Hey bookworms, have you participated in a Top Ten Tuesday recently? It’s been a while since I have but I had to join in for today’s theme: “Top Ten Petty Reasons You’ve DNF’d a Book”. I’ve recently become a staunch believer in DNF’ing if a book doesn’t work for you. So I’m excited to chat about the Petty Reasons I’ve Kicked Books (metaphorically, of course. I do not condone violence against books).
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. Don’t forget to check out her post and link up!
Before we start, just a small disclaimer that these are just my opinions and not objective facts. If I hate a book other readers love it’s not a personal judgement of them. We all look for different things in books when we read and I have no patience for shaming people for their reading preferences.
Petty Reasons I’ve Kicked Books to the Curb!
Science Fiction
Neuromancer by William Gibson
So. Much. Technobabble. I couldn’t emotionally connect with anything.
Network Effect by Martha Wells
I preferred the novella length for these stories. I lost interest during the novel-length installment.
John Dies at the End by David Wong
The humour was very much not for me; I lasted about 5 minutes on audiobook.
Romantasy
Angel’s Blood by Nalini Singh
Most MMCs wanted to both kill and sleep with the FMC; it was exhausting 🙄. Also, the pacing was off.
Classics
Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne
Full of racist depictions and focuses on travel minutiae without any actual excitement about travelling.
Non-Fiction
Sleeping Beauties by Andreas Wagner
I struggled to follow hard scientific concepts in audio format.
Middle Grade
The House with a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs
For a book about a haunted house, it was so boring. And full of outdated values.
Winterhouse by Ben Guterson
I was not invested in the story and the MC is characterized as “not like other girls” because she reads.
Christmas Reads
The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan
Every character was unbearable. I’m on the hunt for a christmas book I might like.
Hiddensee by Gregory Maguire
I liked how it started and I thought I was gonna love it but then it got confusing and disjointed.
Let’s chat in the comments!
What are some reasons you’ve DNF’d books (petty or otherwise)? Or, have you read any of these and do you agree or disagree with me?
Honestly, these are all very good reasons to DNF!
Here is my Top Ten Tuesday.
Thank you! I don’t know if they count as Petty or not but oh well!
I’ll have to take a look at Sleeping Beauties! Looks cool. I made it through Neuromancer but it was hard going. Shockwave Rider was similarly challening in that respect. Helped that both were on my Classics Club list. If you’re into cyberpunk you might like “True Names”: it imagines cyberspace in fantasy terms.
Yes the concept of Sleeping Beauties is fascinating, I just wish I’d picked up the physical copy rather than the audio 🤷♀️. I honestly don’t know if I’m into cyberpunk; I feel like I need to try more to tell. Thank you for the recommendations, Stephen 🙂
I love all of the Murderbot stories regardless of length, but I can see where the switch from novella to full novel might be jarring. It did change the pacing of the story significantly.
Here’s my TTT this week: https://bookwyrmknits.com/2024/04/30/top-ten-tuesday-dnf-because/
It might have been different had I not been listening to the audiobooks, even though I like Kevin R. Free as a narrator, it just wasn’t what I was looking for in the moment.
Unlikeable characters is something I should have added. That’s a tough one to overcome. I like to be able to like someone. 🙂 Thanks so much for visiting my website!
Sometimes unlikable characters can be interesting but fair enough, I can understand that for sure! My pleasure & Thank you for visiting mine!:)
I tried to read Neuromancer years and years ago, but like you, I ditched it for all the confusing, dry technobabble
Yeah, I don’t mind it if there’s a bit of it but it was overwhelming!!
I can relate to some of the items on your list – I had a similar one to your Jules Verne reaction on my list this week. I understand that different times had different ideas and norms, but I won’t stick with something that leans heavily on language and perspectives I find offensive. An occasional passing sexist term, if the book is good, okay. But a barrage of racism or homophobia? I don’t need that in my life, classic or not. I’ve also given up on books that went too deep into things like scientific or technological language and concepts that I just don’t get. Great list!
Yeah, just because it’s a classic it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good or that it should be able to get away with things I don’t like, I’m with you on that! We don’t need that energy! Thank you 😀
I tried to listen to Winterhouse and I just couldn’t get into it either. 🙁
These are all great reasons to not finish!
Hmm I was listening to it myself as well, glad to know it’s not just me 😉 Thanks!
I’ve read a Jenny Colgan book – The Bookshop on the Corner – and yeah, I didn’t like the characters there either.
Haze
https://thebookhaze.com/
Oh, 😬 seems like her characters just aren’t for us then haha. I adore corny rom com movies around the holidays but somehow I can’t ever replicate that feeling for books but I am still searching! 😀
Technobabble is a pet peeve of mine too. It’s why I shy away from science fiction. Ironically enough, it’s the reason my husband loves sci-fi! Different strokes for different folks…
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Exactly as you say, there’s something for everyone! I actually love sci-fi, I think I just discovered I don’t necessarily love classic sci-fi and this one was too dense for my liking. Thanks for checking out my post 😀
These aren’t petty, would DNF books for the same exact reason haha
https://www.herlittleplans.com
Yeah I kind of agree, I don’t know if they’re really petty but that’s all I have 😂 Glad you agree!