I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I give myself enough credit for DNFing. No matter how much I tell myself that it’s good to DNF, that life’s too short, that I don’t have to finish everything I start, I still feel like it’s a shameful secret that I’ve given up on something. So today, I thought I’d start working on that attitude by *celebrating* some of my successful DNFs! Who knows, maybe in the future I’ll get better at singing about my DNFs across the blogosphere. Okay *deep breaths*, it’s time to confess boast about my DNFs:
Happily Ever After– Let’s start off with the book that inspired this recent spate of posts- a book I embarrassingly proudly DNF’d in March. In fairness to the book, this DNF in part came down to my mood. I thought right now I needed to read contemporaries… but that just isn’t the case (apparently I’m craving something a little bit darker). However, the reason I read 70% of this and quit was more to do with the fact the story felt entirely unnecessary. I fell in love with its predecessor, Cinder and Ella, because it offered a fun Cinderella retelling. This not only lacks the charm of the original, it also feels like filler.
V is for Virgin– annnd this one is straight up embarrassing. I DNF’d this shortly after Happily Ever After, not only failing to learn my lesson that I wasn’t in the mood for contemporary, but also going for a book by the same author (in fairness, I have liked her books before, so I imagined it was a blip). As with Happily Ever After, there wasn’t anything particularly wrong with this, I simply wasn’t feeling it.
Murmur of Bees– this is definitely a case of it’s not the book, it’s me. I can see, objectively, that this had beautiful writing and strong characterisation. I just… knew immediately that this wasn’t my sort of story. I struggled through about half of it, before realising I didn’t want to do it anymore.
To the Lighthouse– putting this on here is more like a promise to myself than anything else. As I’ve mentioned before, I never like stream of consciousness and so have always clashed with Virginia Woolf. This was no exception to that rule. A little part of me really thought when I put this down that it wouldn’t be forever. Yet, as I realised after finally completing Mrs Dalloway last year, that would be a BIG MISTAKE! For my own sake, I should leave well enough alone! So, for goodness sake Future Me, heed this list, stop whatever it is you think you’re doing and don’t pick this up- else you’ll make a liar of us both!
Wicked– oh man, this was atrocious. I *hated* the writing style and was bored throughout. I can’t actually remember if I made it to the end or not, but I’m counting it because I definitely remember abandoning it on several occasions (and if I did finish it I must’ve skimmed, because I don’t remember it!)
Mysteries of Udolpho– I picked this up solely because it’s referenced by other famous works… and it wasn’t anywhere near their league! For a book about mysteries and naughty monks, it was a very dull tome indeed. After trying to read a few very dull pages every few weeks, I realised no amount of cool points for reading the book mentioned in Northanger Abbey would make this worth my time. At least I sort of get the joke about people reading this sensational novel (it feels a bit like making fun of Twilight, maybe…?)
Otherworld– this was just completely meh. Other books have done this story better (try Ready Player One) and with more interesting characters (that aren’t simply obsessed with the length of their nose). It felt like a celebrity cashing in on a tried and tested story- it’s only a pity that they didn’t do a better job of copying other’s works.
And that’s all I’ve got! I told you I’m not that good at DNFing! Do you have any books you’ve proudly DNF’d? If so, why did you give up on them? Let me know in the comments!
I’ve never been shy about DNF! Last year, I made a goal of not DNFing…and couldn’t stick to it. Yes, life is too short to keep slogging through a book that just isn’t doing it for you!
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Yeah I completely agree that life is too short! haha I wish I had the problem of DNFing too much- I’m always trying to convince myself to just give up on the books I don’t like!
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I am so bad at DNF! Probably, it’s something I need to work on, but then again…. It took me at least three attempts to get through Mrs Dalloway, I was really struggling, but I ended up loving it and was so pleased I gave it a second (and third) chance. So sometimes being persistent can be highly rewarding. Also, by principle, I hate leaving stuff unfinished 😉
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I hear you! I really struggle with it too. ah I’m glad you ended up loving it! I do get that- it can work out… sometimes 😉 haha I relate!
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I’ve read and enjoyed most of Gregory Maguire’s other fairy tale inspired books, but not Wicked. Though I finished it, it didn’t resonate with me. I’m in awe, however, of the creative geniuses who found an amazing musical in that scrap heap. So, a timeless musical derived from an overwrought book derived from a classic “children’s” tale that also birthed a classic movie. All those derivatives – I always hated calculus.
