Let’s talk bookish is a weekly meme, created and hosted by Rukky @Eternity Books and Dani @Literary Lion, here different topics will be discussed.
This weeks topic is ‘What makes you DNF a book?’, which is a very interesting topic! The shortest answer is that if I do not enjoy reading the book I will DNF it! I mean I read for my enjoyment, so if I do not enjoy the reading, why should I continue?!
Is there a specific trope you can’t stand? A plot twist that will make you drop instantly?
Not really. In my opinion all tropes can be good if they are executed well! Or in a good/original way! Kinda the same for plot twists, as long as it is done well I could definitely enjoy it. I really do not like when characters die and the plot twist is that tada character is still alive.. I don’t like it, but it won’t make me drop the book!
How many pages do you usually give a book to capture your attention?
I usually try to read at least 100 pages or 25%, bit depending on how long the book is of course. One of the reasons why I would DNF a book is if I’m too confused by the plot. But it often takes a it before the plot makes sense, or starts connecting. So I’m okay with being confused for a while, but at some point things have to start make sense! So for that reason I do not want to DNF a book too quickly, since every book needs a bit of time to set up!
How many books do you give a series before deciding if it’s worth your time?
Really depending on the series! I kinda have decided to not continue with Children of Blood and Bone, I absolutely loved book one, but really did not enjoy book two. And now I just do not care for what will happen to the characters in the last book. Part of me is like ‘it is just one more book to complete the series’, but honestly I would need to reread them, and I just do not want to. So in this case two books.
I have also decided to not continue with the spellslinger series. I really enjoyed book one, since it quite caught me by surprise. But then I read book two, and it was just not as special and I felt quite mediocre about it. I still tried the third book, in case it was just the second book I thought was mediocre, but the third one was as well. And I just do not want to spend my reading time on a mediocre series. So in this case I read 3/6 before stopping.
So it really depends on why I do not like the series, did I really despise the last book I read or was it mediocre? But honestly also how many books there are still left, if it is just one, I might go and try it haha!
Do you count books as read on GoodReads if you DNF them?
No I don’t. I made an extra shelf on GoodReads for my DNF’ed books, since I do want to mark them with something. And in this way I’m also able to leave my review. Then I can look back later and see why I stopped reading a book!
Great discussion! I always have such a tough time DNFing a book, I’m getting better at it! So right now I’m not sure what my trigger is for DNFing haha.
I feel you on that! Still kinda figuring it out as well!
Great discussion! In the last year I have dnfed a lot more. I’m just at the point where I don’t want to waste time if I am not enjoying it for whatever reason.
Yeah that is exactly the reson why I want to DNF more!
Love this discussion! I am a huge on DNFing a book I am not enjoying. I tend to make up my mind between pages 50-100, it really depends on the size, I want to give it a fair shot. I used to force myself to finish books I was not enjoying and I would end up in slumps.
I think the last series I DNF’ed I read one and enjoyed, the next I didn’t, but I gave the 3rd book a try and it also fell flat. I kinda think if two books back to back are not working for me the rest aren’t.
bookishluna.com
I think 50-100 pages really is giving the book a fair chance, if the book has not grabbed your attention by that point, it is probably not worth it!
Yeah not liking two books in a row is definitely a good sign that it is not working!
Wow, I admire you so much for being able to DNF things! I hardly ever do that and will force myself to keep reading because I stupidly think I’ll have read the beginning for nothing if I don’t finish the book … I will DNF series, though – if I didn’t like the first book, it’s very unlikely I’ll continue. I actually abandoned the Children of Blood and Bone series, too (I feel as though I’m pretty much the only person who didn’t like the first book), and now that you’ve said you think the sequel is worse I feel much less guilty about that decision lol.
I don’t DNF often haha!
I do get you on reading the beginning for nothing! I have the same feeling, since I don’t want the book to count towards my reading goal. And then I would have ‘wasted’ my reading time haha!
A hundred pages is a very generous amount to give a book before making a decision about it! I’ve seen most people saying that they decide around 50 so you really give books a fair shake. I do tend to drop series after the first or second book as well.
http://literarylion.ca/what-makes-you-dnf-a-book-lets-talk-bookish/
It is haha! But I´m always afraid it will get beter later, and I will miss out on a great story haha!
I don’t DNF too often, but it really just depends on how much I’m enjoying the book. Sometimes I’ll just set the book down and never go back to it. There’s not always a good reason, I’m just not drawn back to it!
Yeah enjoyment is the most important factor!
Lovely post!! I love reading about what makes people DNF books Makes me feel less guilty when I put a book down and it’s nice to know that other readers put books down for the same reasons!
DNFing books is so difficult!!! Especially if it’s a book I was so looking forward to – and to find it lacklustre when I get finally to it is incredibly heart-breaking.
Like you do, I tend to give books a 100+ pages before I decide it’s not for me, I’m quite easily entertained so I’m not picky about tropes at all – but if written poorly then it just feels like I’m dragging through the book at a painfully slow pace and barely paying attention. Which isn’t fun, and tbh not worth my precious reading time.
A few times I’ll make an exception and read the whole book just so I can say “I gave this book every chance it was ever going to get and… no.” But that’s usually only if I’ve planned to review it, or if it’s by a fave author or something.
Happy Reading!! I hope you have a lovely day! <3
I actually feel the same, less guilt ahah!
It really is hard! And indeed especially for books you were really excited for!
I think written poorly is one of the main reasons for DNF´ing for me! And if you really have to force yourself to go through the book.. There is no reason to continue!
Thanks for commenting! I hope you have a great day too!
I’m the opposite. I almost never DNF! I always read to the end even if I’m not loving it. Sometimes I feel like maybe I should DNF sometimes, but I can’t bring myself to!
I also dislike it when characters die and then are brought back to life, it’s just kind of frustrating. (having said that, I’ve just realised the book I’m writing kind of has that in it, though the character ‘dies’ off screen…)
I don´t DNF often, but I wish I did it more haha!
It of course also depends on how it is done!