Happy Tuesday, y’all! This week Jana, over at That Artsy Reader is asking us to share some petty reasons we’ve either DNF a book or reduced its star rating. I thought this would be super easy, as I DNF at least one book a month. Turns out, most of the books I’ve DNF are for the same reason. As I started writing a list of reasons why I’ve stopped reading a book, I learned that I have more than one reason.
What does DNF mean? It’s an acronym that many readers use, and it stands for Did Not Finish. Not all readers DNF, honestly it was something I didn’t start doing until the a few years ago. I used to think I had to finish a book once I started it. Then I realized that was destroying my joy in reading. There are so many books in the world, with more every week! Why waste my energy reading a book I’m not enjoying?
Now let’s look at some reasons why I’ve stopped reading a book.
Bored With the Book
This is probably the top reason I’ve stopped reading a book. I’ve put down many books and then forgotten all about it. Along with that, if my mind is wandering and pointing out other things I could be doing other than reading. Sound familiar?
Struggle to Connect With Characters
This is tied with the bored comment. If I can’t connect with any one in the book, and don’t care about what is happening with them, why try?
Unable to Suspend Disbelief
Have you ever read a book and a character does something that just doesn’t work with their age? Or status in life? The biggest example I can think of is a book I attempted to read last with my daughter, and the actions of the main character at the beginning as a 6-year-old just didn’t match.
Confusing Time Lines
Hear me out, I love historical fiction. And I love dual time lines. What I don’t like is when the time lines jump in no real order. Last year I read a book I hoped to love, but I struggled to keep track of the time line. The book started in the 1940s, then jumped back to 1920s, then up to 1930s, then back to early 1900s, and then back to the 1940s. Yeah, confusing! No thanks!
Try to Use Every Trope Possible
I understand that books often use multiple tropes. But maybe try not to use ten? I tried reading a book a couple of years ago that had twins, a single parent who suddenly dies, one twin is LGBTQ, the other twin is super popular, the boyfriend uses sex to help her feel better after the death of mom, and there are witches. I’m sure there are even more.
Synopsis Nothing Like the Story
I understand that the synopsis can have spoilers if the writer isn’t it careful. But there are times I’ve come across a book that is nothing like the synopsis.
POV Switch Without Warning
I enjoy reading books with multiple POV (points of view). But it’s a tool that can been used incorrectly! Used well, multiple POV helps give the story lots of details. Generally, authors change the POV when they change a chapter. I just finished one that had POV changes in the middle of the chapter but they were labeled who’s POV you were experiencing. I’ve read books where there’s no acknowledgement about who’s POV. I don’t want to be flipping back and forth as I’m reading trying to keep track of who’s talking.
Book Negatively Impacting Mental Health
I have openly talked about needing multiple attempts to read The Hate U Give. When I first attempted to read THUG, I struggled with the racism. I know that was the point, but it was something that bothered me all the same. Around the time I first started reading it, there was a lot of discussions about history in the southern United States and the removal of statues. There was a tragic event that happened at a protest that left several people injured and one dead that was near where I grew up. I had to set the book aside, and try to find something light and fluffy instead. I gave THUG another try couple of years later, and appreciated the story.
And those are reasons I’ve stopped reading a book. What are some reasons you’ve stopped reading a book?
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Same! 🙌💯
I get the POV switch thing. I’m currently reading a novel now and the author is entirely too fond of it. He’s writing in third-person omniscient with a main character, but will frequently wander into other character’s minds as well — which can get confusing when he’s writing a romance scene and going back and forth between the airman and his WAAF love.
I hate the wandering POV and head hopping too.
My TTT
https://seriesbooklover.wordpress.com/2024/04/30/top-ten-tuesday-petty-reasons-ive-dnfd-a-book/
Great list of reasons to DNF! I don’t DNF often (even if maybe the list I made makes it seem otherwise, lol) but I relate to many of the ones you’ve mentioned and some made my list today too.
Unable to Suspend Disbelief made my list too. I’ve DNFed a lot of books because of it.
Being unable to connect with the characters is a huge one for me, too. (Most of my list of books this week revolves around character issues, TBH.) But I also know what you mean about not being in the right mental place for a book! There are books that I’ve had to put off reading also because I could tell they wouldn’t be good for my mental health at that point in time.
Here’s my TTT this week: https://bookwyrmknits.com/2024/04/30/top-ten-tuesday-dnf-because/
All great reasons that I agree with. I would add excessive swearing or graphic sex scenes that add nothing to the story, and for me, they detract.
So annoying when the synopsis either spoils something big or promises something the book doesn’t deliver!
I understand about the book negatively impacting mental health one. Sometimes I’m just in the wrong mindset to read certain books.
Bored with a book is always a good reason to let it go. We should always enjoy a book, or at least enjoy more than it bores! 🙂 Thanks so much for visiting my website today.
AMEN to that last one! And to the others, too.
Great list! I find it hard to DNF (something I’m trying to get better at) but all of these are really good reasons.
We think alike, Pam. Some of these are on my list as well. After 9/11, I tried to read some of the books that came out about the event, but I just couldn’t.
I really get your list. Especially the whole boredom or distraction thing. My mind likes to keep busy, so if a book I’m reading doesn’t accomplish that, my brain with find a way to do it. Even if that means moving on to something else. And I hadn’t thought of your last point, though once I started reading it it made so much sense. This is absolutely something I’ve done as well. I like to read books about difficult subjects. I like to read about things I’ve experienced, particularly things that were hard – it helps to hear someone else put it into words and to not feel alone. But I can’t do that when it’s too fresh, or too painful. I can’t appreciate the book if it triggers me in that moment. I’m better off putting it aside and returning to it when I’m in a better place. It sounds like maybe that’s similar for you, and I’m grateful that you put that into words on your list. It’s such an important one!
That’s it exactly! If I notice a book is negatively impacting me, I’ll put it down and give myself some space. I’ll try to go back to a book after some time (it took me over 2 years to go back to THUG), and I often find myself enjoying the read.
A lot of romance books are trying to cram so many tropes in now, like everything is grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, only one bed, sibling’s best friend, etc and it’s clear they’re writing TO the tropes rather than just a story that allows 1-2 of them to unfold naturally.
All valid and strong reasons to dnf a book! I’ve dnf’d books for all of the above! I need to connect to the characters, and I need to be able to suspend disbelief too. So many good reasons!
Haze
https://thebookhaze.com/
I appreciate your list, especially the point about too many tropes. It just gets to be annoying.
They are all good reasons! I have to say that I don’t DNF as a general rule, but I have experienced quite a few reasons on your list!
Have a great week!
I don’t like it when the synopsis sounds light and the book is so dramatic
I don’t think I could handle a book that had more than two time periods. It would be way too confusing.
This is a fantastic list, and I can easily agree with all of the items on this list. I especially liked the last item on the list, and how you placed an emphasis on protecting your mental health. Not everyone is always in a place to read every book – you spoke about how you started reading THUG at a time that wasn’t right for you, but when you tried later, it was a much different experience, and I’m so glad you were able to recognize when something wasn’t healthy.
Reading is something that should be helpful and not harmful. I often find if I’m reading a book that has heavy subject matter, I need something light and fluffy to help balance that out. I think that’s part of what happened in January when I hit a reading blip. Too many heavy books, and not enough brain candy! I’m still working on pulling myself from that slump. But the more I blog, the more I learn about me and what I need when it comes to reading.
Pam
Through blogging, I’ve noticed the same thing. I tend to read a light and fluffy read right after or concurrently with a book that’s got tougher or more difficult themes. Hopefully you’ll get fully out of that slump soon, I know how much that sucks.