I DNF with wild abandon the older I get. Nobody got time for that! There’s too many books to read. Just a suggestion: regift, sell, or donate those unfinished books sitting on the shelf. Out of sight, out of mind. That’s what I do!
I used to feel like I had to finish every book I started, but that mindset changed a few years ago. I realised that there are so many books in the world that I want to read, that even if I am lucky enough live to be 100 years old I will not have enough time to get to every single one. In other words, the faster I DNF a book I don't like, the more time I will have to discover and read the ones I'll end up loving.😊 I also find it really helpful to sell/donate/give away the books I know I won't finish, and the ones I have read and did not like. That way they are "out of shelf out of mind" so to speak, and somebody else can get the chance to enjoy them.
I can relate. Once you realize you only have a certain amount of time to spend on reading, you want to spend it on literature one actually enjoys. I Don't want to waste time, there are just too many great books out there, that I haven't read yet.
I agree - life is too short to keep reading a book you're not enjoying (and forcing yourself to finish means you're losing time to read the books you WILL enjoy).
I always (ALWAYS) finish every book I read. I don't usually just pick up a book randomly. I literally "interview" the book before I commit to reading it, so I seldom get into a book I don't like. I have found some books "dry," boring, or burdensome, but I will still finish it... out of an obligation, I guess you can say. But, then I avoid that author in the future.
Reading the first few pages or chapter, can tell you a lot about what the reading experience will be :) I really need to do that more often. I am currently reading; Before the coffee turns cold. I started reading it and could not remember why I had picked it out. I stopped and read the back blob and I instantly knew why I had chosen it. I love "isekai"/reliving life stories, but this one is a bit dry.
surprised to see on earth we're briefly gorgeous here! but it makes sense that you're more into plot-driven stories vs. no plot, all vibes. love your honesty!
❤Be proud of yourself for choosing your joy over ticking boxes🎉 read because you enjoy the content, if the book isn't for you, it means nothing except that the book wasn't for you. Don't let the brain weasels (League of Legends reference) tell you otherwise.
I read PS by Stephen king when I was 15. I was on summer vacation to where my dad was stationed. Our place was surrounded by a dense forest. All the other neighbouring houses were empty. I read three or four King books, PS being one of them. I was terrified after reading it. Could not sleep in the night even when was sharing room with Mum. I refused to watch the movie because i didn’t want to relive that fear. Now as I am much much older I wonder whether the book will spook me. Too scared to attempt reading it again.
the shadow of the wind SCHOCKED me!!! it's one of my favorite books but it is kinda weird and it's translated so that might be smth that impacted your experience
I tried to read this book, and then an audiobook with my husband present. My anxiety spiked when I realized that something I was dreading was going to happen. My husband could not handle the idea of the shocking thing, so we just DNFd the audio and the book was donated to my former university for English Students in their lounge.
My most memorable DNF is Aru Shah. I am an avid Middle Grade reader but that book just disappointed me. I felt like the writer dumbed it down so much, even for its intended market.
I'm trying to teach myself that you don't have to finish the book you don't like. Thanks Chris for this video it literally helped me in this process of reading what I ENJOY.
I kinda enjoy reading books I don’t like because I feel that it’s good to expose yourself to things you don’t like in order to view another perspective and experience something different. Also I like to feel like I’m in my own book club and talk to myself about what I liked and didn’t like. It’s almost like a challenge of not being complacent with the usual and veer into different comfort zones; but DNF is great as well because literature is meant to be enjoyed and expand one’s mind.
I have books I did not finish for an opposite reason; namely, I loved the books or characters so much that I didn't want the books to end. I'm laughing at myself for even admitting this.
Although I don’t agree with this, I kinda understand that feeling of emptiness and slight sadness when your favorite thing is finished forever. I also have friends who do the things u did so that’s pretty normal to others
@@caviersim3806 I'm glad to learn I'm not totally odd for doing this. I'm the only one in my inner book circle who does so (or at least openly admits it).
Thanks for this channel Chris and your Video. I used to feel that I had to finish a book I didn’t like in order to start a new one. But this started to make me not enjoy reading as much as I used to avoid and dread picking up my kindle as I couldn’t get into it. But like you, I could see that I hadn’t finished it so used to get annoyed with myself that I couldn’t read it. Sometimes you just aren’t in the right mood to read certain books at the time, I have found myself picking it up a year later. Or sometimes I haven’t enjoyed the first few chapters and give up on a book too soon but then it gets better. Due to the reviews people leave rating how good a book is and you feel that you have to enjoy it too even when you don’t - weird huh.
I have completed The Silent Patient it isn't my favourite.. it entertained me but failed to offer thrill & was predictable.. I DNFd Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow & The Binding I gave them both a fair chance ..in the end, I just couldn't do it
OMG, I didn’t finish Pet Sematary either!!! I was more of a compulsive finisher as well. However I didn’t finish it because I had started it in high school when I was home sick and then when I went back to school I had so much work to make up - I didn’t have time to finish it and never got around to going back to it.
Agree with other comments that life's too short. Don't worry about offending anyone with an honest opinion. I DNFd 'Shadow of the Wind' at the 60 percent mark. Not that it was bad-just feeling a little distant from characters etc.
