Why I Avoid DNF-ing Books
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- Опубликовано: 10 фев 2025
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"I've never regretted finishing a book. But I have regretted not finishing some books." Sure can't argue with that very sound logic. I'm reluctant to DNF, and feel the same. Interesting and thought-provoking analysis, Johanna. Thanks!
Thank you so much, Vaughn! It's just the truth. Haha! Glad I'm in good company!
I don't DNF audiobooks -- I DNS them (Do Not Start) after DNFing the only one I ever tried. I used to feel guilty about it, but now I DNW (Do Not Worry) because life is too short to do things I don't enjoy. Thanks for the video, Johanna, and DNDAIWD (Do Not Do Anything I Wouldn't Do)! 😁
🤣🤣🤣 I fully support your DNS audiobook policy and DNW one as well, Philip! Happy reading to you! 😁
Great comment. 😂
This comment was great! I'm glad it wasn't a joke that DNL
(Did Not Land)
😃
@@alynam82 🤣
Dr F - I never used to listen to books either - I totally changed my stance this year at age 53 and listened to 22 audiobooks.That's 22 more books I got through this year that I would not have. I never used to listen to them because I absolutely hate the way other people read out loud - they put the emphasis on the wrong word in a sentence and stuff like that which makes me want to pull my hair out - but there really are some good audiobook readers out there. If you have time, read my comment to Johanna in this thread. It's not as funny as your comment, but I think it's a good argument 🤔
I used to feel very guilty if I couldn't finish a book. I used to think I failed the book. Now, I understand it's alright to dnf if it isn't working for me.
That's great, Anitha!
I don't properly "DNF" often, but I am a "putting it down for now" guy.
I'm usually fortunate to enjoy what I read but this year I've been "putting it down for now" a lot more often. A lot of it is down to timing and mood for me.
Just this month alone I've put down a couple of books that I'll return to later, it's a matter of when not if. Plus I've too many series so I'd to cut a few off for now.
I think that's a great approach! I do that more with audiobooks, but then I rarely get back to them when I do that, so it ends up turning into a DNF. I've tried to do the "putting it down for now" with the three books I mentioned in this video, and maybe someday I'll pick them up again, but it hasn't happened yet! 😅
I applaud your fortitude, because I am an avid DNF-er. If I am not enjoying a book and try to force myself through, I’ll put myself into a reading slump.
Thank you, Jordan! I'm glad that works for you. I just happen to find myself on the opposite side of the spectrum where not finishing books puts me in the slump, but I think avoiding the slump is what we're all trying to avoid. We all share that motivation!
Your stance is kind of a hot take in the book tube realm! But I certainly respect it. I would call myself DNF-avoidant, although I do occasionally DNF a book. I haven't DNF'd a book this year, but did DNF a couple last year. One book I was halfway through, and this incredibly preposterous scene happened that made me yell out loud "God, I hate this book!" To which I asked "then why are you reading it?" So I never regret DNF'ing a book if I've given it a chance. But if I'm not enjoying it at all, there are so many books out there I haven't read that I will enjoy, so I don't want to waste my time finishing a book that I am not liking.
Love your take on this, Josh! I would consider DNFing a book if I absolutely hated it. Like I said, I don't rule out the fact it might happen someday. There have definitely been some huge misses for me, but I never felt like I wasted my time with any book I've finished. Then again, you read so many more books than me per year, so the chances of that happening would probably be much higher for you than me. Happy reading!
Yes, that particular book I wanted to throw across the room lol
Reading books, for me, is not really a sense of accomplishment. I do it for the enjoyment. Too many books that I'll never get to, might as well try to get to those that are enjoyable. Life is too short not to DNF! Haha
I respect that and think that's how most people here feel. While I do feel a sense of accomplishment finishing books or series now and then, the value I find in reading is not just about finishing. Finding things to appreciate in a book I don't otherwise like gives me a weird sense of satisfaction, and I get a lot out of reflecting on books once I finish a book. Happy reading!
So you're the Dark Souls of readers where even if you are struggling connecting or having to force yourself pushing through, love it for you. I tend to not DNF more because of just my inner completionist, but sometimes it's ok to put something down for now and try it again later or to throw in the towel. I totally see your points, and see other people's points that life is too short to push yourself through things you aren't enjoying. I am probably somewhere in between and have only started DNF'ing a handful of things this year myself.
Haha! Dark Souls of readers, yes! 😂 I don't disagree with anyone else's approach and who knows if mine will change to be more in between someday. Thanks, Rodger!
@@Johanna_reads 💙💜
Johanna, the renegade of booktube 😜
I'm a big soft DNFer, but I'm used to juggling a lot of books at the same time. But I also don't pick up a lot of books I don't think I'll like. And when I do it's likely a buddy read so I'll finish. American Gods is a good example. I had started it, didn't get far and set it aside, but then picked it up in a group read and ended up surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
When I decided to get back into reading as an adult, I picked the most daunting book I had to just kind of shock myself into it, and ended up loving War and Peace over a cold winter. Truly a transformative book for me. It supercharged my reading 😄
That's fantastic that you found a way around that! I might try American Gods again. I'm sure the group read really helps. You have me interested in picking that one up again and maybe reading War and Peace some winter!
I'm with you Johanna. I don't remember the last book I did not finish and I've never regretted reading a book even if I hated it. There is value in reading something you don't like often just finding that inside yourself. Also it's impossible to rate a book I think without knowing where it's going.
Thank you, Bryson! I'm glad to hear you share my feelings about this!
There are only a handful of books that I completely gave up on. And even then, I’m never sure. As a kid, I bought the album Katy Lied by Steely Dan, listened to it once and hated it. Several years passed, and I tried again and loved it. Same thing happened with Donaldson’s Thomas Covenant books. I’ve since DNF’d and then much later enjoyed books like Gravity’s Rainbow, The Recognitions, etc…. Doesn’t always happen, but it does enough for me to realize that my taste and judgment can change. There are still a handful of books that I’ve been in the middle of for a very long time.
It's always good to reserve judgment in case reading tastes change. I admire anyone willing to try a second chance reread! Thanks for sharing!
Funny you posted this the same day Petrik put out a video where he advocated for DNFing. Great video!
Hahaha! I saw the video in my feed and will watch it later. Unlike me, Petrik seems really good about giving books another try at later times!
Really nice video.
I DNF books all the time because unlike you, there are many books I have completed and regretted finishing! Interestingly one of my favourite SFF Booktubers @ThePurpleBookWyrm also doesn't DNF and her reviews have motivated me to give many series and books another go instead of giving up on them.
Sometimes the writing style is not for me or there is certain commentary that puts me off very quickly. Other times, I read quite a lot (even say a third or half) and realise I don't care how the book goes, at which point I DNF.
I'm also very open to retrying books I have DNF'd unless there was something egregious (to me personally) for which I DNF'd it.
Thanks for the opportunity to discuss this topic!
