To Read or Not to Read: The Art of DNF
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As an avid reader, there are many times when I just want to DNF a book... whether it is the terrible writing style, surface-level characters or the overuse of "his throbbing..." - you get the idea! So at what point do we need to reach to not finish a book?
Firstly, DNF means Did Not Finish. A popular term in the bookish community and used frequently in my book club. You've probably come across it on BookTok or Bookstagram, or maybe this is the first time you're hearing about it.
After much online research and opinions I've received, I've come up with the top 5 reasons why readers DNF a book:
- Terrible Writing
- No Plot
- Characters with No Character
- Inconsistent Storylines and World-building
- Overused Tropes
Personally I am no DNFer, but after carefully considering how precious my reading time is and how much I love a good book, I think I should be! Let's delve deeper into these reasons you probably should DNF that book:
1. Terrible Writing
Sometimes the writing style of an author is not great; poorly constructed sentences, grammatical errors and even spelling mistakes! I've, unfortunately, read one too many of those. It's also coming across writing that is just plain boring. I want to be engaged from the first sentence of the book I read.
Writing style is so important and one of my biggest checkboxes when reading a book. While there are a few exceptions, I'm big on how an author writes their story.
If it's not allowing you to escape into that world of romance, mystery, history or fantasy, then perhaps you should put it down and find another book that sparks joy!
2. No Plot
Reading book with no plot is like driving without a destination. At first, the scenery is beautiful, the playlist is hitting the right spot and you're having a lot of fun, but then you start to wonder why you're even on the road in the first place.
A good plot is so important because it allows the story to flourish. Without it, would there even be a story?
No amount of spice can make up for plot, so put that book down and find something that takes you on the best road trip!
3. Characters with No Character
There is nothing worse than a MC (main character) who has no depth and no character development. Better yet, an antagonist who has no motivation and poorly developed history. Just no.
Characters are essential to a story, they're the ones who carry out the plot of the book and help the story progress. Watching a character develop is another thing that keeps me hooked! Some examples of excellently written characters (and some of my favourites) are:
- Nesta Archeron from ACOTAR
- Patroclus from Song of Achilles
- Jo March from Little Women
- Hermione Granger from Harry Potter
- Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice
4. Inconsistent Storylines and World-building
Have you ever been fully immersed in a book, only to feel confused or frustrated because the storyline starts to contradict itself, or the world-building just doesn't make sense? While some readers push past this, there is no shame in putting the book down!
It breaks the illusion of being transported into your book, it's a sign of lazy writing, and eventually it starts to set a standard for what you'll accept. Reading a book with inconsistency isn't just disappointing, it's a distraction from the incredible stories waiting to be discovered.
5. Overused Tropes
Tropes are familiar elements we see repeated quite often - from enemies-to-lovers, chosen ones, love triangles and pregnancy, to billionaire romance, prophecy and quest tropes. If you find yourself doing a little eye roll instead of enjoying it, perhaps it's time to put that book down.
While I enjoy many different tropes, and I read a lot of the same trope, it can be overdone. This is not usually a reason I would want to DNF a book, but combine it with terrible writing and poorly developed characters...
The bottom line is that if you aren't enjoying the book you're reading, why are you robbing yourself of the joy you could feel from reading a good book? We will never read all the books we want to in our lifetime, so we need to make it count!
Don't feel guilty for setting it aside. Reading is a gift - choose wisely.