For me, collections of short stories and novellas make it a lot easier to finish a book. (I'm into Sci-Fi and mysteries) Alot of times it's a pain for me to read some long-drawn-out novel like some of the King stuff. Keep the great video's coming!
I love Pet Semetary! That said, it's the King book I most understand people not finishing 💀It's definitely something you have to be in a *specific headspace* for. King is one of my favorite authors, but I really love cats so I can't read this one too often. And you're right, it's great that not everyone has the same taste. The world would be pretty boring if we did. My latest dnf (I'm also working on letting myself do that more) was Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. It was...very pretentious and self-satisfied.
My issue is I kept thinking the ending is gonna make everything worth it. There have been many books I’ve finished where I’m like, “welp that was a waste of time.” lol
i dnf’d the secret history,,, arguably i barely started it 😭 didn’t even get to chapter 2 but i personally could not deal with the writing style it was too much for me. i still have it and maybe one day i’ll read it (might audiobook it to start with to get me into it) but for now i feel free and contented having put it down to be forgotten about 😚
That was one of my favorite this year lol. But I get that it could be a little much if you’re not into the whole pretentious academics stuff. If you ever do try and pick it up again I’d definitely recommend the audiobook version that was read by the author! It’s more interesting when you hear it how it was meant to be read. I’d strongly recommend giving it another try later, not now, but if you don’t like it then you just don’t :)
Loved this vid! I didn’t finish Song of Achilles. I ended up reading Circe first and I think the author hit their stride with the language better there. Also the main character feels like they should be more active and driven so I found it difficult to continue.
Hearing you say for the second time that you DNF’d On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous hurts my soul 💔 but, that’s the beauty of reading! Some things we love - others will not. (I am a poet myself after all, this could be why) That being said, love that you are able to DNF books now - once I entered this uncharted territory myself it was a game changer. Way too many books to read to spend time on ones you don’t like!!!
I could completely accept all your other choices, but I gasped when you said Ocean Vuong. 😂😂 Good for you though, DNFing is necessary when there are so many books to read and so little time ❤
I had books I didn't enjoy and I stopped reading them right away and I was fine with that. Sometimes the books turns out not what you expected! That's OK Chris just read the ones you enjoy.
I also DNFd On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous for the exact same reasons as you. I thought I’d love it as much as everyone else, but sadly it didn’t hit right 😢😂
In my opinion Into the drowning deep gets so much better once the mermaids start attacking and I was so scared for every character in the book. (sorry for any mistakes, i'm not native in english)
i felt the same way for "on earth we're briefly gorgeous"- i thought there were some really meaningful and beautiful parts, but ultimately I didn't love the lack of a structured plot and I agree with you about the excess of 'fluff'
Don Quixote. It's just not my type of humor and it is SO long. He read too many novels and now he's nuts. I get it! Move on! I skimmed it to get through a Medieval Lit class and I tried again earlier this year. 40% is as far as I can get without quitting.
I have never forced myself to finish a book I didn't enjoy or feel comfortable reading. If my head space isn't conducive to the content I bounce and sometimes I revisit sometimes not. Reading is a pleasure for me and I choose not to sully it by wasting time with not for me content.
Into the drowning deep is in my TBR and most people who read & loved it said that the best way to read it is through an audiobook, maybe you can give it another try if you can.
I struggled like never before with 'Some Desperate Glory' by Emily Tesh. While a Hugo -award winner and while having interesting topics like fascism, AI, gender politics (the usual light topics), the main character was so unlikable I had to stop twice for weeks on end before finishing. What comes to Pet Sematary I absolutely love it. It's so dark, a bit like 'The Cabin at the End Of The World' - both books end with such horror and really don't coddle the reader but trusts that an adult is reading the book.
This is very interesting to see, thank you for these reviews, I actually wanted to read a few of these so its quite insightful ❤️ Also if you haven't read them yet, try castle in our bones, there is a also a sequel called stardust in our veins, would love to know what you think 💕✨
Pet Sematary is one of my favourite horror books of all time, but I completely understand what you said about it. I've read it many times, but there have definitely been periods in my life when I wouldn't have taken it off the shelf.
It’s nice to see someone being honest about not enjoying a book and ultimately stopping. Just because it’s the content you’re catering towards doesn’t mean you are forced to like things. 💙 I dnf-ed “Orlando” by Virginia Wolf, “1984” by George Orwell and “In the lives of puppets” by TJ Klune (to name a few) all for a similar reason. That is, I did not like the main character and I am a very character oriented reader. I also apparently have a specific taste when it comes to classics. If I would have pushed through with those then I would have automatically ended up in a reading slump.
