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| unfinished business |
I was looking at my last Top Ten Tuesday post and ended up pondering about books I actually never finished. Not that I plan to actually drop them for good. I honestly plan to read them when I'm in a better mood for them ('cause sometimes mood matters. really). I'm not attracting negative vibes to my blog or anything. I just thought it might be fancy to ask some opinions on these books I held off. This post really shows off my being a black sheep though but at least I'm trying to live up to my blog title. lol.
Some of these probably aren't even popular and some of these are actually classics. Classics are generally a struggle for me. But I'm trying, really. I want to get into them. And become a more substantial writer and analytical reader. lol.
Once again, don't hate me, okay? I will finish these books.
So let's get into this!!
I tried reading this for literature class. We're not required to read the actual text but I'm like: I love reading so why not? I ended up not finishing it though. I got to around three chapters and I ended up putting it down and went to sparknotes. Shame. I know.
Jane Eyre | Charlotte Brontë, Joyce Carol Oates (Introduction)
I started this a year or two ago but ended up being bored. I was not feeling the writing. It bored me. I'm like half way through so I wanted to finish it then. But I just can't take it. I don't want to put myself in a slump because of one book. SO I decided to drop it and pick up another one. I've been seeing this as many people's fave classic so sorry. I probably just wasn't in a mood for a classic then. I will definitely re-start this one.
1984 | George Orwell, Erich Fromm (Afterword)
I only got through one chapter of this one. Shame. SHAME. SHAME. SHAME. SHAME. I KNOW. I even consider myself a reader of dystopian novels and I can't even finish this one.
Incendiary | Chris Cleave
This was gifted to me by my sister. Can't remember much about it but I've only read like a few pages. I think it's something about a woman who lost her husband and/or son because of Osama bin Laden. I also remember that this was written in the form of a letter addressing Osama bin Laden. Should I still read this? Have YOU read this? Please tell me something good about this.
Sleeping Giants (Themis Files #1) | Sylvain Neuvel
I know. I KNOW. YOU ALL LOVE THIS BOOK. I want to LOVE it too! I really do. BUT I read it on such a wrong time. I've gone through like four chapters, I think, but I was suuuuuuper busy then and when I pick it up again, I was just not feeling it anymore. I will re-start reading this maybe once Waking Gods is available locally.
Oh this book, I can't even remember anything from this aside from the fact that I got bored with it. I was half way through and I want to finish it because I don't usually DNF books and it's from NetGalley.
Mosquitoland | David Arnold
I got through a few chapters then I was done. Bored. I don't know what's wrong with me because I think many readers love this and I'm just here hoping to love it 'cause I wasted my money on this. And I don't want my money being wasted. So I gotta finish this with hopes that I'll eventually love it and not be a black sheep.
Dorothy Must Die (Dorothy Must Die #1) | Danielle Paige
Another book I'm trying my best to finish. I don't know. People seem to love this one and I'm just like no. just. no. boring. not liking Amy Gumm. heck I'm not even exactly familiar with the Wizard of Oz. I'm sorry about that. Should I have read Oz before reading this? I usually don't really care about the origins of retellings since I'm more of the content of the current book I have. I usually enjoy retellings even though I'm not aware of or have not read the original text though...
The Dark Days Club (Lady Helen #1) | Alison Goodman
Historical Fiction. I hate to be the black sheep on this one but I might legitly not finish this. It seems that historical fictions that are NOT realistic fiction do not work for me. #sadlife The Dark Days Club has some kind of paranormal aspect and as much as I'd like to fall in love with this book (first time going through Regency Era!! omg!), the story just isn't working for me. BUT I'll still try because I'm a really nice kid.
Human Acts | Han Kang
Just bad timing for this one. Really. It's historical fiction and such relevant topic. It's kind of a horrifying story about South Korea. However, the second-person POV is probably the one that put me off on this one. I was not informed of this! OMG! BUT I'll finish this and write a fancy review for you people because historical fiction!!
HOW ABOUT YOU
Do you DNF (did/do-not-finish) books? or Are you like me, you hold them off indefinitely then get back at some point? What books have you DNF? Also, how do you feel about reading classics?
Have you read any of these? Can you convince me to finally pick them up?
Have you read any of these? Can you convince me to finally pick them up?
let's connect!
I started The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss a few years ago and took a break from it but I haven't gotten back to it yet. My husband loves that series so he's been telling me to pick it back up. lol. I try really hard not to DNF books but some times I just can't get through them.
ReplyDeleteThat's totally understandable! The Name of the Wind is a popular book but preferences really matter, I think. I know what you mean. I actually have stacks of unfinished books I hope to continue at some point.
DeleteThe only one I've read out of these was Jane Eyre, and I loved it. I understand how it wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea. I'll admit I even got bored at times, seeing as it's a heavy book with the writing style. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't DNF books. I have this weird thing where if I start it I HAVE to finish it. Like no matter how bad it is, I'll waste my time fighting through it just to say I've read it. Lol!
I've read nothing but love for Jane Eyre so I really, really want to re-start it. It's been a couple of years since I read it so I hope I'll be more into it now.
DeleteI know what you mean! I kind of feel obligated to finish every book I read which I think is wrong but it's my time being wasted anyway. lol.
I don't really DNF books much 'cause I can't not finish a book :P And considering I haven't read any of the books in your list I'm not sure I can convince you! BUT, I do plan to read Dorothy must Die so maybe we could buddy read and see if that motivates you? :) Only if you want to!
