Sometimes I will finish a book I should DNF because I hate it so much I want to be able to fully and thoughtfully pick it apart so others get why it’s a hate for me.
I agree Traci!! When you start writing about books for an ‘audience’ you want to make sure you’ve covered all bases! And one of those bases is making sure you have all the information you need to be able to articulate exactly why the book is not good & you don’t recommend it. If you DNF it you have no substance for the argument against the book!
As a fellow professional reader, this resonates so hard with me! I’ve loved expanding my tastes and discovering new genres to love—and at times, yes, confirming that certain genres and authors are not for me, instead of just guessing 😂
Not finishing books is something I know saves me from going into deep reading slumps, but I think you've highlighted really valuable points for continuing on with books too. After all these years I feel that my reading intuition is pretty reliable, so if I set a book aside often I know it's just not the right time and I'll return to it. Usually this is because of one of the reasons you mentioned - I need to know what happens at the end.
I used to be a staunch finisher. But, when I realized how limited my reading TIME is, I began to abandon books that just didn't resonate. However, I force myself to write a note with the reasons why I didn't care for a text, so that I can learn from the experience and perhaps apply those lessons to my own writing.
Yes to all of this! When I’m considering putting down a book I think about why I was reading it in the first place. If it’s purely for entertainment, I’m happy to DNF if it isn’t entertaining me - although I also try to remember what about it I didn’t enjoy so I can steer clear in the future. If it’s something more serious, very often the problem is just that it’s the wrong time - eg it’s a 500 page library book due in five days and that includes four days when my kids are out of school - and I might still read as much as I can because realistically by the the I get back to it several other "important" books will have stacked above it on my TBR. I'm ambivalent about this because on the one hand a novel is a work of art meant to be consumed in full, but on the other hand if I allow myself to read parts of novels, like a bookish wine taster, I can sample so many more.
Also - I am a FIRM believer in the pause and come back to when the time is right. Currently doing that with East of Eden and I am sure glad its getting another fighting chance
It's unusual for me to start a book and not finish - usually if I've decided to read it, I'm going to finish ... maybe not right away, but at some point. So I guess I'm more of a NGS (not gonna start) reader than a not gonna finish one. And of course if I'm going to hate on a book, I feel like I have to actually read it all the way through.
I really enjoyed hearing your thoughts on the complicated interaction that is reading. To this day, I am a DFNer… but the criteria I use to make that choice has shifted. For several years, I was the fiction interviews editor for an online magazine called The Artisanal Writer. We chose to focus deliberately on matters of craft. With that in mind, my task was not to consider whether I “like” a particular book or even whether it was "good", but rather to look for what makes the book interesting in terms of how it was created. As I did this carefully for several years, how I read shifted. It was freeing to set aside judgment in this way and my overall experience has been one of wonder. How amazingly diverse writing can be. There are so many ways and reasons to create fiction. As with most things in life, this was complicated… while I learned a lot by reading from the perspective of craft and I continue to foster that habit, I did miss reading for pure self-indulgent pleasure and I do that more these days. Overall, I am more likely to stick it out now and I think I may even have a more open mind (here's hoping)... although I do still set aside a few books that simply do not engage me or that seem toxic in their message such as with undertones of racism.
I love this so much, Sara! I often finish books for many of these reasons, most often because I want to be able to book talk books outside of my genre preferences to students and staff at school or experience books that my friends or family love. My daughter recommended a book to me that ended up really pushing me as a reader, but I’m very glad I finished it so we could talk about it. Thanks for putting all of this so eloquently!
I love this points! I think it’s wonderful that you read outside your wheelhouse so you can better recommend books to your community. And hooray for books that challenge us!
Yes! One of the greatest gifts of a book is the conversations it opens up between people. How wonderful that you made space for your daughter in this way.
