This is my first ever DNF post, and I feel really bad about it. But for some reason this year I lost focus more often than usual and I put down a lot of books, thinking I would come back to them later. In some cases, that just never happened, so I moved on. I think one of my goals for 2020 is to give myself a break more often and DNF without so much guilt. Book bloggers have notoriously huge TBRs and it’s impossible to read everything you want to as it is. Why waste precious time slogging through a book that just isn’t working for you?
I would also like to point out that some of these DNFs are unpopular opinion time, since I have blogger friends who loved them. I’ll try to link up some of those reviews so you can see things from both perspectives!
The Fall (Thieves of Fate #2) by Tracy Townsend. This literally killed me to stop reading. The Nine was one of my top ten books last year, so struggling with a sequel I was looking forward to was so disappointing. Reasons: This book just didn’t have the magic of the first book, at least in these first hundred pages. Nothing grabbed me, it was so slow and plodding, I just finally gave up. DNF’d at page 126.
Fate of the Fallen by Kel Kade. I’ve seen mixed reviews for this book all over the place, but I think the general consensus is that most readers enjoyed it. I think if I’d pushed through and forced myself to keep reading, it would have ended up a three star read for me. Reasons: I didn’t enjoy the overly formal, old fashioned language, and frankly, the story was sort of silly to me. When I stopped reading, a new character had just been introduced and the story shifted to a completely different feel. I didn’t like it, so I just threw in the towel. DNF’d at page 108. Check out Sarah’s 5 star review!
The Imaginary Corpse by Tyler Hayes. This book has so many glowing reviews, which is why I agreed to accept a review copy. Unfortunately, this was one of those “it’s not you, it’s me” books. Reasons: I just thought it was so silly and juvenile and the story just didn’t grab me fast enough. There were funny moments, and the idea was super creative, but the story just wasn’t making sense to me. DNF’d at 18%.
A Lush and Seething Hell by John Hornor Jacobs. This is a bind-up of two of Jacobs’ novellas, and I wish the order had been reversed. I’ve read over and over that the second novella, My Heart Struck Sorrow, is amazing. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t get into the first one, The Sea Dreams It Is the Sky. Reasons: It’s a rather ponderous story that takes place in South America. I don’t think I gave it much of a chance, but it literally went NOWHERE in the 32 pages I read. I must have been really stressed out when I picked this up, because I just couldn’t stick with it. Hopefully I can go back and read the second novella at some point! DNF’d at page 32. Check out David’s 5 star review!
Life and Limb by Jennifer Roberson. After I received this for review, I started to see a lot of negative reviews, so I was a little worried going in. The idea sounds great: a biker and a cowboy team up to fight evil. It actually reminded me a little of Supernatural. But boy, I just hated the characters! Reasons: The cowboy was such a cliche of a cowboy and his speech grated on my nerves. Also the story is very repetitive. The two main characters find out they are “of heavenly matter” which means I guess they are part angel? Or something. And I can’t remember how many times the author has to remind us that they are “of heavenly matter.” Ugh. I guess when you’re dealing with angels and devils there are bound to be shades of religion in the story, but some of it was blatantly religious. It made me uncomfortable! I think if I’d finished this would have been a two star read for me. DNF’d at page 112.
I always have a hard time DNFing books and usually what helps me is telling myself I’ll come back to them and try again eventually. I never do though!
I always give 50-100 pages depending o the length of the book unless its really not landing with me.
Great post!
Haley @ Stuck in the Stacks recently posted…It’s Giveaway Time!!
That’s exactly what has happened to me, I “put it aside” to read something else and that’s the end of it!
That’s a shame – I enjoyed Fate of the Fallen, but life is too short to force yourself to read something. I DNF’d 2 books this weekend. If they’re not working, they’re not working. Move on and find a read you’ll enjoy, no guilt, no regrets. 🙂
Bob Milne recently posted…Stacking the Shelves
I’m glad I’m not alone! And I’m glad we all like different books:-)
Oh noooo. I’m still planning on reading Fate of the Fallen. Hopefully, I have better luck with it than you did. xD I sure don’t blame you for DNFing A Lush and Seething Hell. Oh, how I was tempted to do the same thing! I think it was just sheer spite that I decided not to, because I wanted to enjoy it so much.
A lot of readers loved it, so I hope you give it a shot, Sammie!
DNF-ing books always feels like a defeat – sort of – and it often pains me to have to say good-bye to a book that had sounded so promising when I picked it up. But given that there are so many books we want to read, and – as the book-lovers’ mantra goes – time is woefully short, not finishing a book that’s not to our liking is the only possible solution. And that’s what helps me in the choice of leaving a not-so-stellar story by the wayside…
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…BLOOD OF EMPIRE (Gods of Blood and Powder #3), by Brian McClellan
It’s definitely a hard decision to make. I wonder if I just didn’t “get” something, or if things are going to get better and I’ll end up missing out on something really special. But I think in most cases DNF is probably the best decision.
You should definitely give yourself more of a break on giving up on sub-par books. There are too many good books out there to force yourself through the bad ones. Life is too short for bad books!
Yes, I agree! And I hope to remember that next year:-)
A great post, Tammy. If you don’t feel the love for a book, then I think you should DNF it. I sometimes think that’s why some readers get burned out. Nothing sucks the joy out of life like trudging through a book that is a… trudge. And yes, I will DNF a book if I don’t feel the love, or at least a mild liking for it. There are so many others out there, I’ll enjoy more!
Yes, great advice! There are just so many books these days, that it’s not like we’re hurting for books to read, right?
I was hoping you would have better luck with Life and Limb than I did. I agree with everything you said about it though.
Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra recently posted…Weekly Recap #135: Week of 12/15 – 12/21
I’m glad I’m not the only one! I did see lots of 4 star reviews on Goodreads, but I guess it’s just not for me.