I am learning to stop playing games that I am not enjoying. It is a hard habit to stop, but our lives will be better, when we start to consider that every no to a bad book is a yes to a good book (or game) I am currently reading a book about how to say No at work. I am thinking more and more about, how we alle could use some self-respect. If not even we can respect or own "No", then why should others. Feeling your feelings and giving yourself permission to not like something is important and it will be easier with time :)
I DNF'ed a book because my loan was running out at the library, I realised there was no point pushing through with a book I wasn't enjoying and risking being put off reading entirely as I'd only just picked the habit up again after years. I just found the characters so annoying because they reminded me of myself 😂
Sorry to see that you didn't like Zafon. I loved his books. Devoured them. He is rather poetic (he is also a lyricist). But I found that I could feel the road his characters walked. Smell the smells. Walking into an old book store you could see the must floating in the air (but that may be just me as I adore the old bookstore vibe). A book that I couldn't get into was Paulo Coelho's 'The Alchemist" Started a couple of times over the years. Couldn't get into it. Seemed very dry. It's about identifying your dreams and striving to achieve them even if it means abandoning everything else. How far will you go to gain your dream. It sounds intriguing, but I just couldn't connect. It was a book I picked up in the airport to read on the plane and all. Sorry, to me it was a snore.
I finished On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous but really just did not have a good time with it. I thought I was the only one but I truly just felt like I didn't get it. The writing style was just borderline pretentious to me but that's just my personal opinion.
I totally get you Chris, I forced myself to finish On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous even though I wasn't enjoying myself. And even as an asian with tons of mommy issues I couldn't connect with it because of the pretentious writing style.
I will drop a book like it's a hot potato if I'm not feeling it. That being said, I am very picky and I will examine a book extensively before I decide to read it. So I dnf few books. It's interesting that 3 of the books you didn't like were books I loved. And also I can't handle horror at all! But I love your videos. Good for you for not torturing yourself with books you don't like.
I DNF'd Elif Batuman's "The Idiot" after 20 pages. There are some books where the writing style just doesn't do it for me, and this was one. Once I realized that the whole book was going to be like this, I had to put it down. I may attempt it again another time, but I was not feeling it that first time.
I usually finish the books I read, but I am extremely picky when it comes to reading a new book, and I will often research the plot before reading a book and intentionally spoil it for myself (because I’m autistic and don’t like unexpected things, even plot twists stress me out lol), so when the plot doesn’t interest me enough I’ll just not read it. It’s a blessing and a curse I guess, because I don’t find many fictional books I actually want to read. That’s why I usually read non-fiction, that’s often more enjoyable for me.
I nearly always finish any book I’ve started but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve kinda gravitated towards a 50% rule--if I’ve gotten at least halfway through a book and don’t like it, I won’t waste the time for the 2nd half. That being said, I fully understand the situation you had with Pet Semetary and you probably made the right choice. I’ve read quite a bit in the horror genre and it is genuinely the only book that truly had me scared to continue reading at several points.
The most annoying DNF I have is this book that uses so many vocab words that I have to check the dictionary so many times in a few pages, when they could literally just use the common word for the word they choose the Thesaurus version. Another one is IT by Stephen King, because the story is told in different time segments, I got really bored when in the first adult section who had survived then they showed the kids section and I’m like, I know y’all live by the end of this, there’s suspense
Pet cemetery is the only Stephan King book I've ever read but may be why I haven't picked up any of his other work 🫣 If anyone has any recommendations, I'm willing to possibly check them out 😅 Also a book I DNF'd is My Roommate is a Vampire (I got 51% of the way and it was so boring I can't, the only semi interesting thing is Cassie's art work but that's not enough for to stick around)
out of sight, out of mind. if you give away the books you haven't finished reading, you won't be constantly reminded that you've achieved your goal of changing your behavior.
I do both soft DNFs (as in maybe I’m not in the right headspace/mood) and hard DNFs (which is just plain this book is mot for me. I really liked Into The Drowning Deep when I read it. But I’m not much of a horror reader so don’t go by me.
Ok, so Wild Fern is a planty gal, but she also has a vlog channel and talks about books often. She just posted a video saying she didn't like The Silent Patient either!
I don't get why your generation always apologize about everything. Not liking something doesn't make you disrespectful in any way. If someone, a perfect stranger with no relevance in your life, feel like it, its not your problem. Be yourself, like what you like with assurance...and let it go people who disagree. No need them
I won't review or rate a DNF, but I try to comment as to why, to help other readers decide whether or not to pick it up. I DNF more as I get older and also as I try to stretch my reading horizons. I'm more willing to give something a chance even though I suspect I'll hate it. And as a result I've found new faves I would have missed otherwise. A recent DNF for me was Lapvona. It was just shock-value awfulness without any redeeming insights.
Strange analysis on my own DNF list. I will admit that I did not read any of my textbooks in university, or all the articles that I had to peruse for my Masters Degree and Thesis. Nor have I got beyond Genesis in the Bible. So, there are four books that stand out for me, two are Stephen King novels, though one was because I could not finish it before the summer youth trip I was finished and the owner wanted it back. That novel was ‘The Stand’, however, it was loaned to me when we were leaving NYC through the Holland Tunnel and we were stuck in standstill traffic. Then the second one was ‘It’, I got over 500 pages into it, then I had an irrational fear of storm drains for years afterward. I would not walk by them within an arms reach. The third book was ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ by Patricia Highsmith, this was a psychological thriller that put the reader squarely into the mind of someone very sick and twisted. The last was Shadow of the Wind, the prose got to me. Very long descriptive paragraphs but I liked the story. So I picked up the audiobook. Husband and I started to listen to it in a driving trip in Germany, when we got back to where we live we continued it. We DNFd it because of fear of what would happen to a library. Look if it involves books suffering, it is difficult for me. I almost DNFd Name of the Wind because of a scene in the Archives. It turns out that it was a minor thing, but still… books!
