Books I DNFed in February

This month, I DNFed 5 books.

That’s only 1 more than last month.

As always, I had grand plans for the month of February. Bless my optimistic soul.

I tried my hardest and still ended up not finishing the following 5 books.

 

Twelve Steps to Normal by Farrah Penn

I expected: The heartwarming tale of a girl reconnecting with her alcoholic father

I got: a typical YA tale with way too many flashbacks

 

I thought it was weird that the author took a serious premise and went wacky.

Oh noooo, the protagonist has to live with her dad’s kooky friends! How will she get her ex back?

The father-daughter relationship was a minor aspect in this by-the-numbers high school drama.

 

The Assassin’s Guide to Love and Treason by Virginia Boecker

I expected: a goofy romantic historical romp

I got: a serious historical tale with a whole lot of angst

 

I picked this book up right after finishing The Hazel Wood.

I had a really hard time reading that book. It was DARK.

After finishing, I turned to what I thought would be a fun, fluffy romance.

Nope.

The book opens with a Very Serious flash-forward to the male lead in prison.

The next chapter sees the female lead’s father killed in front of her.

I wasn’t in the mood for more sorrow.

Thank you, next.

 

Keep Christianity Weird by Michael Frost

I expected: a manifesto about the benefits of counterculture

I got: a preachy, prescriptive text with odd historical examples

 

This was such a frustrating read.

I did not react positively to Michael Frost’s writing style.

I really resent old straight white men presenting well-trod arguments as brand-new ideas.

At least, this was the impression I got when Michael Frost explained Millennial culture in excruciating detail.

Did you know Millennials are socially and environmentally conscious?

YES, MICHAEL. THANK YOU, MICHAEL.

I, A MILLENNIAL, HAVE BEEN ARGUING THE POSITIVES OF MY GENERATION FOR YEARS AND PEOPLE KEEP LAUGHING ME OFF.

PLEASE STOP EXPLAINING MY CULTURE TO ME.

Frost used the word “should” WAY more times than I was comfortable with and picked some TRULY strange cultural examples.

You want us to follow the example of the super strict bummer monks who advocated self-torture?

You consider Aimee Semple-McPherson a hero of the faith?

Question: WHY am I listening to you again?

 

Juniper Lemon’s Happiness Index by Julie Israel

I expected: a thoughtful exploration of grief

I got: exactly that…and I couldn’t handle it

 

I might come back to this book one day because I LOVED the writing style.

I started the book, though, the day after the UMC General Conference.

I didn’t want to add vicarious grief to my already turbulent emotions.

Also, I was skeptical of the bad boy love interest.

Oooh, a prankster with an undercut? Now is NOT the time.

 

We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson

I expected: an amazing, thoughtful story

I got: 33 pages of one

 

Liked this book. Couldn’t handle it.

I still feel guilty for not finishing my book list from Black History Month and I’m sick of all these unread library books lying around.

I couldn’t make myself read them and I was spiraling into a slump, so I gave myself permission to DNF the whole stack.

Maybe I’ll come back to these books.

For now, I want to focus on rereads and feel-good stories.

 

Here’s to DNFing books and here’s to my next 5.