The Introverted Detective: Reading Opinions Explored

DNF stands for Do Not Finish. Today we're looking at what everyone says about not finishing the books you pick up and why people don't finish books.

As I clean up my overstuffed bookshelves I openly DNF books. As I do the read-it-or-unhaul-it challenge I've learned to DNF what I don't like. Today we're discussing what makes someone DNF a book and the pros and cons of doing so. Please note we're talking about leisure reading and not school/work project books.

Sadly, you can't DNF a book for a school or work project. The best way to suffer through a book you hate is to read the cliff notes first and then skim it. It is easy to find most cliff notes for school book reports because most schools use almost the same novels. It just depends on what is actually online and what isn't.

When You Should DNF

Sometimes you aren't sure whether you should give up or not. Is the book going to get better later? Am I just overreacting? Does the plot pick up the pace? Here are some ways you can judge when to stop.

100 pages is a good landmark to stop if you aren't into it. If you are distracted while reading it is a warning sign. When your social media, other books, or video games outrank the current book in your hand that's your sign. Give it a fair shot when you assess what you think. 25 or 30 percent is another marker you can set for yourself. It isn't for you if you still hate it or are not interested by then. Others say four chapters is a good marker because the stage is typically set by four, even if it starts slowly.

There are days you need to check your mood and put it back on the shelf temporarily. A heavy book on a heavy day isn't a great idea, nor is a light book when you need something deep to contemplate. Temporary DNFing is fine when you aren't in the mood for something. Come back later. If you still aren't into it on another day, you might want to DNF it permanently.

Courtesy of redonline.co.uk

If you can pinpoint exactly what you don't like about a book it'll give you a better indication of what you do like in books. It means you'll DNF less books in the long run. However, if you can find something you hate in a book and can point to it directly it is a serious gamble to keep going. Keep a list of what you DNF and find the pattern to figure out what you don't like.

Reading books you hate puts you right into reading slumps. Those aren't fun. Reading should be fun. Don't make leisure reading a chore. Stop reading what you don't want to read. Does it spark joy? Stop if it doesn't. Life is too short to read books you don't enjoy. You only have so much time to read books. If it feels like a waste of time and you want another book on your shelf more, drop your current book and move on. You only have so much time on Earth, so let's enjoy it.

Is this book a trigger to personal issues? Is it so brutal you can't finish it? Is there a rape scene or other traumatic scenes that trigger your own personal trauma and past? Put it down. If you want to struggle through it that's your choice. If you can't, you can't. No judgment. I couldn't struggle through Game of Thrones. I found out later I wasn't alone in that.

Do you care about the main character? No? Do you hate the main character? Yes? That's probably a neon sign. Storylines you care nothing about suck in general. I'm sorry, but it's true. Put it down. Donate the book. The same goes for writing styles you hate. The original Sherlock Holmes is insufferable to read through for me. It comes across as Watson feeding Sherlock's ego without question, unlike the modern interpretations that show Watson having a brain. That's a personal example of disliking a writing style.

Not your genre? That's fine. While there is something to be said for trying new things, if you've tasted it and said "no thanks" you are more than welcome to skip it. Reading new things teaches you what you don't like and like. Go with what you like and love. You'll have more fun.

Beware the hype! Don't trust all the reviews (authors don't like to tear down other authors most times). If it is from an author you like you're probably safe to proceed. A lot of DNFed books are overhyped books. Read the test chapter. Wait until the reviews add up and look at the average rating of stars. Watch the YouTubers read it and see what happens. Don't jump in immediately.

When You Shouldn't DNF

First of all, if you are reading it for a book report or work project forget DNFing it. I'm sorry if you hate it, but go ahead and cliff notes/skim so you don't go insane. Most books have cliff notes. If they don't, find a particularly detailed bunch of reviews. Movies and books differ, so I wouldn't try the "watch the movie, skip the book" method here. Some books, like James Bond and Jurassic Park, are not the same as their movie counterparts. Be careful.