Thank you, Paromita! I know you have the much more popular approach than I do, and I appreciate hearing what pulls you out of a story. It's nice that there reviews that make you consider returning to books you put down. 😊
I’ve definitely read books I wish I had DNF’d. Some were because the book description DID NOT accurately portray what the book was about - good old bait and switch, lol. I rarely DNF because I’ve gotten really good at being able to tell if a book is up my alley or not, but on that same stance, I know very quickly when I don’t like a book and I don’t hesitate to DNF. If I actively hate a book, so much so that I don’t even want to read, it’s time to put it down and move on. Too many others waiting for me to try! 😊
That bait and switch is terrible! I dislike that almost as much as spoilers in the blurb! Always good to know one's taste, and you usually seem very positive about most of the books you read! 😊
I don't think of it as "dnf" I think of it as putting it down for an indefinite while. As long as we are alive and books are available we can always return to something and maybe it will work then. The way DNF has become this huge deal goes back to the whole quantification imperative that has gripped all parts of society I think. There's more thoughts but maybe I've just read too much (cultural) marxist stuff recently.
You have my interest on this relationship to the quantification imperative! I don't mean my stance on this topic to be a big deal or make it a big deal if others don't. I've just found certain rewards from having an opposite approach on this topic than most of BookTube that I wanted to share. I'm sure there's a tradeoff and trust people find value in DNFing.
I hope that the three books I mentioned can later become books I temporarily put down for an indefinite while, but I find that while hard to find after so much time goes by.
@@Johanna_reads Well, I'm probably just reading too much angry philosophy at the moment so this will have to wait until I'm sure I've ordered my thoughts. I for one did love American Gods for what it tried to do and hope you'll feel motivated to either continue or start it again in the future.
Hello Johanna. My name is Curt Jarrell and I am a serial DNF'er. I give myself free rein to do this because 1- I'm not young and would like to have reading experiences of the highest quality possible. 2-My library is large, which includes older books which may not match my current reading tastes. 3- I don't always know if a book is a good match for me until I begin reading it.
I applaud your stance in finishing all books you begin. My current read (re-read) of The Picture of Dorian Gray, is driving me nuts. I don't recall much about my first reading of it years ago. I know I liked it. Now I'm bogged down in a data dump of a long list of things Dorian found admirable, running for pages. There are lots of good things in this book, but it's been by no means a total pleasure. I intend to reach THE END soon.
I applaud you too, Curt! I think everyone has to do what feels right and I hold no judgment if you need to DNF Dorian Gray or any book that bogs you down. Best wishes with whatever you pick up next!
It’s amazing how just five minutes a day can add up over time. I’ve been using that strategy in many areas of my life so far this year it the results are astounding.
It sounds like you appreciate the journey much more than the destination, so you don’t feel like you’ve wasted time or have regrets when you finish a book that’s just not for you. I think I read for a certain payoff, so when it becomes apparent that’s not going to happen, I try to move on. Part of my problem is that I’m very impatient to get to the next books on my list. It makes it easier to convince myself it’s okay to put something down.
I wish I could be more like you, and just appreciate living in the moment with whatever book I have in front of me.
Great food for thought. :)
The 5-minute rule helped me add so many routines to my life! I can now relate to what you mean about anticipating the next read. Maybe that was part of my problem back when I compulsively DNF’d books-I didn’t have next reads lined up. 🤔 Wow, I never thought about that till now! Thanks, Niki!
That's an interesting topic you're tackling and point you're making in this video, Johanna. And what's funny is I can relate in some part for I too have DNFed The Glass Bead Game almost a decade ago now, and, the worst is I was so close to the end; but I sometimes really struggled with it and I remember jumping on an occasion provided by some random life event to set it aside, in a shameful manner. And this was still haunts me because I know there is so much to take from that book for one who'd really invest himself in it, but also because Hermann Hesse is one of my favorite author. His "Narcissus and Goldmund" is one of my all-time favorite books, beautifully written and that caused such introspection at the time! And "Siddhartha" is his short yet deep and beautiful take on the tale of Siddhartha. So you can imagine how that one specific DNF would have a negative impact on me (even though I'll certainly come back to it at some point, now that I should be wiser... well... at the very least older, definitely).
I guess I tend to be more selective in my readings nowadays. But! getting into audiobooks this year helped me a lot with taking on books/series that are less demanding in terms of focus, as well as doing re-reads, which I would almost never attempt since my TBR Tower" would cast a dark and ominous shadow on me each time I would even think of a re-read.
I must let you know that The Glass Bead ending is not what I expected! There are three short stories following the ending that I thought were neat. I imagine there may have been themes or ideas I wasn't picking up on, but I'm not sure a reread would elevate that experience. I really want to pick up Siddhartha at some point. That's comforting hearing that you loved Hesse's other works! Thanks!
Such an interesting take! Loved hearing your perspective!
Thank you, my friend! 🤍
@7:49 Same. For me, reading is a process (that is quite personal). The book itself could be awful, but for me it's more about appreciating the process (as a discipline) than it is about simply enjoying a story.
Oh wow, that's cool that you share that perspective! Amazing both happen together: enjoying a story and the process. That's the best!
Love this view point, thabk you for sharing. There truly is something to take away from every read. I'm going to remember this going forward. Thank you!
Thank you so much, Noelani!
I've never not finished a book or even series, however I also do at least a little research into something before I start reading it, so it's not likely I'm picking up something I'd really not even like parts of. By the end of any book or series, even if I didn't love it, I often find enough to take away from it one way or another. I can often latch on to one or two aspects of a story that I enjoy even if I dont care for other parts. Not to mention all the great stories, characters and moments I'd have missed out on if I gave up early.
This is where I've landed in my approach, and I value the skill finding at least one or two things you can appreciate in a story you're not loving. Thank you so much for sharing that!
I really struggled to become an audiobook listener because I don't like the way other people read out loud. I had to learn to get over that though because I grew to realize how many more books I could get through if I could get past that. I think it also didn't help that the first 2 audiobooks I listened to were just stinkers and that made me reluctant to give it a third go but I'm glad I did. I watched this video because this year, at age 53, I changed my stance on DNFing. You wouldn't think you could have growth as a reader at my age, but totally changing my stance on DNFing was huge for me. Prior to this year I think I only maybe ever DNF'd like 5 books. That's like 1 book a decade, haha. This year, I DNF'd about that many just in one year. The way I made peace with it was by agreeing (with myself) that I would have to get to the halfway point before allowing myself to DNF. That allowed me to feel like I had given it the old college try, but also allowing myself to walk away if I just didn't enjoy it. But you make a hugely important point - if you get stuck in a book you don't like, you end up in a slump and then you don't read anything at all, which sucks. You have a lovely, pleasant voice - I can see why you have thousands of subscribers. Plus you have celebrity commenters! Commentors? Either way - A+
Thank you so much for sharing your DNF journey! I appreciate that because I'm very open to the idea that I could become comfortable with DNFing books someday. I also greatly appreciate your kind words! Happy New Year and happy reading in 2024! 🤍
Johanna that is so funny. i am way more likely to keep going with an audiobook because its there and its playing, but I will dnf physical books so easily. Loved hearing your thoughts on this!