ReplyDeleteUma@Books.Bags.Burgers.
As much as I'd like to buddy read I don't think Dorothy Must Die is something I'd go for at the moment. Maybe we can buddy read some other book on another time. Thanks for that, Uma :)
DeleteOMG. You must pick up Sleeping Giants again. I swear, you'll love it.
ReplyDeleteI KNOW! I will. I really will. This April. I'l get to it!! Especially because Waking Gods is out!! OMG!
DeleteI DNF fairly often. I don't really like to waste time on books I'm not enjoying.
ReplyDeleteJane Eyre is one of my favorites - I think it's a lot more readable than many classics. The language isn't so overwhelmingly old-fashioned. I agree, it does start out a bit slow, but it definitely gets better!
I DNFed Dorothy Must Die. I love The Wizard of Oz, but this book just felt like it was trying too hard.
I really want to have that mentality because I also don't want to waste my time on books I'm not enjoying but I just can't stop myself from finishing them. #help
DeleteI'm definitely restarting Jane Eyre one of these days. Thanks for that, Angela. I'll be more patient when I restart it :)
I recently decided to really put down Dorothy Must Die and I even decided to unhaul it to make shelf space.
I definitely DNF if I know it's not working for me. I don't have time to waste reading bad books!
ReplyDeleteI love reading classics (I've read heaps in the past 6 months). I find they have an extra something that you don't get in contemporary fiction, but I'm not really sure what it is. I especially love 19th Century novels. Maybe it's the setting I like? I don't know.
As for your list, the only one on here I've read is The Iliad, so I'm thinking you might read it more easily with a different translation. I read the Butler translation, which is prose, and it was pretty good, although the names were all the Roman versions, which got a bit confusing when I couldn't remember who certain characters were meant to be!
I'm trying to do this resolution of actually putting down books for good. I just officially DNF a couple of books and even unhauled them. I feel liberated! lol.
DeleteThanks for that. I'll definitely look into different translation and maybe try to restart it and see how it goes after a couple of years of holding it :)
haha I haven't read ANY of these books so I can't convince you. But I do DNF books. Not many, I think I've only officially DNF'd two books. Other books I "put on hold" if I'm not feeling it. I'll just tell myself I'll read it at another time when I'm more in the mood for the story. I've actually done it a few times but most of them just stay "on hold" for a while. Classics in general intimidate me, but I do want to read a few of them >.<
ReplyDeleteMolly @ Molly's Book Nook
At the moment, I officially DNF two books as well. Not really something i'm proud of but it felt liberating to finally drop them from my reading list. I guess we're actually doing the same thing! SO glad I'm not alone with my fear of Classics. I really hope to read more this year!
DeleteI absolutely DNF books, sometimes not even on purpose! I'll just suddenly realize that I put down a book three weeks ago and never picked up - whoops. I am majorly biased regarding The Iliad (I'm a Classics major, what can I say), but if you were reading a verse version, you should try out a version in prose, it might be a bit better to get through.Translations can definitely make or break an experience.
ReplyDeleteI feel exactly the same way about Sleeping Giants, though! I simply could not get into it and I knew that I would just be forcing myself to finish if I continued on. And I also DNF'd The Dark Days Club. Great post, I really enjoyed it! :)
Thanks for the tip, Jordan. I'm reading it in prose. I might consider a different translation or I try restarting it because I started this a couple of years ago. I might have a different experience now.
DeleteI'll definitely get back to Sleeping Giants. I was just not in the right mood when I tried it before. Dark Days Club, however, is already a DNF for me. I just can't read historical fiction that's mixed with paranormal elements. Just not my thing.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed my post :)
Oh gosh, I have a ton of books I started and put aside with "plans" to come back to-- and still haven't. It makes me sad to think of those abandoned books-- sometimes it's so hard to be a mood reader!! The only book I read from your list is Dorothy Must Die, and I will say that it gets MUCH better in the last 3rd of the book (when she actually gets to Dorothy's castle). Before that I was very zzzZZZzzz. I decided not to continue the series though because I didn't think it was that spectacular. AND the author did some social media things to rub me the wrong way.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean!! ohgosh, I need great patience for that which is super difficult especially for a mood reader. I' definitely sticking to my resolve for DNF-ing it. Ahh, whatever it is she did, I'm sorry for that. Also makes me glad I never got into her series.
DeleteYou have to finish 1984!! I won't say it's my favourite book, but I really did enjoy it and it certainly made me think. I think it's a must!
ReplyDeleteAnd about the rest, I really want to read The Dark Days Club, but I haven't gotten the chance yet!
Thanks, Cova!! I know I have to read it just because it's classic dystopian. I decided to DNF The Dark Days Club for good because I kind of bored me. I hope it works better for you :)
DeleteThe only one I've read from your list is 1984. It isn't an easy book to get through. The pace is slooooow, but it was a good read in the end.
ReplyDeleteI think I got through a couple of chapters and the pace was what made me hold it off... Slow pace books aren't my thing but I really, really want to read this. Thanks, Lori :)
DeleteSleeping Giants is excellent - I'm actually reading an ARC of the sequel, Waking Gods, right now! I don't blame you for not wanting to finish Dorothy Must Die though - such a let down.
ReplyDeleteI KNOW! I also have a copy of Waking Gods which is now one more reason why I should get into Sleeping Giants! Thank the stars, I wasn't the only one to feel Dorothy Must Die isn't good.
Delete