Meet the Reviewers:
Rachel from Rachel Reads (Saturdays)
Emily from Read Your Bookcase (Fridays)
Me (Michelle) from here at Pink Polka Dot Book Blog (Thursdays)
Why Do You Choose to DNF a Book?
Before I started blogging, there were VERY FEW books that I DNF'd. I was always a reader, but I wasn't obsessive about it like I am now. Now I'm more likely to be reading 3 or 4 books at a time, so if one is just not working for me sometimes I just have to walk away. Before I would push myself to finish a book that I really wasn't feeling because I didn't want to be a quitter. Now I have had to adjust my expectations because I have too many books to have one holding me back. I still feel bad about it, like I gave up or something, but I have to move on. My reasons for DNF vary:
- I HATE the MC- I usually can not stand to read a book if the main character sucks.
- The writing is awful. Guys I really can't stand when there is no mystery and you know every stupid thought going on in everyone's head... can we get some build-up?
- Third person... I don't like it!
- The subject matter is BOOOORRRRING.
- No reason- I literally stop reading books for no reason. The book will be perfectly nice, and engaging even, but something else will catch my eye and the book will be due back at the library and I will just feel like too much time has past to go back to it :( Those are the ones I feel the worst about.
Here are some of my DNF's and why:
There was literally NOTHING wrong with this book. I was super into it, until I wasn't anymore. I started reading Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone, and I just felt like 2 books about a death was too much of the same.
I liked it a lot at first, but the romance came out WAY too fast and it was like insta-lovey and I just decided to take a break... and that break lasted until my NetGalley copy expired, so I won't be finishing this one. But it does feature the really cool subject of a girl golfer on a boys team... I wish it would've just stuck with that.
I know this is like a fangirl favorite, I'm sorry! Not to be spoilery, but I got sad when everyone dies!! It just got too depressing too quick... but I own this one, so I may try it again because now I know what I'm getting myself in to.
I had every intention of loving this. I mean I like heart-wrenching books about issues. But.... first off I didn't like the name Daelyn (I know that's a silly reason) and I didn't like that so much had already happened by the time we met her and it wasn't really explained. I read about 100 pages and I got distracted by Stori Telling by Tori Spelling... yeah cause that book is SO much better LOL!
So basically I have crazy reasons for DNF and many of them make no sense. I guess there must be reasons- I mean even though some of these books are amazing, maybe they just aren't for me.... and that's ok. I really do have good intentions when going into a book to finish it, but sometimes it just doesn't work out. I try not to feel bad, but the anti-quitter in me is still shaking her head a little :(
So what causes you to DNF a book? Do you feel bad when you do? Do you ever DNF a book for basically no reason like I do sometimes?
I love discussion posts! :) I agree, if I hate the MC, I'm not likely to enjoy or finish the book. I think the biggest factor for me is when the story drags and it seems like it's just going on because the author needed more words. But if I absolutely won't finish reading the entire book, I still read the ending. ;)
ReplyDeleteAlice @ Alice in Readerland
LOL Michelle you make me laugh!!! I loved this! I've only ever DNFed one book because I didn't like it. Chance Encounters by J Sterling. I got about 20% I think and I just thought it was dumb. All I got was there was some girl who met some random supposedly hot guy she knew NOTHING about on a plane and started thinking about cheating on her long time boyfriend with him. WHAT. If I set a book down and move onto something else or want to finish it later I just say I'm taking a break. xD
ReplyDeleteWow I'm impressed with only one DNF!!! Good for you! I have a few books I'd like to go back to (like The Casual Vacancy and I Swear by Lane Davis), but who knows if I ever will :(
DeleteI hardly ever DNF a book, mostly because of the "Don't be a quitter" voice in my head also. But the ones that I DNF are the ones that only get 1 star on my goodreads. (It looks like some other 1-stars are required reading books, haha.)
ReplyDeleteHere are some of mine:
Running with Scissors - It was gross.
Stargirl - I didn't really like the characters, I didn't identify with it, and I had more pressing things to read.
The Husband List - It didn't look like anything was going to happen and the characters weren't interesting enough to carry it on their own.
Twenties Girl - It was just ridiculous. She was using make-up from the twenties. I don't think make-up would be good after 80 years. Ick. It wasn't funny, nothing else was happening... Not nearly as good as her other stuff.
I wasn't into Stargirl either. I think it's more middle grade than YA. I thought it had a good message for young people, but I don't like weird for the sake of being weird. I am glad to know about Twenties Girl, it's been on my TBR for a while now because I loved Shopaholic and Can You Keep a Secret so much :(
DeleteI know! I was so upset because I just love her standalones.
DeleteI rarely dnf, but when it is, it's b/c of really bad writing of just a story I can't get into. I have a 100 Pages or Die rule, that if I don't like the story by 100 pages, I quit.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts. Great discussion.
It's hard :( Im one of those people who can never ever leave a book unfinished, even if it's terrible.
ReplyDeleteI almost never DNF, but I agree with a lot of these. I usually DNF a book if it is a book by an author that I love and it's extremely different than the other books I've read by that author. It sounds bad, but it's true...
ReplyDelete