To DNF Or Not To DNF a Book? 19


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To DNF a book for me is always so painful. (Do Not Finish for those of you who don’t know the acronym (I didn’t used to)).

There was once a book I was going to put in my DNF pile but I decided to push through and I was surprisingly happy with how it turned out.
If I had given up then I would never have read it and experienced the book.

However, I have tried to push through books that I would have DNFed and felt like I wasted so much time!

So my question that I pose to you is do you like to DNF books or do you struggle through to give it a chance?

For me, personally, I don’t often DNF books, so when I do, I don’t bother to continue. There are so many other books out there that I want to read, on top of school work, that I really don’t like to waste my time on, well…, crappy writing. And trust me, some stuff is really bad.

To DNF Or Not To DNF a Book?

Especially when you blog, you get emails from up-and-coming authors who want you to read their book for free.

When I was younger I’d take everything but didn’t know about honest reviewing and would try my best to spin a bad book in a good light. But now I have to be clear that I will give an honest review because some of the stuff I’ve read is just so painful. Thankfully some send me previews so I can immediately say no before I get into it.

I mean, have you ever gotten an ebook from an up-and-coming author, agreed to read and review it and wanted to just die as the writing was so bad? I’m talking 50 Shades of Grey bad and then even worse.

As my time is precious, I now vet everything I read. Books from the library, if I don’t like it I won’t finish it as my TBR pile is as tall as Mount Fuji. With e-books I generally say no anyway because I hate reading on my phone, but sometimes something catches my eye (like the one I’m reading now!).

What are your thoughts on DNF? Share in the comments down below. I’m really curious!

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19 thoughts on “To DNF Or Not To DNF a Book?

  • Saturday Nite Reader

    This is one of those questions I wish I could answer better! I feel if I invested more than 25% of my time into a book and don’t like it, I still need to finish. One – hoping it turns around, and/or Two – I already wasted 25% for nothing? I know, I know…its not logical thinking. With so many good books, why waste your time – but its easier said than done! I need to get better at this for sure.

    • mylibrarycardworeout Post author

      I definitely agree with that. I’ll keep trying and then suddenly I’m 50% through and I’m like I can’t stop now. I used to be really bad at it but since I’m so busy now I just have to stop. I feel guilty, but at least I can read something else that I actually enjoy. It’s a tough decision.

  • Empress DJ

    I have considered DNF on books that I went ahead and finished and was glad I did yet have also stuck with roughly the same amount of those I wish I had quit as they never improved but I had too much invested. So I set a limit of 10 to 20% – if I’m not feeling it by then – I’m out.

  • Christine

    I really hate to DNF a book because I feel like I can’t give my full opinion unless I’ve read the full thing. I will DNF if it has trigger warnings I wasn’t warned of (which happened last month), or if I really just can’t bear to read anymore. It has only happened a couple times though and I don’t do it unless I have to.

    • mylibrarycardworeout Post author

      Oh I agree with that. Sometimes there are books that don’t warn properly about the themes and I just have to put it down as it’s just too much.

      But that’s a really good point.