff in their books, but I am not a fan.
- Too much slagging - I know it's popular to drag certain groups of people, but hatred of any group of people kind of wrecks the vibe of the light and fluffy books I love to read. I will let a comment or two slide, but three strikes and I am done with that book.
- Too much soapboxing - I read for entertainment, not for lectures on what I should do/say/believe. I know some people are all about this but I am not.
- Incongruent with synopsis - This hasn't happened often, but I have read books that did not match their summary at all.
- I'm lost - Another one that is rare, but I have felt so lost that I gave up. I did not have the patience to try and figure out what was going on.
Why have you DNFed a book?
Let us know in the comments!
Let us know in the comments!
"I'm lost" - yep, that's a big one for me! Sometimes I start reading a book and it feels like I've actually been dropped in the middle of it, and I'm so confused! I also DNF for obnoxious characters and too many typos.
ReplyDeleteThat definitely happens to me more with audiobooks, but I have honestly been so confused reading a book, too. I don't think I have encountered too many typos in finished books. I let it go with ARCs.
DeleteGreat list, Sam! I agree with so many of these and while I don't necessarily always DNF the books I want to, a lot of the reasons I want to DNF are the ones you mention. I really dislike when 7 & 8 happen and 3, 5, 9 and 10 are ones I also had on my list today :)
ReplyDeleteI am glad to see I am not the only one who can do without the lectures and soapboxing when I read. I always feel like I am the grumpy old lady when it comes to that.
DeleteI also DNF books that confuse me. I don't have the patience for weird, artsy stuff. I just want a good story.
ReplyDeleteYES! I joke that I am too middlebrow for that stuff. I have started and quickly stopped a few books that fit that description. I find it annoying when literary fiction will have stuff in there just for shock value, too. It turns me off.
DeleteI was completely lost with The Atlas Six LOL Also I learned a word today: soapboxing!
ReplyDeleteDo they have a term in your language for soapboxing?
DeleteYes, I don't to read a book that's really dark. I like mysteries and thrillers, but if they're too graphic and dark I can't handle that. Not a fan of politics or soapboxing either. I don't read to be lectured. Yes, if it's slow and doesn't change by 30% I'm out. This is a great list, Sam!
ReplyDeleteIf I know it's darker, I can get in the right frame of mind, but the book I am thinking about gave no indication that it would be like that. *High five* for not wanting to be lectured. I am with you.
DeleteThese are all reasons I can relate to! Great list! ~ Carol @ ReadingLadies
ReplyDeleteI was glad to see we had quite a few major ones in common
DeleteI agree with all of these. The biggest reason I DNF books is just that they're boring. They're not engaging me because they move too slowly, the characters are blah, and/or the writing's just flat and dull. Life's too short to read books I'm not enjoying!
ReplyDeleteHappy TTT!
That is absolutely the most likely reason for me as well. I read for entertainment. I did my time with boring school/text books.
DeleteI skipped this week because I ran out of time, but I'm with you on books where the plot doesn't match the synopsis. Very frustrating. I feel like I've been tricked. Happy reading, Sam!
ReplyDeleteI do not like deceitful books. I get made at myself for being duped into wasting time on it.
DeleteAll great reasons, Sam. I will add if they are full of vulgarity or steamy scenes that don't add to the story for me. I get lost if there are too many characters, and that was one reason I DNFed a very popular book.
ReplyDeleteI find as I get older, I simply skip past the open door scenes, but it does not hamper my enjoyment of a book. I find it easier to keep track of a large cast when reading versus listening. I have very particular criteria for audiobooks because I do tend to get lost if the story is too complex.
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