What were your last few DNFs? And why?

Parasol Against the Axe by Helen Oyeyemi. I got so far in and realised that although there are characters and dialogue and other things that novels usually have, it isn't a novel; it's just writing with very little holding it together. I think it's the kind of book you just have to be in the moment with, but you can only do that if you're actually getting some enjoyment out of the words as you read them.

Couldn't agree more on all points @thisoldcity

I've now left Shantaram at two thirds read for so long I think I can call it a DNF now, though I did intend to go back to it. I think the most annoying thing about it is that he makes himself such a hero all the time, albeit in what he thinks is a self-deprecating way. It's supposed to be a true story, but very difficult to believe that.

have today cast The Safekeep aside with great force (not really, it's on my Kindle)

Tedious. Tortured writing. Guessed the plot within about the first 15 pages or so.

ETA: i forgot to do my usual thing of checking reviews on Goodreads before buying, so that's on me.
I usually read about 20 reviews, 10 of the 5 star and 10 of the one star.

Also i did wonder if i hated it because it was an awful translation, but no, it was written in English.

I don't normally really shy away from sad stuff but I think I was at a stage in my life where I needed a bit more in the way of escapism, tbh 😳 maybe I should go back and try again? Funnily enough I saw the third in the trilogy in a NT second-hand bookshop yesterday and it did make me think of it.

Every single used bookshop I have ever been in India has had a copy of Shantaram. I'm not sure if it's the subject matter or just that a really long novel might have been a useful thing to have around on long train journeys.

I absolutely hated Shantaram too - biggest hippy traveller cliche ever.

Agree with Butter too, so over hyped and far too long. Also weird bit where it goes to a different Pov for just one chapter.

Also DNF Money and The Famished Road, both of which were snooze fests. And Irvine Welsh Filth which made me feel physically sick.

I did however really like The Safe Keep and Still Life. Depending on how far you got with The Safe Keep, it is basically in 3 parts, and I'd say the first part is the weakest.

What was it that didn't keep you reading with Regeneration? I've just taken it off my shelf for a reread, having loved the trilogy when it came out.

I think it's worse when a series you enjoy takes a nosedive.

Two full price hardback books I regretted are The Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovich and Bleeding Heart Yard by Elly Griffiths. I enjoyed the Rivers of London series and I think The Hanging Tree was about no 6. It was just awful, I couldn't believe it was by the same author. Maybe the later books improved but I'd had enough after DNF this one.
Elly Griffiths books have been a must-buy for me for ages, and the first couple in this series were quite engaging. I think the problem was the female protagonist who couldn't really carry a book focused on her alone, plus an intensely cliched plot with an indistinguishable lot of cardboard characters. Not on a par with the Ruth Galloway books.

My last two DNF were both books in Italian that I was reading because I wanted to go to my library's book club. I dragged my heels on both and only got 1/4 of the way through so didn't go. They didn't grab me enough to finish though! Next year I am determined to read more in Italian and actually make it to the book club!

I enjoyed Still Life! Also liked We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves.

I think my last DNFs were Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey and Regeneration, by Pat Barker. I didn't dislike either, but just sort of had no impetus to keep going with them, which I guess is basically the same thing 😁

I did quite enjoy a book I can't remember the name of by Michelle Zauner (the singer from Japanese Breakfast) and also the prequel to We Were Liars - also can't remember what that was called. God it's no wonder I struggle to get through a book!!

The worst book I've ever read was Shantaram by Gregory David (Michael?) someone, and that was SO awful that I finished it out of fury alone.

I abandon loads of books, usually because of poor grammar and general lack of proper editing. It's actually rare to find a book that HAS been well proofread and edited. Sad really, and while they are 99% library books or review copies, I would be really annoyed if I'd paid for one and would demand a refund.

The department of sensitive crimes by Alexander McCall smith. I found the characters unlikeable and didn’t care what happened to them or if the murder was solved. Felt a bit too ‘try hard’.

Haven’t had a DNF for a while but then fell for a review of Piglet by Lottie Hazell. Absolutely dire.

Having read some more reviews after I decided to give up on it I’m glad I did as apparently it doesn’t get any better.

A couple should have been DNFs, like Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow but I was reading then for our Book Group.

@okydokethen yes there seems something strange about the descriptions as well, like all the salivating over white rice with a pat of butter on top. I felt a few times as if I was missing some significance there with the food and recipes, but it just seems a straightforward 'food equals enjoyment and engagement with life' sort of thing?

Finding Butter boring with all the food descriptions. Am trying to keep going.

I do find that critically acclaimed new novels are often not very well written at all. In addition many are not very original and I often feel I'm being lectured too.

In fact I have found myself disappointed in so many that I have pretty much given up reading them at all, but that's no doubt because I'm just an old fogey. Luckily my bookshelves are bursting with TBRs

It took me 9 years and umpteen attempts to get into The Night Circus. In the end I loved it. By describing it as Tim Burton-esque I succeeded in persuading my husband to read it. He hated it.

I have another DNF. The Moonlight Market by Joanne Harris. A fantasy hating friend recommended it, telling me it was my sort of book... Nope. Not even close. Oddly I used to enjoy JH years ago, but this felt weirdly disjointed. I think the chapter length didn't help, it's broken down into tiny chapters within tiny sections. I have no idea what the reason for this would be, but it started to drive me mad. I didn't even get half way. It just wasn't holding my attention.

Funnily enough I just finished A Fine Balance. I absolutely ripped through it. By the end I felt quite wrung out. But I enjoyed it hugely.

Off to Google Mary Lawson now

Skipped to the end with this one. The poor author is about my age (not very young but young enough for me to feel bad for slating the book online) but no, I really thought it read like something a teenager would write.

I enjoyed the Safekeep and Night Circus! Erin Morgenstern's other book (can't even remember the name of it) was tedious garbage and a DNF

I also tried reading The Night Circus but didn't get beyond the 1st few pages.

Babel - I did finish. Thought it started well but the second half was just predictable and unimaginative. And as you say very preachy.
Yellowface by the same author was much better. Different genre.

Someone mentioned The Night Circus - soooo boring!

A similar vein, ie modern fantasy, I've just jacked in Babel by RF Kuang. I almost want to describe it as grown up Harry Potter but actually HP makes it look quite sophisticated by comparison. Not sparkling writing, not gripping at all with a lot about cold unfeeling white people and the naughty exploitative British Empire. Some of this criticism is undoubtedly valid, but it was a bit rich being lectured on this by someone Chinese (born in China now living and working in the States) in view of China's behaviour both at home and on the world stage today.

@akissbeforebed I agree about Butter. I have now actually finished it as I thought maybe it would be worth it by the end, but I'm not sure it was. It's unusual certainly, but far too long!