I could not finish Crawdads. I tried, returned to it several times. I felt the same way With Catcher in Rye. So much hype. I've b given up. if they had cliff notes I could hold my nose and get through it.
I tried reading On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous on at least three separate occasions. I felt like the writing style kept me at a distance, so I found myself bored and never made it past the first ten or so pages.
While I do technically DNF books, I justify it in my mind by saying “I set it aside for later”, when I think I’ll have more time for a slow burn read. Now that I have time enough at last, I still haven’t returned to any of them.
I DNF'ed Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo because of how boring and shallow it was. So disappointing. I DNF'ed Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros because of how much I rolled my eyes. Also very disappointing!! Also had to DNF The Midnight Library by Matt Haig because of how much I didn't care. I feel like I keep getting tricked by a bunch of good reviews on these books. I don't know how people could find those books tasteful??? You have amazing literary pieces like The Kite Runner and The Alchemist and then you have Fourth Wing?? NO!!!
The first shadow and bone book definitely isn't very good but the second and third are pretty good ones, I think you can tell she becomes more confident in her writing style by the second book, if you do get around to reading them someday, please lmk what you thought of them :')
I usually finish reading all the books I get, but the one I could not, really not, pass the 2nd chapter is Ulisses by James Joyce, so so boring. My dad was an avid reader also, and he challenged me to start reading it and finish it, I could not do it. Lol. ( he couldnot finish it either lol). And I really liked Pet Sematery, if you can finish reading it.
I am like you I have this need to finish a book that I am reading. I think it was the fact that books were hard to get when I was growing up and now I just love to read. The fact is that if I cannot finish a book I leave it on the shelf and go back to read it later and find myself enjoying the book or just read to completion for my own sake. The one book that I cannot finish and I have tried so many times is War and Peace. I do not know why I just cannot get into the book because of the prose and the amount of characters I think or maybe it just is not a book that I can ever enjoy. As I have said before Horror books are something I just cannot read. My teachers have told me that the reason I cannot read them is the fact that I put myself in the book and the characters and I hate to read the violent ends of certain characters in the book.
War and Peace is a tough one to connect with. I've never finished it either. Started a couple of times (still got my copy). It's a translated from it's initial language (which can lose things). It's a fascinating period that it takes place in. But hot damn it's a thick book (not in any good way and not talking about the page number).
i feel the same way about On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, tho I finished the book out of spite. No disrespect, but I feel like the words are so deep and flowery but if you analyze it, it doesnt really mean anything? or it doesnt make sense---it feels hollow. But then again, I dont hate people who liked this book, clearly they really connected to it
Came in with an open mind, not finishing Pet Semetary was too far. Unsubscribing. But seriously yeah no it's a fucking intense book. When you're feeling better you should finish it. Probably his best work.
Hello, great video! Talking queer literature, have you heard of or read the Villanelle novels by Luke Jennings? It's a homoerotic wlw spy series that inspired the BBC show, Killing Eve with Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh. Been wanting to read it because I loved the early seasons of the show but I get disencouraged by comments saying the novels aren't as good.
The last scene of Pet Sematary was terrible. Just like God didn't exist, as we all had prayed. But I do love Pet Sematary, it reminds me of how small we are in this world.
Do you ever use audiobooks to listen to books you don't like? Not that you should do that. I know a movie reviewer, and he watches a lot of movies. He'll walk out of movies because he doesn't like it figuring he doesn't want to waste time on a movie he doesn't care about. Similar idea, I guess.
I DNF with wild abandon the older I get. Nobody got time for that! There’s too many books to read.
Just a suggestion: regift, sell, or donate those unfinished books sitting on the shelf. Out of sight, out of mind. That’s what I do!
I used to feel like I had to finish every book I started, but that mindset changed a few years ago. I realised that there are so many books in the world that I want to read, that even if I am lucky enough live to be 100 years old I will not have enough time to get to every single one. In other words, the faster I DNF a book I don't like, the more time I will have to discover and read the ones I'll end up loving.😊
I also find it really helpful to sell/donate/give away the books I know I won't finish, and the ones I have read and did not like. That way they are "out of shelf out of mind" so to speak, and somebody else can get the chance to enjoy them.
I can relate. Once you realize you only have a certain amount of time to spend on reading, you want to spend it on literature one actually enjoys. I Don't want to waste time, there are just too many great books out there, that I haven't read yet.
I agree - life is too short to keep reading a book you're not enjoying (and forcing yourself to finish means you're losing time to read the books you WILL enjoy).
I always (ALWAYS) finish every book I read. I don't usually just pick up a book randomly. I literally "interview" the book before I commit to reading it, so I seldom get into a book I don't like. I have found some books "dry," boring, or burdensome, but I will still finish it... out of an obligation, I guess you can say. But, then I avoid that author in the future.
Reading the first few pages or chapter, can tell you a lot about what the reading experience will be :) I really need to do that more often. I am currently reading; Before the coffee turns cold. I started reading it and could not remember why I had picked it out. I stopped and read the back blob and I instantly knew why I had chosen it. I love "isekai"/reliving life stories, but this one is a bit dry.
surprised to see on earth we're briefly gorgeous here! but it makes sense that you're more into plot-driven stories vs. no plot, all vibes. love your honesty!