Wow, this is a tough one. I’ve always struggled with this, so I would not follow my example, though I am beginning to learn to put aside something that just doesn’t work. There’s too much else out there to try to potentially waste time slogging through something that might not turn around. So my opinion is you stopped reading each of these for a good reason, move on and find the next great book you just can’t put down. Now I’m going to sheepishly try to hide in the crowd while I learn to take my own advice. 🙂
Ha ha, it’s very hard! The guilt is real.
It took me a long time to become okay with DNF-ing too. I always felt so guilty especially when it came to ARCs, but the truth is, some books truly are not meant for some readers. And that’s okay! I didn’t personally read any of these so I can’t say that some are worth a second try, but I’m not sure I’d want to anyways, because if it didn’t work for you then I think you’re on the right track with looking ahead to 2020 releases instead. Happy reading!
Bonnie @ For the Love of Words recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday | Winter TBR
Seriously, I’d love to give every book I pick up 4 or 5 stars. And I try to do that be being selective. I think by DNFing books I know are going to be 1 or 2 stars (or even 3) I can actually read more books I love!
I really should give myself a break next year and start to DNF as well. Work has now become a big reason to drop books when I’m not feeling them anymore, especially since it’s become even more important that I’m enjoying the books I read during my downtime. I didn’t realize you had started The Fall and it was an abandoned book! Shame to hear it didn’t have the same magic as the first, but that seems to be such a common issue with sequels. And giving it 126 pages to grab you is more than fair. Also sad to see Life and Limb on this list! Still looking forward to reading/listening to it if I can, but I will keep my expectations in check now.
Yeah, I’m so bummed about The Fall! I’d love to know if you ever decide to pick it up. I’m wondering if I just missed something, or if it’s really such a departure from The Nine!
I use to never DNF books because I always thought that I couldn’t judge it if I didn’t read them completely. However, now that I really don’t have a lot of time to read, I tend to drop books more easily. Same with short fiction, at first I forced myself to finish each story because of how short they tend to be but now, if I’m not feeling a story, if it’s too experimental, that I’m too confused or just not enjoying it, I don’t bother finishing it!
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I feel like the author needs to convince me in the first 50-100 pages (depending on the length of the book), and if it’s not working for me, I just hate to waste time!
Life’s too short to force-feed yourself a book you’re not enjoying. It’s so very, very rare that it changes your mind (I’ve had books go from ‘okay’ to OHMIGOSH but never from ‘eh/ugh’ to OOOOH). I think most of my big DNFs this year were unpopular opinions – Mistborn, Jade City, Shadows of the Short Days – I gave each of them over 100 pages, and it wasn’t them, it was me.
100 pages really is a good chunk to give the book a chance, so I figure if I still don’t enjoy it at that point, I probably never will.
Thanks for the shoutout! I DNF’d Fate of the Fallen as well. Wasn’t working for me.
Oh good, I don’t feel as bad:-)
I find it SO HARD to DNF books. I don’t know why, it’s probably freeing to do so.
I do too. This is really the first year I DNF’d so many. I just get so mad when I waste time reading something I’m not enjoying, though.
I basically never DNF books and I really should because I get to a point where I”m just angry while I’m reading because the book isn’t doing it for me. The only book I DNF’d this year was an audiobook, and while I was lukewarm on the plot, the narrator was driving me up a wall and I knew I couldn’t stick it out for 10+ more hours.
I totally get where you’re coming from on FATE OF THE FALLEN, I made it through but it ended up a middling 3 stars for me.
Caitlin G. recently posted…Review: FATE OF THE FALLEN by Kel Kade
It’s tough with review books. I wonder if publicists would rather you give a book a low rating/bad review, or just tell them you couldn’t finish it?
I’m so bummed the Fate of the Fallen didn’t work for you- but I actually do get it. I *think* it’s coming down to the humor. It does feel silly at times but I guess I like that? I don’t know. Sorry it didn’t work for you! Don’t beat yourself up over DNFing. I was doing the same thing earlier this year until I finally realized- Guilty for what? Who am I harming other than me? (And thank you for the shout out!)
I’m bummed too! Especially since you loved it, but I guess humor is really tricky and I guess it just wasn’t my kind of humor.
Life is to short to spend it on books you don’t enjoy is my motto (though I am torturing myself right now with a book hoping by the end it’s at least a 3 star as it’s for a blog tour…lol), if it wasn’t for that I would have DNFed it already…lol. I am kind of glad I didn’t get approved for Imaginary Corpse now. 🙂
May 2020 be filled with great books so you don’t have to worry about DNFs but if you do have them may you not fret about it. 🙂
Merry Christmas!
Stormi
I’m hoping for ALL good books in 2020, lol. I can dream, right?
The dnf struggle is real. I hate dnf’ing books that everyone is loving, but sometimes you just have to move on.
I always feel like I’m missing the point when I don’t like a book that’s so popular, but not every book is for everyone, I just keep telling myself that:-)
I am especially sorry that the Fall wasn’t for you, because it’s always so heartbreaking when we love the beginning to a series but the sequel turns out to be terrible 🙁 At least this DNF list isn’t too long and I am glad you stopped reading so you didn’t waste any time on books you didn’t like!
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I hate to DNF but when I think of all the books I can read instead of trying to get through something I don’t enjoy, it makes it easier:-)
I haven’t read any of these, so can’t give you any help. I always say I’m going to do a DNF post, but never do. Maybe next year?
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature) recently posted…Top 10 of 2019: Cover Love (Favorite Covers)
It was actually quite freeing! If I have any DNFs this coming year, I’ll definitely do it again.
Yeah. I’ve got much better at putting books down these days. Otherwise it just stops my reading. I should look at my DNFs.
Lynn