I find it so hard to stop reading a book. I want to give it a chance to get better, but 3 days later, I’m only 30% in. Sometimes I’m not sure if it’s me or the book. But when I find myself logging into Facebook nonstop instead of reading, it makes me think twice about the book I am reading.
I am very picky about the books I choose to read nowadays. I listen to a lot more than I read now and I want to be CONSUMED by a book I’m reading. So going in, I expect to like the book because it’s either an author I love, it’s been highly recommended, or the blurb really grabbed me.
Lately though, I am finding myself on social media more than reading unless a book really grabs me and I leave all responsibilities behind to read. That is happening less and less lately. Because my TBR list is so long, I would think it would be easy for me to DNF, but the thing is, I usually like the book a lot. But I want to LOVE the book. I want to forget to pick up my kid at school (not really), forget to eat (please!), and forget to update the sales here on the blog (hey, that can happen sometimes).
I can DNF a book I am REALLY not liking or one that has too many errors, but that is a very rare occurrence, maybe only 3-4 a year.
It’s those books that are OK, but take me a week to read that I wish I could DNF and move on, but they have still grabbed me enough to see it through, or it was a fine book, just nothing different about it. It would probably be a 3-4 star read for me, meaning I enjoyed it or even REALLY enjoyed it, but nothing stood out about it or totally consumed me. Meanwhile, I am skipping books that will consume me to read this.
I’m reading a book now… I really like it when I read it, but don’t find myself sneaking reads whenever I pee, instead I open Facebook or Instagram. I have to think about the story (wait, who are they again?) every time I open it back up, but then I like it again. I started a WEEK ago and I am 50% in. Admittedly, it’s longer than most, and it’s been a busy week, but still, if this book was going to be a 5 star read, I’d be done by now. OR, the age-old question I struggle with is happening—maybe it’s just me? I am just not in the mood to read?
I have put books aside and not gone back to them, so they end up being DNFs. Recently I put one aside that was just too sexy for my mood (it was during the hurricane) and went back to it and enjoyed it, so that WAS my mood. But it’s difficult to tell.
Another reason I wouldn’t mind being able to DNF more is that I won’t review a book I DNF because who knows, I may end up loving it (this HAS happened, I struggle with the first 20% only for it to be a favorite). Then I just wasted a week reading with no review at the end? I do, however mark it as DNF on Goodreads, because that’s where I keep my records for myself.
Note: Audiobooks are SO expensive, I do try to finish, but sometimes a narrator will just be a little too annoying to me and I just can’t do it. I listen to samples and read reviews on the narration now before I buy.
As you can see from this post, I don’t give up easy, but I kind of want to more. There are so many AMAZING books out there, that I feel like I am wasting my precious reading time with books that are just good and not great, you know?
What about you? Do you DNF? When or if you do, do you still leave a review?
Talk to me!!! I’ll be posting these “Let’s Talk About” posts a few times a month, maybe weekly if you all like it.
Upcoming topics include:
Covers
Book Slumps
Warnings
Spoilers
Book Signings
Audiobooks
Kindle Unlimited
Series & Serials
Romance vs. Erotic vs. Ladyporn
Bookworld Confessions
What do you read on?
Books to movies
E-books and paperbacks
Words you hate in books
Book Trailers
And maybe some non-book world posts, like beauty products I love, family talk, weight and more.
Tell me! Do you DNF? Do you have a topic you’d like to see here?
When Outlander was first coming as a tv series, one of my book clubs started a group read in preparation for the show. I hadn’t done one before and was excited thinking this was going to be an amazing story….I mean, everyone in my book club was raving about it and they were making it into a tv series afterall…..
So I borrowed it from a local library and dove in……2 library renewals and 3+ years later, I haven’t made it past page 30…..I just can’t do it. Cannot get into the book and I’m not really sure why.
