In my post about my struggle to put down books I’m not really into at all, I mentioned that I think I found a way that might help me get better at learning how to put down a book and move on to the next one. One of my struggles, as I mentioned, is that I’m afraid of putting down a book that it’s going to redeem itself at a point beyond where I stop. Some books I really loved were really super slow for me in the beginning and then suddenly it all clicked for me.
SO, because all of you readers are all so wise…I’m going to sporadically lay out my DNF books on the metaphorical table for you all and let you help me decide if I should just MOVE ON and release the books or maybe reconsider them. So, vote either reconsider or release and maybe provide some compelling reasons for why I should reconsider or release OR at least just tell me what your general thoughts on the book were that might help me in my decision?
You guys know me pretty well so I think this will be a good way to weed out the ones that truly need to stay in the DNF graveyard and help me sleep better at night without all those pesky DNF books haunting me.
So, here are the rare few books I’ve put down recently:
Hereafter by Tara Hudson
Why I Picked It Up: The cover was pretty (shallow Jamie!) and it was about ghosts and I love ghosts. Not real ones though.
Why I Put It Down: I just was NOT clicking with the characters at all. I felt like I should be more excited about what was going on and I just was not.
One Day by David Nicholls
Why I Read It: I had heard so many good things about and I was sure I would really love it!
Why I Put It Down: I felt so bored reading it. Granted I didn’t get far into it but I just dreaded picking it up and didn’t read for a week until I finally just switched to a new book.
Everything We Ever Wanted by Sara Shepard
Why I Picked It Up: It’s Sara Shepard! The publisher sent it to me! AND because it was set near my area in the Main Line near Philadelphia. Oh and because it had promise of family drama…and that’s always intriguing.
Why I Put It Down: I got a quarter through and there was SO Much Drama going on but I just didn’t care. Not at all. I was pretty let down and started watching copious amounts of Netflix to avoid picking this one up.
So give me your opinion, friends! Reconsider or release?
JJ @ JJ iReads says
I had the same problem with Hereafter. I did finish it expecting it to redeem itself at some point, but I am sorry to say it just didn’t. Bummer too, I really wanted to like it.
VeganYANerds says
Oh no, I have a copy of One Day on my shelf, I don’t know when I’ll get around to it. And I think this is a great solution to the issue of not being able to put a book down, clever girl!
Kristin says
I felt the same about Nicholls “One Day,” but I soldiered through and finished it. I can’t say I am the better for it though. That monotone, minutiae style of writing works for some but not me. My full review of “One Day” can be found here: http://www.kristinharkins.blogspot.com/2011/10/mini-reviews.html. I might let that one rest. If you really want to know the ending, go see the movie. It is more entertaining (and rarely IF EVER do I suggest a movie over a book). Good luck!
Jacinda @ The Reading Housewives says
I put down Hereafter as well…you’re not the only one 🙂
Stephanie says
I couldn’t get in to One Day so I watched the movie which was horrifically awful. I would def move on from that book.
I, too, got Sara Shepard’s book from the publisher and forced myself through it hoping it would get better. Alas, it never did and the drama and complete lack of communication by all characters completely frustrated me. I would also say release to that one.
Never read Hereafter.
Marianne says
Good choice with One Day. You would have wanted those minutes of your life back. Such a good premise, really, but just…not well executed.
Cat says
I totally have the same problem with ‘not finishing/trying to force myself to finish/avoiding reading while trying to finish’ books that I’m just not that it into!
I haven’t read the other books, so, I just wish you good luck with those, but I had the same problem with Hereafter when I picked it up. I just wasn’t that into it. Partly because, I kept putting off reading it even though I felt like I should because I’d heard it was good but for some reason I thought it had something to do with mermaids!?! Like, I don’t even KNOW where that came from. But anyway I ended up finishing it and really liking it, but it might not be the book for you, so don’t feel guilty if you don’t finish it!
Ellen says
So glad to see that I’m not the only reader of One Day who wishes I could have that bit of my life back. I started reading it, never got into it, but pushed through it in (hey!) one day because I knew that if I put it down I would never pick it back up. I wish now that I had abandoned it…the book never gets better or less insipid.
Jen says
I don’t even know how I finished Hereafter, to be honest. I disliked it quite a bit. My thing is I’m always driven by the hope that it’ll get better, and if I stop, I’ll miss something MINDBLOWING.
This has never happened to date.
Kelsie says
DO NOT finish “One Day.” I struggled through the entire book and it never got better. The movie was also bad. It was in the top 2 of the worst books I read in 2011. 🙁
Sara (of the Page Sage) says
I understand about One Day. It disappointed me a bit, too.
Kayla says
It seems a lot of people have ended up disliking Hereafter or finding it to be just a mediocre read. I bought it when it first came out (because of the cover too! LOL! But, seriously, how can you resist a cover like that?) but I still haven’t read it yet and I’m a bit nervous about starting it now. Hopefully, I’ll end up liking it. I think it’s cool that it’s told from the perspective of the ghost. That’s how A Certain Slant of Light was written and I really enjoyed that book.