Thank you, Brandon! When I've DNF'd audiobooks, it's usually at the very beginning and usually because I'm already lost after the first chapter. 😅
I love DNF 😅 it helps me weed out stories that don’t excite me and find real gems.
That's great, Andrew! Hope you find all the gems possible, my friend!
I also don’t DNF. It’s part OCD, but I go through major patches of anhedonia, so not enjoying a book I chalk up to a me thing. But if I DNF, the book haunts me and I have this kind of irrational guilt lol.
I'm sorry to hear you struggle with that! I know that weird, irrational guilt. 😅
Thanks for this thought-provoking video! I rarely DNF and I refrain from mentioning it in reviews. I don't want to accidentally cast blame on an author because of my choices of where to spend my time. My work schedule fluctuates, so something I'm not connected to at one point (like when I'm busy with work) might really engage my interest when I have downtime. When reading, I look at what the author's goal is for a book and then the book usually makes more sense. For example, classic books are sometimes thought of as dry, wordy, or complicated (even LOTR) but the real issue (for me) is that an author's culture or the era they lived in is different than ours. Sense and Sensibility is a recent read where I felt this. The audience expectations may have been different. In that case, references can be confusing unless we put in time to understand them. That said, there is nothing wrong with putting something aside in favor of having a relaxing time with a good book. I certainly enjoy a simple, fun read! One of my book clubs focuses on positive, interesting books, and we choose carefully for that reason because we want to have an enjoyable experience. 🙂
I love everything you shared, Layla! Do you have a specific place where you post reviews (Goodreads or a blog)? I would love to read them sometime. I loved the two House of Chains discussions you and Steve have had so far, and I'm so impressed with your ability to understand what Erikson is attempting to do. His writing goals in Malazan are so different than what is typical in the fantasy genre. I definitely see you have that skill to look for that in an open-minded and purposeful way!
Seeing BookTubers DNF a book after like 15 pages is wild to me. A book has to REALLY be sloggy or way over my head for me to consider the DNF.
Wow! Sometimes prologues aren't even 15 pages long. Thanks for watching, Mike!
@@Johanna_reads Always.
I very rarely DNF a book (I can't even remember the last time I did that) but like you I put sometimes a book 'on hold' because my mood has changed and I'm not in the right mood anymore to continue like for example it's the case now with 'Assassin's Quest'. I was enjoying the book till some day I didn't 'feel' it anymore. So now, I'm waiting till I'm back in the right mood for it. Another thing that you mentioned is true for me : even in a book I don't like, there's always a part that I probably liked a bit or it contained some interesting info, it's an exercise to see some positive in the surrounding negatives which is , in my opinion, a very good life lesson.
Thank you so much for sharing! I'm actually pretty bad about temporarily putting a book down due to mood though I know that mood can definitely impact my experience. That's great that you are always able to pick books back up and enjoy them in the right time! I hope you enjoy Assassin's Quest when the time is right!
Totally admirable stance, that I couldn’t be further away from. 😆 I used to have the attitude of starting what I finished, and I stuck to it. Then I realised how much good stuff I could’ve read in the time I spent struggling through books I didn’t enjoy, and just dropped that. It felt rather liberating. Now I always give a book a fair try - 200+ pages - but then I’m honest with myself about how much Im enjoying it, and just put it down if I’m not. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. ❤
200 pages? Now I know why you finished all the Amber books. :P
I think 200+ pages is pretty admirable! I've read a few books that actually did pay off for me in the last 25%. This might be sacrilege to say this as a Malazan fan, but I felt that way about Deadhouse Gates. I didn't totally dislike it, but I did struggle with it until the last quarter. Then after finishing the book, I couldn't stop thinking about the whole book months later. No regrets there! 🤍
@@RafBlutaxt 😆
@@Johanna_reads Yeah, sticking with it is definitely a good recommendation with Malazan. I DNFed Gardens twice (!!!) and on the 3rd try read the whole series in 2-3 months, and it became one of my very favourite series ever. 😆 Maybe I should rethink my DNF attitude.
@@MattonBooks I love your Malazan story! That’s amazing!
I generally feel the same way, but sometimes the struggle just keeps getting deeper and days keep passing, days that could be used reading something I enjoy, or feel like I'm following - luckily most of the books I've chosen had enough going for them that I can push thorough, but the ones where I stopped, I never really stopped. They're still there on my shelves; Camus's the Plague, Campbell's Hero with a 1000 faces, asking "When are you going to finish what you started?!?". Someday, but I don't feel right doing that unless I start over from the beginning - after a couple of weeks of little progress, I feel like the book deserves better, and "DNF" becomes more likely. I will reread it, when I feel of sound mind to try something harder, without other book temptation recedes. I also stalled with my first go at Lord of the Rings, decades ago, and felt a lot better when I restarted and finished that amazing quest.
I was wondering (until the end the video) if your stance extended to series, since in some ways they are envisioned as "a story". Not all series do this of course, sequels get envisioned after the success what was once a standalone - but then there's stories like Lord of the Rings, that it was a matter of how to work with the publishers/printers. Dragonlance Chronicles, which I think you gave up on it after one book, is like that - I may be helplessly biased, with an early love for that story, but I know there's a lot of improvements with the later 2 (there's not so many characters at one time). As were the subsequent series by Weis and Hickman, but they were envisioned later, so this argument doesn't hold with them.
On the other hand, this is a much harder stance to take with something like the Wheel of Time - envisioned as one story, which grew immensely in the telling, past the death of one author unto another, to be one of the longest stories invented. I haven't finished it after 22 years, but I still mean to - last year I reread the first book and loved it, and am still struggling to commit onward. It's something I personally have to finish, but it's hard to tell someone they need to complete if they were ambivalent about the first book (though some fans are happy to). I get it, I know Dragonlance Chronicles is beautiful deep down, (and not nearly so many words).
Sorry to soapbox about it, but it seamed related to the idea of not DNFing. It makes sense that if an author can't sell it in one "complete book", then they had a fair shot - and though I love Autumn Twilight, all I can say in it's defense is it was written in a flurry with a very tight deadline, and was more in tandum with DnD modules then the later books. I'll keep hoping it gets optioned/adapted into a great show, and the books get a renaissance.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. That's a really great point about series! I know there's the constant argument about whether the Lord of the Rings is a standalone or three separate books (and then there are books within those books). I understand the argument that it's one complete story as Tolkien envisioned it, but I also think that translates to many series as you mentioned. I felt that way about The First Law Trilogy after I finished it (and I might've DNFed the trilogy had I not heard so much praise for consequent books). With First Law and some other series, I find later books sometimes makes me appreciate previous books more. I guess I do take that risk sometimes when I DNF a series. I also forgot to mention that I'm not afraid to DNF a series even after more than one book if I feel I'm just not interested. For example, Mistborn Era 2 Shadows of Self does not have my interest right now even though I've read all the other Mistborn books. Thanks again!
@@Johanna_reads Ah, but what about era 3? Can you bring yourself to read that without era 2's bridging? I've not started the Cosmere, but the marketing is brilliant for making me feel like I've got to read even mostly unrelated worlds across the universe to fully grasp it - gee I hope I don't hate any of them.