DNF - the Bible
Thank goodness we all enjoy different things!! One person's hate is another person's love.
Gosh, your hair looks amazing! I know that sounds very superficial and random as a comment, but it's just true. 🤷🏽♂️😃
❤Be proud of yourself for choosing your joy over ticking boxes🎉 read because you enjoy the content, if the book isn't for you, it means nothing except that the book wasn't for you. Don't let the brain weasels (League of Legends reference) tell you otherwise.
Same here for "on Earth we're briefly gorgeous" ,i thought i was the odd one but,i DNF'd at 35% and it was struggle to read even that much.
I read PS by Stephen king when I was 15. I was on summer vacation to where my dad was stationed. Our place was surrounded by a dense forest. All the other neighbouring houses were empty. I read three or four King books, PS being one of them. I was terrified after reading it. Could not sleep in the night even when was sharing room with Mum. I refused to watch the movie because i didn’t want to relive that fear. Now as I am much much older I wonder whether the book will spook me. Too scared to attempt reading it again.
the shadow of the wind SCHOCKED me!!! it's one of my favorite books but it is kinda weird and it's translated so that might be smth that impacted your experience
I tried to read this book, and then an audiobook with my husband present. My anxiety spiked when I realized that something I was dreading was going to happen. My husband could not handle the idea of the shocking thing, so we just DNFd the audio and the book was donated to my former university for English Students in their lounge.
Your voice is such soothing
Another fantastic video. Let's finish reading the books, please even when they;e boring.
The book from Carlos Ruiz Zafon, I also DNF, and I read it in Spanish ( my mother tongue) …same feeling 😊
I've a stack of books I started but haven't been able to bring myself to finish. Someday I might pick them up again, but I'm not holding my breath. 😆
My most memorable DNF is Aru Shah. I am an avid Middle Grade reader but that book just disappointed me. I felt like the writer dumbed it down so much, even for its intended market.
'Honestly, life is way too short. Absolutely do what you enjoy doing. No reason to spend any of your time on something you don't enjoy.
I mean...why.
I'm trying to teach myself that you don't have to finish the book you don't like. Thanks Chris for this video it literally helped me in this process of reading what I ENJOY.
I kinda enjoy reading books I don’t like because I feel that it’s good to expose yourself to things you don’t like in order to view another perspective and experience something different. Also I like to feel like I’m in my own book club and talk to myself about what I liked and didn’t like. It’s almost like a challenge of not being complacent with the usual and veer into different comfort zones; but DNF is great as well because literature is meant to be enjoyed and expand one’s mind.
I have books I did not finish for an opposite reason; namely, I loved the books or characters so much that I didn't want the books to end. I'm laughing at myself for even admitting this.
Although I don’t agree with this, I kinda understand that feeling of emptiness and slight sadness when your favorite thing is finished forever. I also have friends who do the things u did so that’s pretty normal to others
@@caviersim3806 I'm glad to learn I'm not totally odd for doing this. I'm the only one in my inner book circle who does so (or at least openly admits it).
Thanks for this channel Chris and your Video. I used to feel that I had to finish a book I didn’t like in order to start a new one. But this started to make me not enjoy reading as much as I used to avoid and dread picking up my kindle as I couldn’t get into it. But like you, I could see that I hadn’t finished it so used to get annoyed with myself that I couldn’t read it. Sometimes you just aren’t in the right mood to read certain books at the time, I have found myself picking it up a year later.
Or sometimes I haven’t enjoyed the first few chapters and give up on a book too soon but then it gets better. Due to the reviews people leave rating how good a book is and you feel that you have to enjoy it too even when you don’t - weird huh.
I have completed The Silent Patient it isn't my favourite.. it entertained me but failed to offer thrill & was predictable..
I DNFd Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow & The Binding
I gave them both a fair chance ..in the end, I just couldn't do it
OMG, I didn’t finish Pet Sematary either!!! I was more of a compulsive finisher as well. However I didn’t finish it because I had started it in high school when I was home sick and then when I went back to school I had so much work to make up - I didn’t have time to finish it and never got around to going back to it.
Would looove more horror recs this spooky season, i also dislike crime. I loved from below (Darcy coates) and dead silence (s a barnes)
if you love mermaids and horror you should read Chlorine by Jade Song! more body horror and icky feelings but such a fun read!
Agree with other comments that life's too short. Don't worry about offending anyone with an honest opinion. I DNFd 'Shadow of the Wind' at the 60 percent mark. Not that it was bad-just feeling a little distant from characters etc.
For me, collections of short stories and novellas make it a lot easier to finish a book. (I'm into Sci-Fi and mysteries) Alot of times it's a pain for me to read some long-drawn-out novel like some of the King stuff. Keep the great video's coming!
I love Pet Semetary! That said, it's the King book I most understand people not finishing 💀It's definitely something you have to be in a *specific headspace* for. King is one of my favorite authors, but I really love cats so I can't read this one too often. And you're right, it's great that not everyone has the same taste. The world would be pretty boring if we did. My latest dnf (I'm also working on letting myself do that more) was Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. It was...very pretentious and self-satisfied.
