Hi! So… this is my least favorite feature here at That Artsy Reader Girl. It’s where I discuss why certain books just weren’t for me. I don’t feel right reviewing a book if I have not read every single page of it. At the same time, though, I want to be able to justify why I chose to leave it behind. I do my very best to never do this, but sometimes I end up deciding that it would be more fair to myself, as well as the author, if I just quit trying! So here are my two cents!
Q: A Novel by Evan Mandery
I love a quirky novel, but this one was just too quirky. I mean, about 3 whole pages were spent describing a game of miniature golf. It just didn’t grab me, and I really didn’t care what happened. I loved the idea of the book. The publisher’s blurb made it sound much more up my alley. When I received it and read the summary, it sounded like a completely different book. If I had read this summary, I would not have accepted it because I would have known immediately that it was not my cup of tea. I gave it an honest try anyway, but in the end I just couldn’t stay with it.
Candle in the Window by Christina Dodd
Very shortly into this book I realized I had accidentally come across a book that could be classified as erotica. The summary on the back of the book sounded like a nice historical romance, but there was nothing to the story except for sexytimes. Nothing. It was just all about some big, tough macho man raping this blind woman everyday and then she fell in love with him and they got married. I got that out of the first two chapters. I guess I learned a valuable lesson with this one: never buy a book on a cruise ship!
Pure by Julianna Baggott
I know… So many people love this one! I felt extremely guilty about not finishing this one. I was going through some rough things in my life when I started this one, and it depressed me. It’s probably the most disturbing dystopian I’ve read. The world has been demolished by atomic bombs, and when those bombs went off the items people were holding became a part of their body. So the main girl has a doll face for a hand. Now, everyone is required to either join the militia or sign up to be a live target if they are too damaged from the bombs. It was upsetting!
How to Eat a Cupcake by Meg Donahue
I loved the idea of this book… two estranged friends get together to open a cupcakery. It sounded adorable! I just couldn’t climb on board. The book hardly had any dialogue and was full of entire page-length paragraphs of details.
Lockdown: Escape from Furnace by Alexander Gordon Smith
So… I don’t have problems with dark reads, but this one was TOO dark. I guess I’m just really sensitive, or extremely squeamish. The idea sounded amazing, and I know that many many people love Alexander’s series. I just could not finish it! I did give it to my dad, who enjoyed it, but further confirmed that I made the right decision. Haha!
Ok, so those are my DNFs as of yet. Have you read any of these? Do you agree? Should I try again? Let me know your thoughts! What does it take for you to DNF a book? How much time do you give it before you throw in the towel?
Won:
