Side note to the actual post: Thanks so much to everyone who was so supportive and understanding of my much needed mini-break last week. I’m back, feeling much better and less drowning-in-my-emotions, and it feels good! I’ll be taking it a bit slow but I’ve missed everyone (and blogging) so much (I know it was only one week LOL)!
So, we’re back with another Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s prompt is: The Last Ten Books I Abandoned (this could be books you DNFed, books you decided you were no longer interested in, etc.) (submitted by Claire @ Book Lovers Pizza).
I think we all know by now that I don’t really DNF books and it’s something that I’m (very) slowly working towards. I know, I know—”why read a book if you’re not enjoying it?” It’s a good question and honestly, I’m not going to say anything different to what other non-DNFer’s would say. I feel guilty when I think of DNF’ing and that guilt means that if I abandon the book, it’ll linger in my head for longer than if I push through it. That FOMO feeling in me also always thinks: “but what if it gets better?!” Yeah, it usually never does but 🤷🏻♀️ So instead of listing books that I abandoned, I’ll be looking at ten books that I should’ve abandoned!*
*Possible unpopular opinions ahead! I don’t intend to offend anybody but I’m sorry if anything I say offends you, but please don’t attack me! LOL
The Hobbit. This is probably one of my most unpopular opinions because it’s Tolkien and The Hobbit and how could I?! I have to say that the movie (and LOTR) is one of my all-time faves and it’s a go-to whenever I want something comforting to binge-watch (especially when feeling grotty lol). So I guess I had expectations… Lots of expectations… And it just really didn’t work for me. I was bored to tears! 😭
One Hundred Years of Solitude. I cannot even begin to tell you how disappointed I was by how much I didn’t enjoy this book. It’s one of those “must read in your lifetime” books that everyone always raves about and I was shooketh shaken rocked by how dull I found it. This one convinced me that magical realism to this extent really is not for me!
American Psycho. This book was just… I really don’t even have words. I won’t ever watch the movie but of course I know of its fame. I should’ve just let it go because it was so disgusting. Ugh, I can’t even…
Conversations with Friends. My first Rooney experience and I’m sad to say I strongly disliked her debut although I loved her second novel. This one sent me into an almost one-month long reading slump. I should’ve DNF’d it!
Tess of the D’Urbervilles. Okay so if you asked me now what Tess was about I wouldn’t be able to tell you because my brain wiped that book clean from my mind! I’m really sorry to those that loved it. It was so dry, or likely I was too dumb to understand it, but when I read it a few years ago, I was shook by how awful it was (to me). Definitely not my jam!
Gone Girl. Yo, I just hated the characters in this book with the passion of a thousand fiery suns. Everyone loves this book and the movie and this is a very unpopular opinion but I just couldn’t get past how much I hated the characters lol I didn’t even watch the movie because of it. I really should’ve put this one away 🤣
Mixed Signals. This was one of my first eARCs from NetGalley and it sounded really good and looked super cute, so I was mega pleased I got to read it. Then I read it… *whomp whomp* big nope. Sorry!
Hot Dog Girl. I honestly don’t even know whose reviews I read anymore but their gushing about this book made me immediately want to get my hands on it (not to mention that cover really is just too cute imho). But the MC ended up being so, so awful and this book literally left me fuming!
The Casual Vacancy. I won’t lie that I picked this up because of the author (before) and I wanted to give it a try. It really didn’t work for me though and I hated it (future me notes: even more so now)!!! There was no magic or spark for me in the story and I just kept wondering when it would end. I have no idea how it was a Goodreads Choice Winner! 🙈
The Magicians. I loved the concept and it was honestly a bit of a cover pick but I was really disappointed that I found it as dull as The Hobbit. There was this pervasive sense of melancholy in the text that just left me feeling disconnected from all the characters. I loved the show but the book was definitely not for me!
Does anyone else wish they had abandoned these books or was it just me? LOL
dinipandareads 
I loved Gone girl – the book and the film. I hope we can still be friends 😀 😀 😀 😀
I totally agree with you about The Hobbit I couldn’t get into it, and I’ve started the Casual vacancy twice but I’ve yet to get anywhere with it.
Great post!
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Hahaha we can definitely still be friends as long as you’re OK with me not liking it at all 🤣 I mean, maybe they were meant to be unlikable characters but it just really affected my reading experience and I was like yeah, nah 😆 haha
I’m glad I’m not the only one that felt this way about The Hobbit and Casual Vacancy! I reckon if you DNF it would be a good time to do it with that book lol
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Great list! (And glad to have you back and that you’re feeling better!) I’ve seen such mixed reviews of The Magicians, so you’re definitely not alone. UGH Tess of the D’Urbervilles – I LOATHE that book! Angel Clare is such a bellend, and I’m pretty sure I read somewhere that Hardy was legit in love with Tess which is a bit weird.