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I’m glad his other books were good, cos I really like the concepts for them. haha yes I agree- the musical is wonderful- I don’t know how they did it! 😀 hahahaha!
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I DNFed Wicked too, but I think I didn’t even get through the first chapter haha
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hahaha fair enough- that book was baaaaad!
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The only one of these that I’ve read is A Murmur Of Bees, and I really struggled too, it was very slow, I did finish it after months of trying, the best bit for me was the actual bees.
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Ok I’m so relieved that wasn’t just me! Cos it seems to be universally loved (and I kind of get it, the writing is beautiful) but yeah it was very slow for me too and I just wasn’t getting anywhere with it.
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I muddled through every book I begin
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Fair enough- I used to do that, but I’m trying to change the habit (sometimes I just don’t find every book worth finishing)
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For me, it’s more that I’m cheap. I buy a lot of my books. I’m too cheap to not finish what I paid money for….
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hahaha I *completely* understand that- it’s one of the big reasons I struggle to DNF (but it makes less sense when I’ve gotten it out the library… but then I kind of want to make it worth the effort 😉 )
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How deep is the motivation…😉
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haha deep enough! 😉
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Good post! Some of the best selling books of this century I’ve proudly dumped!
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Thank you! hehe that’s awesome!
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I’ve tried to read Wicked so many times but I don’t think it will ever happen. I completely agree with you about the writing style.
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Oh yeah the writing style is practically *painful*- totally worth giving up on!
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I think Ann Radcliffe sort of has her charms, though I also understand DNF’ing. :p
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I DNF’ed Wicked like 5 pages in though….
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But I also wish I’d DNF’d Wicked sooner!
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Ah I wish I could’ve seen it the same way!
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I love the musical Wicked and I’ve been eyeing the book up for a while but I definitely will not be rushing to get it after this review! Thanks ❤
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Oh yeah I love the musical too, but the book is just not worth it! It’s reallllly different (and I hated the writing style- so maybe try a sample if you’re still interested and see if it works for you?) ❤
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These books looks like worth to read….
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hehe well maybe murmur of the bees 😉
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I’m with you – stream of consciousness is the worst. I want to like it! In theory I think it’s a clever narrative approach. But I’ve never found a novel using this technique that I’ve truly enjoyed. I think I need to just stop trying XD. So I do not blame you for DNFing ‘To the Lighthouse’ and, in fact, I CELEBRATE YOU for it! I hope Future You heeds your advice here. Good luck resisting it’s pull in the future. May the Force be with you.
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Ahh I so agree with you!!! I don’t know what it is about that style, but my brain just switches off!! Yeah I agree… in theory- it just never works in practice for me! And yeah, I never enjoy it. Me too- I just need to accept it’s not for me. hehe aww thank you!! hahaha!! You too!
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I totally DNF’d Wicked. I didn’t get even through the first chapter. I was already bored.
I did really like V is for Virgin, though. The second book was good, too. I’m sad you didn’t like it. I haven’t read the second Cinder & Ella book. Not sure why.
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Ahh yeah that book was a struggle- I should’ve DNF’d it sooner!! I can understand that- I just wasn’t in the mood for it and I needed to accept that (and I read enough of it that I know I won’t go back to it). Personally, I didn’t really like the sequel to cinder and ella though, it felt a bit unnecessary (cos I liked the way the first one ended)
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Good to know!
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I never tried to read Wicked, but I DNF’d Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by the same author. I think it’s a writing style thing… everyone I’ve talked to about his work has been very polarized about it one way or another.
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Yeah the writing style really didn’t work for me- I doubt I’d try anything else by the author. It makes sense!
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I love that you’re embracing DNF’s! There is some stigma against readers marking books as DNF, but honestly, you wouldn’t want to keep anything negative in your life, so why keep books that you don’t like in your life?
Go you!! 🙂
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I completely agree- but yeah, personally I’ve always admired people that were good at DNFing, because I find it such a struggle (and rarely get anything out of books I have to power through)
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I know right! But it looks like you’re becoming one of those people who are good at DNFing!!
