Controversial Bookish Topic: Rating Books You’ve Abandoned or DNF-ed

This is, in my opinion, one of the touchier controversial bookish topics. If you abandoned a book, or "DNF-ed" it, then you set it down without getting to its end.

Many think that if you didn't finish a book, then you shouldn't rate or review it. Others think that it depends on how far you got into the book - if you get past a certain point (usually around 50%), then you can rate or review it. There are still others that don't care one way or another.

Unlike with some of the other controversial bookish topics I've posted about here, I understand where this one comes from. You haven't finished a book, you didn't see it wrap up and end. As a result, I understand why people say, "If you DNF-ed a book, you shouldn't rate or review it."

I personally don't care if someone reviews a book they DNF-ed. Most of the "DNF Reviews" (as I call them) that I've seen around just state why they DNF-ed a book.

DNF-ing a book is something that I've been trying to remind myself is okay to do. It doesn't matter what the reason is. Whether I'm not enjoying it, or if I'm not in the right mindset for it, I have to tell myself (sometimes audibly), that it is okay to DNF books.

I want to discuss what I do when I DNF books. I look at how far I got in the book. If I got at least 50% through, then I'll leave a brief review of the book, but no rating. If I got at least 75% percent through but DNF-ed the book, then I do a brief review and a rating. However, if I got 25% or less in a book, I'll say where I DNF-ed the book and why I DNF-ed it with no actual "review" in the true definition of the word. (For example, I'll say "DNF-ed at 25%, I just couldn't get into the book."

However, no matter where I DNF a book, I always include "DNF-ed at [insert percentage]." That way, people know that I am giving a review or rating with a DNF in mind. Depending on where I got in the book, I may include a "may pick up later" or "don't plan to pick up again."

DNF-ing a Book: When to Do It and What to Do

See yesterday's post for a bit more context: DNF-ing a Book: Why It's a Good Thing.

When you DNF a book and what you do as a result is completely up to you. It is all at your discretion because you're the one reading, and no one is forcing you to choose one way or another. (At the very least, the people in your life shouldn't be forcing you to choose one way or another when it comes to your reading.)

Hopefully, this post can give you some pointers as to when to DNF a book and what to do.

When/Why to DNF a book:

1. When you're not enjoying a book. There is no point in continuing a book that you're not enjoying.
2. When you have a lot on your plate for whatever reason. Whether it's school, work, family, or anything else, if you have a lot on your plate, you may not be in the mood or have the time to read.
3. If you're reading too many books at the same time. Yes, this is a thing, especially when you're not used to reading multiple books at once. It's okay to DNF a book and then pick it up again later when you're not reading as many books.

Remember that nothing is stopping you from picking up a book you DNF-ed to give it another try. No matter why you DNF-ed it at a given moment, you can still pick it back up when you want to.

What to do when you DNF a book:

1. You can rate and review a book you DNF.
2. You can count a book you DNF towards your reading goal.
3. You can pick up a book you DNF at a later point in time.

Whatever you decide to do with the books you DNF is up to you. If you decide to rate and/or review a book you DNFed, and if you decide to count it toward your reading goal, I would suggest noting how far, percentage-wise, you were in the book in your rating and review.

Lastly, try not to be overly critical of a book you DNF-ed. Yes, you may have hated it, and with good reason. But there are others that will most likely enjoy that same book. In your review, I'd suggest saying why you DNF-ed it, but also acknowledge that it wasn't a book for you.

DNF-ing a Book: Why It's a Good Thing

 If you haven't seen my bookish terms post, you can check it out here for the lingo that many readers, including myself, use: Bookish Terms 101.

What does it mean to "DNF" a book? DNF is an acronym for "did not finish." When applied to reading, it essentially means what it sounds like: you didn't finish a particular book, no matter the reason.

There has been a long-standing stigma that you shouldn't DNF a book once you've picked it up. Some argue that it doesn't matter if you're not enjoying the book . They say that you should still finish it "because you may end up liking it in the end."

Here's the issue with the stigma: if you're not liking a book, forcing yourself to finish it could result in one or more of the following:

1. You take forever to finish the book because you're not liking it, and it's not getting better in your opinion
2. You hate the book and refuse to read it again or give the author another chance
3. You end up in a reading slump

The stigma does have a point: you may end up liking the book in the end. But that doesn't mean you should force yourself to finish it in a particular moment when you're not enjoying it. If you set the book down, you can prevent the things listed above from happening. In addition, it's not set in stone that you will like a book you're not liking it if you finish it. That's why there's the "may" in the statement: it's only a possibility.

You don't have to force yourself to finish a book you're not enjoying. You are allowed to set it down. It doesn't matter what the reason is, and it doesn't matter if you plan to pick it up again in the future. You don't have to finish a book if you're not liking the book at any point in time.