I do the same as Sci-Fi Rogue. I buy most of my books, so I usually dnf for now and put it back on the shelf for later. That may be years later.
Thanks for sharing, Chadia! I keep telling myself that with the three books I DNF'd in this video. Maybe one of these years!
I also very rarely DNF books, but I do frequently put down books with the intention of coming back to them later. I usually don’t even DNF series - especially those that tell one story across books - perhaps because I feel like it is one overarching story that I must finish to really complete reading the story. I quite resonate with your sentiment about not regretting books that I have read, and hearing praise for books that I have paused makes me more likely to reduce to pick them back up sooner. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this subject. This was a very good discussion.
Oh, also I also regularly DNF audiobooks too because I listen to them mainly when I think the narrator will enhance my experience of the book. I stop and switch to the physical book if the audiobook doesn’t meet my expectations in that regard.
I'm so happy to hear your perspective on this, Varsha! That is a great point about series being one story across several books. I've found some later books in series make me reexamine feelings and thoughts on earlier books. I guess I do take that risk when I quit a series. Thanks for sharing!
When I was a little kid, my mom always made me eat all the food on my plate. I think it's the same psychology for wanting to not DNF a book. Great personal story here. ASOIAF for the win. :)
Thank you, Jeremy! Maybe it's a generational thing. I got some guilt growing up for not finishing my plate and then not wanting the leftovers the next day.
Lots of interesting points Johanna! I feel similarly and I rarely DNF books but am not completely opposed to it. Here are a few thoughts:
- Even if I don't love a book I can usually find some value in almost any book.
- I also feel a sense of accomplishment when completing a book.
- Finishing a book has value because then I can talk about it on my channel. I would be less inclined to have finished some books if I wasn't on RUclips.
- I used to give a book 100 pages to hook me. I am now a bit more lenient and would potentially stretch this to 200 pages depending on the book.
- The last book I DNFed was A Perfect Spy in 2015. I bought it at the airport and was hoping for something fast-paced like James Bond or Jason Bourne but it was quite slow and not what I was in the mood for at the time.
- I used to DNF more regularly but now I have a pretty good sense of my reading taste and have a relatively high success rate in choosing books to read.
- I am still prepared to DNF books if I am really not enjoying the reading experience and also can't see any future potential for enjoyment later in the book.
I loved all your points and it sounds like we're very similar, Jonathan! I'm not totally opposed to DNF-ing, but it would have to be a very rare case these days. Thank you for sharing!
I relate to your “beat the book” remark lol there are very few books I don’t finish
Hahaha! Thank you so much!
waiting for the Allen reaction for you saying finishing a book is "winning." lol
great video!
The way I see it, people either DNF before or after they start reading. I'm like you, where most of my DNFs are done before I pick up a book. There are several relatively popular books (Kushiel's Dart being one of them) that I have pre-DNF'd because I know I'm not going to enjoy them. I know my taste pretty well and for the most part can tell from people's vague thoughts if there are things in the book that I won't enjoy. Having trusted reviewers, people who you know have a similar taste in books as you helps a looooot with this.
Of course, there is also the classic DNF, the reader who has to try it all. I feel like these people tend to have more time on their hands to read, because I wouldn't get much done if I were trying *ever* book that decided to lean on my TBR. Because I really identify with your habit of "I have to finish this book!" If I'm even slightly engaged in to the story, my brain is gonna need some closure.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, Pete! The need for closure really gets me. I oddly thought I was settled on my DNF of Kushiel's Dart and Fireborne until BookTube reviews made me question myself. Those two are the only two I very intentionally DNF'd. Others, my motivation slipped out of my hand and I couldn't pull myself out of the slump. I've somehow found reading books through to completion helps my peace of mind for starting fresh for new books to read.
@@Johanna_reads I would persuade you to read Fireborne if I could. The YA elements were minimal to me and the aftermath of rebellion theme was very poignant. I still need to read the next two and have both of them staring me down as I type this.
Closure is definitely important, although it can depend. For instance, the ending of Dandelion Dynasty was momentous enough that I couldn’t pic up another book for like three days. There was so much to think about and ponder and discuss and my mind held room for nothing else. So depends on the book for me
@@PonderingsOfPete Thank you so much! I'll strongly consider it, and I also look forward to reading The Dandelion Dynasty someday!
@@Johanna_reads THAT is something you absolutely need to read. Dandelion Dynasty is something I feel like I can never overhype it’s so amazing. You’ll love it because it’s a thematically driven series and there’s just so much to think about and discuss
I used to finish every book but as I move into my 60s, I occasionally DNF books guilt free. I no longer have the patience and focus to grind through books I don’t enjoy.
I think that could be me someday. Thank you for sharing that influence!
I too haven't finished American Gods yet. But I know that I will in the future, there are many books I didn't do finish immediately at that moment, but most of the time I never think of it as DNFing, when the time is right I will pick it up again, either starting from the beginning, or where I was... I still think sometimes of scenes in American Gods, it's so intriguing, but I just couldn't finish it. Now it's on the shelf half read waiting for me 😊 I actually love that thought.
I think the soft-DNF approach or not-right-now approach can be really helpful for many readers. I hope you enjoy the rest of American Gods and please let me know your thoughts once you finish!
I love having this contradicting stance about DNFing on RUclips. I'm closer to your stance than the other. What you said about finding some value in every book rang true with me. I regret many of my dnfs too. Exception would be maybe the last Witcher book.
Thanks for the insights and personal touch on the topic, Johanna.
Haha! I did not connect with the last Witcher book as much as I had hoped. I felt kind of let down by that series, but I still think about the characters, which I enjoyed. Thank you, Danny!
According to the story graph I'f dnf 9 books. Of those I want to pick up 2 of them again in future, but the rest I regret I didn't enjoy them or find them as interesting or useful as I had hoped.
I wish I were better about picking up books I DNF'd! I still haven't with any of the ones I mentioned in this video. I just lose all momentum even if I regret giving up in the first place. 😆
I try not to DNF books I’m physically reading and sometimes I regret it. I wish I could.
For audiobooks I DNF but I feel it’s more like I give up based on interest? Like if I’m not actively listening because it’s not working I realize I need to stop.
That makes sense to have to finish horror as a lot of times you don’t “get it” until the big twist at the end. Broad statement but horror and mystery both have heavy twists and epiphanies for a finish.
I always have wanted to read my Hesse. I hope not to struggle with it though, of course.
Fun story about the journey back to reading! Congrats on finishing the Hesse! Interesting lesson about not regretting finishing. Mine is a Star Wars book. It was awful. I regret not DNF that book but I still avoid DNF books. I wonder why…
Yes, that's how I am with audiobooks. If I'm not actively listening or realize I keep having to playback chapters, it's better to move on or maybe pick up the physical book at some point. Some parts of The Glass Bead Game have stayed with me. I still want to read Siddhartha by Hesse. Please let me know if you pick that one up, and I might join you!
