Hey everyone and welcome back to another Let’s Talk Bookish, a weekly bookish-discussion-meme hosted by the wonderful J.R.@Eternity Books every Friday. Today’s is an interesting, so let’s get right into it.
I know some people who used to take their reading very seriously and would NEVER DNF books. Personally, I was never like that. In fact, I would even say that sometimes I was the other extreme and would stop reading a book without properly giving it a chance and regretting it later (when a couple of years down the line I would try it again and absolutely love it).
To answer the question, I would actually say that I think it’s bad if you force yourself to finish a book just for the sake of finishing it. There’s so much more to life than that. Whatever your purpose for reading might be (unless it’s studying of course, then I understand you have no choice), I doubt it’s just to tick off another book on your list or for the number on your “read” on Goodreads to go higher. If it is, I would strongly advise you to rethink that.
Life is too short to spend time forcing yourself to read a book you don’t like when you could totally just read something else (of course, with things to do with studying it’s an entirely different matter). I would even say: life is too short to spend time reading books that don’t benefit you in some way or another!
So these are my thoughts on this! What are yours? 🙂
I completely agree!!!! Personally, I am somebody who used to DNF soooo many books (I have improved tho) and then picked it up years later and now it’s one of my faves – been there. But in general, not finishing a book can feel super great: you have so much more free time that you don’t have to spend obsessing over how many pages more you have to read until you can tick it off your list. No, reading should be fun and it should help you take your mind off of things…
Great post and happy reading!
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I’m guilty of doing this but for different reasons…
Firstly I’m kind of OCD and I can’t deal with not finishing the book 🤦♀️
And secondly, what if the book gets better? 🤷♀️
I do occasionally not finish books, but it’s rare. For example, I started The Raven Cycle and after a few chapters, I was bored, didn’t like the plot and didn’t want to continue so I dnf-ed it 🙈😂
On the other hand, All The Light We Can Not See is lying next to my bed for weeks and I refuse to give up just because of the slowness. I’ve seen such high ratings, I’m enjoying the writing and I like the characters but I just can’t seem to get into the book because of the slow pacing 💤
Another determining factor is whether I own the book or its a library book. Because when I buy a book, I feel obliged to read it because I bought it whereas I don’t lose out on anything by not reading a library book. TRC was a library book btw so I may give it a chance in the future 😄
Also, unread and dnf-ed physical books haunt me from my shelf until i finish them 😂😂😂
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I agree with you, it is okay to DNF a book you are struggling with. I have done this many a time, if I think the book isn’t good or contains elements that make me feel uncomfortable. I reckon though, particularly with classics, one should press on for at least 100 pages to see if the book gets going.
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I’m in two minds about it.
Firstly, life is too short. I encourage people to DNF books!!
Buuuuut, I’m also a finisher, and it will take a LOT for me to give up on a book (taking a break is different!!). I think I’ve only DNF’ed three books this year…
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Yeah, exactly!! 🙂 thank you for your thoughtful comment!!
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I actually totally agree which is why I rarely buy books for fear of ending up disliking them and then wasting my money! thanks for the comment! 🙂
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Yeah I agree! 🙂
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Ah okay!! well then, I hope all the books you pick up next are amazing for you 🙂
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this is such a great take on the topic. i agree, if you aren’t enjoying a book, you shouldn’t pressure yourself to finish it bc READING IS SUPPOSED TO BE ENJOYABLE and not a chore and it’s important to know ‘why’ we’re reading something (especially if we aren’t liking it)
i like giving books a fair chance bc there are some books that started off ‘yikes’ and as the story progressed, i came to enjoy it. but if i reach around the 50% mark and still am having a hard time with the book, i would usually skim or just drop the book entirely.
great post!
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yeah I totally agree with you! I usually dont have the patience to go until 50% tho haha! thank you!! 🙂
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I love your point! I used to be like that-I always finished a book, not matter what, because you never know the ending might save it. And sometimes it did, many times it didn’t. I’m now about reading just for me, and if I don’t like a book after giving it a chance, I will DNF and not feel too bad about it. Great post, Ruqs!!
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Thank you! I agree!!
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