DNR - yes or no?

It's been a couple of weeks since I posted, and I apologize. I was under a deadline and couldn't divert my focus onto anything else. Now that my speech is over, I can dedicate my time to my other projects.

Now, onto my main point of the week - DNR'ing books. What does that mean? In the more broad context in the world at large, DNR usually means 'do not resuscitate' and it's apt when describing these books, too. In the more mainstream reading world, it means 'do not read' or 'did not finish'. I've had a few books where I can't bring myself to finish and I have done that for several reasons.

Reason #1: Too many errors

If a book has too many errors, it is distracting and I can't get into the story. It doesn't mean it might have not been a good story overall, but it loses its engagement for me. My mind can't get immersed in the story because the error is like a misstep and I have to stop and study it. It's as though our minds are wired to tap into our imagination, but when there's an error, it pulls you out of the story and its difficult to get back into it.

Reason #2: The story drags or the plot seems to be going nowhere

This is a major red flag for me. If the writer can't structure a story correctly, it will confuse the reader. I don't like meandering stories that go nowhere or that don't make sense. To me, it's a waste of time. Time I could be spending in more ideal pursuits.

Reason #3: The story gets too political

The world is screwed up right now. We have varying stories and opinions thrust into our faces every time we turn on the TV, get on social media, or pull up a search browser. The last thing I want is to start reading a story and have someone's political views shoved into my face when I use reading to escape the world. No matter your leanings, not everyone is going to agree.

Reason #4: The story explores witchcraft and demons in a positive light, or the MC uses evil devices like a Ouija board.

As a Christian, I avoid books with certain content. The moment I see that the description has a MC witch or MC demon, or explores themes with a Ouija board in a more positive light, I don't even move forward. I can watch movies and read books if it touches on those subjects as what they are--evil.

Reason #5: Too much erotica

Usually if a book has a sex scene, I can skim past it and move on. I understand the world we live in and sometimes the scene is there to move the plot along. However, if it's from beginning to end with scene after scene and it gets too erotic, I'm done. I just can't. I put away an author's series in the past because of that. She lost the sense of the plot and focused so much on that aspect that it no longer had any rhyme or reason. It was a series I had followed for years, but once she turned to that, I was done and I haven't picked up another of her books again.

Anyway, those are my no-nos. Some people have other reasons, but if a writer is getting those from a big chunk of their readers, they need to reassess their stories. We write for our readers, after all. I say all of this to say I put aside a book from a well-known author, who is heralded as a great classic writer. As a kid, I read one of his books, Of Mice and Men, and watched the movie. The movie was heartfelt and beautiful, and so sad. It really pulled on your heart strings. So when I came across his books now as an adult, I wanted to revisit them and see if I felt the same.

Maybe it was the book I picked up. We might not like every book an author writes, but since this was a book I picked up after a long absence, it made me question whether I wanted to try any of his other works. The one I started reading was Grapes of Wrath. Other people might like it, but it drags so much. Plus, the asides into other viewpoints every other chapter was so annoying, especially because the characters would reference those subjects in the very next chapter. It was unnecessary. He spent so much time on detailing every little thing in the setting that the actual 'scenes' and dialogue seemed lackluster. I tried to stick with it, but I read it for over two weeks and I was only halfway done. And I read quickly. It's odd for me to only be halfway through a book in two weeks. Usually, I'm done and onto another. I just couldn't do it anymore, so I put it away. I don't know if I'm going to try to even read Of Mice and Men now. This book has almost soured this author's work for me.

Instead, I started reading Emma by Jane Austen again. And I have to say that out of all her books, you see the author's growth in this one. Probably because it was one of her last.

You might love Steinbeck, and you might even love 'Grapes of Wrath'. Don't let me sour it for you - pun intended. ;P We all have our reasons why we put books to the side. Because I have been taught to write, it's difficult for me not to zero in on those types of things in the books I read. Sometimes, if the story is good enough, I can overlook some inconsistencies or minor errors. However, that might not be what you see and that's okay. We all have our reasons, our likes and dislikes. That's what makes us all unique and special.

Send me a message or comment what your DNR reasons are. And what books you've DNR'ed in the past. It's fun to see where we align and where our views differ.