I’ve holding off on the show because I wanted to read the books first but at this point I doubt it’ll ever happen
I know what you mean. I am looking for an epic novel, one that makes me forget everything and look up 8 hours later, wondering why the family is home so soon. Lately, the books have seemed cookie cutter in a sense. You do way better than me…I give a book until 10% to grab me or I’m Dnf’ing it. I, too, listen to audibles and sometimes the narrators can ruin what might be a five star book….so I do commiserate with you on this 100%
Drive by Kate Stewart made me realize this hasn’t happened in a while, and with that, it SO DID, but I think if I had just waited till 10% I wouldn’t have finished it, I’m glad I stuck with it! http://amzn.to/2yhCSab
When I first started reading regularly, there was a series that I absolutely hated, but I was too curious to see if it got better and what happened. I wish I saved my money and time and DNF. I very rarely find myself DNF’ing, but like you I also am more selective with my choices. I also pick my next read by my mood. I’m putting off reading one of my favorite author’s newest release, because I can’t do sad right now. I am looking forward to it as soon as the mood strikes me, though.
I feel we are all in the same book “boat” here. We are becoming more picky about what we read because we have been graced with some amazing reads over the years, but I think there has been and over saturation to some degree of romance since fifty shades. So I find myself like most of us being picky and really investigating the books I read/listen to more than I did 4-5 years ago. I also find myself not sticking it out like I used to if a book doesn’t hook me by 10% I’m DNF’ing it and I can’t review it. And if the narrator is annoying I turn it right off, that will just ruin it, especially since the whispersync price just went up. I find I’m saving up my credits for narrators I know I’ll love.
It breaks my heart to DNF a book because someone’s heart and soul goes into a book and a piece of them is left open for the world to criticize when we read someone’s work. So maybe it’s not my cup of tea per chance but it may be someone else’s and I hope that’s the case.
OMG I LOVE THIS!!! I have started a few books and have not finished them. Some people it just didn’t grab me, some because it was a that was dragging on and on and I lost interest. The ones that didn’t grab me I will normally try again later, could have been my mood and not the book. If I try again and still nothing it would have to have a lit of people telling me to try again. Sad to say it but Twilight took me 3 months to get past chapter 2 or 3, my sister read it (before the hype) and loved it. She kept pushing me to keep going. She was right once I got past those first few chapters I was hooked!!!
I don’t think I have ever left a review for a DNF, I think that just because I didn’t like it doesn’t mean other wont. I think I would have to have a major issues with it for me to leave a review on a DNF.
So along these lines (but not the kind of books you are talking about I’m sure) Harry Potter books were like this for me. I watched all the movies and loved them. But I could not finish one of those books. I’d try to read the book, set it aside and then the movie would come out. I’d watch it and live it. So I’d pick up the book again but still couldn’t finish it. Lest you think I’m an instant gratification kind of gal, I read Twilight Series and Fifty Shades cover to cover over and over. I’ve read Sylvia Day, Meredith Wild, Kristy Bromberg, and many others too. But I still can’t read Harry Potter. Maybe I need romance to suck me in. I don’t know. But I understand where you are coming from. I, too, am tired of the same storyline. Rich man who seemingly can’t love is sucked into a romance by an off limits, clueless femme fatale and instantly starts romancing her but doesn’t realize he is until she unwittingly breaks his stony heart. There has got to be other ideas out there! Right now I’m kind of on a book hiatus of sorts. Looking for a different story.
YES!!! You just described 90% of the books! I need different! Also, Harry Potter can be a tough read, I didn’t love the first one, and didn’t read the rest either.
This happens alot to me too!! I’m just not feeling a book, it’s been alot lately!! I’m always wondering “is it just me?!” I rarely dnf a book, once I start it it seems like I have to finish it! My bestie will be like what do you mean you didn’t like it?! Lol that’s usually when I think is it just me?! But more so lately I’m bored with alot of “good” books, idk if I’m just bored with reading? I’m really not sure what it is but I do have about 10 books that are anywhere from 20%-50% that I just couldn’t get into! Idk if they’ll be dnf yet cos I’m still thinking I’ll go back to them, but who knows?!
I have DNF’d books and do put them in a folder on Goodreads with a “not for me” and no review. I really hate when I get a book to review and I just can’t get into it. I feel so bad because I typically have had contact with the author personally.
I try really hard to not DNF, because anymore it is just too expensive. This is why I normally just stick with the authors that I love. I used to try so many new authors and sometimes I wonder am I missing a good read? But then I worry I won’t like it and just wasted my money to even try.