Really interesting video, Johanna! As always, I love how eloquent and respectful you are in discussing your thoughts on a complex topic.
I personally rarely DNF books, but that's mostly because I read very quickly anyway, so to me it doesn't really feel like a waste of time when I end up finishing a book that I maybe wasn't having the most fun with. Like, I totally understand why DNFing is more appealing if you are stuck reading a book you don't like for days or weeks on end, but that's simply not the case for me (which is a privilege I feel very grateful for).
NFN (Not For Now) scenarios happen more often for me and most of the time I end up enjoying the book way more when I come back to it at a later time and with the right expectations. You mentioned regretting DNFing some books in the past, but nothing is holding you back from giving them a second chance, right? 😉
Thanks for sharing your thoughts 🥰
I'm so envious of your ability to read quickly! I'm a very slow reader 😅. I love the NFN approach and wish I had more success with that. I often tell myself that with audiobooks I DNF or say I'll pick up the physical copy when the time is right, but that's rarely the case, unfortunately. I agree that I could make those three books I regretted DNFing into NFNs, but I keep saying that and never get around to them. I'll make a plan of action at some point! Thanks, Esmay! ♥️
@@Johanna_reads Some of my NFNs definitely turned into DNFs overtime, but that's okay, haha. I hope you enjoy those DNFs if you ever get around to giving them a second chance!
Johanna this was great! I do DNF, but I try really hard not to. I have rarely had a book I wished I had DNFd. I admire your tenacity. 🙂
Thank you, Chas! 😊
I struggled simalary with Moby Dick. Took me forever to finish it. Just didn't care about all the sailing details. I was glad I did though and you're right, I'll never regret it.
That book intimidates me, and someday I hope to read it! Thanks!
It's funny you make a video like this, the day after I "put aside" a book and began another.
I avoid DNF as best as I can, and it's not often do I feel the need to. But like you said, sometimes timing is a factor and for me, I can appreciate a book and acknowledge that it's a good book, but I'll put it down if it's not what I'm feeling. Most of the time I return to them at some point (restarting if necessary). But once in a great while, it's a book that's put down for good.
Wonderful hearing your thoughts on this and that is funny about the timing! Thanks for watching and sharing!
I used to never DNF a book because I always wanted to know the ending. I was a bit scared to miss out on something. But now, I find that there are too many things I want to read and I do not want to waste time on things that will not grip me or that I will not enjoy.
Sometimes I know I will love a book (or I think I will) and I just know it is the wrong time. I put it down and pick it back up later, and sure enough :) But there are some books and/or series that I simply do not want to waste my time with. I may still miss out, but I am OK with that xD
I love the Not-Right-Now idea. I've really struggled coming back to books I've temporarily put down if I wait too long. You are wise to do that if able because timing is such a huge influence on whether we connect with a book or not. I can relate to the overwhelm of so many stories to get to. Thanks, Joana! ♥️
@@Johanna_reads yes i struggle as well but usually that's a good indicator on whether i like the book or not. If I'm yearning to go back i know I'm still actually interested 😂❤️
@@JoanaSousaReads BookTube messes with me because I thought I was settled on never going back to the three I mentioned in this video. Thanks to watching reviews years later, I question whether I didn't hold out long enough 😂
I can relate to your experience here so much. A bad book could really put me in a no-reading phase a while ago. Being part of Booktube has helped me get out of that and push through books even if I don't particularly love them especially if it's a part of buddy read or readalong that I have committed to. However,I still dnf if the book is really boring me. About American Gods, if you plan to read it, let me know. I am planning it for sometime next year in June or so.
Thank you, Angie! I love that the BookTube community is available on demand for 24/7 reading slump recovery 😂. ♥️
Great topic, and I loved hearing your perspective on it! I was fascinated by this idea when it came up in my feed, thinking "how do you do that?!"
You mention physical books. I get the investment aspect. I mostly only buy when I'm reasonably sure I'll love a book (based on author or other people's praise for that book). I rent a lot from the library and Libby. I might "pause" a physical book but DNF rentals all the time.
I experience the same sense of accomplishment when I finish a book. But I have regretted pushing through slogs numerous times. I feel like I wasted my time on a good number of books. Wasted time to me feels worse than the gains of finishing a book that annoyed me or bored me to tears.
I think a critical element of the DNF-ing debate is how careful of a book chooser one is. Perhaps you're a more purposeful reader and TBR-maker? I am definitely a mood reader and sometimes pick up iffy books at the library I'm fairly sure are outside my normal tastes. I also keep about 5-10 books going at once at any given time, of varying format (physical, ebook, audio).
That's such a great point about being a careful book chooser! I've been burned in the past from reading books based on hype alone, and so I have become very careful about that. I want to be able to read multiple books at once! I envy that! Thanks for sharing!
I'm often frustrated because I feel like I DNF books more than I finish them. I might try not DNFing for awhile and see if that is more successful for me.
DNFing put me into a slight reading depression in the past, so I’m still scared to relive that experience. I hope you find books you love and naturally want to commit to!
Hi Johanna, like you I don't DNF. Likewise I am pretty picky on what i pick up. I also hit pause once in a while. I feel that even if I am not enjoying a particular part of a book, I want to see how things progress before I make judgement. I'm a solider on reader. That said I am a slow reader. I have reading goals to help me stay on track, but I found that too much pressure to finish books on a deadline could hamper the overall experience.
Thank you for sharing that, Jeff! I too am a fellow slow-reading soldier. Having a non-rigid reading plan really helps, so there's not too much pressure. Happy reading!
I just did the DNF tag, and I dnf all the time. But a dnf is not super final for me. I can always go back and try it again when I might be in a mood or time in my life where I could appreciate it more
When I say I'm DNFing a book, I'm not planning to pick it up again, but on multiple occasions I've tried a book I've previously dnf'd and enjoyed it.
If I'm forcing myself to read a book I'm not enjoying, it usually backfires and I want to quit reading all together
I can understand the backfire! Thanks for sharing, and I'm glad you were able to enjoy some of the books you returned to!
There’s so many times I felt like DNFing but I kept pushing and it turned around for me. But overall I’m a DNFer for the most part. That’s cool you’ve never regretted a book you’ve read. I feel like I’ll enjoy a book less if I force myself, like if I’m not in the mood. But sometimes I come back to it when I’m not cranky and it’s better!
Hahaha! I love that about coming back when not cranky. I wish I could do that and maybe I'll start to get better at the Not-Right-Now approach!
I've dnf a few books in my life because I just couldn't finish the story. Why I did was because I didn't like the story and couldn't read it any more. I think my tastes in stories have changed over the years.
I can relate to much of this! Rather than a few, I DNFed so many books when I was younger.
Love the video Johanna, i don't DNF a ton (i know my reputation says different lol) but sometimes i'm reading a book and i'm suddenly not in the mood to read it, i don't know why that is, maybe a more consistent reading schedule or being more particular on what books i pick up would help that.
I love this, RJ! I think you have a great approach with knowing what you do want in the moment to balance out what you don't want.
Lol, I love the Glass Bead Game. It is quite dry and philosophical but the concept is so intriguing to me. I also don't DNF. I pause books but always finish them eventually.