Nicely put. Good balance. I for one have a difficult time putting down a book. To ask why? Is a good filter. If we are expanding…”receive” the literature as C.S. Lewis says, instead of “using” it. Find ways to look through the author’s eyes. Learn from them. But if it’s simply for the “use” of entertainment, put it down if it’s not doing the job. We all have different palates. It’s what makes the world go round.
I love this so much! There is some literature that I am simply "using," but my goal is alwasy to find books that I'l "receiving." Thank you for sharing!
Yes, as a writer, I always consider how much time the author put into their work. At the same time, we all have our own personal tastes. We wouldn't expect every person we meet to like us. Why expect that of every reader?
This post comes at a particularly good time as I just had the experience of trying to decide if I should DNF On Beauty. I'd been having a very "slumpy" reading month in May, had read Howards End just before starting OB, and was finding it really hard to get into OB and to really care at all about the story and characters. But just as I voiced that in the Novel Pairings Discord (with a few others who were struggling as well), I found that the story began to pick up for me. I decided to stick with it and soon began to feel more invested in the (not very likeable) characters, discovered more connecting threads between HE and OB which was fun, and became more interested in the themes that Smith was exploring. Before I knew it I was flying through the last section of the book because I wanted to see how it ended. But in that time, I'd also gained a huge appreciation for Smith's writing style and her ability to weave together characters and events while exploring several themes. I'm not a huge DNF'er (although I will do it at times), and this was a reminder that sometimes sticking with a book has rewards beyond just a fun reading experience. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this subject, Sara!
Some of my book groups very best discussions have come over a book that some - or most- or all of us didn’t like. That said I Am def on team DNF. I log why I didn’t in case I want to try again at a later time.
I'm notorious for being really bored about the beginning of things and only getting into a show or book until...episodes in or 100 pages go by...so by the time I realize I don't want to keep watching or reading, I'm already halfway through and might as well finish! Like, I even skip the first two episodes sometimes to get going (I actually skipped the whole first season of Peaky Blinders...love that show and I still haven't seen the entire first season LOL).
The only way I was able to DNF was to tell myself "I'll pick this up later" and convince myself that I just wasn't in the right headspace, season, or interested in the topic/theme at that point in my life. I still think there is merit to that approach, but lately I've been more reflective on the reasons why I do or don't DNF because more often than not...I'm probably not going to pick it up again. So knowing the reason to give up or keep going is key.
But I have recently been ruthlessly DNFing...books, shows, movies, hobbies, etc. And it usually comes down to what am I looking for in this experience? Something to immerse myself in? Do I want to explore a new genre/themes/style/perspective? Am I just not really into these types of stories right now? Or am I not vibing with the execution of it?
Yes— I love the theory that the leeway a book deserves is a function of the reader’s age. 50 pages for those under 50 is a good attempt. Over 50, subtract one’s age from 100 and DNF away!
I agree that the main reason I would DNF in addition to lack of enjoyment overall is if a book is keeping me from reading in general because I don't want to pick it up. Reading more than one book at once is often a good barometer for that-- if I start multiple new books before I finish one I've been reading for awhile, I'm likely to DNF. And #2 and #5 resonate most for me as to why I might finish a book I don't love anyway. Why am I reading it and is that still true now that I've started it? Or: am I just getting impatient for it to come together, and do I believe it might yet get there? Those will keep me going!
As a lifelong DNF-er, I completely agree with the nuance around when you should push through or (a frequent choice of mine) revisit later when you’re in a proper headspace.
Sometimes I will finish a book I should DNF because I hate it so much I want to be able to fully and thoughtfully pick it apart so others get why it’s a hate for me.
I agree Traci!! When you start writing about books for an ‘audience’ you want to make sure you’ve covered all bases! And one of those bases is making sure you have all the information you need to be able to articulate exactly why the book is not good & you don’t recommend it. If you DNF it you have no substance for the argument against the book!
Totally agree with all of this! Part of giving a book its due is being able to fairly critique it or adequately tear it apart!
