If you're new to The Hardcover Lover or just missed the first few posts, I'll fill you in. HCL Confessions are my discussion posts. Every few weeks, I'll post my thoughts on something going on in the book blogging world or just general bookish thoughts.
I'm encouraging all of my followers to join in and discuss your thoughts on each topic with me and with the other bloggers/people who leave comments. It's all about kindly expressing ourselves and making connections with other bloggers and readers while forming blogging friendships. Don't be afraid to reply to a comment made by someone you've never spoken to! I can promise you that all of my followers are kind and outgoing.
HCL Confession on DNFing Books:
Before I joined the book blogging world, I didn't really think about not finishing a book. If I wasn't enjoying a book, I would leave a bookmark in it, and make a promise to myself that I would one day finish it. After a few weeks, that book, with the bookmark still intact, would just end up on my shelf, never to be touched again.
A few years ago, things started to change. If I knew I would never finish the book, I would stop reading and pretend like I had never started the book. Eventually those books would make their way to Half Price Books or thrift stores. Obviously, I was sad, but I didn't want to waste my time.
A few years ago, things started to change. If I knew I would never finish the book, I would stop reading and pretend like I had never started the book. Eventually those books would make their way to Half Price Books or thrift stores. Obviously, I was sad, but I didn't want to waste my time.
You see... before I was a book blogger, I was embarrassed if I didn't finish a book. Now I'm a little more neutral. I still don't like putting a book down permanently, but I understand that it's okay. Plus, I know that there are others out there with the same tastes as me. If I can help them, awesome. If not, that's okay too. Still, I don't want to waste my time reading something I don't like, but there are still some times when I force myself to finish a really bad book. I guess old habits die hard.
These days, I'm more actively reading other book blogs. I've noticed a lot of DNF reviews or blurbs than I did in the past when I would browse a few blogs once a week. If I've DNFed the same book or a book by that author, I actually take the time to read them and fully understand them, especially if I know that another blogger and I have similar taste in books. If I haven't read the books yet, I take a mental note of the DNF reviews I see, especially if the review/blurb is posted by someone who likes the same kinds of books. Those reviews help me decide what books I won't be buying.
Sometimes I feel extremely awkward when I write a DNF review. I feel like people will judge me for not finishing a book. But I understand that there are going to be people out there who love that book, and then there will be people like me who didn't enjoy it. It's okay to share your thoughts with the world on a book you didn't finish as long as it's done respectfully. Other times, I simply just go to Goodreads and leave a DNF review instead of writing one for my blog.
Going along with my last HCL Confession... I would never bash a book simply because I didn't like it or didn't finish it. I take the time to consider the reasons why I didn't finish the book. I then write a professional review. I even include some things from the book that I did enjoy to let my readers know that there were some good parts, but just not enough to keep me interested.
So... What are your thoughts on not finishing a book? Have you ever done it? Have you written DNF reviews or blurbs? Feel free to discuss your thoughts in the comments with me and with other bloggers.
More recently I have started putting down books when I don't like them (for whatever reason) because there are so many others that I know I WILL enjoy. Before when I wasn't a blogger, I just read anything I could get my hands on and now I can afford to be more picky. It becomes awkward however when the book is a review copy, and I don't like writing negative reviews in the first place so I'll often tough it out.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about review copies. I've had a few that I couldn't finish, but there are some that I've gotten all the way through and still didn't like.
DeleteI love that you mentioned pretending you never picked up a book -- I thought I was the only one who did that! I put the book down, completely delete it from Goodreads (since I always have it marked as currently reading by then) and then pretend it never happened LOL
ReplyDeleteSometimes I write DNF reviews, but not often. Many times I'm just not in the mood or don't really know why I disliked a book.
For some of them, I would move them back to my "to read" shelf, but there are some that I deleted completely.
DeleteDNF reviews are so awkward. I usually don't like writing them, but there are some that I'll put on here. I felt like I wanted to put my DNF review for Seeker on my blog, but so many others did that I just left it on Goodreads.
I try to give a book a fair chance, even if it doesn't start out that great. Still, I think with all the great books out there it would be a waste of time to read a book if you don't enjoy it and are not interested in seeing how it ends.
ReplyDeleteI do feel a little guilty if I don't finish a book, especially if it's a book which I have heard many great things about. Then I would feel like I might have missed out on something. Still, not enough time in the world to spend on mediocre books. :)
Great post!
Cucie @ Cucie reads
I feel that same way, especially when I have dozens of books on my shelves to read.
DeleteThe feeling guilty thing is the worst. It usually takes a few days for it to pass for me. lol
I really do not like not finishing books. Most of the time, if I am reading a book that I do not like, I will try and stick it out to see if it actually gets better. Unfortunately, most of them do not. I have not written any DNF reviews yet, but I have written some pretty negative reviews about some that I almost put down (but I did not go as far to insult the writer). I feel like DNF reviews are a good way to figure out if you are going to like a book. Whenever I think about reading a new book, I read at least one positive read, and one negative review, which most of the time are DNF reviews.
ReplyDeleteGreat discussion!
Tessa @ Crazy for YA
I hate not finishing them too. It's such a weird feeling to start something and then never go back to it. If I've read enough of a book (about 20%), I'll write a DNF review, but they usually just stay on GR and Amazon, instead of posting one on here.
DeleteSome DNF reviews are just so nasty, and that's why I refrain from posting them here. It's so easy to share anything from here to Twitter or Facebook.
I'm pretty bad when it comes to DNFing books. A good bit of the time it happens when I start listening to music or watching movies or something instead of reading and I end up getting through about ten pages per day. If I'm reading a long book I tend to get discouraged at my lack of progress at that point and I generally give. What I find is that if I buy a book I will normally finish it, probably because my subconscious wants me to get my moneys worth. However, I frequently DNF books from the library and have, on occasion, had to buy a book rather than get it in the library in order to force myself to finish them (thankfully I really enjoyed that book in the end).
ReplyDeleteIn any case, I'm more or less the same as you. If I'm not enjoying a book, I'll stop reading it or say something like "Oh, I'll take a break now" and then accidentally abandon it. In regards to reviews of books I DNFed, I don't do them. I like doing long, 'in depth' reviews so I never feel like I can properly do that if I give up. Maybe if I really hated the book I might do it but otherwise I wouldn't.
Killian
http://leaf-on-the-breeze.blogspot.ie/
I know what you mean. I definitely force myself to finish the books that I buy because I spent my hard-earned money. I haven't borrowed anything from the library recently, but I have a card for books that I'm not so sure about. I know I'll be borrowing Red Queen because I'm not 100% sold on it.
Delete