Top Eight Books I DNF’d Too Quickly
It’s Top Ten Tuesday again! It’s a weekly bookish list hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl! This week’s topic is:
Books I DNF’d Too Quickly
I am not someone to DNF (did not finish) books too often. So, even though I really enjoyed thinking about this week’s topic, it was a really hard one for me. Because of that, I could only think of 8 books that I’ve DNF’d that I may have given up on a little too fast.
Dune
So, I was supposed to read Dune in my 11th grade Lit class. I started it, and really tried to read it, but I just could not get into it! So, I hate to say it, but I SparkNotes my way through this book. Now, I don’t remember anything about this book, except I think there’s this giant worm and a genius baby. I really do think though, that if I was able to read Dune at my own pace and leisure, I could really enjoy this book.
To Kill a Mockingbird
I’m embarrassed to say that I used SparkNotes on To Kill a Mockingbird, too. Let me just say though, my freshman year of high school was so overwhelming. I went to an online school, and most weeks I would literally work from like, 8 AM until 6 PM every single day, including weekends. I really want to read this book now, though. I really think I would appreciate it so much!
Also, side note, I have to lol at my high school adviser who told me that my freshman year course load was how university was. My university courses can be SO overwhelming, but nowhere near as bad as that year was!!
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime
Okay, this one was not a school book! The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime was the book club pick for my high school’s book club. Everyone else just loved the book, and those that had already read it had hyped it up so much. I, personally, just couldn’t get into it. I often wonder if I gave up on it too soon, though. Now that it’s been several years, I’d like to give this book another chance sometime!
The Jungle Book
I tried reading The Jungle Book many years ago. I went into it, though, thinking it would be like the Disney movie. I should have known, though, that it would be quite different! I think because I had set certain expectations about this book, that when it was not what I was expecting, I just wasn’t into it. Now that I realize it’s going to be different, I think I’d like to give it another try sometime.
Through Gates of Splendor
I don’t have anything against this book! I started reading it, and I found it interesting enough. I just think I wasn’t in the mood for a book like Through Gates of Splendor, when I tried reading it. I’m sure I’ll give it another try someday!
Pride and Prejudice
This is another book that I picked up that I just don’t think I was quite in the mood to read. I tried reading Pride and Prejudice during a super busy time, and I just didn’t quite have the time or energy to devote myself to it. I definitely plan on giving Pride and Prejudice a second chance very soon!
The Swiss Family Robinson
You guys. 5th grade me HATED this book! It drove me crazy the way he always said “said I.” I don’t know why, but it just bothered me so much that it was always worded like that. 😂 Luckily, my teacher was so chill, and she also hated the book, that she didn’t make me finish it. She gave me an alternate assignment to do instead. I actually have no idea how The Swiss Family Robinson ends though, and there’s a part of me that would really like to know. I remember one of my classmates said it was the saddest book he ever read. So, I’m both scared and intrigued to give this one another try.
The Monstrumologist
I tried reading this book a couple years ago because I though it would be a fun and creepy read for Halloween. That being said, The Monstrumologist was just too much for me at the time. The descriptions in the first couple of chapters were just so gruesome! I do think the actual plot of this book sounds really intriguing, so I may try again sometime. If the descriptions throughout the rest of the book stay too gross and graphic though, I’ll probably end up DNFing it for good.
Those are my picks for this week’s TTT. What are some books that you may have DNF’d too soon?
Thanks for reading!
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the calico books 
To Kill A Mockingbird and Pride and Prejudice are two of my all-time favourite classic novels (both were school books) – DO NOT READ Go Set A Watchman. Pretty please. Just, in my headcanon, Harper Lee only ever wrote one book. Great list, it sucks when you don’t like the book you’re studying – I studied Of Mice and Men and Atonement in school and I hated them so much.
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Those 2 books are the ones I want to give another try the most! I don’t plan on reading Harper Lee’s other book! I’ve heard too many negative things about it. To be fair, I heard she actually wrote Go Set a Watchman as more of a first draft for To Kill A Mockingbird. So, I like your idea of just keeping the To Kill a Mockingbird only headcannon!
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Yeah, she wrote GSAW but her publisher liked the flashbacks to Scout’s childhood more than the book itself so asked for a book about them instead but that draft has been lost for over 50 years, it just seemed all too convenient (and a tad sinister) it appeared magically found by her relatives when she was too old and without capacity to object to its publication. I regret contributing to their inheritance – since she died so shortly afterwards.
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Oh okay! Yes, I agree, it seems all too convenient on their part to find and publish so close to her death. My sister, who bought a copy, feels regretful about it, too.
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I haven’t read any of these books.
My TTT:
https://bookstalebyme.wordpress.com/2018/06/05/ttt-books-i-decided-to-dnf-and-not-guilty-for-that-books-i-wish-i-had-dnfed/
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Hopefully if you decide to read them, you enjoy them enough to not DNF them! 😊
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Hopefully 🙂
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Urgh I now have vivid memories of forcing myself through Dune when I was 14. Big mistake, I hated it haha.
Cora | http://teapartyprincess.co.uk
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Hahah sometimes it’s just so hard to give up on a book – especially if it’s one you wanted to really enjoy! If I do decide to read Dune again, if I don’t seem like I’m going to enjoy it, I won’t be afraid to DNF it again. 😊
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I was not keen on Curious Incident, but maybe you might like it better than I did!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2018/06/05/top-ten-tuesday-162/
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If I decide to give it another chance, I hope so! 😊
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🙂
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I don’t know, I wasn’t a big fan of Curious Incident, so I wouldn’t worry about ditching that one too early.
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I’m glad I’m not the only who didn’t love it!
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I started Pride and Prejudice several years ago and also didn’t finish it. But just recently, I started reading it again, and I love it! It is a book that I have to read slowly, though. I hope you enjoy it if you get another chance to read it!
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I’m so glad to hear you loved it the second try! I can totally see how it would need to be read slowly. I hope I enjoy it the next time I try to read it, too! ☺️
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I struggled with Dune as a teen – my mom was a huge fan of the series, but I could never get into it!
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It’s good to know I’m not the only one who struggled with it. Now that I’m older, I want to give it one more try!
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I gave up on The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime as well. Great list. I’m always so curious about what books others have given up on or set aside for the time being, and why.
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It seems like a lot of people gave up on The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. I’m glad I’m not the only one. When I first tried to read it, everyone I knew just loved it, and I felt like the odd person out. Haha
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