I’m seriously not gonna lie this is what I just got out of my mouth yesterday. I read a lot! I have almost 3k books on my kindle and I’ve done that in 3-4 years. I hurt my back and I’m not able to work and going on surgery number 6 I read to escape plane and simple! Lately I haven’t been reading as many new books but rereading old ones and finding myself getting trapped into watching tv! I’m not a Tv person. I just wish authors I love would write faster and new ones would branch out.
I use to feel bad not finishing a book because I hate to waste money and my precious free time. However lately over the past few months I’ve read some really ridiculous stuff that sounds good it doesn’t deliver. I wish I could read for a living because I love it so much but unfortunately I have to work lol. So my reading time is too important to me to finish something I can’t get into. I don’t even bargain with myself about a certain percentage before I stop. If im not feeling it I quit. I save it just in case I want to go back but honestly 9 times out of 10 I don’t.
Like you, it takes A LOT…and I mean A LOT for me to DNF a book. And I can even go as far to say that the same for a series. Even if I don’t LOVE it, I feel like I’m invested and I need to know how it all ends (book and series, unless the series isn’t complete).
I also need to be in the right mood. I will come back to it though! I paused on a book after 2 chapters, because I KNEW it was going to be emotional, but I wasn’t ready for emotional…I needed comfortable. So instead, I picked up Rock Chick and reread the whole series (because I can’t do just one… lol).
I was reading the latest installment in a series last week and honestly, I wish I had DNFed. I was so excited for it, stalked the release and everything only to be on 41% after 5 days. I literally read the same 4 sentences in some variation at least half a dozen times each before finally hitting that mark. The only reason I finished was out of idle curiosity. And i felt horrible for DNFing because I loved other books by the author. I’ve DNFed on goodreads maaybe 7 times because of poor storyline. I’ve read books where the sample caught my eye but after buying the book, it all goes downhill. Then there are other times where I think I’m in the mood for a book only to just get bored with my own brain. ADD at its best doesn’t help either.
I rarely DNF. I’m pretty particular about what I read and try to switch up my genres to keep things feeling fresh. I have not and would not review a book I did not complete. If a book has a lot of errors, I know I won’t enjoy it so, those will likely go in my DNF folder on Goodreads. I do think mood has a lot to do with how much I’m going to like or love a book. Also, I’m not a big fan of insta-love. I prefer a slow burn of attraction that develops into something more as the characters get to know each other. Honestly, I’m working on not finishing more mediocre books because there are just too many great ones out there.p
I too have tried to weed out all the mediocre books or novellas and read something that is more. In the romance genre, there is so much mediocre stuff that I am branching out and reading other things as well which is good in a way, but I love romance and it’s hard to find one with some meaning in it. All these 200+ page quick reads have just saturated the market, but I have started to spend maybe a little more but get an actual book with a plot, storyline, great dialog and characters! If I do not finish a book I do not post a review, as I do not know if it is me or my mood or the book itself. I also like to read reviews to see what other people have said, like you Ana! If you like it usually I will like it also!
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Let’s talk about DNF (Did Not Finish)
Raegan says
I love this idea!!!!
When Outlander was first coming as a tv series, one of my book clubs started a group read in preparation for the show. I hadn’t done one before and was excited thinking this was going to be an amazing story….I mean, everyone in my book club was raving about it and they were making it into a tv series afterall…..
So I borrowed it from a local library and dove in……2 library renewals and 3+ years later, I haven’t made it past page 30…..I just can’t do it. Cannot get into the book and I’m not really sure why.
I’ve holding off on the show because I wanted to read the books first but at this point I doubt it’ll ever happen
Joanne says
Same here….love the show…it took me 4 years and then an audible to finally finish book 1….and there are how many more? Good lord!!!!
Ana's Attic says
Good thing I never even tried!
