Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer, where you answer a question and join a “hop”. The purpose is to help bloggers discover and get to know one another.
For this week’s Book Blogger Hop, Elizabeth @ Silver’s Reviews asked:
Do you continue with a book even though you aren’t liking it?
This is a tricky one.
I used to refuse to DNF. I would push through every book no matter what. While I finally got myself to a place where I’m okay DNFing books, I’m still working on it.
My goal is certainly to put down a book when I’m not enjoying it. I’ve wasted my time pushing through far too many books that I wasn’t enjoying just to end up rating them 1 or 2 stars. My reading time is just too precious to me to keep getting stuck in that cycle.
Speaking of… I have a book on my table that I need to DNF. I’m off to do that right now 🙂
Thanks for reading!
I’d love to hear your personal preferences when it comes to DNFing or pushing through.
It depends on the story being told. It’s usually writing style that will put me off. If the story unique and different I’ll push through if I want to know how it ends. If it’s a “this has been done before” book(i.e. just another romance, crime, etc.) I’ll DNF it. And then there’smy recent attempt at Wuthering Heights, a much loved classic… I just didn’t “get it” and it took me forever to push through. I can’t fault it, it just wasn’t for me but I’m glad to be able to tick it off. That as a DNF would forever hang over my head!
Oh man, trying to get through classics that just aren’t working for you is the most difficult!!
I definitely DNF a lot! Sometimes I can tell within the first couple pages that a book isn’t going to work for me.
Same! 🙂 I’m still working on getting better at putting books down!
As soon as I stop being interested in the book, I ditch it and move on to my next read. I have too many books to read and very little time to waste on things I don’t like!
Yeah!! That’s such a good process. I need to work on that!
This is so tough! I always hate not finishing something. BUT, life is short (and there are SO MANY BOOKS), so I’m trying to be better about that!
Right?! It’s so complicated!!
If I DNF a book it’s because it really sucks. I try three different times to read it and if I just can’t, then I’m done. But if I DNF a review book (which I RARELY do because I feel like it’s my job to finish it and review it) I’m fairly detailed on why it was a DNF.
Great answer!!
I don’t DNF many books; I know what you mean about reading time being precious. I take every precaution to ensure the books I pick up are ones I’ll want to read; if the blurb sounds good I check the lower rated reviews on Goodreads to see if the niggles are things I’d hate too.
It’s harder with ARCs but I use the same precautions before saying yes.
Same here! I have been working on getting better at turning down books I’m just not interested in when I’m asked by an author or publisher if I’d like to read something.
This can be tough, but I will DNF if it looks like there’s not much hope of things getting better. 🙂
Definitely!!
I’m so BAD at DNfing books, but I am also trying to get better at it.
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I have become much better when it comes to DNFing books. I used to push through as well, but I’m less interested in how many books I read compared to what kinds of books I read. I want to read good books, ones I enjoy. The only books I will make myself read are ones I get from NetGalley because it’s really satisfying having a 100% ratio, haha.
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I really hate to DNF a book, as some I’ve disliked at the start but pressed on and appreciated by the end. However, you have to do what works best for you. I generally won’t pick up a book unless I strongly believe it’s something I’ll enjoy, and that does limit the chances I will find myself struggling with it.
That’s a great process!!
I’m still stuck in the phase where I refuse to DNF, haha. I can’t help it, I really think it’s part of my OCD! How badly I wish I could get past it though, life’s too short to stick with a bad book!
It’s SO hard!! There’s always the “what if” issue… What if it gets better. What if I picked it up at a bad time. Ugh!
Ah…the art of DNF’ing a book. The ability to DNF-at-will is something truly unique to each reader. I have a process, but I don’t always follow it. Why? It is literally a dramatic struggle when I have to put a book down.
hahahaha! I totally understand!
Like you, I would always finish books when I first started blogging (my first blog, not this one), and I think that’s when reading started feeling like a chore. I swore to myself that I wouldn’t let that happen again, because reading should be an amazing experience, and now I DNF something the minute I know it’s not working for me. I’ve had time to read more books, and ones that I’ve really enjoyed! May has been a weird month for me, which is why my DNF&Y post is up to seven (largest one yet, I think). Not every book is for every person, but I think it helps to state why something didn’t work for me. I’ve been happier since I’ve only been reading the books I like!
Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬
Definitely! It’s never fun to force yourself to read and review something! I love that series on your blog!
I used to struggle through them too. Now? Not so much. Time is too precious.
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Too many books, too little time to not DNF a book you’re not enjoying.
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I don’t really DNF but that makes me sad and I need to get better at doing it. I’m just always wondering what if it gets better? I also don’t like to review books when I haven’t read the whole thing.
Right?! It’s SUCH a difficult thing. I’m still pretty bad at it, but I’m trying to get better. I’m getting better at determining what writing styles work well for me vs the styles that don’t, and that plays a major role in DNFing for me.