I know February isn’t over yet but hopefully no more DNFs this month as I’ve already had two. For me to count a book as not finished, it’s one where I’ve invested a bit more time. One where I’ve actually gone way past my 30ish page rule.
The first one was The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg. I love Scandinavian crime ficiton but this story which features a writer who stumbles across the dead body of a friend and all of a sudden is involved in solving the mystery just didn’t really make an impression on me. I felt like there were too many extra little plots which kept the investigation from moving along.
The other book was Fieldwork by Mischa Berlinski. This is one I was really looking forward to but somehow just didn’t deliver for me. The story is about missionaries in a village in Thailand. The descriptions of Thailand, the foods and setting where very atmospheric but the unraveling of the mystery seemed to take forever. I didn’t even care anymore. I just seemed to lose my patience with this one.
So I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this is it for DNFs. Alright now to settle down with a good book (hopefully!) for tonight.
Ugh! I hope you don’t have anymore DNFs too this month. Too bad about Fieldwork. It’s a book that’s on my tbr list for this year. Hope you found a book to keep your interest.
Oh that makes me sad – Fieldwork is one of my favorite books! I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy it. Hope the next book is a better fit!
I had a bunch of bad reads in a row, so I am hoping it is over with. I am having a hard time recovering, though…
Oh no!!!! I absolutely loved Fieldwork. I still think about it years after I’ve read it. Don’t give up on it. Just pick a different mood to try it again. It really is brilliant.
Sorry these didn’t work out for you. I hope you find some goodies soon!
I think it is wise to give up on books when they aren’t working for you. I’ve always had the hardest time abandoning a book but am finally learning to do it. There are just too many good ones out there to waste time on the ones that don’t work for me.
Vasilly – I know, two in a month is bad isn’t it? Hopefully that streak is over!
Carrie K. – I remember you said how much you loved it! Oh I was so looking forward to it. I think I went into it with the wrong mindset expecting more of a mystery when it’s really not about that.
Kailana – I agree, it’s like you have to cleanse the palate right? Hopefully no more bad reads for you either. Did you finish the Spiritualist after all?
Sandy – I know, I’m sorry! I remember you saying it was a favorite. I was sure I was going to love this. Maybe my expectations were too high! Unfortunately I had to return it to the library. Well maybe another time.
Andi – I ended up picking up a YA book and I think it’s helping me get back on track.
Kathleen – I used to never give up on books but then I realized I was just torturing myself so no more 🙂
I had some quibbles with The Ice Princess, but overall, I really enjoyed it. It was her first novel, and I intended to read some more to see how her style and technique progressed, but have not gotten around to it.
I’m bad about DNF’ing a book. Usually I end up just setting it aside and “forgetting” about it. Hopefully the next book that you pick up works for you!
Too bad about these, but I’m all for putting aside a book that just isn’t a good fit. I try not to force a book as in the end you won’t enjoy it. I do want to give the Lackberg a try, however. I sort of don’t mind extra plotlines in a mystery as long as you know what you’re in for.
I’m another of those who count Fieldwork among the best and am sorry it didn’t work for you. It would definitely take more than 30 pages to get into, as it’s a pretty dense plot. But I move on, too, when a book doesn’t do it for me. And I’ve never heard of the Lackberg one. I think it’s great that you read such a diverse cross-section of what’s out there.