What Makes Me DNF Books?

Before I go on a full-rambling mode, I want to say that it takes a lot, A LOT, for me to finally put down a book and say goodbye to all chances of us reconciling. I tend to pack a smidgeon of extra patience every time I pick up a book so that you know, no regrets that I didn’t try enough. I’ve always felt like I needed to have a solid opinion on something, before it gets thrown into the darkness or brought to light you know what I mean?

If you have been one of the patient and lovely people who read my blog, you know that I always have conversations with myself and with characters when I read a book. I promise you I am a totally sane and in-touch-with-reality person. Really. Naturally, when I have to decide to not finish a book, it’s the same conversation type of situation.

What I don’t like more than anything else are frustrating, hard-headed, stubborn, and senseless fools who magically happens to be lead characters on a book which could have had a better future if it weren’t for them. Seriously, the age of pathetic helpless characters are long gone. I mean come on! Something bad happens to you, you learn, not become more of an idiot than before! Everyone, EVERYONE, has strength and courage and talent. Can we accept that and move on? While I understand that not everything is about the lead character, the person we essentially follow, and the voice which tells us the story is vital to its success.

You know when things go all over the place and halfway through you have absolutely no idea what you are reading about or why things were happening? Yah, those times. Sometimes it’s because it just drags on and on and on and on and on… At times it is also because of the writing style. Now to this I claim a bit of responsibility. You see this can be a preference thing if you really think about it. How the story is told, the word-play, the descriptions, clarity… Don’t you just love it when you could almost touch the sea and smell the grass just by reading? Plot twists, the storyline… the point of reading is understanding things, even if some things are confusing or a mystery. If you don’t, it’s not worth it.

Sometimes, there is just too much. As a reader, I like a lot of information. I love learning tons about the world they have built, the way of life, the character differences, personalities, interests, weaknesses…. Even in mysteries where authors deliberately misguide your brain, a plethora of information is appealing to me. BUT, when it comes to a point when it all just gets lost, it’s over. There are books that somewhere along the way, I find myself saying “Wait what? But I thought… Oh this isn’t that?” Other times it was the way things are delivered to you. The voice and the overall surrounding circumstances. This is one of the reasons why I love straightforward people. What you see is what you get.

These are all the reasons I could think of right now. Maybe these will change as I read more. Now say hello to Mr. Owl and let’s chat!

What makes you DNF books? Who are your favorite authors? If you could recommend just one, who would it be?