YES! I won’t rate books I don’t finish, so sometimes I push through for this exact reason!
As a fellow professional reader, this resonates so hard with me! I’ve loved expanding my tastes and discovering new genres to love—and at times, yes, confirming that certain genres and authors are not for me, instead of just guessing 😂
Yes!
Not finishing books is something I know saves me from going into deep reading slumps, but I think you've highlighted really valuable points for continuing on with books too. After all these years I feel that my reading intuition is pretty reliable, so if I set a book aside often I know it's just not the right time and I'll return to it. Usually this is because of one of the reasons you mentioned - I need to know what happens at the end.
Yes for sure! I think the best reason to DNF is to avoid a slump!
I used to be a staunch finisher. But, when I realized how limited my reading TIME is, I began to abandon books that just didn't resonate. However, I force myself to write a note with the reasons why I didn't care for a text, so that I can learn from the experience and perhaps apply those lessons to my own writing.
I love that you take valuable lessons from you DNFs!
Yes to all of this! When I’m considering putting down a book I think about why I was reading it in the first place. If it’s purely for entertainment, I’m happy to DNF if it isn’t entertaining me - although I also try to remember what about it I didn’t enjoy so I can steer clear in the future. If it’s something more serious, very often the problem is just that it’s the wrong time - eg it’s a 500 page library book due in five days and that includes four days when my kids are out of school - and I might still read as much as I can because realistically by the the I get back to it several other "important" books will have stacked above it on my TBR. I'm ambivalent about this because on the one hand a novel is a work of art meant to be consumed in full, but on the other hand if I allow myself to read parts of novels, like a bookish wine taster, I can sample so many more.
I really resonate with this!
Lets really stir up the pot - I want a list of your recent DNFs 😁 mostly just out of sheer curiosity
I barely clock my DNFs because they're usually just "not right nows!"
Also - I am a FIRM believer in the pause and come back to when the time is right. Currently doing that with East of Eden and I am sure glad its getting another fighting chance
It's unusual for me to start a book and not finish - usually if I've decided to read it, I'm going to finish ... maybe not right away, but at some point. So I guess I'm more of a NGS (not gonna start) reader than a not gonna finish one. And of course if I'm going to hate on a book, I feel like I have to actually read it all the way through.
Haha yes! I’m a NGS reader too 😂
I really enjoyed hearing your thoughts on the complicated interaction that is reading. To this day, I am a DFNer… but the criteria I use to make that choice has shifted. For several years, I was the fiction interviews editor for an online magazine called The Artisanal Writer. We chose to focus deliberately on matters of craft. With that in mind, my task was not to consider whether I “like” a particular book or even whether it was "good", but rather to look for what makes the book interesting in terms of how it was created. As I did this carefully for several years, how I read shifted. It was freeing to set aside judgment in this way and my overall experience has been one of wonder. How amazingly diverse writing can be. There are so many ways and reasons to create fiction. As with most things in life, this was complicated… while I learned a lot by reading from the perspective of craft and I continue to foster that habit, I did miss reading for pure self-indulgent pleasure and I do that more these days. Overall, I am more likely to stick it out now and I think I may even have a more open mind (here's hoping)... although I do still set aside a few books that simply do not engage me or that seem toxic in their message such as with undertones of racism.
I love this and think it very much speaks to the idea that our season of life largely determines how we feel about DNFing vs. sticking it out!
I love this so much, Sara! I often finish books for many of these reasons, most often because I want to be able to book talk books outside of my genre preferences to students and staff at school or experience books that my friends or family love. My daughter recommended a book to me that ended up really pushing me as a reader, but I’m very glad I finished it so we could talk about it. Thanks for putting all of this so eloquently!
I love this points! I think it’s wonderful that you read outside your wheelhouse so you can better recommend books to your community. And hooray for books that challenge us!
Yes! One of the greatest gifts of a book is the conversations it opens up between people. How wonderful that you made space for your daughter in this way.