Joanne says
I know what you mean. I am looking for an epic novel, one that makes me forget everything and look up 8 hours later, wondering why the family is home so soon. Lately, the books have seemed cookie cutter in a sense. You do way better than me…I give a book until 10% to grab me or I’m Dnf’ing it. I, too, listen to audibles and sometimes the narrators can ruin what might be a five star book….so I do commiserate with you on this 100%
Ana's Attic says
Drive by Kate Stewart made me realize this hasn’t happened in a while, and with that, it SO DID, but I think if I had just waited till 10% I wouldn’t have finished it, I’m glad I stuck with it! http://amzn.to/2yhCSab
Keriann says
When I first started reading regularly, there was a series that I absolutely hated, but I was too curious to see if it got better and what happened. I wish I saved my money and time and DNF. I very rarely find myself DNF’ing, but like you I also am more selective with my choices. I also pick my next read by my mood. I’m putting off reading one of my favorite author’s newest release, because I can’t do sad right now. I am looking forward to it as soon as the mood strikes me, though.
Ana's Attic says
Yes! Especially sad books, I have to work myself up to them.
Tara says
I feel we are all in the same book “boat” here. We are becoming more picky about what we read because we have been graced with some amazing reads over the years, but I think there has been and over saturation to some degree of romance since fifty shades. So I find myself like most of us being picky and really investigating the books I read/listen to more than I did 4-5 years ago. I also find myself not sticking it out like I used to if a book doesn’t hook me by 10% I’m DNF’ing it and I can’t review it. And if the narrator is annoying I turn it right off, that will just ruin it, especially since the whispersync price just went up. I find I’m saving up my credits for narrators I know I’ll love.
It breaks my heart to DNF a book because someone’s heart and soul goes into a book and a piece of them is left open for the world to criticize when we read someone’s work. So maybe it’s not my cup of tea per chance but it may be someone else’s and I hope that’s the case.
Ana's Attic says
I am more picky about the narrators when I spend the new higher price, but now I am hoarding ALL the $1.99 upgrades!
Shannon says
OMG I LOVE THIS!!! I have started a few books and have not finished them. Some people it just didn’t grab me, some because it was a that was dragging on and on and I lost interest. The ones that didn’t grab me I will normally try again later, could have been my mood and not the book. If I try again and still nothing it would have to have a lit of people telling me to try again. Sad to say it but Twilight took me 3 months to get past chapter 2 or 3, my sister read it (before the hype) and loved it. She kept pushing me to keep going. She was right once I got past those first few chapters I was hooked!!!
I don’t think I have ever left a review for a DNF, I think that just because I didn’t like it doesn’t mean other wont. I think I would have to have a major issues with it for me to leave a review on a DNF.
Ana's Attic says
That’s why 10% I feel isn’t enough of a chance…but then when you get to 20 or 25% you kind of feel like you may as well just finish!
Lee Ann says
So along these lines (but not the kind of books you are talking about I’m sure) Harry Potter books were like this for me. I watched all the movies and loved them. But I could not finish one of those books. I’d try to read the book, set it aside and then the movie would come out. I’d watch it and live it. So I’d pick up the book again but still couldn’t finish it. Lest you think I’m an instant gratification kind of gal, I read Twilight Series and Fifty Shades cover to cover over and over. I’ve read Sylvia Day, Meredith Wild, Kristy Bromberg, and many others too. But I still can’t read Harry Potter. Maybe I need romance to suck me in. I don’t know. But I understand where you are coming from. I, too, am tired of the same storyline. Rich man who seemingly can’t love is sucked into a romance by an off limits, clueless femme fatale and instantly starts romancing her but doesn’t realize he is until she unwittingly breaks his stony heart. There has got to be other ideas out there! Right now I’m kind of on a book hiatus of sorts. Looking for a different story.
Ana's Attic says
YES!!! You just described 90% of the books! I need different! Also, Harry Potter can be a tough read, I didn’t love the first one, and didn’t read the rest either.
Debbie Brogan says
This happens alot to me too!! I’m just not feeling a book, it’s been alot lately!! I’m always wondering “is it just me?!” I rarely dnf a book, once I start it it seems like I have to finish it! My bestie will be like what do you mean you didn’t like it?! Lol that’s usually when I think is it just me?! But more so lately I’m bored with alot of “good” books, idk if I’m just bored with reading? I’m really not sure what it is but I do have about 10 books that are anywhere from 20%-50% that I just couldn’t get into! Idk if they’ll be dnf yet cos I’m still thinking I’ll go back to them, but who knows?!
Ana's Attic says
Wow, with the way you read though, I’m not surprised. You can’t love them all!
