A book DNF can be seen as a reader’s mistake, lack of attention, or an academic weakness.
The requirement set by my high school teachers to “finish every book I start” actually stalled my reading for several years.
In my 20’s, it felt like a painful self-improvement project to read the non-fiction that was recommended to me by mid-life church ladies at that time (mostly patronizing marriage/parenting books). 🙄
And after suffering through a stack of badly written fiction, I was afraid to add more books to my TBR list. That reading slump sadly lasted several years.
One of the many tools that has helped me redefine and make major progress in my reading life has been creating a solid DNF policy.
It quietly lives in the background helping me when a book doesn’t quite fit.
I was reminded of the many layers of why and how I choose to DNF a book when this Substack Note popped up in my feed =
“Friends, please let me know if you DNF books that aren’t engaging you or do you fight through even if it’s a slog? Do you have rules or exceptions for this? Some classics are tough and challenging in a great way, but what if we’re reading for pleasure?
I hate to DNF, but I also hate to miss out on books I know could work for me because I’m trying to get into the idea of a centaur buying jam. I love fantasy and I love cozy, but I can’t seem to put them together in my head!”
I have had 4 DNFs this month and so I have been thinking about this frequently. And after writing a very long response (in very book nerdy fashion🤓), I decided to write a post sharing my thoughts with you.
But first, before we move on….
Check out my freebie printable. This is a peek into Lesson #4 from my online personal curriculum class.
To decide if I will DNF a book, I think back to my original reason for reading it.
Some of my reading reasons:
There are some books that I read for mental stimulation, emotional growth, or to stretch my capacity. These I try to stick with when they get uncomfortable or frustrating.
Other books are for entertainment, the feeling of a movie in my head, or to enjoy a character’s development. I have no problem dropping a book like this and moving on to another I’m more interested in.
Some books I choose to push myself out of my comfort zone (like genres I’m not used to). If I’m not into it because of the structure of the book then I will intentionally keep going a few more chapters. But if it is the content of the novel then I have no trouble letting it go.
Then there are other times when I want to know more about a specific subject or area of study. These are often textbooks that I skim or read specific chapters of. I do a deep dive only on the parts I am interested in.
(sheesh this is sounding very book nerdy, but stick with me okay? 🤓)
So, when a book is not working for me I evaluate WHY.
I look at my expectations, what I now know of the book or author, and then what I hoped to get from it.
I also give myself permission to say that this book does not fit right now.
My most common DNF Reasons:
“I could be interested in reading this later” — that book goes back on the shelf (or back on the TBR list) for when the mood or life season fits it better. Especially if I had to return it to the library.
“I’m having trouble connecting with it” — movie adaptations are an option I turn to for a fiction book that I need more context for. There is no rule that you have to read the book before the movie.
This also works for non-fiction topics. I often browse for the specific topic + “Ted Talk” on YouTube to get me started on basic knowledge of that area.
“Oh no, this topic activates my HSP empath tendencies and triggers anxiety” — The story or topic feels too emotionally draining. For fiction and memoir I have a list of trigger warning type areas (like rape and 1st person combat) that I avoid portrayed in writing because I know reading/listening to those scenes will 100% keep me up at night. 🫤
“The pacing isn’t right.” — The writing feels off, too slow, or I don’t enjoy the narrator’s voice (for audio). I have been spoiled by so many well read audiobooks that I don’t have much patience for poor quality content.
“I morally disagree with this content” — sometimes there is a book that just doesn’t work for me. No shame or judgement I just set it aside.
“This non-fic book is more theoretical and not practical” — I run into this often and it can feel like having an aggressive conversation when both parties agree. With a book like this I often skip ahead to the last few chapters hoping that they are more application and practical tips focused. (I felt that way with The Anxious Generation by Haidt – great book, I just had to skim the first half.)
“I can’t remember why I wanted to read this” — I picked it up out of obligation instead of interest. It’s simply not fun and I’m not learning anything new.
Book choice, my reading list, and what holds my attention right now can change often and be somewhat unpredictable.
What matters most to me is that I am reading often, deeply, and with enjoyment. The more I read the more I am comfortable with letting books go that don’t align with my goals right now.
I hope that something that I’ve shared here gives you permission and freedom to read in a way that works for you.