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OMG THANK YOU haha I was looking at reviews and ratings of Tess and sooo many people love it and I’m like wow, maybe I just… Missed everything and am not smart enough for this book. But wow, if there was one book that went on forever and just simply wouldn’t end, that would be it! 🤣 Such weird vibes from that book…
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Yay! Welcome back. I missed you. 🙂
And no worries on The Hobbit. I struggled to finish that one.
My TTT .
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Thanks Lydia! ❤ It feels good to be back. Still slow with responding and engaging but I'm getting there! Did you end up enjoying The Hobbit in the end?
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Glad you’re back! You know, my most unpopular book that I’m like ‘eeehhhhh’ on is actually LotR hahah. I appreciate them so much but I also kind of find Tolkien’s writing pretty boring, whoops! To each their own though. 😀
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HAHA omg I’m so glad to hear I’m not alone with those thoughts. I’m kind of tempted to give the LOTR books a try coz some have said it’s different to The Hobbit but wow, I was bored out of my gourd with that one and wanted to cry coz it was so different to the movie 🤣 Defo to each their own!
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It took me 3 times trying to read LotR to finally do it and then only got through it because of the audiobooks lol. 🙂
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Great List!!! The only book I have read from your list is The Hobbit. I didn’t absolutely hate this book but I wasn’t a big fan of it either. For me too, it was the hype and expectations, I really believe that I would have enjoyed this book more if I hadn’t gone into it with so much expectations.
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I think I expected more … action like in the movie? Or maybe these kind of ‘going on an adventure’ type books are just more interesting when they’re on the big screen because there’s more dialogue and noise with the action etc. I just felt really disappointed because I loooove the movie! But oh well 🤷🏻♀️ you win some, you lose some!
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Ya, true…. not every one will be a masterpiece
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Unlikable main characters are a big pet peeve of mine. I just can’t keep reading about a character that i’m disliking. I’ve heard several people say the same thing about Hot Dog Girl.
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Yep, definitely not my jam and I found myself getting more and more frustrated with them as the book progressed. Like with Hot Dog Girl I just got so angry I couldn’t even write a review at the end 😅
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I love Tolkien, but I do think LotR is much better than The Hobbit.
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You’re the second person whose said that! I’m quite tempted to read them now… But I’ll proceed with caution and lowered expectations, just in case 😅 Haha
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I read The Hobbit first and, honestly, almost did not read The Lord of the Rings at all until someone reassured me that books were very, very different. I do like The Hobbit now, but sort of in a…scholarly way, I guess. I think there are interesting things about it. But the tone, writing style, plot, etc. are just totally different from LotR.
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I feel like now that I’m thinking about books and reading differently (instead of just mindlessly consuming it for fun) I should give The Hobbit another chance? But also… Maybe not? Haha I think you’ve convinced me to give the LOTR books a try. My brother has them so I’m going to borrow them next time! 😀
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I read ‘The Casual Vacancy’ when I was much younger and I was definitely not expecting that kind of ending 😂 I did enjoy it overall (I think), it’s not my usual read but I found it interesting (and somewhat depressing)
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I honestly can’t even remember much about it but I do remember feeling quite bored and depressed reading it
Haha I think it made me decide that Harry Potter was the only Rowling books for me!
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I’m so glad you are back and more importantly that you are feeling better!
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Thank you so much, lovely 🥰 It was a much needed break but I’m so glad to be back. I’ve missed all of you! 💜
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I said (and had hoped I wasnt over stepping) that you might walk away and in a.couple days realized you missed it and that this wasn’t what you needed the break from!!!
I’m so glad that it ended up being a short hiatus and got missed us. We missed you and are glad you are back. I know I can’t always be as chatty as I was before i moved because of my heartbreak and adjusting to everything. But I love seeing you on twitter and your posts in my in box!!!
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You are absolutely the sweetest ❤ Thank you so much, Susan! I love seeing your posts and engaging with you on Twitter as well! So thankful for this book community for introducing me to such lovely people!! 🥰 Giant panda hugs being sent your way!
