On Why I Don't DNF

Or at least very *rarely*

You likely know the term “DNF,” but just in case, it stands for “did not finish.”

I first came across the acronym in high school as it applies to sports and cross country running. As a freshman, new to the team, I learned the worst outcome for a race was a “DNF.” For a runner, this implies that something outside of their control forced them to stop and exit the race.

While I don’t perceive DNFs quite so negatively as it applies to reading, I still find it nearly impossible to do. You wouldn’t start a race and midway willingly decide, “ehhh, I think I’ll stop” (although that thought may cross my mind now when it comes to running 🤭). Perhaps this is partly why I struggle to DNF a book.

What Constitutes a DNF (purely my opinion!)

I consider a DNF anything that I have decided to read and choose not to finish - even if I only get through one chapter. I try to be purposeful when I pick up a book. I spend a fair amount of time vetting each book on my TBR (to be read) list.

I’ve heard/seen discussions on sampling, or book flights, which intrigues me. I believe this would fall outside of DNF’ing and fall within the vetting process. Sampling, for me, would be to select several books at the library to create my flight. I would read the first 10-20 pages of each and make a final choice. Of course, finding the time to cycle through a stack of books I may or may not read is tough and I already have my *trusted* sources - assorted bookish content in the form of podcasts, substacks, instagram, etc. to find my next read. Sometimes I even join in as a contributor… 😉

The Why

Of course the obvious and main reason to pick up a book is for entertainment. But this year I’m recognizing a book can have value to me even if its not completely to my taste. If I’m not connecting with a book, I want to pick apart why and what themes or styles are not working for me. I enjoy this discovery of my reading preferences and will use it to hopefully select better books for myself.

A simple argument against DNF’ing a book is limited time - I realize this may seem contradictory… One could easily argue “why read a book you’re not “enjoying” when there are so many good books out there? Don’t waste your time on it.” This is a very valid point, but I have 2 counterpoints:

• If I’ve already finished 60% of a book, I’m not getting that time back. If I stop then, I feel like that time was wasted if I don’t finish - a sunk cost if you will.

• The “What-if” - Maybe there will be a shift in the story! I want to trust the author or at least figure out what their goals/intentions/explorations may be.

A few reasons to DNF

I do not consider myself an overly sensitive reader. However, one book this year that crossed my DNF line was Lilith by Eric Rickstad - I only made it 20 pages due to intense violence - see this post. I picked it up as part of a challenge to finish the Aspen Literary Award longlist. Based on what I had heard/read, I knew this likely wouldn’t work for me, but I wanted to try it. I had no qualms setting it down!

Writing style is often consistent through a novel, so if that’s the element that isn’t working for me, I will be more likely to DNF. The first, and obvious book, that comes to mind is House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. This book has a serious cult following, but I could not tolerate having to turn my book on its side or spin around, or whatever you are supposed to do to read it! If you’re not familiar, check out some google photos. It is heavy on footnotes and unusual typography. No thanks!

I only recently started receiving and reading Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs). It’s fun to have the opportunity to read and review a book prior to publication dates, but reading ahead means I’m not vetting these books through my trusted recommendation sources. I think if I continue to read ahead of publication dates, I might be more willing to DNF.

Now on to the Books

I’m going to break this into 2 sections:

1. Books I almost DNF’d but am glad I stuck with them

   

   • Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

     Publisher description:

     A family on a remote island. A mysterious woman washed ashore. A rising storm on the horizon. A novel of breathtaking twists, dizzying beauty, and ferocious love, Wild Dark Shore is about the impossible choices we make to protect the people we love, even as the world around us disappears.

     My thoughts: I appreciated this book for McConaghy’s beautiful prose and sense of place. No doubt she is a talented writer, but this ultimately didn’t work for me. The endless cliffhangers after each chapter left me rolling my eyes and losing interest in the twisty plot. Everyone had a secret and it felt like I was the only one not in on it. All that being said, there was one page, late in the story, that described the joy of parenthood and getting to share that joy with a partner that left me stunned and tearing up. I’m glad this wasn’t a DNF!

   • Audition by Katie Kitamura

     Two people meet for lunch in a Manhattan restaurant. She’s an elegant and accomplished actress in rehearsals for an upcoming premiere. He’s attractive, troubling, and young—young enough to be her son. Who is he to her, and who is she to him?

     My thoughts: This one went a bit over my head. There is a startling shift in part 2 and I spent way too much time trying to decipher what was really going on. Ultimately I think this book is not about plot, or even characters, but more about themes (thanks to many smarter readers for helping me understand this!). After listening to and reading a couple spoiler discussions, I have so many more thoughts and interpretations. Getting to be a part of the discussion in a broader sense made this a worthwhile read for me.

   • Oye by Melissa Mogollon

     As the baby of her large Colombian American family, Luciana is usually relegated to the sidelines. But now she finds herself as the only voice of reason in the face of an unexpected crisis: A hurricane is heading straight for Miami, and her eccentric grandmother, Abue, is refusing to evacuate.

     My thoughts: There were 2 reasons I almost put this book down. First - the narrator was young and came across as whiny and very self-involved (typical teen I guess). Second - the style. This was written entirely as a one-way conversation. Luciana is on the phone talking to her sister, but we only get her side of the phone call. Phew! That took some getting used to, but as I got further into the book, Luciana’s character became less annoying, more dynamic, and I really did get used to the format. This ended up being a unique reading experience, and I applaud Mogollon’s creativity.

2. Books on my TBR that I keep avoiding because I might DNF (gotta let this go!)

   

   • All Fours by Miranda July

     A semifamous artist announces her plan to drive cross-country, from LA to New York. Twenty minutes after leaving her husband and child at home, she spontaneously exits the freeway, beds down in a nondescript motel, and immerses herself in a temporary reinvention that turns out to be the start of an entirely different journey.

     My thoughts: I’ve seen so many trusted reviewers rave about this book and just as many hate this book, there doesn’t seem to be an in-between! I’m intrigued, but what turns me off is that several people have described the intense privilege that comes off the page. I think that would wear on me. I love an odd plotline or a quirky character but I think this might just irritate me.

   • The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

     A time travel romance, a spy thriller, a workplace comedy, and an ingenious exploration of the nature of power and the potential for love to change it all.

     My thoughts: This book has been nominated for several awards including the Women’s Prize for Fiction which I pay attention to! From my trusted reviewers, this book has generally been middle-of-the-road which leaves me unsure if I want to pick it up. My sense is that this book tries to take on too much, but I’m still curious enough to leave it on my TBR. The buzzwords for this one sound so fun!

   • All The Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby

     A Black sheriff. A serial killer. A small town ready to combust.

     My thoughts: I’ve read a couple books by S.A. Cosby and fully enjoyed them. The reviews that I’ve read for this one have been exceedingly positive. You might ask, so what’s the problem? It comes down to the content. I know Cosby writes dark and violent stories, and from what I understand, this one features violence towards young boys. I happen to be a mom to 2 young boys under the age of 5 so I don’t think I want to pick this one up anytime soon, but won’t rule it out completely.

I would love to hear your thoughts on DNF’ing a book, what constitutes a DNF, why you DNF, what books specifically? Do I let other’s opinions sway me too much? 🤷‍♀️ Strong opinions are welcome!

Happy Reading!

Carrie