My issue is I kept thinking the ending is gonna make everything worth it. There have been many books I’ve finished where I’m like, “welp that was a waste of time.” lol
i dnf’d the secret history,,, arguably i barely started it 😭 didn’t even get to chapter 2 but i personally could not deal with the writing style it was too much for me. i still have it and maybe one day i’ll read it (might audiobook it to start with to get me into it) but for now i feel free and contented having put it down to be forgotten about 😚
That was one of my favorite this year lol. But I get that it could be a little much if you’re not into the whole pretentious academics stuff. If you ever do try and pick it up again I’d definitely recommend the audiobook version that was read by the author! It’s more interesting when you hear it how it was meant to be read. I’d strongly recommend giving it another try later, not now, but if you don’t like it then you just don’t :)
Loved this vid! I didn’t finish Song of Achilles. I ended up reading Circe first and I think the author hit their stride with the language better there. Also the main character feels like they should be more active and driven so I found it difficult to continue.
Hearing you say for the second time that you DNF’d On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous hurts my soul 💔 but, that’s the beauty of reading! Some things we love - others will not. (I am a poet myself after all, this could be why)
That being said, love that you are able to DNF books now - once I entered this uncharted territory myself it was a game changer. Way too many books to read to spend time on ones you don’t like!!!
Book Recommendation: James Patterson’s ‘The Girl In The Castle’.
I could completely accept all your other choices, but I gasped when you said Ocean Vuong. 😂😂 Good for you though, DNFing is necessary when there are so many books to read and so little time ❤
I wanted to love On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous but was bored to sleep. I just couldn’t make myself care. Poetic language gets you only so far.
I had books I didn't enjoy and I stopped reading them right away and I was fine with that. Sometimes the books turns out not what you expected! That's OK Chris just read the ones you enjoy.
please consider doing fall-themed book recommendations :)
I also DNFd On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous for the exact same reasons as you. I thought I’d love it as much as everyone else, but sadly it didn’t hit right 😢😂
In my opinion Into the drowning deep gets so much better once the mermaids start attacking and I was so scared for every character in the book. (sorry for any mistakes, i'm not native in english)
I usually forget that I have books that I’ve started reading 😭😭😭so when I do remember I try to carve out time to finish them
i felt the same way for "on earth we're briefly gorgeous"- i thought there were some really meaningful and beautiful parts, but ultimately I didn't love the lack of a structured plot and I agree with you about the excess of 'fluff'
Don Quixote. It's just not my type of humor and it is SO long. He read too many novels and now he's nuts. I get it! Move on!
I skimmed it to get through a Medieval Lit class and I tried again earlier this year. 40% is as far as I can get without quitting.
I have never forced myself to finish a book I didn't enjoy or feel comfortable reading. If my head space isn't conducive to the content I bounce and sometimes I revisit sometimes not. Reading is a pleasure for me and I choose not to sully it by wasting time with not for me content.
Although I try to choose very well, I am still in my 'I have to finish it' era 😅
Into the drowning deep is in my TBR and most people who read & loved it said that the best way to read it is through an audiobook, maybe you can give it another try if you can.
I really needed this video! 🤍
I struggled like never before with 'Some Desperate Glory' by Emily Tesh. While a Hugo -award winner and while having interesting topics like fascism, AI, gender politics (the usual light topics), the main character was so unlikable I had to stop twice for weeks on end before finishing.
What comes to Pet Sematary I absolutely love it. It's so dark, a bit like 'The Cabin at the End Of The World' - both books end with such horror and really don't coddle the reader but trusts that an adult is reading the book.
This is very interesting to see, thank you for these reviews, I actually wanted to read a few of these so its quite insightful ❤️ Also if you haven't read them yet, try castle in our bones, there is a also a sequel called stardust in our veins, would love to know what you think 💕✨
Pet Sematary is one of my favourite horror books of all time, but I completely understand what you said about it. I've read it many times, but there have definitely been periods in my life when I wouldn't have taken it off the shelf.
It’s nice to see someone being honest about not enjoying a book and ultimately stopping. Just because it’s the content you’re catering towards doesn’t mean you are forced to like things.
💙
I dnf-ed “Orlando” by Virginia Wolf, “1984” by George Orwell and “In the lives of puppets” by TJ Klune (to name a few) all for a similar reason. That is, I did not like the main character and I am a very character oriented reader. I also apparently have a specific taste when it comes to classics.
If I would have pushed through with those then I would have automatically ended up in a reading slump.
I am learning to stop playing games that I am not enjoying. It is a hard habit to stop, but our lives will be better, when we start to consider that every no to a bad book is a yes to a good book (or game)
I am currently reading a book about how to say No at work. I am thinking more and more about, how we alle could use some self-respect. If not even we can respect or own "No", then why should others. Feeling your feelings and giving yourself permission to not like something is important and it will be easier with time :)
I DNF'ed a book because my loan was running out at the library, I realised there was no point pushing through with a book I wasn't enjoying and risking being put off reading entirely as I'd only just picked the habit up again after years. I just found the characters so annoying because they reminded me of myself 😂
Sorry to see that you didn't like Zafon. I loved his books. Devoured them. He is rather poetic (he is also a lyricist). But I found that I could feel the road his characters walked. Smell the smells. Walking into an old book store you could see the must floating in the air (but that may be just me as I adore the old bookstore vibe).