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hehe I hope so!
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I don’t DNF too often myself usually it’s because something is problematic.. I’ve been more liberal about it recently if something truly doesn’t interest me.
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Ah fair enough!
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What’s DNF?
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Sorry, I should’ve said, it stands for “did not finish”
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No problem thanks
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OMG I’m so glad I’m not the only one who DNF’d Wicked! It sounded sooo good but I could not get into the story at all. It felt like everyone loved it and then there was lil ol me who was the odd one out. I have only DNF’d one book this year and that was The Reader. I was doing a readthon with a bunch of people but I just could not get into it. I felt bad. I wanted to enjoy it but the writing style just wasn’t my style.
-Amber
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Me too!! yes I completely agree!! I was so sad I didn’t like it. Oh yeah I wasn’t a fan of the reader either (even though I finished it, it just didn’t get better for me). Same!
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I wish more people would realize the time that is saved for reading good books when you DNF books that aren’t so good 🙂
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Ah yes I do get what you mean!
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Atlas Shrugged. Just, ugh. If you get the point she’s making in the first 40 pages, you don’t need to finish the last 1,500.
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Oh my god- I wish I had DNF’d that at page 40!!! What a waste of time that book was!
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Aw shucks. I really loved A Murmur of Bees. Sorry you didn’t enjoy. I think I recommended to to you too! Lol.
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Ah no worries- it was one of those books where I could see the quality, but just wasn’t connecting with it. It was better for me (and the book 😉 ) to just stop
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Aw. Lol. Totally get it.
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I was disappointed with Otherworld too, though I did read the whole thing.
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Ah well I’m honestly relieved to hear I didn’t miss out on a spectacular ending! 😉
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Hey! It happens …
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hehe yup!
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I haven’t DNF any book so far. I came close to DNFing these- Cupidity, The Secret of His Turquoise Eyes, A Way to the Infinity World.
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Ah fair enough!
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I vaguely remember dragging myself through Wicked, assuming it would improve as so many had raved about (the musical version, hmm). I rarely DNF. Arithmetic by Todd McEwan, and The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King spring to mind.
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Yeah I was so keen to like that book, cos I love the musical, buuuut it just didn’t work for me
Fair enough! I rarely DNF as well!
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I love the idea of giving yourself “credit” for a DNF! They’re always sort of painful for me but maybe I should try it your way!
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hehe thank you! Yeah I agree! It’s really painful for me to do, but I actually wish I was letting things go! I’d like to get better at it!
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Maybe it’s a goal I should set for myself.
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Definitely one I’m trying to do! I think I should make it a proper goal!
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The Lost Colony. The title is awesome, the premise is great, but the writing … whoof. Present tense, switching back and forth between different scenes every page or two, obvious similies on every page.
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oof that sounds tough!!
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Ohhh I love this!! is it okay if I try this out??
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Thank you! Absolutely- go for it! 😀
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Somehow I struggled through To the Lighthouse, but I remember absolutely nothing about it. So maybe the struggle was pointless after all. Hm.
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hehe well all I can say is I guess I’m glad I didn’t miss out 😉
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I also struggle with admitting that I DNF a book. To be honest, I usually soldier on until I almost want to throw the book out the window. The only one I mind a bit less to admit I DNF is 50 shades of grey.
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Yeah I also am used to soldiering on, but I’m trying to find ways to encourage myself to give up on more books I’m not enjoying! hahaha! You made a good call there 😉
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I also DNFed Happily Ever After, but I was sad about it. I had loved Cinder & Ella, but that book, nope.
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Yeah it was a real waste of time!
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Finally someone who couldn’t get through Wicked! All of my friends loved this at college and I read about two chapters and I just… couldn’t do it. I still own it in case I might try again but idk if it’s worth it
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Ah yes- I relate! My uni friends really liked it too- and I didn’t understand why at all! (it was only after I gave it up and told them so, they admitted that the style was weird, so I got why). I do get that- I kept my copy for years before unhauling it.
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I have a hard time not finishing a horrible book. I’m trying though
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Ah I hear you! I’m trying to get better as well!
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Sad to see Wicked on this list! I loved the musical but, will def stay away from the book now lol.
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Oh yeah I love the musical- but really don’t recommend the book I’m afraid!
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