Yesterday I DNF'd two books in a single day. That's a record for me.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. UGH! I knew I wouldn't like it. It's aimed at a much younger audience and it's a fantasy (a young woman who wants to be a scribe but is forced into the dragon-riding section of her school). I tried it only because a very young physical therapist I work with, who noticed I always had a book with me in the waiting room, wanted me to read it so badly. I don't know how I'm going to politely tell her I hate her favorite book ever.

Confessions by Kanae Minato. This is a very unusual story in which two school children murder the pre-school-aged daughter of their teacher. Once this is revealed, a psychological analysis of how school children treat one another once they believe two among them are murderers. It was actually very interesting, but I grew weary of it, so I bailed.

Funny how different folks view the same books, kathy_t!! I admit to reading many young adult books which deal with fantasy (go away, Freud) themes and usually love them. I would have been thrilled with them when I was young, too.

Fourth Wing drew me right in, and so did the rest of that series. BUT even better IMO is author Cassandra Clare, who has written several series (also for young adult readers) and I ended up purchasing most of them in hardcover. My local librarian started me on these.

So I suppose what I have just written goes completely against the title of this thread -- apologies to all. =) But in conjunction with this thread, lately I have been out of luck in my library picks, to the point that out of the last 12 books I brought home, approximately 8 have been duds... ratz!

Roxanna, I have been curious about why fantasy books full of constant and continuing danger of death are so popular with younger readers. I assume The Hunger Games series is that way as well as the series of which The Fourth Wing is a part.

Aside from the constant tension, here is what turned me away early on. As you know, just physically entering the dragon-rider part of the school is very dangerous and many students die just trying to get to the entrance. (Why? Is that cool?) Then we had to read many pages describing all the travails the protagonist had trying to make it through the entrance alive. There was a rain storm, making it difficult to see. The footing was slippery, so her foot slipped off one side. Huge wind gusts made it difficult for her to maintain her balance. And oh yes, there was a large male student in line behind her who was threatening to kill her if he caught up with her. I kept thinking, "Why is the author trying to make me afraid she won't make it? There are so many pages left in the book, clearly she's not going to die before she gets to the entrance of her assigned school." Does this just mean I'm not a fan of fantasy?

I have another DNF, and it is another Pulitzer Prize book - perhaps I should stay away from those.

It's The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson, and the topic is very interesting, the migration of African Americans from the South to the North, and to California, between WWI and the 1970s. She follows the stories of three people, one in the 30s, one in the 40s and the last in the 50s. While the content is fascinating (and at times horrifying, especially when talking about segregation and lynching) the book desperately needed an editor. Just like a TV programme which comes back from an ad break and summarises all that happened so far, she keeps repeating facts from chapter to chapter. I've had enough, so back to the library with this one.

I could not finish First Ladies by Marie Benedict. It was based on historical events that were so rigid that the author could not stray too far from facts. I felt like I was reading a documentary rather than historical fiction.

I also could not finish The Housemaid by Freida McFadden. It was a formulaic mystery/murder that had overtones of S and M. Yuck.

Kath - I too have become skeptical of Pulitzer Prize winners as enjoyable-reading books.

I think these award committees give prizes to books etc. based on how much the wider public dislikes them. It's the same with architecture and a few other of the arts. "Everybody hates it--let's give it a prize." :)

Ginny - I need one of those laughing emojis to post below your comment.

I'm having trouble finishing any book these days. I was reading my book club book, All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker, and just lost interest. It's not a bad book, but there is just too much plot. It's a long book, but the chapters are very short, which I found I did not like with this particular story, though it's not something that usually bothers me.

Started James by Percival Everett, a retelling of Huckleberry Finn from Jim's perspective. I got to where the two con men show up and just didn't want go on that journey. Sometimes you get on the train and part way to the destination decide, "Nope, not going there," and change trains and go somewhere else.

Oh dear, here I am back on the DNF thread, having wasted precious reading time again. Sigh... This time it's Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman. I no longer remember what brought me to check this book out of the library, so probably no lesson learned. I had to give it up after reading a major scene involving slugs ... garden slugs. And I do mean major scene, a turning point in the plot, apparently. I flipped to a page further back in the book and discovered the slug affair still being referenced. I just had to stop. UGH!

