So before I get started, I NEED to ask: What are your opinions on DNFing, or not finishing a book? I’ve met people who simply can’t not finish a book and people who will toss them aside at the first rolled-eye. Personally, I’m somewhere in between. I used to never start a book without finishing (even if I hated it) and it’s taken me from a lot of good reading moods to going months without reading because I can’t get past the current book. I’ve never been too good at just chugging along, I suppose, so I converted to DNFing.
I’ll DNF a book…
1) If I get halfway through and realize I just simply don’t care what happens,
2) If I don’t hate a book enough to angrily rant about it for a decent amount of time (which can be just as fun as reading.)
If the book meets both of these conditions, I’ll DNF it. So far in my short blogging lifespan, I’ve only DNFed two books. They are as follows:
Feuds was actually a mistake all around. I got its sequel, Torn, off of NetGalley before realizing it was a sequel, and so I went out and bought the first so that I could review the second. It was promising… a good cover, my favorite genre, a caste system and a mysterious disease.. all things that I would love in a novel. The love interest even shared a name with my boyfriend of five years! (Who picked it up and said “woman, tell me the truth, why did you really buy this book? It’s because the man’s name is Cole, isn’t it?) But more than 3/4’s of the way through, almost at the end, I realized I just didn’t care anymore. The MC makes stupid decisions, the love is ridiculous and instant, the plot is uninteresting and no one seems to know what’s going on even when it’s obvious!
To be fair, the synopsis really should have tipped me off more than it did…
“Falling in love was never part of their plan, but their love may be the only thing that can save her world”
Instalove in the most ridiculous way and a plot that leave a couple of dumb kids to solve the world’s problems? No thank you.
The second DNF was Gathering Water.
I feel a little less guilty about this one, because the general consensus on Goodreads is that everyone loves it. I don’t get how. I personally couldn’t even get through it. I received this one for a blog tour over a year ago and liked it so little that I had to email the tour leader asking if she wanted me to participate if I don’t like the book enough to give it a good review. Thankfully, she said no and so I never had to finish it. I guess my problem with this one was that it just moved too slow. I could tell that there was a major plot coming up involving a war between users of the elements, but, again, I didn’t care. Even the writer admitted through her MC that the whole controlling the elements thing was cliche. You want me to believe in the originality of your story when you don’t even believe it yourself?
Also, infuriating side characters. The MC seems to be the coolest cucumber in the bunch because of all the shiz she lets her cousin get away with. Personally, I was done with the prat by the first time we met him and he stole her birth documents. One of the only things she had to her name at the point and we’re just going to sit back and laugh because he’s doing it for good? (Not to mention that the “good” was a situation she dreaded happening and wanted to avoid since before she entered her birthtown.) Again, no thank you.
So how about everyone else? What are your thoughts on DNFing? Will you finish a book you dislike just for the satisfaction of angrily writing a blog post about it? Or are you the type that will toss a book aside at the first sign you may not like it? Tell me what you think!
Danni Mae 
If it’s moving too slow…and I like long books with quite a bit of world building. It has to be really slow. The plot is to predictable and nothing else is making up for it. I hate the main character. Those are my key reasons. Nice topic. I didn’t used to do it at all and if I’m reviewing something I make extra effort to make it through. I’m trying to spend more time on things I enjoy rather than make myself angry by pushing myself to read something I don’t like out of obligation.
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That’s exactly right. I quickly learned to be very wary of NetGalley.. it can make leisure reading feel more like homework.
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I have never DNF a book. I just can’t. There was one book that I almost DNF (Heartbeat) because the main character pissed me off but I continued because I wanted to see her change. If it’s moving slowly for me, I start to speed read and see if it gets to a better part of the book. I’ve only DNF a trilogy (Shatter Me). I loved the first book but after reading reviews and spoilers on the other two, I didn’t like the direction so I didn’t get the books. Great topic/post!
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Did the main character in Heartbeat change? And I know what you mean about speed reading! I just remembered one other book I DNF’ed where I just skimmed all of the dialogue to get to the big reveal (which wasn’t so big). I totally get HAVING to finish though.
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I totally agree with your conditions when it comes to DNF-ing. I hardly ever DNF books and so far there’s only been two – Clan of the Cave Bear and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo! xoxo
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You should write a post! The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was a pretty popular one. What made you decide to DNF it?
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Well, I got through 10 pages and I just couldn’t stand the language! It was honestly putting me to sleep. The writing just didn’t absorb with me, it felt really boring to be honest!
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I’ve felt like that before. Normally it’s the really old classics I just can’t get through. I like my language brisk and thought-out. The less flowery the better, (unless it’s done right. And by right, I mean specifically right for me, not that there’s a right or wrong way to write.)
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Don’t you just hate it when you accidentally request a book from netgalley that’s actually a sequel. Panic mode.
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I KNOW! Before Torn, I had no idea that they wouldn’t just tell you! So, like the woman-of-her-word that I am, I went out and got the first and it was HORRIBLE. There’s no way I could’ve made it through the second, too.
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I’m awful at DNF’ing. >_< I probably DNF one book a year?! I have DNF'd my years quota though, hehe, so hopefully I don't stumble over anything too horrendous! I LIKE TO FINISH ALL THE THINGS. I feel a little guilty about writing a ranty review if I haven't read the book, you know?
I totally can't understand how or why an author would talk down about their book though?! Like if you're admitting it's cliche, why write it?!
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I know, right? Do you write reviews when you DNF a book? Feuds was almost NOT a DNF- I was literally a pinch to the ending when I realized I didn’t care about it and the only reason I was reading it at all was because I was in a public setting with no other books and once I got home I knew I was never going to open it again. What book did you DNF this year?
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