Happy Friday, y’all!
Today I’m talking about the three books I’ve DNFed (did not finish) recently. I haven’t been DNFing books lately because I’ve been reading books I was sure I would enjoy. But, recently, I’ve DNFed three books for various reasons, and thought I’d talk about those reasons today.
A Wrinkle in Time Madeleine L’Engle
I honestly just did not care about anything happening in this book. Everything just happened so quickly and there was no build up. I didn’t care for any of the characters, and actively disliked some of them. I honestly put this down in the middle of a high-action scene and never felt the need to pick it back up, so I decided to just return it to the library. I think if I’d read this as a kid, I would’ve loved it, but unfortunately as an adult, it didn’t work for me. I’ll probably still watch the movie soon, though.
The Girls by Emma Cline
I am amazed at how Cline can take such an interesting topic and make it so mind-dullingly boring. I was so bored. This wasn’t poorly written, but did toe the line of “too flowery” at some points. I wasn’t really compelled by or invested in any of the characters. I did, unfortunately, connect quite a bit with the main character, Evie, on some things, which is kind of concerning. Idk what that says about me, but there’s that. I had finished about 75% of it and things were just starting to happen. So I was starting to enjoy it. If the audiobook is still free, I might get it again and finish it. But, I had it out from the library for three weeks and didn’t finish it despite actively listening to it. So.
The Realm of Possibility by David Levithan
This was a pretty easy DNF for me as it was in verse and I hate books in verse. Idk what it is about them, but I cannot stand books in verse. I literally DNFed this book on page three. It’s nothing to do with the merit of this book or Levithan’s ability to write verse but all to do with my ability to read verse, which is nonexistent. So that’s why this book didn’t work for me. But I have heard great things about it from people who enjoy verse.
So those are the three books I’ve DNFed lately! Have you read any of these? What were your thoughts? Did you DNF any of them? Should I attempt to finish The Girls? Let me know!
Ally xx
A Wrinkle In Time is one of my least favorite books EVER and I also hated The Girls, so this whole post is a mood.
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LOL glad you agree. I definitely think I want to finish the Girls at some point because I was so close but idk when
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Well, I loved (and still love) Wrinkle in Time, but I also did read it as a kid and have very positive memories of it. Meg was one of the few smart female main characters I had as a role model, so that probably made a huge difference in my enjoyment of it.
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I definitely know that if I’d read it when I was younger, I would have loved it. I really enjoyed Meg! I think I just had a hard time connecting with the writing style
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It is certainly a different writing style! It’s more like its contemporaries, at least as far as I recall from when I read other sci-fi books published around the same time.
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Perfect but my feelings of The Girls into words. I should have DNFed it!
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Ahhhh so glad you agree!
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I never read A Wrinkle in Time. Always wondered whether to give it a go…
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I think if you read and enjoy Middle Grade, it would work for you!
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I read The Girls recently and only gave it 3 stars. It didn’t get any better if you didn’t already like it that far in.
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Oooh good to know! Too bad it didn’t work out for you
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I like how you did this post. I’ve always wondered if I should do a little blurb about my DNFs. Great post. Thank you! 😊
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Thank you! I’d love to read about your DNFs, too!
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I think I’ve DNFed A Wrinkle In Time like three times, at least once during childhood, so I FEEL YOU.
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So glad I’m not alone 🙏
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I have this weird love/hate relationship with David Levithan. On one hand he’s Maggie Stiefvater’s editor so I think he’s great. But on the other hand I have tried two of his books before, and I DNFed them both. I feel so conflicted!!
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omg I didn’t know he’s Maggie Stiefvater’s editor! Which of his books have you tried? I loved Every Day, but I know some people who dislike it. And Boy Meets Boy is also pretty great
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I tried Love is the Higher Law and some of his short stories. I think there’s one in My True Love Gave to Me, but I can’t remember where the other one was…
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