A book that I couldn't get into was Paulo Coelho's 'The Alchemist" Started a couple of times over the years. Couldn't get into it. Seemed very dry. It's about identifying your dreams and striving to achieve them even if it means abandoning everything else. How far will you go to gain your dream. It sounds intriguing, but I just couldn't connect. It was a book I picked up in the airport to read on the plane and all. Sorry, to me it was a snore.
I finished On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous but really just did not have a good time with it. I thought I was the only one but I truly just felt like I didn't get it. The writing style was just borderline pretentious to me but that's just my personal opinion.
I totally get you Chris, I forced myself to finish On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous even though I wasn't enjoying myself. And even as an asian with tons of mommy issues I couldn't connect with it because of the pretentious writing style.
I loved it better as an audio honestly, and the narrator is the author 👌
I will drop a book like it's a hot potato if I'm not feeling it. That being said, I am very picky and I will examine a book extensively before I decide to read it. So I dnf few books. It's interesting that 3 of the books you didn't like were books I loved. And also I can't handle horror at all! But I love your videos. Good for you for not torturing yourself with books you don't like.
I DNF'd Elif Batuman's "The Idiot" after 20 pages. There are some books where the writing style just doesn't do it for me, and this was one. Once I realized that the whole book was going to be like this, I had to put it down. I may attempt it again another time, but I was not feeling it that first time.
I’m so sad you didn’t like Into the Drowning Deep it is one of my all time favs. The audiobook is fantastic. But ya know ymmv
I usually finish the books I read, but I am extremely picky when it comes to reading a new book, and I will often research the plot before reading a book and intentionally spoil it for myself (because I’m autistic and don’t like unexpected things, even plot twists stress me out lol), so when the plot doesn’t interest me enough I’ll just not read it. It’s a blessing and a curse I guess, because I don’t find many fictional books I actually want to read. That’s why I usually read non-fiction, that’s often more enjoyable for me.
I also DNFed Into the Drowning Deep. I love Ocean Vuong though
I nearly always finish any book I’ve started but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve kinda gravitated towards a 50% rule--if I’ve gotten at least halfway through a book and don’t like it, I won’t waste the time for the 2nd half.
That being said, I fully understand the situation you had with Pet Semetary and you probably made the right choice. I’ve read quite a bit in the horror genre and it is genuinely the only book that truly had me scared to continue reading at several points.
The most annoying DNF I have is this book that uses so many vocab words that I have to check the dictionary so many times in a few pages, when they could literally just use the common word for the word they choose the Thesaurus version. Another one is IT by Stephen King, because the story is told in different time segments, I got really bored when in the first adult section who had survived then they showed the kids section and I’m like, I know y’all live by the end of this, there’s suspense
The chocolate cake explanation was good haha
I loved on earth were briefly gorgeous! I didn’t know a single of the other books, Put your taste in mine are quite different.
shadow of the wind is one of the best books ever!!
I give myself 100 pages. If after the first 100 pages, I am not into it, I drop the book and move on.
Pet cemetery is the only Stephan King book I've ever read but may be why I haven't picked up any of his other work 🫣 If anyone has any recommendations, I'm willing to possibly check them out 😅 Also a book I DNF'd is My Roommate is a Vampire (I got 51% of the way and it was so boring I can't, the only semi interesting thing is Cassie's art work but that's not enough for to stick around)
out of sight, out of mind. if you give away the books you haven't finished reading, you won't be constantly reminded that you've achieved your goal of changing your behavior.
I do both soft DNFs (as in maybe I’m not in the right headspace/mood) and hard DNFs (which is just plain this book is mot for me.
I really liked Into The Drowning Deep when I read it. But I’m not much of a horror reader so don’t go by me.
Usually I have a rule if I’m not loving it within fifty pages I try something else. Why read something if you’re not enjoying it
Ok, so Wild Fern is a planty gal, but she also has a vlog channel and talks about books often. She just posted a video saying she didn't like The Silent Patient either!
finished? Finish? Finna? why the ('d) Did not finished did not finish did not finna help!!!!!!
😅
I don't get why your generation always apologize about everything. Not liking something doesn't make you disrespectful in any way. If someone, a perfect stranger with no relevance in your life, feel like it, its not your problem. Be yourself, like what you like with assurance...and let it go people who disagree. No need them
I won't review or rate a DNF, but I try to comment as to why, to help other readers decide whether or not to pick it up. I DNF more as I get older and also as I try to stretch my reading horizons. I'm more willing to give something a chance even though I suspect I'll hate it. And as a result I've found new faves I would have missed otherwise.
A recent DNF for me was Lapvona. It was just shock-value awfulness without any redeeming insights.