Nicely put. Good balance. I for one have a difficult time putting down a book. To ask why? Is a good filter. If we are expanding…”receive” the literature as C.S. Lewis says, instead of “using” it. Find ways to look through the author’s eyes. Learn from them. But if it’s simply for the “use” of entertainment, put it down if it’s not doing the job. We all have different palates. It’s what makes the world go round.
Thanks for sharing!
I love this so much! There is some literature that I am simply "using," but my goal is alwasy to find books that I'l "receiving." Thank you for sharing!
Yes, as a writer, I always consider how much time the author put into their work. At the same time, we all have our own personal tastes. We wouldn't expect every person we meet to like us. Why expect that of every reader?
Absolutely
This is so good!!
This post comes at a particularly good time as I just had the experience of trying to decide if I should DNF On Beauty. I'd been having a very "slumpy" reading month in May, had read Howards End just before starting OB, and was finding it really hard to get into OB and to really care at all about the story and characters. But just as I voiced that in the Novel Pairings Discord (with a few others who were struggling as well), I found that the story began to pick up for me. I decided to stick with it and soon began to feel more invested in the (not very likeable) characters, discovered more connecting threads between HE and OB which was fun, and became more interested in the themes that Smith was exploring. Before I knew it I was flying through the last section of the book because I wanted to see how it ended. But in that time, I'd also gained a huge appreciation for Smith's writing style and her ability to weave together characters and events while exploring several themes. I'm not a huge DNF'er (although I will do it at times), and this was a reminder that sometimes sticking with a book has rewards beyond just a fun reading experience. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this subject, Sara!
Some of my book groups very best discussions have come over a book that some - or most- or all of us didn’t like. That said I Am def on team DNF. I log why I didn’t in case I want to try again at a later time.
I'm notorious for being really bored about the beginning of things and only getting into a show or book until...episodes in or 100 pages go by...so by the time I realize I don't want to keep watching or reading, I'm already halfway through and might as well finish! Like, I even skip the first two episodes sometimes to get going (I actually skipped the whole first season of Peaky Blinders...love that show and I still haven't seen the entire first season LOL).
The only way I was able to DNF was to tell myself "I'll pick this up later" and convince myself that I just wasn't in the right headspace, season, or interested in the topic/theme at that point in my life. I still think there is merit to that approach, but lately I've been more reflective on the reasons why I do or don't DNF because more often than not...I'm probably not going to pick it up again. So knowing the reason to give up or keep going is key.
But I have recently been ruthlessly DNFing...books, shows, movies, hobbies, etc. And it usually comes down to what am I looking for in this experience? Something to immerse myself in? Do I want to explore a new genre/themes/style/perspective? Am I just not really into these types of stories right now? Or am I not vibing with the execution of it?
This is so interesting! Thanks for sharing!
At sixty-four years old, I recognize I have limited time. This has helped me say no to what doesn't work for me... and not just books.
Yes— I love the theory that the leeway a book deserves is a function of the reader’s age. 50 pages for those under 50 is a good attempt. Over 50, subtract one’s age from 100 and DNF away!
I agree that the main reason I would DNF in addition to lack of enjoyment overall is if a book is keeping me from reading in general because I don't want to pick it up. Reading more than one book at once is often a good barometer for that-- if I start multiple new books before I finish one I've been reading for awhile, I'm likely to DNF. And #2 and #5 resonate most for me as to why I might finish a book I don't love anyway. Why am I reading it and is that still true now that I've started it? Or: am I just getting impatient for it to come together, and do I believe it might yet get there? Those will keep me going!
I also DNF more when I start multiple books at the same time... and yet I can't stop myself from doing it!!
It’s a chicken-or-egg problem!
As a lifelong DNF-er, I completely agree with the nuance around when you should push through or (a frequent choice of mine) revisit later when you’re in a proper headspace.
Yesss, especially #7! Craft in the Real World is such an eye opener