Tammy V says
I have DNF’d books and do put them in a folder on Goodreads with a “not for me” and no review. I really hate when I get a book to review and I just can’t get into it. I feel so bad because I typically have had contact with the author personally.
Ana's Attic says
That’s the WORST. In some cases I prefer to DNF a book from an author I have gotten friendly with rather than write a bad review.
Melissa Bedford says
I try really hard to not DNF, because anymore it is just too expensive. This is why I normally just stick with the authors that I love. I used to try so many new authors and sometimes I wonder am I missing a good read? But then I worry I won’t like it and just wasted my money to even try.
Ana's Attic says
I can totally relate! People complain bloggers don’t read enough new authors, but the authors I love and I KNOW I will love keep me plenty busy!
S Thomas says
I’m seriously not gonna lie this is what I just got out of my mouth yesterday. I read a lot! I have almost 3k books on my kindle and I’ve done that in 3-4 years. I hurt my back and I’m not able to work and going on surgery number 6 I read to escape plane and simple! Lately I haven’t been reading as many new books but rereading old ones and finding myself getting trapped into watching tv! I’m not a Tv person. I just wish authors I love would write faster and new ones would branch out.
Ana's Attic says
Holy cow, that’s a LOT of books!
Christy Jenuwine says
I use to feel bad not finishing a book because I hate to waste money and my precious free time. However lately over the past few months I’ve read some really ridiculous stuff that sounds good it doesn’t deliver. I wish I could read for a living because I love it so much but unfortunately I have to work lol. So my reading time is too important to me to finish something I can’t get into. I don’t even bargain with myself about a certain percentage before I stop. If im not feeling it I quit. I save it just in case I want to go back but honestly 9 times out of 10 I don’t.
Ana's Attic says
Good attitude. I need to get there.
Megan says
Like you, it takes A LOT…and I mean A LOT for me to DNF a book. And I can even go as far to say that the same for a series. Even if I don’t LOVE it, I feel like I’m invested and I need to know how it all ends (book and series, unless the series isn’t complete).
I also need to be in the right mood. I will come back to it though! I paused on a book after 2 chapters, because I KNEW it was going to be emotional, but I wasn’t ready for emotional…I needed comfortable. So instead, I picked up Rock Chick and reread the whole series (because I can’t do just one… lol).
Ana's Attic says
Rock Chick is the BEST for re-reads! All Kristen Ashley is.
Rebecca says
I was reading the latest installment in a series last week and honestly, I wish I had DNFed. I was so excited for it, stalked the release and everything only to be on 41% after 5 days. I literally read the same 4 sentences in some variation at least half a dozen times each before finally hitting that mark. The only reason I finished was out of idle curiosity. And i felt horrible for DNFing because I loved other books by the author. I’ve DNFed on goodreads maaybe 7 times because of poor storyline. I’ve read books where the sample caught my eye but after buying the book, it all goes downhill. Then there are other times where I think I’m in the mood for a book only to just get bored with my own brain. ADD at its best doesn’t help either.
Ana's Attic says
See, you judge the same way 41% after 5 days is not a good sign.
Junis says
I rarely DNF. I’m pretty particular about what I read and try to switch up my genres to keep things feeling fresh. I have not and would not review a book I did not complete. If a book has a lot of errors, I know I won’t enjoy it so, those will likely go in my DNF folder on Goodreads. I do think mood has a lot to do with how much I’m going to like or love a book. Also, I’m not a big fan of insta-love. I prefer a slow burn of attraction that develops into something more as the characters get to know each other. Honestly, I’m working on not finishing more mediocre books because there are just too many great ones out there.p
Ana's Attic says
Exactly, it’s the mediocre ones I need to learn to put aside.
Loraine Oliver says
I too have tried to weed out all the mediocre books or novellas and read something that is more. In the romance genre, there is so much mediocre stuff that I am branching out and reading other things as well which is good in a way, but I love romance and it’s hard to find one with some meaning in it. All these 200+ page quick reads have just saturated the market, but I have started to spend maybe a little more but get an actual book with a plot, storyline, great dialog and characters! If I do not finish a book I do not post a review, as I do not know if it is me or my mood or the book itself. I also like to read reviews to see what other people have said, like you Ana! If you like it usually I will like it also!