Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme that was originally created and hosted by Rukky @ Eternity Books starting in August 2019, and was then cohosted by Dani @ Literary Lion from May 2020 to March 2022. Since April 2022, the meme moved to another host, Aria @ Book Nook Bits. Let’s Talk Bookish is a meme where participants discuss certain topics, share their opinions, and share their love by visiting each other’s posts.

If happens every now and then, you come across a book you don’t like while reading it. So, you put it aside. It’s either a soft or hard DNF. Because sometimes, a book could work for you in another moment of time. This week, let’s discuss if and when giving books a second chance.

Prompts: After DNFing a book, do you ever go back to it? What would prompt you to give a book a second chance? Are there any books you would never consider going back to?

After DNFing a book, do you ever go back to it? 

This is a funny coincidence, because on Monday I’ll publish a behind the scenes post on my reviewing process and there I also showcase when I DNF a book and whether I go back to it. Actually, I don’t go back to DNF’ed books that often. However, sometimes it still sticks with me and I retry. This happened to me a few times, with changing success. The City of Brass was one I didn’t like at first, but I tried it again when it was a little mor quiet and then I devoured the entire series. However, Empire ov the Vampire is a book I gave 2 chances and DNF’ed it as much. I still want to like it anyway, so maybe I need a third chance. Often my books are hard DNF’s though. This means I willnever come back to them.

What would prompt you to give a book a second chance?

It really depends on the reason for DNF’ing a book in the first place. If it’s the writing style, I will never give the book a second chance, because that particular thing won’t change. When the story is inherently boring, it’s over and out as well. But, sometimes you vibe with a book or writing style, but not with the timing. Here again, the Thunderhead example. I loved Scythe, but struggled with the sequel a lot. However, I loved it upon second chance. Also, I’m more likely to give books another chance when I like the setting and other books by the same author.

Are there any books you would never consider going back to?

Again, this depends on the reason why I put it aside. However, I forgot to mention that the complicated storyline or a complicated world building could also lead to a DNF and this often happens to me with books with different cultural folklore or mythology in it. I really want to diversify my reading and therefore try books by BIPOC authors as well. However, some cultural influences are hard to grasp and that highly influneces my reading experience. Even more so as English is not my first language. So when I don’t understand a book at all, I won’t get back to it. Examples are Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Legendborn. The latter one has a magic system I don’t understand. So, it really depends on the book whether I will give it another chance. In the end it barely happens though since my TBR seems to be never-ending.

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What about you? Do you give books a second chance when they don’t work for you the first time around? And what would prompt you to do so?