Ditching another currently popular book after 70 pages. It's The Wedding People by Alison Espach.

Kathy, I listened to it while walking but I agree with you....the main character really got on my nerves. I was voting for her to follow through with her original plan! lol

I could not finish The Authenticity Project.

Bon - Laughing at your comment about the main character of The Wedding People.

Just read a description of The Authenticity Project. It sounds intriguing, but then so did the description of The Wedding People. Too bad these good ideas get wasted.

I slammed shut Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books after three chapters.

It feels like a thinly disguised sermon on social ills.....trying desperately to be clever.

The Museum of Lost and Fragile Things: A Year of Salvage by Suzanne Joinson is not proving an easy or interesting read. S J writes about growing up in some poverty with parents, often 'drugged-up', who are part of the cult The Divine Light Mission, who's guru has insisted they must rid themselves of their possessions. The parents, who listen to endless tapes of the Great Teacher are enthusiastic in carrying out his orders. Of course the children suffer as their few toys and treasures are trashed.

The book is so totally dispiriting and miserable that I am putting it aside. Maybe I'll come back to it when I feel my mood should be lowered and I need a good cry.

I could not endure to the end of The Book Of Doors.....I gave it my best shot. Too long and drawn out.

Bon, a friend of mine said she loved it. I’m on the waiting list; will let you know what I think.

Donna, I just noticed that I only have 31 minutes left of the audiobook so.......perhaps I'll continue it to the end. With this much time into it I shouldn't give up !

I'm reading Murder of a Recluse, part of a new series set in the U.S. by Jeanne M. Dams. I fell in love with her English series with the first book, A Dark and Stormy Night, although the series has lost steam over the years. This one is set in small town Illinois near Chicago in the early 1900s and sometimes including Al Capone helping the heroine..

Wrong thread; sorry.

DNF: Lunch In Paris by Elizabeth Bard.

Love, blah, blah.......Paris, blah, blah......Recipes, blah, blah. I quickly discovered that her memoir is a diary of her affair with "handsome French guy/future husband".

*yawn* The cerises were juicier.

My D-in-Law gave/lent me Kim Jiyoung Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo and I am just about to give up on it. Apparently it is a 'Million Copy International Bestseller' and translated into very slangy American by Jamie Chang. The blurb says it is about gender inequality and discrimination in S Korean society. After a few chapters her life doesn't seem so bad to me. OK her parents wanted a boy and when one came along he did get the spare bedroom to himself etc. I just feel like telling her "When was life ever fair? Just make the most of what you've got and thank God you don't live in the North."

Will I have to lie to D-in-Law (she is Japanese) who I almost never see, and say how fascinating and profound it was? It might be a possible discussion 'in progress'. We are very polite to each other.

Vee, I find the word "ïnteresting" very helpful when I am stuck for an opinion on books, etc. then let the person tell me what they liked about whatever...

Thanks Annpan, very many years ago when I was still at primary school the teacher described me as 'interesting' in my end-of-year report. I suppose it was better than 'peculiar' which I undoubtedly was!

I would be gently honest and perhaps say that I admired her taste in literature and leave it at that. Sometimes silence is the best censure !

Confessions of the Dead by James Patterson. Extremely gory and creepy. Nearly everyone in a small New Hampshire town suddenly goes homicidal and other crazy behaviors. I decided about 80 pages in that I didn’t want to go farther.

Donna

Vee, I have thought a lot about your post. It is definitely a complicated situation as it is your DIL who gave you the book. That's an important relationship even tho you rarely see her. DIL's hold a lot of power in family dynamics, for well or ill. You don't know if the gift was casual or "Read this! This is me! This is what I came from. I want you to understand me."

I never heard of the book but read about it after your post. It's supposed to be short so not too hard to finish. My two cents is that I would read it and say something, anything, positive and affirming. Like "That's a really interesting insight into that culture and its impact on young women." And maybe even add, "How did you feel about it?" Maybe she wants to get a conversation going.

I agree with you that life isn't fair and it isn't a book I'd choose to read. But if my DIL sent it to me, I'd read it for the reasons I gave.

