The Art of DNF

Discussion Post:

The Art of DNF

I have always wanted to write some kind of discussion post, but omg, I so suck at them! First if you plan for it once a week, once a month, well, there is the pressure that it have to be done. I like to live pressure free. But, yup, here comes one anyway. Mostly because I felt like I wanted to say it, and try this for once too.

I DNF a lot, whaat? You had not noticed? Really? I DNF a lot, I am not ashamed of it. And that is why I wanted to write this post. I always go all 0_o? when people tell me how sorry they are that I DNFed so many books. Don't be! I am not, and now I will tell you why not.

For me there would be nothing worse than reading the same freaking book for 2 weeks. Hating it, lamenting the fact that I have to finish it, suffering, reading 1 page a day, and just feeling all blergh! And then after 2 weeks all you have to show for is 1 book read. 1! When the world is filled with millions of books! When books are written everyday! Too many books, too little time. Life is not meant to be suffered through, it is meant to be enjoyed, and hey, the same goes for books.

I have like 2000 e-freebies, I do not even have them on GR, I do not even know how many there are. I DNF them like there is no tomorrow, because I will download many more and I am no immortal.

When I go to the library I look at pretty covers and take what I want. Do I take books that are my genre? That fit me? No, I take whatever I want because I will never read them all, and these are just the English books! I do not even look at the Swedish books anymore because not enough time in the universe (well I really should read that medieval one I saw the other day, I just have to find book 1.) I DNF them and do not look back. There are many more waiting for me. 

When it comes to my own books I DNF those too, but I do tend to read them a bit longer, I did buy them after all. Still, I am not gonna spend a week reading crap. I think that after all this time I know what crap is.

And the only time I feel bad is if the book is actually really well written, but you know, just because a book is good, does not mean the book is for you. We are all different. So I get over it pretty quickly, I shrug my shoulders and take up another book.

Now, story time. I once read this book that I hated all way through, it was the time when I seldom DNFed books, because I felt that I HAD TO FINISH. Gods! I still hate that book and think of other books I could have read instead. When I finished I threw it at the wall and shouted at my friend that I was so mad at her. Then she came in and said let's throw it in the trash! So we did, we both hated it to bits. But I was young and stupid and read from start to finish. Now I just peak at the end if I am curious and DNF.

Guide to happiness when you DNF:

*You do not have to read books that you do not enjoy. 

*Life is short, take a chance on another book.

*DNFing is hard, I know! I still read those only ok books at times, but, they are few, and sometimes a book start off good and turn into an ok one, better just finish it then. Review books are the hardest and I do end up skimming sometimes just so I can tell them what did not work. When all I really want is to DNF. But luckily I do not get many of those cos I am really picky when it comes to review books.

*I feel such a relief when I DNF, it means I get to read another book instead :D Which makes me happy. 

*Happiness is good, you should be happy when reading.

And that is all for me. I thank you for listening to many crazy ramblings.