I constantly DNF books, but then I also constantly return to partially-read and often mostly forgotten books and pick them up again. So this is a hard one for me, because DNFing a book isn’t a big dramatic decision for me as it can sometimes be for the more committed readers among you. I’ll try, but I don’t know how well I’ll do!
Now, most of these I never even marked as “currently reading.” I definitely didn’t mark any as DNF officially at any point. Some of these I got a bit of the way through and got distracted. Most I read a few pages or a chapter or two and it just didn’t feel like what I was looking for at that moment. They were’t bad – none of these were bad – they just didn’t match my mood. And this is the thing. I’m still excited about all of these. I’m still looking forward to reading all of these. I still fully plan to go back and finish them, and probably soon. Some I’ve heard great things about. Others I’ve really enjoyed what I read. I think I’ve been reading for long enough that it’s really rare for me to actually start reading a book and then discover I dislike it so much that I want to do something as dramatic as DNF it. Usually I just… you know…. put it down somewhere, and forget to pick it up again for long enough that I don’t really remember what happened and that when I do want to resume them, I’ll be starting from scratch. Welcome to me (rather haphazard) reading world!
What about you guys? Do you officially DNF books? Are there any you have done so in dramatic fashion? Which did you most recently set aside? If you’re one who always finishes what you start, what did you choose to write about this week? Are there any you wish you had DNFed?
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly link-up feature created by The Broke and the Bookish and hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. Every week TTT has a different topic, and everyone who links up has to create a link of ten items that fit that topic. To see past and upcoming topics, go here.
I recently read the Wild Silence, I was so into the synopsis, but not being in the UK, a lot of it felt not relevant to me. I tried to look at it as a learning experience as much as I could, but was not quite successful. Happy reading! My TTT https://readwithstefani.com/10-books-i-recently-marked-as-did-not-finish/
Interesting. I really liked The Salt Path, because while I enjoyed the countryside descriptions, it was more what they learned about themselves that came through. I don’t know if this one will manage to capture anything like that or if it was a one-off!
I very rarely DNF books, I have put books down when I’m not in the mood for them at that particular time but I do usually intend to come back to them. The books I’ve outright DNF’ed tend to be ones that I’ve lost interest in, when I don’t feel like coming back and opening the book again, I’m not interested in the plot or the characters, that’s when I know it’s time to DNF.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2023/07/25/top-ten-tuesday-430/
I completely agree!
I also tossed My Grandmother Asked…. Interesting about “Really Good Actually” since it is on my TBR. Good job!
I actually think I’ll like that one – I started reading it as I was moving and didn’t have the mental or emotional space for it. It is a slow start though, It was taking me some time to really connect to the characters. But I wanted to. It hits a bit close to home, so it will take some energy for me. I only read the first chapter of Really Good Actually and got distracted, so I don’t know if it’s good or not – I still do want to circle back to it, and it definitely wasn’t a case of DNFing because it wasn’t good! It could be… really good, actually! Ha. Couldn’t resist.
Interesting! When I DNF it, I DNF it and don’t go back. I even put it in my DNF list on Goodreads so I don’t forget that it was a DNF and accidentally pick it up again. LOL.
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
I do that as well if it’s one I’m consciously DNFing and really don’t want to read. It’s just that that happens so rarely because I generally have so many really exciting books to read that it’s rare to pick up one I dislike that much! I have DNFed with no intention to go back, but I don’t remember which now as I so effectively moved on!! I should probably do a new shelf of “don’t accidentally read this one, you didn’t like it” or something. Ha!
Oh man, I have my grandmother asked me to tell you she’s sorry on my TBR and I keep moving up for when I am going to read it but maybe I shouldn’t?
I have realized since reading comments that I really should have re-titled this posts to “probably fantastic books that might even be favourites that I put down because I got distracted but totally want to read when they grab my attention again” or something like that. I actually started My Grandmother just as I was in the final few days of packing to move. I put it down and now looking back, I think it’s because I knew I’d want to read it when I could really focus on it and give it the mental attention it deserved. Also some of it hit a bit close to home, and I expected there would be some feelings and I was already having an manageable amount of those! If it strikes your interest, I’d DEFINITELY recommend it. I know when I’m settled enough to circle back to it, I’m going to love it. Sorry for accidentally putting you off!
Haha I hear you about just kind of stopping them because they don’t match your mood! I do definitely DNF books though, but a lot of the time not until I’m already 75% of the way through xD Like if I’m right at the climax and still don’t care about the book? I’m all set with it haha.
Oh that makes so much sense! I have done that, now I am getting better and sort of knowing earlier on that it just isn’t going to do it for me. I don’t maliciously DNF, but I definitely do just go “meh” and look for something that seems…. shinier. If that makes sense! But yes, if you don’t care what is happening at the height of the drama, definite sign of a book worth DNFing!
I was just touching My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry yesterday. Fredrick Backman books are always slow starters for me.
I think I am going to love this one, but I started reading it right as I was moving, and I think I subconsciously decided to leave it for a time when I could really pay attention to it (I got distracted by a different book, but looking back, I feel like that’s why). Yes, slow starters, but so far they have always been worth the effort and I’ve loved them!
I see a few books on here that I was thinking I wanted to read (Backman, Burton, Heisy). I’ll have to look at more reviews now.
I’m realizing I really should have re-named my post this week! It would have been better titled “probably great books I started and got distracted from that you should probably still read” or something! I started the Backman and got sidetracked, but I was really enjoying it, and partly I wanted to save it to read at a time when I was more settled and could really immerse myself (I started it right before moving and then tried to read it while in the process of moving – it just wasn’t the time). And I only read about a chapter of Heisy. I started Burton and wasn’t sure whether it was going to get more into the dirty aspect of farm life or veer more into celeb-toned memoir – but from what I read it could definitely go either way. So if any of these appeal to you, I would definitely say you should try them! I suspect the Backman will end up being a favourite.