The Elusive Art of the DNF
Why is it so hard to quit a book?
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Every book lover knows the euphoria of browsing a bookstore or library—on the hunt for just the right book. You spot a pretty cover or eye-catching display of books. You pick up a book, skim the cover copy, an intriguing summary, and flowery praise are enough to convince you that this book is for you. Maybe you rush right home to read it, or you wait a few days until you can sit down and savor the words. The first few pages grab you, and you’re excited for more, but as you get a little deeper that enthusiasm starts to wane. The book isn’t what you thought it would be, but you keep going. That jacket copy promised an intriguing, engaging book, but your attention span wavers. Reading the book feels like a chore instead of fun. What do you do? How do you quit this book? The elusive art of the DNF (did not finish) is a dance we’ve all partaken in.
I’ve been reading Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs for two months and I’m teetering on the edge of giving up. After 160 pages, not a lot has happened. It’s a multiple-perspective narrative, but it’s hard to connect with the characters. Right when one storyline was heating up, the author introduced a new character and didn’t go back to the others for nearly 60 pages. Why pique a reader’s interest and then go off on another tangent? I’m not sure what to do with this book. I spent money on it and invested my time, so it’s hard to quit. A common problem I have every year. Take a look at some of the other recent books I’ve struggled with.
Babel by R.F. Kuang (time spent reading: three months and 150 pages): I loved the Poppy War series and Yellowface, also by R.F. Kuang. Four books in, and this author became an automatic buy for me. The framework for a good story was there with Babel, a young boy raised to pursue higher education who gets caught between a war on imperialism, silver, opium, and a little bit of magic. The execution was a little dry and boring—like a textbook.
And Break the Pretty Kings by Lena Jeong (time spent reading: one month and 80 pages): A gorgeous cover and the promise of magic. The magic system was complicated, for me, and I didn’t connect with the characters. I might give this another try next year.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (time spent reading: three and a half weeks and 150 pages): The third time was not the charm for me with this book. In another post, I discussed in more depth about my problems with this book. But in a nutshell, the timeline was hard to follow, and I was just bored.
The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence (time spent reading: six months): Now this one I did finish, but it took me sooooo long to get through. I finished other books faster while slogging through this for SIX MONTHS. The pacing was slow, for me, and this was 100 pages longer than it needed to be. This is a case of I should have given up sooner as it felt like work reading it.
It's so hard to quit. Why?
Money: I spend money to purchase books, I should be able to finish them but sometimes I can’t.
Time: I spent time browsing for books either in-person or online. I spent time reading them—months in some cases. Was it all a waste if I didn’t finish?
The promise of a great book: The praise of others, whether it’s a great YouTube or other media review, word of mouth, or the quotes on the book, make me think I’m missing something. If I just keep reading, I’ll see what others see (exhibit A: The Night Circus).
How to move on? There’s no secret formula, but here are a few ways to try.
Stick to a page count: My general rule of thumb is to give a book 50-75 pages before I give up. If an author hasn’t grabbed my attention, they’re not likely to later. This is a hard one because I’ve been wrong. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang didn’t pull me in immediately, but on my second try reading the book I ended up liking it and eventually reading the entire series.
If reading is becoming a chore, give up on the book: Life is too short and there are too many books out there for reading to feel like work.
If nothing significant is happening is the book really worth continuing?
No character development: If an author isn’t taking the time to create memorable characters, the book overall is probably not going to be memorable either.
How about you all? How long before you give up on a book? What factors into your decision? Drop down below and leave a comment.
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