I’ll admit, I don’t DNF (did not finish) a book often. Something about it always makes me feel a little guilty.
What if it gets really good right after I put it down and I miss out?
How will I count 22% of a book toward my GoodReads goal?
But my friend/neighbor/bookclub loved it! I can push through.
So, I’m working on reframing what it means to DNF.
DNFing a book is not a failure. Not on the part of the reader, and not on the part of the author, either. Just like trying a new dish at your favorite restaurant or trying a new class at the gym isn’t a failure—even if you hate it. (This coming from the woman who has placed the same coffee order at her local coffee shop every Wednesday for the past year. Believe me, I know.)
As a debut author, of course I hope people buy my book, read my book, and fall in love with my book. I want it to be someone’s favorite. I want it to be a lot of someone’s favorite. But as a debut author, I should also hope that people DNF my book. Because it means that reader gave my book a chance, and a chance is one of the best things an unknown debut author can hope for.
I promise, if you DNF my book, I won’t be offended. Because every book is not for every reader. People DNF books that other people love all the time. If you DNF a book, it doesn’t make it a bad book. If you DNF a book, it doesn’t make you a bad reader.
People are creatures of habit. We like what we like. And there’s nothing wrong with that. What we like offers us comfort. It makes us happy. But think about that feeling you get when you really challenge yourself, when you leave that comfort zone. It’s more than happy, isn’t it?
Sure, leaving your comfort zone is a little scary and more than a little awkward. But maybe you meet your new best friend. Maybe you find a new favorite food or a song you can’t stop playing on repeat. And you wonder, how did I ever live without this thing in my life?
If you DNF a book, all it really means is that you took a risk. You tried something new and it wasn’t for you. And that is actually a good thing. You can reflect on that book and why you didn’t love it. You can make more educated book choices going forward. Maybe the next time you try a new-to-you genre or author, you don’t DNF it. Maybe you discover a new perspective. Maybe you find that book that surprises you. If you want to test the limits of your reading comfort zone, start at your local library. It offers a no-risk way to add to your TBR, and hopefully, your DNF, too.
I take a few classes a week at my local Y, including a class that involves lifting weights set to music. I remember one time specifically where I was struggling to complete my reps. I put my bar down. I stripped off five pounds. I picked it back up again. The instructor saw me do this, and shouted, “Success!” She didn’t view it as a failure because I couldn’t complete the track with a heavier weight. She viewed it as a success because I tried.
So, try a book you wouldn’t normally pick up (and just maybe, a new order at that coffee shop, too.) You might find your next favorite; a new book or author you can’t imagine life without. The worst that happens is you DNF it. And as it turns out, that’s actually not so bad.
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