by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
I read a lot of books in 2020…probably in order to distract myself from everything that was going on in 2020. But I know one thing–I could have read a lot more books if I’d stopped reading books I didn’t like.
DNFs are reader shorthand for “did not finish.” Having DNFs is apparently anathema to me.
I believe that’s because most of the books I read fall into one of three categories: they’re well-reviewed, recommended by a friend, or they’re books by an author I enjoy.
There’s usually something of a modus operandi when I start disliking a book. I’ll start quickly reading before stopping and putting the book down. Then I won’t pick the book up again until the next day. I’ll probably give myself another chapter and then will stop again. Maybe two days will go by and I won’t pick the book up. Then I’ll read another chapter or two. If I still don’t like it, I’ll usually hop online and remind myself what others said about the book. Then I’ll ordinarily give the book another go.
In the space of time when I drag out the reading of the book I don’t like, I could have read 3 books. Books that I enjoyed and that would help influence my writing in a good way.
So here’s my plan for the rest of this year: stop reading books I don’t like within the space of a few days. There’s just no point pushing myself to plow forward when there’s absolutely no way I could ever run out of good books to read.
Writer Austin Kleon in his post “How to Read More” also recommends quitting reading books we don’t like. As he puts it:
“When it comes to books, quitters finish more.”
He also includes a great quotation from Jorge Luis Borges on the matter:
“If a book bores you, leave it; don’t read it because it is famous, don’t read it because it is modern, don’t read a book because it is old…. If a book is tedious to you, don’t read it; that book was not written for you.”
Are you determined to keep plugging away through a book you’re not enjoying? Or are you good about giving up and trying another story?
On Making Peace With DNFs in 2021: Share on XPhoto on VisualHunt
I learned years ago after slogging through Dan Brown’s The Terror – if I’m not into it by the third chapter, I kick it to the curb. Life is too short to be spent in bad books.
That sounds like a nightmare, ha. Haven’t read that one and I don’t think I’m going to try.
I used to slog through and finish every book I started. I also used to read every word. Now I put down books I don’t like, books I don’t think I can leave a good review for, and books that bore me. Sometimes I skim over certain things – sex scenes, long descriptions, etc. – to get back to the plot. I learned it’s the only way I can get through Victor Hugo and Tom Clancy (both of whom I now find enjoyable). It gives me an opportunity to try new authors and to read more of what I enjoy. What could be bad about that? I mean, I never review books I don’t finish and when I talk about the books I DNF, it’s always in a very general way, so there’s no harm done to the author. My reasons for DNF’ing a book are totally subjective. Why put that negativity on someone else’s work?
I skim descriptions all the time, too. Consequently, I don’t *write* a lot of description because I just don’t think it’s interesting. I like your approach…skim over the dull to get to the good stuff. And you’re so right–it’s all very subjective. My big thing, I think, is FOMO. When everyone says something is “so good,” I don’t want to DNF so I can get to the good part. But not every book is right for every reader, as you pointed out.
It’s funny, Elizabeth. The older I get, the less willing I am to continue reading a book I’m not enjoying. If a book starts out being ‘so-so,’ I’ll give it a little time to see if it gets more appealing. But otherwise, I’m far more likely now than I was to just send it to Station DNF. The only exceptions I make are for books that need to read as part of the Ngaio Marsh Awards panel, or books for my book club, or books that someone specifically asks me to read for, say, a beta-reader opinion.
Station DNF. :) I like that! I’m doing better with it, but it’s still hard for me to toss a book aside. I’m working on it! There’s only so much time to read and I need to only stick with books that resonate with me.
I love this post because I suffer through way more books than I should. Some of them are non-fiction/academic, where my expectations of being thrilled are a little lower, and I came to them hoping to learn something, but there were two in 2021 that I wished I probably should have just walked away from but I really wanted to say I’d finished. I won’t name the series, but it’s a new (debuted in the last two or three years) author who came out to sooo much acclaim and, maybe as a mashup of all three of your categories, endorsed by authors I respect and enjoy. I thought the first book had a lot of potential, I thought the second book was setting us up for a grand finale, but by the third book I’d begun to suspect that I’d been had. I finished it and I thought, why did I waste my time on those three books?
I’m trying to be better at the front-end by really thinking about books I have on my TBR pile, and I’ve eliminated a good bit in the last two months. Hopefully that will diminish the risk I’ll pick up something that’s not for me?
Like you, I’ve also tried to be pickier in the choosing process so I don’t have to be put in the position of having a DNF. I’ve weeded through a few of my TBRs and now have a shorter list of things I’m really looking forward to read. Fingers crossed!
I had the same experience as you with another well-known mystery writer who’d received critical acclaim. The writing was beautiful, but it was very slow-paced. I was sad when the series was a DNF.
I might be a little less bitter if the writing had been better. I didn’t even know what the series was about by the time I was done :-)
😀
This was a good post!
I don’t have a problem DNF’ing books that aren’t working for me. Like Jorge Luis Borges, not every book is meant for every reader. That’s totally okay. :)
The older I get, the less likely I am to continue reading a book if it doesn’t grab me in the first ten pages. So many books to read in one lifetime.
You’re so right, Pat! I’m definitely getting in that mindset.
I remember my mom being completely horrified when I stopped reading a book. I was probably around 12 and her stance was You Must Finish Every Book You Start. I tried for a few years but then gave up on that. If I’m not connecting with characters, I tend to give it 50 pages or 20% on an ereader before giving it up. Life is too short to read books that don’t work for me. :)
Oh gosh, if my mom had said that to me, I’d probably have even a harder time having a DNF, ha! You’re right–life’s too short.
Before I started writing fiction, I finished every book, always believing each one would redeem itself. None ever did. Still I kept on. After I started writing fiction, I DNF many. I closed many books after reading fewer than ten pages. Now I usually give them more time, unless I know without a doubt early. When I start doing the same things you do about reading only a little every day or so, there’s usually something I still want to find out storywise, so I skim until I find it.
That’s so interesting that you started DNF-ing books when you started writing. Makes sense. It can be tough to read as a writer, since we can tend to be analytical.
Hi Elizabeth – how wise … the other is if one wants to read them to understand … put them down and perhaps over time one will have learnt more and the book will be easier. I tend to plough through … but not always. I also skim – it’s not necessary to read all the detail … get the gist of the story and move on. So thanks for this reminder … all the best with your DNFs – no shame there. Hilary
Thanks for this, Hilary! I still feel really conflicted over it, but had a DNF last week. :)