I'm so glad you loved it! Despite having a hard time, I found several parts moving and enjoyed the three stories at the end. Maybe I'll reread it someday. Thanks!
I know exactly what Bran chapter you mean, that was where I got committed to Game of Thrones when I first read it; well technically the prologue achieved that but by its nature the rest of the book is different from that.
I've actually gone differently in later years, going from committing to finishing everything to junking anything that doesn't work for me, though I've only DNFed about 5 books in 3 years: I'm more ready to DNF but it means I have to be getting *nothing* out of a book or there are such serious issues it could never be improved by more. So curiously I've DNFed what would probably be if I finished them 3/5 star reads most frequently. Generally if a book is awful but readable I can finish and find something "worthwhile" in how awful it is.
I love that you understand that Bran chapter hook! 5 books in 3 years isn't bad! Thanks for sharing!
Very interesting video Johanna, thanks for sharing your journey as a reader and I do highly recommend giving Kushiel's Dart another try but if you don't like the book once you finished it, I do think the series might not be for you. I love how you find something to appreciate in each book that you pick up. I am not a big DNFer but I do DNF a couple (less than 5 usually) books each year. When I don't DNF enough I feel like I get into a reading slump.
Thank you, Jolien! You are the biggest inspiration for me reconsidering Kushiel's Dart, and I hope to give it another shot someday. I think it's great to DNF if it helps you avoid reading slumps. I gave my backstory to explain how I oddly go through reading slumps when I don't finish books. 😅 Sounds like we're both pretty reluctant to do so though!
For me it's more like my brain can't stand it if it doesn't have the answer (given that there is a mystery of some sorts in the book). So I can admire people who can DNF books, but for me no can't do it.
Even now as a grownup I really hated it that at school when I was let's say around 8-9 years old and the teacher was reading a tale to us I could enjoy it, but then summer happened and the book wasn't finished, the next year she started reading us another book even tho we had still some chapters to go.
Only thinking about it makes my brain feel sad. Still need to finish that book to this day even if it's just a childrens book I need to have my answers.
I get the not finishing a serie, if only one book in then yes most of the times book 1 is almost good enough for a total read even tho it can set up things for future books but if you don't have a total interest in the story (for me ACOTAR) it's fine, my brain is fine also (maybe weird to seperate myself and my brain but sometimes I really dislike a book but it starts questioning what has happened in the book, what about that moment, you're almost done so you can finish) but at least book 1 is finished.
So when I started really reading again (around 2004/2005) I have never put any book down as a DNF.
Wow, that's so cool! I love your story and love that we share a similar view on this. Haha! I DNF'd the ACOTAR series after the first book as well. Thanks for sharing!
I have yet to dnf a book. That could be because I'm a glutton for punishment. There have been a few books that I'm sure if people felt the way I felt they would have dnf it. It might be a little OCD that it would haunt me if I only had a couple hundred pages to finish and didn't. But I have been pretty good at picking books that I know I will enjoy. Because to me reading should be mainly about being entertained.
Wow, that's amazing, Joseph! I wish I could've been more committed after years of struggling to get through books. I agree that entertainment or feeling engaged is most important.
The closest I came to a DNF was God Emperor of Dune for about 20 years. Then I decided to start over and just plowed through it so I could finish the series.
I feel I owe it to the author to see if a book can be redeemed. And I bought it so might as well get my money's worth.
There are a few series I almost wished I had, and they are both by Tad Williams, but that is due to the endings so I just didn't know until it was too late.
Unfortunately Farseer might be a series I quit after the first book. One thing that doesn't help is major plot points printed on the back cover.
I have been slow to pick up God Emperor of Dune due to some different takes I've heard on the book. That's great that you got around to finishing it and getting your money's worth!
I loved Farseer but how frustrating plot points being revealed on the back cover!
Same. If I don't finish something I'll always have that nagging feeling.
It's not a good feeling! Thanks!
If a book is frustrating, I watch spoilers and the last chapter, then DNF it.
That’s a great way to add finality to the DNF process!
I’m totally with you. I enjoy the vast majority of books I read on some level, especially the further I get into a book. I just don’t want to go down the slippery slope and make it easier and easier to DNF. The two books that get the prize for being DNFed by me as an adult are Infinite Jest and the 5th Wheel of Time book.
I haven't read Infinite Jest or any Wheel of Time books, but if there were any books that would test my DNF limits, those might be contenders from what I've heard. Haha!
I rarely DNF books as I feel I can't fully appreciate what the author was aiming for if I haven't completed it. As ive gotten older I'm more inclined to DNF as I feel there's only so much time left to me and too many books I'll never get to.
On joining booktube I was surprised at how many people do DNF. Still whatever works for you.
Great topic and no you are not alone, though I have regretted reading some books. 😂
I think that's understandable! I would be open to it if I truly felt it wasn't worth my time. DNFing is a huge thing in the BookTube community. Thank you so much! ☺
I started DNFing in the eighties, we didn't have the internet to tell what people like. I guess you have never read as bad books as I have, and I got to a point, where I started reading a book, in a long series, that just was so bad. I had to DNF, my life is not long enough for so bad books.
I think you were right in DNFing Kushiel's dart, it just can't be good enough to read.
Thanks for sharing! I've DNF'd several more than what I've listed. I can relate because I had no idea what to pick up or figure out why certain books weren't working for me. I'm way better at discerning that now, but I'm still messed up from DNFing so much and going through extensive reading slumps. 😅
I also rarely DNF. Most of the times I am interested to see where the story is going, so I push through even if the writing style doesn't click with me, or if the pacing is not good. This year I DNFed only one book called Efeilheim and that was mostly because the author kept dropping these sentences and worlds in Latin and German without translation that it made me feel I was missing parts of the story.
That's a great exceptional reason to DNF a book as a fellow DNF avoider! Thanks for sharing!
I only DNF books when they piss me off, because negative emotions stick to me and leave me fuming for a while. Hate-reading is very bad for me, and I regret pushing through some long books and series for the sake of being objective in my reviews 🤕
Totally understandable! Hate reading is something I try to avoid as much as possible. Thanks!
I take issue with DNFing books in a way that may be the opposite extreme, maybe to the point of being unhealthy 😅 at the rare point I ever DNF I always feel so much shame and disappointment, and sometimes it’s hard for me to pick up something else because I can be such a completionist! That’s probably something I need to work on because I share your sentiment of wanting to push through a book but it shouldn’t destroy my enjoyment of reading.
Haha! Sounds like we're similar in our completionist needs. I've just embraced it. 😅
I don't like to DNF books and don't do it often but sometimes it happens. I may put a book aside for a couple weeks and go back to it. It is rare I DNF. I like your take on not DNFing books. I was like you. If I DNF a book I can't get into any other books and get into a reading slump. Goes to show you that everyone is different and DNFing books doesn't work or benefit everyone. I love your point of view. Great video.
Thank you so much, Roxie! I feel like you got what I was trying to convey in this video. I can get behind why DNFing is helpful for some readers. It just hasn’t had the same benefits for me. Happy reading!
