To All The Books I DNF: An Open Letter
Dear books I didn’t finish,
I’m sorry. I wish there was more for me to say in this situation, but the only thing I can really think of to say is “I’m sorry.”
Remember when I first picked you up? Your cover was so beautifully adorned with gold filigree and embossed letters. The cover quote about your book was so compelling. I can’t resist a good quote from a well-loved author. I knew right away that we would be friends and that I would be so happy to have spent my last $25 on you.
However, that’s not how the tables turned. I’m sorry I didn’t find you interesting enough to get past 100 pages. I should mention that I did get to 100 pages of you, but there just wasn’t enough for me to continue reading.
I really wanted to like you. I started off so hopeful that your words would carry me through the rest of the book. I thought we would ride off into the sunset of finished novels. You would have gotten five stars from me just like the others who gave you five stars. Alas, things don’t always work out the way it seems.
It’s not you. It’s me. I’m the one at fault here. I’m the one that can’t take your nuanced storytelling and feel enamored, enthralled, enraptured, or excited. I might be in the minority of people who didn’t like you, so always remember that I’m just one voice amongst many who did.
Perhaps in another life or in another few months I’ll feel compelled to pick you up again. Knowing me, I always give a book a second chance. It’s not the end of the road for us, but this is definitely a short stop. I need a break. I have many other books to read and many other adventures to take. This might be the end of our journey for now, but I know deep down that you have merits. You belong in this world and you belong to be read by someone who would fairly review you. Someone will lovingly pick up your dust jacket and feel like they found new life in your pages. Sadly, this person isn’t me.
And you’re the type of book that deserves a thorough read. You deserve to be reviewed by someone who will truly appreciate you; someone who will give you the five-star review that you’ve earned.
So for now, I say goodbye. Maybe we’ll see each other again in the future and maybe you’ll be added to my pile of books to donate. In either way, you’ll definitely be read, even if the reader isn’t me.
Fondly,
A reader