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I completely agree with you about engaging with everyone on Twitter and here. I had to step back this weekend because one of my only and best friends left in St. Louis lost her uncle to Covid but otherwise, yes! And Im glad you enjoy my posts. My site has grown so much that I’m struggling to find a way to keep up like I used to but I need to because so many I’ve made friendships with that I need to keep regular contact with, like you!! 🙂
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I read the hobbit when I was in secondary school. It was hard work but so worth it. LOTR on the other hand, I couldn’t get past the beginning of the second book.
I didn’t like the Casual Vacancy either, couldn’t get past the beginning.
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Oh, I really wish I had DNF’d Casual Vacancy but I just kept hoping that it would get better coz I mean, it won the award (still wondering how)! Haha
Interesting, I just read a comment saying The LOTR books were better than The Hobbit! Kind of tempted to give the former a try now 😂
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Ooh interesting! I feel like I definitely have to give the LOTR books a try now since a few people have said the opposite. I wonder if I’ll feel the same about them or if I’ll end up loving them 😂 Glad I’m not the only one who didn’t like Casual Vacancy–how on earth did it win!?
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At some point I want to try reading LOTR again, but I know that I’ll have to read the first one again because it’s been soooooooooo long and they are just such heavy books.
Maybe someday …
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I completely agree about the Magicians. I hated that book. None of the characters were likable at all, and I usually like generally unlikable, morally gray characters!
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Omg everyone seems to love it and I’m like what am I missing?! The air of melancholy in that book was just such a major downer. And I totally agree about the characters… So frustrating! Have you seen the show though?
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I have seen an episode here or there while my roommate was watching, but I’ve never really sat down to WATCH
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Welcome back!!! I’m so happy to hear your break was a positive one. ❤
I actually love unpopular opinions! Maybe I'm a controversy junkie. Ha! I rather liked several of the books on your list, but I'm not gonna tell you which ones… 😉 I do have Tess and One Hundred Years on my bookshelf. Finding them on your list probably just pushed them further down my tbr, though. Lol Great post!
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Thanks Dedra! 😍 It does feel good to be back! I missed you all 💞
Haha I think I remember seeing you mention maybe one or two of these on previous posts… Sadly, they just weren’t my jam. I think if you like classics and digging into the symbolism etc. then you’ll like Tess. Also, if you like magical realism then you’ll probably enjoy One Hundred Years. I am quite picky with magical realism and One Hundred Years just confused and then bored me 🙈 Haha
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I’m also picky about magical realism, so maybe this will be one I abandon. 😍
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DNF’ing can be tough! I hate doing it. I get the Hobbit though. I mean, I like the book, but it’s so different from LotR, and… yeah.
I hated the characters in Gone Girl too, oh my gosh lol.
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Omg everyone seems to love Gone Girl and it makes me feel like I’m on a very small island by myself with how much I disliked those characters 😂 I’m wondering now if I should give The LOTR books a try!
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I have such mixed feelings about American Psycho. I love the movie and think it’s a million times funnier than the book because the book is just so gross. And then there are the descriptions of what everyone’s wearing. I just didn’t care about their clothes!
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Omg the goriness of the book was just… Wow. Way too intense for me. I mean, I get the social commentary but everything else was just too much for me! I honestly can’t believe I pushed through with reading it 😅
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Aw you didn’t like The Magicians? I agree with the Hobbit. I tried the audiobooks many times and snore, lol
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Nooo, I’m really sad to admit that I didn’t enjoy The Magicians book! 😭 It was so dense and not what I expected. I did really enjoy the show though! Also, mega disappointed with The Hobbit. I’ll just stick to the movie for that too 🤣
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Great list! Mixed Signals does have a cute cover! I can see how u were drawn into that one… lol
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I also have such a hard time with DNF. I didn’t even pick up the Casual Vacancy because I had a feeling it would be a DNF after all the mixed reviews!
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I have zero interest in Casual Vacancy haha so I’m definitely not any more interested in reading it now
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Haha good move because yeah, nah just not worth the time imho 😂
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I never understood the hype around The Magicians. I tried genuinely to get into it, and just couldn’t.
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Yeah, same (and I’m so glad I’m not alone in that)! I didn’t even know it was hyped until I joined the book community and had already read it and disliked it. I did love the show though so there’s at least that lol
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I’ve never read any of these but I did HATE love in the time of cholera though so have absolutely zero expectation of liking 100 years of solitude which I’m going to read because *classic* 🙄🙊🙈😂
Glad to see the little break helped you dearest Dini. Much love ❤️🧡💜💛💖💙💚
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Hahaha if you ever do read 100 Years of Solitude I’d be so keen to know what you think! I can’t wait 😂 Who knows though, perhaps it could surprise you? Hahaha (or nah) 🤣
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Oh we know it’ll be a nah…. XDDD
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How dare you say that about The Hobbit!! 🤣Just Kidding. I totally can understand why it would be boring. I know I have dnfed books that were just unbearable because of the slowness!
