I used to be stubborn about my reading; I thought that no matter how I felt about a book, I had to finish it. I would not quit! Quitters never win! Yet I also found that anytime I got in a reading slump, it usually coincided with a book I didn’t enjoy. I didn’t want to pick it up; I skimmed, and I found other things to do with my time. By being stubborn, my reading life suffered.
It wasn’t until recently that I fully embraced the idea of DNFing a book. However, now the minute I get a vibe that it isn’t working for me, I let it go. Maybe forever, or maybe to be picked up at a later date. Labelling a book DNF (Did Not Finish) or NRN (Not Right Now) is not a sign of being a bad reader. If anything, it shows that you are attuned to knowing yourself as a reader in the first place. At this stage in your life, the book doesn’t work for you. That is okay!
Reasons to DNF a Book
- The subject matter is uncomfortable. Certain content may not sit right with you, and its ok to walk away from it.
- You don’t want to pick it up. Reading should be an escape, not a chore.
- The writing style doesn’t work for you. Style is very taste-specific, and many authors can be unique in their ways.
- Pacing. Maybe the book is just dragging on too long. You might enjoy the dialogue or plot, but overly descriptive passages and deep dives into themes may just make you want to skim to the good bits.
- The idea of putting the book down gives you a feeling of relief; do it! Put it down.
- The idea of putting the book down makes you feel guilty. Reading is supposed to be a pleasurable experience. You should never feel guilty about what you are and are not reading.
Any of these are good reasons to let a book go. But it doesn’t mean the book is bad or that you may pick it up at a different stage in your life. And putting a book down frees you up to find that next 5-star read. So permit yourself to move on when something isn’t working for you.
Books I DNF-ed This Year
To date, I have not finished 15 books from new authors, repeat authors, or books that just seemed like they would work for me. Here are three books that surprised even me:
Reason for DNF: The writing style of this book didn’t work for me despite the accolades this book received.
A woman must deal with the grief of losing her best friend and mentor while also caring for their dog also grieving the loss of their owner.
Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker
Reason for DNF: I wasn’t interested in the subject matter.
It’s October 2026, and Lee Turner doesn’t know why or how he killed his college roommate. All he knows is that he has to flee to his father’s home in Japan, where things aren’t as they appear. It’s October 1877, and Sen is a young samurai hiding from imperial soldiers in a house with her monstrous father. Who is the ghost, and who is telling a lie?
A Wall is Also a Road by Annalee Newitz
Reason for DNF: Couldn’t get invested in the story.
Gardenpath, an amoeba-like alien, wants to be a top graduate. To do this, they must make a remarkable discovery. So they head to a remote and “uninteresting planet” where they quickly discover a species of multicellular beings with language and culture. Morphing into one to blend in, Gardenpath is quickly taken under the care of Murtis, who works in a brothel and can’t wait to show them around.