@@Johanna_reads You're welcome! There have been books I DNF'ED in the past that I wish I finished just to know how they ended. So I totally get the whole not DNFing thing. I rather know the ending of a disappointing book then to never finish it and be left wondering. That's just how my reading brain works. We got that in common.
That's a very interesting discussion! I guess the way I view it is, not only is life short and so I don't have all the time in the world to read books, but also I accept that I don't connect with some writing styles or authorial voices. Usually, I'll DNF a book if the author repeatedly does things that I find unnecessary and uncomfortable (it really depends on execution for me). I really didn't enjoy the way it was handled in Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay, and when he introduced incest he lost me, because it just felt like shock value (and a friend of mine who finished the book told me it was the case). I'm sure that ending was great (though I do tend to have unpopular opinions lol), but it brought more negativity into my life than anything else. I did like the idea of what he tried to explore, but I really disliked the character work and the wishful fulfillment parts. I read half of it, gave it a good shot, and let it go. And after that I've read books that I actually loved, so no regret.
I however pushed on while reading LOTR because what bothered me in that case had nothing to do with me not connecting with Tolkien's vision, it had much more to do with the pacing and me getting used to all the seemingly weird world-building elements (Tom Bombadil, the non-stop songs, Treebeard) that annoyed me at first, but I got used to it and started appreciating it by the end of Two Towers. What motivated me in persevering also had to do with me wanting to be part of that fandom and discuss this huge classic, so that really helped me - but, to me, Tigana isn't the same and, yes, I might have been able to be part of the conversation and it might have been satisfying, but I'd rather read authors I'm vibing with on a deeper level. When I pushed through books I wasn't enjoying, most of the time I ended up still being disappointed by the end. Or even if I could understand and appreciate to some extent what the author was trying to do, I just didn't care about the overall execution. It reminds me of a book I read (and almost finished lol) not so long ago and it was the most stream of consciousness navel gazing I had ever read, with a side of mysoginy, and knowing it really was the author's thoughts in the form of a novel really turned me off. I'm all for separating the art from the artist, but sometimes that art just doesn't resonate, and that's ok. But I guess I do try books from a wide variety of genres, even ones I'm not sure I'll love, and so DNFing does seem like the right thing to do sometimes. But most of the time, I do persevere, or just put it down temporarily. Sometimes it's just not the right timing, and so I postpone it.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, and I appreciate all you shared! Your stance is totally valid. I very purposefully DNFed Kushiel's Dart because the brutal sexual content was so disturbing for me at the time. If you had asked me then, I would've said I wouldn't want to be part of any discussion on that book. The reason I've reconsidered about that book is the result of listening to some discussions of the book from other reviewers I'm friends with. I don't think I was wrong though based on what I was feeling and experiencing back then. All this to say, I think it's completely understandable to be discerning and choose what books you wish to continue and what discussions you wish to be a part of. ♥️
@@Johanna_reads Yes, that's exactly what I meant! Glad we understand each other ☺️
I do love the idea of not DNFing; but, these days due to life and other interests and responsibilities and the shortness of life...I am pro DNFing. Thanks for the video, like your channel.
I totally support that! Thank you! 😊
I generally do not DNF books either for a few reasons. First, it bothers me not to finish something and it's always in the back of my mind nagging at me. Second, I appreciate the time, effort, and courage it took an author to present their creation to the world and I want to show my respect by consuming it in its entirety. Third, I love to read and I always get something out of a book even if it isn't to my taste.
Yay, I love those reasons!
Same here! I started having this mindset about books after developing a taste for slow-burn movies, where the payoff might be 'really good' to 'amazing!' regardless of all the potential boredom you could suffer at the beginning 😄Like yes, I know life is too short to read books you don't enjoy but I don't feel like I can really judge a book unless I have consumed it completely. Then again, I am usually easy-going when it comes to annoying characters so I am not tempted to DNF easily, plus I read to improve my language skills as well besides entertainment, so I feel like no book is completely worthless in a sense. Maybe I just haven't read a book that I haven't completely hated yet.
That's awesome! I too feel like my appreciation for the slow-burn, slow build also resulted from training my mind to stick things out. Thanks for sharing, and I hope you never read a book you completely hate! 😁
I'll dnf like you said abt Kushiel's Dart if there's content I can't easily skip and still be able to get the gist of the story.
You may have regrets but you can erase those and go back and read them. 🥳
You don't rate books (which I can understand) but since I do just to track on my Goodreads, I don't like to give a book a lower rating because my mood was "I just don't care" and pushed myself through. Usually I'll pause the book or think abt if I was enjoying it before I started not caring about what's happening and decide if it stays a pause or is a full dnf.
I will dnf a series too.
Thanks, Penny! I almost thought about adding a part to explain that I'm not recommending that people read books they find too disturbing (as I did with Kushiel's Dart), so I find wisdom in your approach. On the one hand, I think I made the right decision. I only question now whether I should've kept going because apparently that stuff gets less focus and the story gets better in the second half of the book.
I do think my life is made easier by the fact I don't rate books, but I can understand how that would factor into your decision to continue.
True that I can go back and finish those three books. Maybe someday! 😅
I rarely DNF and try my best not to, but when I do I get that regretful feeling of not finishing something I started. At the same time I'm glad to not drag myself through a book thats not capturing me. Right now I'm struggling through The Stand (Extended Edition), but I'm not going to DNF it because some chapters are amazing, but others are a struggle for me. I'm on your "The Glass Bead Game" kind of time with this one.
Thank you for sharing, Marc! I'm sorry The Stand isn't working for you. I hope the rest of it makes it well worth the journey!
⛔️I only occasionally DNF, maybe a handful or two out of a huge number of books over the decades. But I can think of a few books that I forced myself to finish, which still strikes me like I wasted some of my time - though those too are in a rare minority. I probably got far enough into the completed ones that I felt compelled enough to finish.
That's pretty good commitment to finishing books if it happens so rarely! Hope you continue a great streak!
Same, Queen! 🖤🙋🏼♂️
Yay! 😊
On one hand I do think there's an oddly pervasive and unrealistic. expectation for storytelling to be immediately fully engaging and/or action packed from the start, so people often mistake the necessity of set up and development in storytelling as indicative of it being bad and boring.
Now don't get me wrong, early storytelling should be intriguing and have something of a hook. But so often I see people act as if a story fails if there isn't a dramatic high stakes showdown between complex nuanced fully realized characters by the third chapter. It'd be like turning off a song after the first 3 notes because they didn't already create a satisfying crescendo and resolution.
Storytelling inherently takes time to reveal itself. Granted there is generally more of a time commitment compared to music, and having ADHD myself I do understand the tendency to bounce off stuff you aren't immediately interested in, even if my hyperfixation on books made me pretty immune to that in this medium myself. But yeah, individually speaking I don't mind people DNFing for whatever reason. It's just the more general cultural conversation around storytelling. Like the idea that a story needs an some sort of action scene early on to "capture the audience attention"...but there are no hard and fast rules to storytelling. That can be a useful device, it can be done very well, buuuut....
