Because I'm not a compulsive book finisher, I thought I had no problem with the DNF. However, I also realized that I regularly find myself slogging through books that I'm just not that crazy about.
So I have declared this The Summer of DNF. Between June 15 and August 31, I am not going to read any book that I don't like.
That may mean that I have to work harder to find books that I DO like, but so be it.
I don't regularly post reviews about my DNFs - but I do mark them on Goodreads. Here's a list of recent books that I put on my "setting aside" shelf. This summer I will be posting here about the books I DNF. Since one person's DNF can be another's 5-star read, I am including why I didn't love the book and why YOU might!
If you want to make a case for me picking a book back up, I'm happy to hear it!
Maybe the cover change should have been a sign - I read the first few chapters and just wasn't hooked.
Why it might be for you: It seems to be a YA Thelma and Louise. Which is all kinds of awesome.
I love thrillers, but this one had a lot of narrators, some of whom spoke in prose that swirled around the page and ... I just don't think I'm up for that.
Why it might be for you: My Goodreads friends who like creative typography have enjoyed this.
I think I'm just weary of YA mean girls stories. I read about 50 pages of this book about a cutthroat competition for homecoming queen and realized ... I didn't care who won.
Why it might be for you: As mean girls stories go, it's fast-paced and well-written.
I'm a big fan of Sittenfeld's and I have to say this was the wittiest Pride and Prejudice retelling I've read. In the 100 or so pages I read, I delighted in the way this classic was updated. But then I realized that I also knew exactly how everything was going to play out...
Why it might be for you: Seriously, the retelling choices were so apt and amusing. I think Jane would approve!
Should I give any of these a second chance? What book have you set aside recently?
I was excited about the Laeving, but I haven´t really heard great things about it so now I am unsure wether to pick this up or not. Recently I have set Finding the Raven aside, I just really didn´t like it.
ReplyDeleteI have seen positive reviews of the Leaving. I've become kind of picky about alternating POVs, though. Not sure this would work for me.
DeleteHaha I have two of these on my to-read list (Run and Eligible). I think I will be able to finish at least the latter because I'm such a sucker for Austen retellings. Best of luck to you!!!
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy! I always want to like Keplinger's books, but something always gets in the way. And I bet you love Eligible!
DeleteI am a compulsive finisher but I'm trying to get better at DNF'ing. The problem becomes I have no reviews to post if I don't finish anything lol
ReplyDeleteKaren @For What It's Worth
Post DNF reviews! A lot of bloggers do that.
DeleteI have seen a lot of DNF for The Leaving. Of these, I've only read Eligible and I would not pick it back up. I did finish it but it left me so sad and kind of angry especially since I really love CS and P&P -- it just didn't work!!
ReplyDeleteInteresting - I did like the part I read, but for some reason I just didn't feel compelled to read on...
DeleteI like how you did these DNF reviews of why someone else might like them. I need to learn to DNF because there are too many good books out there to waste time on ones I am not loving. I was excited about The Leaving but haven't heard many good things.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Grace. I don't just want to be a complainer. And readers do disagree! Embrace the DNF. It's really liberating. Like learning to say "no" when you don't want to do something!
DeleteI thought the same thing about Eligible! While I was very amused by Mr. Bennett'so musings as to why all these adult children live at home, I just couldn'the keep it up for the whole book.
ReplyDeleteGlad you agree - as soon as I saw who all the characters were going to be, I was impressed by the author's creativity but I didn't feel the need to read on..
DeleteI loved this post! It was such a nice touch to see why other people might like it. I'm so bad at marking my reads on Goodreads, I really need to start doing that! The Pride and Prejudice retelling sounds fab!
ReplyDeleteSteph - www.nourishmeblog.co.uk
Goodreads is the only record I have of what I've read, so I like to keep it updated. Also, since I always do a reading challenge, I want to make sure I get credit for all my books.
DeleteAhhhhh I tried reading The Leaving because I got it on Netgalley but I just couldn't get into it. I'm going to try and reread it so hopefully it's better...it's just been FOREVER since I read a book that blew me away :/ hopefully you pick up some good books ^^ sometimes they get better!
ReplyDeleteI read The Leaving and ... well, I did like it? But the ending was like "WOAH THAT AIN'T REALISTIC" so if you didn't like the beginning, I doubt you'd feel differently towards the ending, right? Oh and I admire you for DNF'ing! I can't do it and I waste so much time reading books I hate.😂 But I'd rather have them finished so I don't keep thinking about them. ;D
ReplyDeleteHi Jen, I kinda understand about the first 3, but Eligible, really? It's on your DNF list? It's on my TBR pile, since I'm a huge fan of P&P. Hmmm, I'm wondering if I should put it off a bit...It's a purchase and no deadline really. But since I bought it, I think I should read it. Will see my schedule! I will point out that I don't really do DNF, only because I kind of make myself finish a book, hoping that it'll get better. Know what I mean?
ReplyDeleteI love this idea! Life is too short to read books you aren't enjoying, but I hope you find some good ones this summer and that they aren't all DNF's!
ReplyDeleteI've read negative thoughts on The Leaving so I ruled that out on my radar but when you said your goodreads friends who like creative typography enjoyed this intrigued me. Now I'm considering this again... hmmmm...
ReplyDeleteI finished Eligible last week. I really enjoyed it! I hope you'll continue, Jenn.
ReplyDeleteAwww sorry to hear Eligible didn't work out for you. I really want to give that one a try :)
ReplyDeleteI loved Eligible! I try not to stick with a book that I am not loving though.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that all of these didn't seeem to work out for you... Run and Winning didn't actually look so good so I doubt I would have picked them up anyway.
ReplyDeleteOh man, I just read The Leaving and it put me in a reading slump because of how disappointing it was. I definitely know what you mean about YA mean girl stories - I'm completely over them! You're not the first whose declared this the DNF year!
ReplyDeleteIt's so liberating to decide to DNF a book you're struggling to read. I used to make myself finish everything too but not anymore, reading should not feel like a chore (even if it's an ARC for review). Happy for you :)
ReplyDeleteI hate to DNF books, but lately I've been doing it and I just mark them as "to-read" again, because I do like to give second chances sometimes. However, it's really terrible to finish a book you weren't enjoying in the first place, so why bother?
ReplyDeleteAnd sorry abour RUN, I really don't like the cover change.
Creative typography - urgh! Give me well crafted sentences in traditional well ordered lines, because that's a book. Oh, Jen, even when you're complaining, you're still super-nice :) Hugs
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