Thanks for the input. When D-i-L gave/lent me the book she did seem very impressed with it and even said she had given it their 13 year old daughter to read. And yes, I could/should finish it as we say over here 'to show willing'. I has wondered if it in some ways mirrors life in Japan or if their cultural norms are similar to those in S Korea. We in the UK are so removed from any aspects of society/way of life in that country we are always on tenterhooks on the rare occasions she joins our son for a visit. She has been known to up-sticks and demand to be taken home during such times and frequently leaves the table and falls asleep during a meal. Of course this could be caused by our boring English food or the lack of sparkling witty conversation and is embarrassing for our son but when he turns up without her as she has 'a cold/flu/hay fever' we do relax . . . . and I realise this must sound like the letters in the Problem Pages of women's magazines!

Okay.....I'm sticking with my response. There are several things I'll do to keep the peace but force-reading a book would not be one of them !

Sometimes people just enjoy different things.

As a friend always notes " vanilla/chocolate".

There is no requisite to like the same books, even in a family.

Vee, From your further description of visits and family dinners, this doesn't sound like an easy situation. It sounds as if your DIL has some problems. Maybe this book is her way of reaching out and possibly asking for help or just understanding. That's how I'd interpret it if it were me. Only you can decide, but I'd read the book in the same situation and put out some conversational feelers by email.

Yoyo, I'd agree with you if it weren't for all these complicating factors. But there they are.

I did not know how to respond to you mentioning that DiL can fall asleep during a meal.

In a way it sounded funny, like a baby going face plant onto their high chair table!

Relationships with DiLs can be tricky, I have had three, all with my one son!

Fortunately none have recommended books! The current partner buys me a Large Print one occasionally from possibly a school sale (her D is a teacher) which I never want to read and she never asks me if I have! It is a nice thought, though.

I checked The Red Coat: a Novel of Boston out of the library recently, but then at home I read a "review" on the cover written by RFKjr. I could not bring myself to actually read it. Promptly took it back. I want absolutely nothing to do with that person. And I am a native of the Boston area... Maybe I have missed out on a good story, but that endorsement? No way.

Roxanna, one does have to wonder where RFK Jr. came from!

Ginny.........To quote the Bard : " To thine own self be true."

I gave up on Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen. To me it was dumb and uninteresting. I think I felt that way about the last CH book I read.

Donna

Could not finish Gentlemen & Players........she tries to be so clever, she lost me !

I just returned Damnation Island to the library. I got about a third through. It's the non-fiction account of Blackwell's Island in New York City, which once housed the so-called Lunatic Asylum, hospital for the poor and other facilities. I'm interested in NYC history, as I'm from there, but this book was terrible. Full of slang, sloppy writing and a few sensational stories. I can't believe the author found a publisher for this.

Out of respect for one of my most beloved authors, I tried very hard to maintain interest in Queen Esther by John Irving, but last night while reading in bed, my brain refused to continue. I simply got fed up and called a halt to it. I gave it 250 pages which I'm pretty sure is the most pages I've ever given a book before giving up on it.

Book of the Little Axe. Too dreary, too slow.

I didn't expect to be posting another DNF so soon. I'm having bad luck picking books. I barely started The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston. I had barely started the book when confronted with crude humor about difficulty peeing due to enlarged prostrate, constipation and farting. That was enough to stop me 8 pages in. UGH!

Kathy......I completely agree, it was UNBEARABLE to listen to since I had it on audible.

The Dictionary Of Lost Words , I could not find any reason to care about this story.

Yoyo, I also gave up on Dictionary of Lost Words, although it is a very popular book, and written by a local author, so I felt sort of disloyal. I did however, enjoy her second book, The Bookbinder of Jericho.

Yoyo and Kath, I also gave up on The Dictionary of Lost Words. I don’t think I got past the first chapter or two, although I don’t remember for sure now as it’s been a whIle. I do remember returning it to the library unfinished though.

Didn't finish The Dictionary of Lost Words either. It started out OK for me, but lost steam early and I just lost interest in the story.

Wow, this is the first time I've seen so many of us DNF the same book.

Yeah, Kathy - I think I’ll try it just to see why it’s so bad, 😃

Donna - I love your attitude! ... and will look forward to your opinion of the book.

Donna.......May the force be with you !