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Hahahaha I just read your review. I’m glad you enjoyed it but I guess you win some you lose some 🤣 Your review was the one I wish I could write for it hahaha
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Haha it happens! It’s nice to see other people’s opinions because it really shows how different readers can be.
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I wanted to abandon Gone Girl in the middle because I was bored, but then got to the Amy part and it got more interesting for me.
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I think it was more the characters that just frustrated me so much! I wanted to throttle all of them 🙃 Glad that you at least managed to find more to enjoy towards the end though!
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So glad you’re feeling better after the break! I think I’ll probably permanently pass on The Hot Dog Girl.
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Thanks Ali! Definitely a good move — I really wish I didn’t buy and read it 😂
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Great post, While I love The Hobbit it’s understandable why it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea 💜
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I really wish I loved it! But I’ve been convinced to give the LOTR books a try so… I hope maybe I’ll feel differently about them ❤
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*gasps* B-b-but Gone GIrl is so goood! 😆 Even though the characters are extremely unlikeable, I really enjoyed the book and the movie. I also abandoned One Hundred Years of Solitude. I thought it was very, very boring.
Here’s my TTT list.
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Hahaha I knoooow! 🤣 Everyone and their mum seems to love that book I just couldn’t stand the characters and that’s always such a huge thing for me. There’s unlikeable but I can deal with it, but then there’s unlikeable and just nah 😆 Haha I’m sorry! And I’m glad I’m not the only one who found 100 Years of Solitude boring!
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Oh no, why Hobbit and Conversations with Friends are on this list??? I was just getting the courage to read them this year 😀
Gone Girl???? Whaaaaat????? :O 😀 It’s the book that got me into blogging!
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Hahahaha I’m so sorry! Can we still be friends, Alex!? 🤣🐼💞🤣 I think I just had really high expectations from The Hobbit coz of the movie and maybe that was my mistake! LOL As for CwF… I didn’t like the MC and I hated what she was doing in the book. Ugh. But who knows! Maybe you’ll enjoy it? Also… Gone Girl… I just… I can’t 😅
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I seriously thought I was the only one with an issue with Gone Girl. Yay! I’m not alone, lol. It took me three years to move it from my “currently reading” shelf to my “DNF” shelf because I thought I had to like this book and kept trying every few months. But nope, couldn’t do it. I have a hard time not finishing books, too. This is one of the few I actually finally left in the middle.
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Omg, thank you! It seems everyone really loves that book/movie but it was just a big no from me. I think I kept on reading it because I was reading it with my cousin and she was like please finish it! 🤣 I should’ve DNF’ed it like you did too!
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Conversations with Friends is one I did DNF so I definitely understand wishing you had. I just couldn’t get into that one at all.
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Yeah, I was not a fan of the MC and what she was doing in the book. Just couldn’t get any sympathy or empathy from me! Everyone does seem to love it though!
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Yay welcome back!!! So happy that you feel super well rested now 😍 OMG EVERYONE RAVES ABOUT CONVERSATIONS WITH FRIENDS AND I DON’T KNOW WHY??? I found the MC SO irritating, and I thought the book itself was super problematic. I think I’m still going to give Normal People a try though & see whether I like that better 😅
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Omg I’m so glad that you also feel the same about CwF because what even!? I just couldn’t with that book. Literally went into a huge slump after that it was just so frustrating 🤣 I will say that Normal People still has unlikeable and problematic characters but… There was something about the story that I connected to a lot more and I ended up loving it LOL (it has stuck with me for longer than I thought it would) so… I hope you enjoy it 😀
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Thank god I listened to it as an audiobook, although I nearly crashed my car a few times in anger 😂 Interesting…I can’t wait to give Normal People a try. I mean worse case scenario, I absolutely hate it & I can write another rant review 😂
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I don’t DNF either, it’s such a problem LOL. I need to be like Elsa and learn to let it go hahaha.
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LOLOLOL totes the same! *hi five* 🤣
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I’m definitely working towards abandoning books more easily as well… BUT! I’m just too curious for my own good. I need to know what happens even if what happens is dull and just makes me really annoyed I wasted my time… 😤😤
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I know, saaaame! I feel like the thought of it possibly getting better always keeps me reading on. It doesn’t usually but STILL 🤣 One day we will get better at this, E. One day!
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[…] BOOKS I SHOULD’VE ABANDONED… […]
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