Let's Talk DNF...

So what is DNFing? Well, DNF stands for “Did Not Finish” and is a common phrase in the literary world (or maybe just in the Gen Z lit world, but I digress). Let’s be clear, I hate not finishing a book. Even if it’s the worst thing I’ve ever read in my life, I will push through the pain so I can say I’ve read it! But, even with my determination, there are still a few books on my shelf that I have not, and possibly will never, finish. That being said, while they are not finished now, I do intend on coming back to some of them and checking them off the list once and for all. For now, though, they’ll remain untouched. Let’s get into it.

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Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

For so long this book graced the For You Pages of TikTok and the Explore Pages of Instagram as this revolutionary book. Interested, and still naive to BookTok’s bad recommendations, I picked up the book and began my journey into the world of Taylor Jenkins Reid. For those of you who don’t know what the book is about, the novel follows former members of the 70’s rock band Daisy Jones and the Six. My first gripe with the novel is the structure in which it’s written. The entire novel is set up as if you are watching a documentary about the band and each person’s testimonies overlap. Are you confused? Yeah, so was I. Not only is the structure confusing, but there is also no explanation for what is happening or why. By the time I pieced together what I was reading in documentary interviews, I was so lost and frustrated that I was ready to give up. But still, I persevered (for a little while longer that is). However, Daisy and Billy, two members of the band, are so unlikeable, which to an extent is the point, and boring. Plus, they had no redeeming qualities which made wanting to read the long story about this band and love triangle so hard. The other bandmates and characters throughout the novel are just half-heartedly written and if the documentary this is supposed to be written about is about the band, why is so much of the book based on just Daisy and Billy? Just make the book about Daisy and Billy??  I was just so frustrated with the writing style and characters that I couldn’t convince myself to push further. I think this one will remain a DNF for me. Sorry, BookTok

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Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 

This one may be a surprise on the list, but I come in truth and truth only. I have tried on multiple occasions to read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and I can never, ever make it more than 30 to 50 pages in. I’ve decided maybe classics aren’t for me. It’s not that I have a problem with the story or the historical nature of it all, I love good historical fiction or romance, but Austen’s style of writing has not connected with me. I will continue to try and try again until one day I succeed at reading this novel (and hopefully some of her other ones as well). Still, at this point in time, Mr.Darcy and Elizabeth will live in a perpetual state of dislike for each other in my mind. 

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Throttled by Lauren Asher

This was actually requested by a dear reader! Unfortunately, my lovely, I have NOT been able to get through this book. Throttled is by Lauren Asher, who also wrote the Dreamland Billionaire trilogy, and is a contemporary romance about a Formula 1 racer and his biggest competitor’s sister. Now, this one sounded more up my alley than the Dreamland trilogy, and I did not anticipate it being unfinishable to me. I gave it a good try, I really did, and the book has some redeemable qualities! Like I think the chemistry between Noah and Maya translates really well and I want them to have that happy ever after. Plus, I find the bits about racing super interesting and I wish there was more on that throughout the book. However, all of the characters just feel unrealistic. I found it pretty hard to connect with any of the characters, especially Maya who feels like she’s just kinda floating around. There doesn’t seem to be much rooting her down in the story. However, the biggest contributor to me setting this book down and not reaching for it again is the overall cringyness of the book. Don’t get me wrong, the Dreamland trilogy was definitely cringy, but not anything like this book. And let me make this clear: I can handle cringe! Maybe just not this amount. The characters are constantly saying and doing things that are either unrealistic or garner unrealistic reactions from other characters. In other words, it gives the whole “then everyone in the store started clapping” vibes leaving me saying “Yeah, this definitely didn’t happen.”  I did want to get through this, so I may revisit it in the future! But, as of now, this is staying where it is… on the shelf. 

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Animal Farm by George Orwell

Let me say this, of all of the books I thought I might not finish, this was NEVER on my list! I read 1984 by George Orwell in high school and loved it! Give me any dystopian fantasy that comments on the government and I’m eating it up! So, when I saw Animal Farm was less than 100 pages, I picked it up expecting to love it. But here we are. I’m not fully sure what it is about this novel that makes it so hard for me to get through but I have a few theories. My main theory is that the actual story being told is just not interesting to me. I know, crazy right? But hear me out. I don’t fully need to read about totalitarianism when I’m here living it, getting that first-hand account. I read depressing stuff all of the time, however, when I’m done, I can leave the book alone and go back to a world where that isn’t happening. But this story is exactly what’s happening in the world and thinking too much about it will lead me down a rabbit hole where I feel useless and helpless against what our world has come to. So, that’s probably why I’m not fully vibing with finishing this one. Maybe there’s something about the format and writing style that isn’t clicking for me, but it’s a classic so hopefully one day I’m able to finish it. 

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So, have you read any of these? Were you able to get through them? Let me know! Oh, and Happy New Year! Love, Wednesday!