DNF: My Thoughts

DNF

dun, dun, dun

Here's where the dilemma comes in. If I'm using my blog as a way to enjoy books MORE, why would I read books that I don't like? Books that exhaust me and cause me to feel like I'm FORCING myself to continue with the story?

The Nitty-Gritty

Most of you know that I work full-time as well as being a single parent, so what it boils down to: I simply don't have time to make myself slog through a read. I know that I'm not the only one that has a TBR long enough to take 15 years to get through. Plus, I'm adding at least 5 - 10 books a week due to seeing something that I HAVE to read thanks to my blogger buddies. Thanks guys!

Therefore, I have no problems with not finishing a book. I even have it listed in my review policy that I will DNF if it's not for me. That way, authors that may not agree with that, can know beforehand so they won't even request that I read their stories.

Don't get me wrong, I have a huge respect for authors. I know that they feel as if their books are their babies. However, if I can't make it through a book, the review is going to have nothing but negative things to say anyway. That's why I don't mind not finishing and moving on. It's also why you are unlikely to see many 1 - 2 star reviews on my blog. I do make sure to create a DNF post so that my readers will know the reasons that I moved on, but I leave it at that.

What you should know is that I'm so picky in the selection process of books that I accept for review, that I hardly ever have to DNF. I try my best to only select books that I feel that I would enjoy.

I have to remain healthy emotionally

I have a hard time reading about sexual abuse, rape, physical abuse, children in pain, etc. There is nothing in my admittedly odd make-up that can handle emotionally treading through these topics. If a book is bringing up sexual abuse often, it's back on the shelf. If I have to read an incredibly detailed rape scene, it's a DNF from me. The one stand-out for me on that is Patricia Brigg's take on it. Believe me, I understand that characters have to have conflict, or there's no story. There are ways that authors can present these types of things to me, but it's all in the delivery. So this one is a 50/50 DNF topic for me, which leads me to my next topic.

I am an ugly-crier

I hate to cry. H.A.T.E. There are many books that I've read sad parts in (Dobby anyone?), but that's not the crux of the story. It's ok for an author to kill a character off or for characters to have a messy break-up. However, I purposely avoid books and movies that I'm sure will cause the snot-enducing tears. I don't like chick flicks, I don't want to be told about a family dog that dies, and I won't enjoy a story that is an extended telling of a person's slow death. So if the book causes me to hiccup-cry over and over again, I'm out. DNF city for these.

Who?

Names are an important part of literature. When a book becomes incredibly popular, those names live on and on. Could you imagine Galdolf being Bladorthin? That's what we were almost left with. Scarlett O'Hara nearly had the name of Pansy. Herimoine Granger could have been Hermione Puckle.

When I can't pronounce a name, I resort to calling it the first letter of the name. If an author has numerous names of characters and places that I can't work out how to say in my head, I'll DNF. I also get really annoyed when the majority of the characters in a story start with the same letter, or when one character has a name that goes with the opposite gender. I'll confuse which ones are male/female characters. DNF folks.

I'm seeing Red

Just because an author has an incredibly creative mind with a fantastic story to tell, doesn't always mean they are the best when it comes to grammar. If I want to break out my red pen and fix all the errors I see, I will DNF. I'm unable to focus on anything but "You need a comma there!"

Here's a list put together at inkspokes with editors for indie authors.

I finished History Classes

If a book takes you through the world-building in the first 3 - 4 chapters with nothing but an info-dump, I will probably DNF it. I never enjoyed History when I had to take it for school, and I don't intend on having history lessons while trying to read a fiction book.

It's. Just. So. Boring.

This one is completely subjective. For whatever reason, I'm not feeling a connection with the characters. I may not understand what the POINT of the story is. I play videos games or watch t.v. instead of reading because I see no enjoyment in getting through the story. I put it down and come back to it numerous times. I'm DNFing.

Next week, I'm going to explore the topic of DNFs from author's point of views. 

Please check back then.

How do you feel? Are you a Chronic Finisher? 

Do you also DNF for some of the reasons I've listed?