@skaeth@writing.exchange
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skaeth

@skaeth@writing.exchange

Science Fiction and Fantasy author @ https://www.skaeth.com
Reviews on Bookwyrm at skaeth@books.theunseen.city and skaeth@bookwyrm.social (while I decide on an instance) and on IndieStoryGeek.com at https://indiestorygeek.com/user/SKaeth

reader, writer, dreamer, worldbuilder
Co-founder of IndieStoryGeek.com
Host of WriteHive's Word Nerd Cafe podcast and Co-founder of WriteHive's Mentorship program (mentorship for traditional, small press, and self-publishing paths)

She/Her, dysgu Cymraeg

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skaeth, to books
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What are your thoughts on DNF (Did Not Finish)-ing books? Do you feel guilty about it? Do you worry you missed out on something? Or are you confident in dropping a book and reaching for the next one?

At what point are you most likely to DNF, if ever? What sorts of things cause you to DNF?

My friend, book blogger Kriti, was musing on these questions a while back, and it sparked this new post: https://armedwithabook.com/dealing-with-dnf-the-practice-of-did-not-finish/

@bookstodon

skaeth,
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@otherdog @bookstodon

I have an idea, and it might be stupid and it totally might not work, but I'll just toss it into the void and you can do with it what you will.
What if you reward yourself for DNFing, if that's something you want to become more comfortable with? Perhaps you start by picking up a book that you fully intend to DNF, maybe at a certain marker (10%?) and once you hit that mark, you drop it and cross it off a list as an accomplishment, perhaps reward yourself in some other way?

skaeth,
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@Enema_Cowboy @bluGill @bookstodon

I think the being forced to read a book really kills the desire to read it, or at least it does for me. I meh'ed so many of the books required for me in school (though my English teacher was amazing at sparking an appreciation for Shakespeare). At least in high school I was given more freedom with what to read-- I read Jane Eyre, For Whom the Bell Tolls, and started Moby Dick but dropped it, all because of high school English assignments, but on my choice.

skaeth,
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@Enema_Cowboy @bluGill @bookstodon

It's definitely an unusual style with older prose, if I remember correctly. But yeah, I love King Arthur stuff, but that one really kicked my love of King Arthur into high gear.

skaeth,
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@mizblueprint @bookstodon

I dropped Moby Dick too, lol. I think 50 pages is plenty of chance to see if you'll enjoy a book! Your list of "unreadable" books-- are those ones you expect never to go back to, unlike with Angle of Repose?

skaeth,
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@Klepsis @bookstodon @shauna

You don't do any subscriptions!! I was guessing you did, lol! Do you do more ebooks or physical? If they're physical, what do you do with them after you're done?

skaeth,
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@Enema_Cowboy @bluGill @bookstodon

Oh sweet! I'm curious how many of these you'll end up enjoying.

skaeth,
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@dbsalk @Enema_Cowboy @bluGill

I think it'll depend on how much you like modern prose and story structure. If an older style feels stilted and confusing to you, (totally fair!) The Once and Future King might not be enjoyable.

skaeth,
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@bookgaga @bookstodon

Kriti has a fantastic way with words. I find that my conversations with her always leave me pondering something afterwards!

What is the Silent Book Club group? I haven't heard of this yet!

skaeth,
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@Montag @bookstodon

It's like a book buffet and you're tasting at your own pace!

It's like mood reading.

Do you ever forget what was going on when you go back to a book you set down for a while, and have to refresh your memory?

skaeth,
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@3DBill @bookstodon

I really like this philosophy. "There is a time it connects for you and a time it doesn't." Really well put!

skaeth,
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@Jennifer @bookstodon

I agree with you on almost all points! I've grown to embrace the DNF, and I will drop a story for most of the same reasons. I don't mind slow stories when I'm in the mood for them, personally, but sometimes I want something quick instead of meditative.

skaeth,
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@lovecat @bookstodon

Yeah, I hear you. I rarely re-read novels, but when I set it down and it's been a long time and then I read it with this fuzzy partial memory, that's weird. It bothers me too and sometimes I get impatient and skip ahead to where I dropped it, but I can't always remember enough to orient, either.

skaeth,
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@eco_amandine @bookstodon

Is it harder for you to drop a book once you've made it far into it, or do you not struggle with sunk cost fallacy?

skaeth,
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@madjo @bookstodon

It's been freeing to give myself permission to drop a book!

skaeth,
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@dbsalk @Enema_Cowboy @bluGill

Yes, I stop when I'm just no longer interested. I don't mind if I'm angry or whatever, but I need to be invested and want to continue. Otherwise, I step away.

skaeth,
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@leapingwoman @eco_amandine @bookstodon

Yep, this is where I'm at these days!

skaeth,
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@leapingwoman @Enema_Cowboy @bluGill @bookstodon

Yeah, sometimes books take a right turn and end up being something completely different than what I thought! Sometimes that works for me, but sometimes it doesn't.

skaeth,
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@flatchulancelot @bookstodon

That's fair! Is there a percentage by which you normally drop books, or just whenever?

skaeth,
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@otherdog @bookstodon

I hope it helps you!

skaeth,
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@leapingwoman @eco_amandine @bookstodon

Woo! That's awesome.

Just for clarity-- I didn't write this post. My friend Kriti gets the credit!

skaeth,
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@mvilain @Enema_Cowboy @bluGill @bookstodon @GreatDismal

I had an inkling that was so! Just not the drive to make certain, lol. That is very cool though

skaeth,
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@montyhayter @bookstodon

When reading feels like work, like a chore, I will absolutely drop it. I was so interested in Malazan, but within 5 pages I felt like I needed to be taking notes, so I dropped it.

skaeth,
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@Klepsis @bookstodon @shauna

That's very cool! Yay for library support, always!

skaeth,
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@mvilain @Enema_Cowboy @bluGill @bookstodon

Yeah it's definitely helpful knowing what is a hard-pass for you for reading! Dune was a slog for me too-- I honestly can't entirely remember if I finished it or if I know the ending from the movies. I did not continue the series, I know that for sure.

skaeth,
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@mizblueprint @bookstodon

It's interesting how a read can change over the years, too, as you yourself grow and change as a person. I don't get to explore that too much as I rarely re-read. I typically remember too much of the plot and grow bored, but oh well-- it's not like I don't have a huge TBR to explore.

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