Bree says
One Day was a huge fail for me too. It was -so- boring and I really didn’t like either of the main characters, but especially the male one. I can’t even remember his name now… Dex? Anyway. I think I only got something like 20-30 pages in before I just couldn’t even look at it anymore. I have heard amazing things about it too, so maybe I’ll go back to it later. But definitely not anytime soon.
John J. says
See, I loved Hereafter a lot. It has storytelling flaws and is pretty much tailor-made for someone who likes YA PNR and the tropes. I could not put it down, but I found something about the voice and the characters really interesting. My advice would be to soldier on for a bit more and just see what happens…or, you know, read the synopsis/blurb for the second book and see if it’s worth it to finish.
I’ve never read the other two, but I tend to absolutely finish books unless I just…never come back to them. Even then, I make myself finish if the book isn’t awful. I managed to finish Possession despite A) never knowing what went on, B) never knowing where the characters were, and C) not really being interested in anything until the last fifty or so pages. Frankly, I kind of wish I gave up on it. It’s just hard to give up on reading a book when you know some are written just for the purpose of hating it until the very end…and others are just bad.
Sarah says
I soldiered on through One Day despite feeling a bit blah towards it at the start. I can’t say that I regret finishing it or would want those moments of my life back. In the end I really enjoyed it and it’s one of those stories which has stuck with me long after I finished reading. I think it’s one of those love it or hate it books.
Melissa @ Writer Grrl Reads says
I’ve tried reading the Sara Shepard book, but gave up. I just couldn’t connect to any of the characters. I haven’t read either of the other two, although I have seen on GoodReads that people said that the movie of One Day was much better than the book. So maybe that would ease the pain of releasing that one? Just a thought =)
Lindsey says
The only one of those I’ve read is one day. I was on an airplane flying home from London, and had noticed several Londoners reading it, so I felt compelled to finish it for the Britishness of it, but I can’t say I enjoyed it. It was just sort of blah. I really liked the idea of it, but like many others mentioned it was just poorly done. It’s not good when my reaction to the dramatic ending was laughter (it’s not supposed to be funny) and annoyance. I’m not sure if I would have finished it if I hadn’t been on the plane and too tired to pick something else. You’re safe skipping it if you haven’t enjoyed it so far.
Jessica says
I really loved One Day…Its written in such a different way than other books that I think it bothered me a few times but in the end it was a good story. The movie was horrific. I think it might be hard to ever read again because I would just be picturing the movie in my head which does it no justice.
Amanda says
I really enjoyed One Day as well! It does have a difficult ending, but I was really able to connect to the characters and was interested in what happened to them…which for me, is the sign of a good book!
Reut says
Well, I haven’t read any of these books, lol, but I have heard from quite a few people that the beginning of One Day is unsavory. That would be my vote to continue with!
Daisy says
I did finish Hereafter, but looking back I feel kinda ‘meh’about it and even though I have a hard time not continuing a series once I start it, I’m probably not picking up the sequel. And Amelia gets a bit too much insta-power towards the end, which just felt too convenient for me. So I’d release that one, because there are lots of better YA paranormal romance novels you could be reading instead.
Mrs. Heise says
OK, so I don’t have anything to add since I haven’t read any of these books, but I just wanted to say that I love this feature! I’ve followed you on twitter for awhile, but have been bad on commenting. And, as I adore Anna and Tara, and you’re friends with them, I know you must be good people-even if I hadn’t read several of your posts and seen how much fun your personality is.
Anyway, back to the topic at hand: It’s something I struggle with myself (most recently with Book of Blood and Stone-finally gave up last night), but even more so with my students. As a middle school teacher, I find it important to share these kinds of “real reader” behaviors with them, and encourage them not to force themselves to read a book that they aren’t getting into. I only ask that they can explain why they’re choosing to pass on a book because that is what will help them grow as readers and learn more about their preferences and hopefully start a strong reading life.
Life’s too short, and there are too many awesome books, to read books you don’t like!
Anna says
<3
Lucuybird says
I forced myself to finished One Day. Not worth it at all
Lucybird says
oh that was bad typing of my name!
Dee says
Meh didn’t like Hereafter too much. Just wasn’t for me. I’ll probably read the next book though. haha
Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books says
The only book I’ve read (and finished) on your list is One Day. I think, in general, it’s a book you can actually set down. I liked it, sure, but I didn’t like-like or love it. It was just an average sort of read for me, sad as I am to admit that. I wanted to like it even more than I did, but I don’t know, something was pretty off to me.
DeAnna says
I’ve read Everything We Ever Wanted, and while I don’t remember any of it, I can tell you that I was not impressed. It was nowhere near as good as her Pretty Little Liars or The Lying Games series. I wouldn’t waste your time with it.
Rachel says
One Day is a marmite book, I loved it though… The movie was a bit of a letdown, was really disappointed in Hathaway. Do you have an archive feature somewhere on your site that I can’t find? I’ve just stumbled upon your blog a few days ago and I’d love to go right back to the beginning but can’t seem to find an archive…
R x
Jamie says
Strangely I got rid of it because I thought nobody used it (and ahh my first posts were god awful) and my first two months of posts got deleted in my move to wordpress from Blogger! I’ll add the archive widget again! It’ll be on the sidebar!