DNF: When to abandon a story

I saw a post on Twitter this morning about a reader's choice to DNF (did not finish) a book and read through some of the replies.  There were those commenting that life is too short to read something that isn't enjoyable....and those on the other side of the spectrum saying that it's a part of mental discipline to always finish a book. I see validity on both sides....and it really got me thinking about what makes me DNF a book.

In 2018 out of 440+ books that I have read so far, I DNF'd one book and one audio book.

The audio book was a physical issue more than anything. I have partial hearing loss and some narrators are difficult for me to understand. This particular recording was a very disjointed story. Rambling, disjointed thoughts. Strange plot. The narrator read at a rushed speed, almost slurring words together using an affected southern backwoods accent. I couldn't understand what he was saying. I tried multiple times to get through the entire 38 minutes of the novella. The nature of the story mixed with struggling to hear/comprehend the narrator just made it a lost cause.  I stopped listening and moved on.

The book I didn't finish was written by an author that I've enjoyed for years. Bestselling author. Understandably so. But he falls back on particular tropes over and over and over and over again in his novels. As I read the book, I just kept thinking how it was like he took one of his earlier books, changed the setting and characters a bit and adjusted the plot slightly to make a new book. Nothing new. I just wasn't enjoying the story. So, I stopped reading. At some point, I might pick that book up again and give it another go. It could have been the day, my mood, my thoughts at the time.....I have read many books by this particular author and enjoyed most of them. But at the time I could not see the benefit of slogging through 500 pages of a story I felt I'd read before....

I read more than 400 books this year in almost every genre. Most of them I enjoyed. Some I did not. I wrote mostly favorable reviews because I'm picky about what I choose to read. I pick things I think I will enjoy and skip over those I know I will not. Just because an author is popular or many people are reading a new book does not mean I need to read it. Not all stories are meant for all readers. I pick and choose.....which means I rarely have to DNF a story before the end.

It is not a reflection on my mental discipline to abandon a story I cannot enjoy. Knowing when to cut bait and move on I think comes with wisdom. I'm 50 years old.  I have a degree in American and English literature. I've read thousands and thousands of books plus written and currently editing 3 of my own. And over my lifetime I have learned (most often the hard way) when it's time to move on. Not all stories are for all readers. That's a lesson that comes with time and experience. Reading a book is not a contract, a commitment, a personal relationship or a job. It's a mental journey that engages emotion, imagination and inner spirit. When a story isn't working.....it's ok to move on to one that does. 

When a story engages my interest, my thoughts and my imagination....I finish it. At times, for various reasons, that doesn't happen.

I have a finite amount of time in this universe. There are millions upon millions of books. I can't possibly read them all. But I'm going to spend my time enjoying as many as I can.

I'm not going to waste my time on stories that are not meant for me, that don't engage my spirit.

And that's perfectly ok.