One con of giving it up entirely (for you can temporarily DNF a book and return to it later) is that you never know the ending. This won't matter to those who don't care about the plot. If you need to know the ending, the book being good or not, you'll most likely keep reading.

Maybe a book you DNF is not your comfort zone or normal genre. In this case, you might want to give it an honest try. If you hate it, don't pick up the genre again. Or the author again. Or that type of plotline again. The only way to find out if you like it is to try it. Get out of that comfort zone. This is both a reason why people DNF books and a bad reason to DNF a book. Grow as a reader. You might surprise yourself with what you like.

Some books are harder to read (writing style, a classic) and that's a fact. I'm talking about older English, like The Scarlet Letter. You'll get used to it, but not if you are tired. Read it in sections if you need to. Seriously, don't marathon a book that is hard to read. An audiobook with it might help you, too. Book in hand and being read to does aid your understanding. The Bible is one book you might want to do this with (in Numbers or anywhere you see strange words).

Courtesy of hdwallpaperim.com

Why People Suffer Through It

Some people suffer through something because they borrowed it from a friend or a friend recommended it to them. You trust your friend, right? Well, how could they be wrong about a book? You'll surely not hate the whole thing, right? Well, sometimes they have different reading standards than you do. It's also awkward to say you didn't read it to their face. The peer pressure to take a book you might not like into your library - because it was a gift from someone you love - is strong. You feel pressured to read all of it and be able to talk about the book with your friend. Or tell your friend your opinion. I'm sure your friend won't be offended if you don't like their favorite novel. Trust me.

Another reason you might suffer through a book you are not into is that you're halfway or part of the way through it, already. Why not finish it when you're 100 pages into a 230-page book? Honestly, if the book is mediocre (and you want to skim the rest out of stubborn devotion), I wouldn't blame you.

Did you buy it thinking it might be great? Yeah, that's a reason some people suffer through a book. You bought it and now you feel you have to read it eventually. I feel the same way about the Alex Cross (used to collect it, now I don't). If it isn't your thing you don't have to read it. Donate it. Someone else can read it.

"Maybe it gets better" or "I want a full opinion on it" are tied together because they have the same logic. Both seek to see what is good about the book. Both reasons are valid. Reviewers often have to read it all. While you can review a DNFed book (being honest about when you stopped), professional reviewers usually push through to the end.

Completionism is a real reason to slog through it. You know those people who get all the achievements in games? Those people suffer through to the last page. They are wired to complete it.

Gleaning new information about a topic is another reason you'll see people hang in there. Sometimes nerds and geeks want all the lore. This means not every book is your jam. Maybe you just want the backstory of a character in a series like FNAF. Needing the knowledge of it to teach it or converse about it goes hand-in-hand with the idea of gleaning lore. Sometimes we have to talk about it and need the lore to do that.

Lastly, there is a portion of books that have good endings and bad beginnings. Or the book just starts slow. Sometimes you have to push past some genus and species of fish (Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea) or a long portion of history about Waterloo and Nuns (Les Miserables). You might get a long description of the Notre Dame Cathedral (Hunchback of Notre Dame). Many books have slow sections. When they are worth it you'll thank yourself.

Conclusions

All around the book community and reading community you'll find that it is okay to DNF books. You are a reader no matter how many you do or don't finish. Trying stuff out is also a great way to know what you like. Over time, you'll ideally DNF less leisure reading as you understand what genres and authors you like. Currate that bookshelf to what you love. DNFing also doesn't mean the book is bad every time. Not every media is made for you. This is why we donate and give away books if they aren't damaged irreparably or have mold.

DNFing is also a great way to find what you hate and don't want to own. This helps you waste less money on books you don't like. Bookstore purchases should be what you love. If you need to check it out on the library app or at the physical library building, do it. I'd highly suggest testing before buying. My own book is in the library system if you are inclined to do that with my novel, Wrenville.

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I wrote a book! I am delighted to say that I have 5 five-star reviews up on Amazon now, which is amazing. I hope you like it, too. If you're interested in buying a paperback, hardcover, or ebook version go to my website link in this blog or click here to go straight to my Amazon page.