The majority of the time that's what actually bores me the most in beginnings. Why would I care about action before I even understand the characters and stakes, much less feel invested in them? Get me back to the juicy development and set up!
On the other hand sometimes DNFing isn't a matter of not giving a story enough time and chance to develop and engage you, sometimes something is just so extremely terrible -- derivative characters and concepts executed incompetently, stilted dialogue, sloppy prose, approaching abhorrent and childishly oversimplified themes with a self-aggrandizing pride as if they are actually the brilliant pinnacle of philosophy, etc -- that after a bit you've seen enough and know that this isn't a subversive deconstruction disguised as poop -- it's just plain poop.
Wow, I was just having this discussion with someone recently. That need for the instant hook immediate high stakes action rarely works for me. I also think a lot of authors feel the pressure to do that in fear of readers DNFing the book early on. I've also found that some of the best authors I've come across are able to trust their readers and take their time to build something up. I'm sure there are some out there that can start with high action early and pull it off well, but I think it's sad if it's done out of pressure.
I can also understand DNFing a book with the many unredeemable qualities you described. Thanks for sharing!
Great video and you know I share many of your thoughts!! American Gods is mid so you're good there but Fireborne!! So good!!
Haha! I was hoping to hear your push to read Fireborne. 😁 Those who've read American Gods either say it's excellent or it's mid! No in between. 😂
From my perspective you are definitly not crazy. I never DNF either. I usually have a good "gut" feeling on whether or not I am going to like a book so I tend to choose books that I enjoy reading. The only time I came close to a DNF was when I got swayed by the hype over Daisy Jones and the Six and overruled my book sense. It was a truly awful book for me but through gritted teeth I got through it. The positive take was that I learned never to trust the herd again. If I don't get a good feeling about a book or author, I am not going to read it.
I appreciate that so much! I hope you continue finding books that are great matches for you. It can be hard to question the hype sometimes.
100% agree. If anything, I am even more anti-DNF than you are. Obvious exceptions for triggering material, or changing life circumstances, but otherwise, I think you cannot judge a book except as a whole.
In order to experience something new or unexpected, you have to open yourself up to whatever the author has chosen to give you. Authors spends months if not years crafting this experience for you and books are intended to be experienced as a whole. To me, it feels like the height of arrogance and closed-mindedness to DNF a book simply because it's not giving you the experience you think you want. The booktubers who set goals to actually DNF *more* books are going in the wrong direction, IMHO.
Wow, very strong take here! I do wonder how authors feel when they hear about readers DNFing their books. I know many have thick skins about that kind of thing, but I would find it so disheartening. Probably good I'm not an author!
@@Johanna_reads My real feelings are actually much stronger. This is after I self-censored my comments down to socially acceptable levels.
@@raswartz I appreciate hearing your thoughts!
Do you think this policy leads to you unconsciously picking up only certain kinds of books or makes you not read risky books ?
I want to say yes, but I do read a variety of genres and love a variety of approaches to narrative. 🤷🏻♀️
Hahahahaha I stopped reading middle of Return of the King too. To this day I still haven't finished it (don't tell anyone) (I'm supposed to read it next month). and/but then that's like *the* only book I've "DNF'd" since I really started reading in earnest I haven't put anything down. There are a couple series I should've not continued reading in, but honestly overall I don't regret anything - I want to get a book as full and as great a chance as possible. I want to give the artist the full attention to the entire thing as a piece of "art". I don't think there's anything wrong with DNFing but it's honestly just not for me. Some 500ish books in and I've never found one that's so incredibly miserable I couldn't stick with it for another day or two.
And then there's the need to challenge myself - sometimes things I didn't like the first time, or didn't get end up being my very favorite works - it's helped me grow and understand something. If I don't give it that full chance, maybe I'll miss that magic moment when it all clicks. Usually at this point I can tell if it's possible or not, but still. I'll stick with it.
So beautifully said about the value in committing and understanding of others who feel otherwise! I was where you are with Return of the King last year! I hope you love the end as much as I did! It's one of the best in all of fantasy, in my opinion, and it was so bittersweet to realize I had waited so many years before experiencing it!
Thank you, for sharing your dnf story with us, Johanna! I also very rarely dnf a book. The last time that happened is actually years ago. I think I'm not willing to let go of the hope that there might be something of interest and if it's on the last page.😅
To describe Hesse's The Glassbead Game as scifi would not have occurred to me. But if you ever reread it let me know. I might join you. And please give American Gods another try. You might like it after all.
Thank you, Angela! That's amazing that it's been years ago since you've DNF'd a book! I think my last one (physical) was that Fireborne book, and I think that was in 2019. I am strongly considering giving the three books I mentioned another try. Motivating myself to try is so hard for some reason. 😅
I have never DNFed a book, and I have never DNFed a series. If I decide I want to read a series, I buy the whole series at once (like I just did with The Wars of Light and Shadow), and when I read it, I'm going to finish it. Period. I'm too much of an OCD completionist not to.
As far as I'm concerned, if I can finish Malazan Book of the Fallen I can finish anything. There are some things I don't start, like R. Scott Bakker, because it sounds like it would be such a depressing slog I would be tempted to not finish it... so I just don't start it.
Wow, that's amazing! I love this! There is nothing like the journey and end of Malazan Book of the Fallen. I also think the bleakness of Bakker's series is pretty thick for most readers. Thank you for sharing!
@@Johanna_reads I thought Malazan was a great story, but I really struggled with and hated Eriksonks writing style, and often joke that it would have been better if it was written by Zombie Robert Jordan.
Around the end of book 4 I set a hard and fast rule for myself that I’d read one Malazan chapter a day (not counting Prologue and Epilogue(s) - I always read any Epilogues and the Prologue for the next book on the same day as chapter 24), so it would take me 24 days to read each book. This is the only way I finished it.
Hi 👋 interesting video 🎥⚔️📽 DNF a book it’s so personal to everyone either you don’t click with book or characters or the way it’s written.... also I’ve had lot of DNFs this year this year wasn’t good for me 😢.... reading should be enjoyment not dragging urself to read a book....sorry my thoughts 💭.... happy reading to you 🎥⚔️📽
I'm sorry you've had a year of some unfortunate reads, Safina! Thank you for letting me know your thoughts! Happy reading to you as well!
You might want to take a pass on Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. Most people DNF it.
Hahaha! Good to know. I've heard of it and think I'll pass. 😁
@@Johanna_reads Too bad. It’s a fabulous book, and it has difficulties, but is nowhere near as hard as most people say.
@@duffypratt I have heard it's a very difficult read! I'll never say never!
Hello 👋
Hello!
I didn’t start DNFing books until I started participating in BookTok and discovered that a *huge* amount of the popular books people rave about there are very poorly represented or even just. Inaccurately advertised. So for a bit I was going into books everyone seemed to be reading thinking I was getting one thing, but getting something VERY different that I would never have picked up if the reviews had been more accurate.
That's completely understandable! I hate feeling misled. I haven't been on BookTok, but I've heard that's a common problem.