Strange analysis on my own DNF list. I will admit that I did not read any of my textbooks in university, or all the articles that I had to peruse for my Masters Degree and Thesis. Nor have I got beyond Genesis in the Bible. So, there are four books that stand out for me, two are Stephen King novels, though one was because I could not finish it before the summer youth trip I was finished and the owner wanted it back. That novel was ‘The Stand’, however, it was loaned to me when we were leaving NYC through the Holland Tunnel and we were stuck in standstill traffic. Then the second one was ‘It’, I got over 500 pages into it, then I had an irrational fear of storm drains for years afterward. I would not walk by them within an arms reach. The third book was ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ by Patricia Highsmith, this was a psychological thriller that put the reader squarely into the mind of someone very sick and twisted. The last was Shadow of the Wind, the prose got to me. Very long descriptive paragraphs but I liked the story. So I picked up the audiobook. Husband and I started to listen to it in a driving trip in Germany, when we got back to where we live we continued it. We DNFd it because of fear of what would happen to a library. Look if it involves books suffering, it is difficult for me. I almost DNFd Name of the Wind because of a scene in the Archives. It turns out that it was a minor thing, but still… books!
I could not finish Crawdads. I tried, returned to it several times. I felt the same way With Catcher in Rye. So much hype. I've b given up. if they had cliff notes I could hold my nose and get through it.
I tried reading On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous on at least three separate occasions. I felt like the writing style kept me at a distance, so I found myself bored and never made it past the first ten or so pages.
While I do technically DNF books, I justify it in my mind by saying “I set it aside for later”, when I think I’ll have more time for a slow burn read. Now that I have time enough at last, I still haven’t returned to any of them.
I was able to pull through with It by Stephen King and I wasn't satisfied. No regrets.
I haven't DNF'd a fiction book at least since 2010.
Ocean lost me after about three pages, which is a shame, I was really hoping to enjoy it. I'll give it another go at some time.
I DNF'ed Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo because of how boring and shallow it was. So disappointing.
I DNF'ed Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros because of how much I rolled my eyes. Also very disappointing!!
Also had to DNF The Midnight Library by Matt Haig because of how much I didn't care.
I feel like I keep getting tricked by a bunch of good reviews on these books. I don't know how people could find those books tasteful??? You have amazing literary pieces like The Kite Runner and The Alchemist and then you have Fourth Wing?? NO!!!
The first shadow and bone book definitely isn't very good but the second and third are pretty good ones, I think you can tell she becomes more confident in her writing style by the second book, if you do get around to reading them someday, please lmk what you thought of them :')
I usually finish reading all the books I get, but the one I could not, really not, pass the 2nd chapter is Ulisses by James Joyce, so so boring. My dad was an avid reader also, and he challenged me to start reading it and finish it, I could not do it. Lol. ( he couldnot finish it either lol). And I really liked Pet Sematery, if you can finish reading it.
I am like you I have this need to finish a book that I am reading. I think it was the fact that books were hard to get when I was growing up and now I just love to read. The fact is that if I cannot finish a book I leave it on the shelf and go back to read it later and find myself enjoying the book or just read to completion for my own sake. The one book that I cannot finish and I have tried so many times is War and Peace. I do not know why I just cannot get into the book because of the prose and the amount of characters I think or maybe it just is not a book that I can ever enjoy. As I have said before Horror books are something I just cannot read. My teachers have told me that the reason I cannot read them is the fact that I put myself in the book and the characters and I hate to read the violent ends of certain characters in the book.
War and Peace is a tough one to connect with. I've never finished it either. Started a couple of times (still got my copy). It's a translated from it's initial language (which can lose things). It's a fascinating period that it takes place in. But hot damn it's a thick book (not in any good way and not talking about the page number).
i feel the same way about On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, tho I finished the book out of spite. No disrespect, but I feel like the words are so deep and flowery but if you analyze it, it doesnt really mean anything? or it doesnt make sense---it feels hollow. But then again, I dont hate people who liked this book, clearly they really connected to it
Came in with an open mind, not finishing Pet Semetary was too far. Unsubscribing.
But seriously yeah no it's a fucking intense book. When you're feeling better you should finish it. Probably his best work.
I love Pet Sematary . . . .
Hello, great video! Talking queer literature, have you heard of or read the Villanelle novels by Luke Jennings? It's a homoerotic wlw spy series that inspired the BBC show, Killing Eve with Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh. Been wanting to read it because I loved the early seasons of the show but I get disencouraged by comments saying the novels aren't as good.
Gotta love a self-aware king 👑 Pretty sure A Little Life was a DNF as well?
I have a lot of DNF😂😂 I just might talk about them
I’m quick to dnf 😂 If I hate it a third in or 100 pages I’m done
The last scene of Pet Sematary was terrible. Just like God didn't exist, as we all had prayed. But I do love Pet Sematary, it reminds me of how small we are in this world.
The only book I’ve ever drop is ‘The Gospel of Evil’ by Patrick Graham eww gross
DNF: Call Me By Your Name
❤❤❤
I didn't like 'On earth we're briefly gorgeous' either. Felt like it was overwritten and pretentious.
Do you ever use audiobooks to listen to books you don't like? Not that you should do that. I know a movie reviewer, and he watches a lot of movies. He'll walk out of movies because he doesn't like it figuring he doesn't want to waste time on a movie he doesn't care about. Similar idea, I guess.
allo, u r younger me, perhaps. I would love u to read “Nightwood” by Djuna Barnes & 2 make this book known to gen Z.
Before the coffee gets cold. Easily the most overrated book on this planet.
first!!!