The focus of this post will be books I did not finish this year. DNFing a book isn't all too common for me, and it isn't normally out of hatred. Sometimes it's just a matter of a book not being for me, or I'm just not able to get sucked in. And that's okay! It doesn't mean the book is bad. I think it just depends on the time and the place and the person. But that's not to say I don't ever have a strong dislike for books. I don't think I've ever hated a book before, but there are plenty I have strong issues with. If the issues I have are strong enough, I normally try to read the whole book in order to have an adequate response. So the ones that end up on the DNF pile are normally a result of a lack of energy.
The Bear and the Nightingale - DNF at 30%
This was my first DNF of the year, and also my first read of the year, which was a real shame. It didn't have the atmospheric and magical essence that I expected it to have, but I think I'm the only one who just didn't feel it. It was an eARC so I feel twice as guilty for not completing it. I'm sure it's a lovely book, but just not for me.
Waiting for Godot - DNF at 10%
This play is the first required reading EVER that I did not finish. I want to say I tried, but I gave up too quickly because I knew I wouldn't be writing about it in my essay. I did watch a performace of it - and I think I get what it was trying to do. But ultimately I didn't think it was good in getting the message of human pointlessness across like it intended.
The French Lieutenant's Woman - DNF at 10%
The second required reading text I did not finish. I'm a good student, I promise! I had already planned my essay around other texts we already studied (we have a choice on what we write about) way before we even had to study TFLW in class, so you could argue that being a too-good student is what stopped me from reading it. It is a bit of a shame, though, because it sounded good.
Dorothy Must Die - DNF at 27%
I really hate saying negative things about books, but this felt like back-to-back cliches. The protagonist was petty and bitter. Every female character who is not her fits into the 'slutty-mean-girl' stereotype where they are definied by the way they dress and the way they present their bodies. And the langauge was full of pointless questions and empty sentences.
Days of Blood and Starlight - DNF at 30%
I was in love with the quirky beauty of the first third of Daughter of Smoke and Bone, but then it all vanished and romance was made the focus. I adored the author's writing style and I wanted to read more of it so I picked up the seuqel, but the story wasn't unique enough to grasp me. But I do want to read more of her books, and I may come back to this series if I have the time.
How many books have you DNFed this year? Do you DNF books often? Do you ever give books a second chance?
This post was inspired by the prompts 'Books You Had a Hard Time With' and 'Throwback Freebie' on Top 10 Tuesday, which is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
Sorry you didn't enjoy these books. I do give books I've had a hard time with a second chance. Sometimes I just needed to read the book at a different point in my life. Here is my Top Ten Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteI like to give most of the books I read second chances too. I did that for The Raven Boys, Six of Crows and Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda and ended up absolutely adoring them. I'm the same as you, a lot of the time I need to be in a different place and time to like a book.
DeleteShame to hear you didn't like Days of Blood and Starlight, I hope I have more luck than you did!
ReplyDeleteMy TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/12/top-ten-tuesday-124/
I hope you have better luck too! I didn't actually have any faults with the series, it just didn't take the direction I had hoped for and felt similar to other books I've read. But the writing is stunning and I hope you like it!
DeleteI couldn't finish Dorothy Must Die either. I just wasn't hooked.
ReplyDeleteNeither was I. The langauge was just too flat and empty to pull me into the story. It's a shame because I know a lot of people love this series.
DeleteI love that you included at what point you DNF'd the book. I always find that really interesting because I want to DNF a lot sooner than I tend to actually DNF. Dorothy Must Die definitely sounds like one I should probably skip!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I try to put down the percentages in my reviews if I DNF a book so people know I tried more than just a couple of pages. Also keeping track of how far I've gone in a book helps me push through a little further and give it more of a chance if I'm not getting into it.
DeleteI know a lot of people like Dorothy Must Die, but I couldn't get past the girl on girl hate and weak language and cliches.
I used to believe that I should finish every book I start, but I just don't have time for that kind of mindset anymore! So many books, too little time, right? So if I really do want to DNF a book I do it. I leave the book alone, and I move on. Because I don't want to waste time on books I know I'm not going to enjoy by the end!
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I have only DNFd one book this year. And that because I just couldn't be bothered with it any more. I think I try and pick and choose my books more critically so I don't end up with too many DNFs on my list, but sometimes one sneaks through.
I am actually scared to try and finish the Daughter of Smoke and Bone books because I thought the first book was kind of average :O And they're also so big, haha.
I hope that the rest of the year holds no DNFs for you, Helia!
Ah sorry my comment didn't go through so I'm going to try and remember what I wrote!
DeleteI was the same about not wanting to DNF books - I always wanted to get through every book in hopes that I will find some redeeming quality. But the 'so many books, too little time' is totally right. Reading is meant to be fun, not a chore.
One book is impressive! I've already DNFed another book since I wrote this post, but with university reading I think that was inevitable. Most of the books I DNF are uni reads or ones where the hype let me down, but I think it's good that you're critical with what you pick up and I might try to do the same.
DOSAB did feel average to me too. There were elements of it I really liked, but overall it didn't feel like it was doing anything exciting or new. And yes, the size of a book is really off-putting - especially if you're not loving it.
Thanks, Chiara! I hope the same for you too :D
I'm sorry you didn't enjoy The Bear and The Nightingale! It definitely my best read this year, in fact I think it saves this reading year since so far all the books I've read has been a flop xD I enjoyed DoSaB, but I agree, Days of Blood is dissapointing. I feel like it was too long and dragged A LOT. I really wish it's only a case of middle book syndrome and the final book will blew me away!
ReplyDeleteTasya // The Literary Huntress
I'm sad I didn't enjoy The Bear and The Nightingale either - I could not connect to the langauge and couldn't feel the atmosphere so it fell very flat for me, but I know that is exactly why so many people loved it so I know I'm in the minority. But I'm glad you enjoyed it so much!
DeleteDays of Blood and Starlight did feel rather dragged out, and I might've stuck with it if I liked DOSAB more than I did. But I hope you do find that you love the 3rd book, Tasya!