I was browsing through my twitter stream a few days ago, following a conversation about someone’s DNF (did not finish) shelf at GoodReads. The tweeter said she keeps a DNF shelf so she can keep track of what author’s books to avoid in the future. Someone else said that once they add a book to the DNF shelf, they’ll never read that author again. 
I was surprised about this because I’ve never banned an author’s books from my shelves based on one book I couldn’t finish. To be honest, I can’t think of any books I’ve read that would make me swear off the author’s work forever. I might not read another book in a particular series, but I may try something else by the author especially if a book is recommended by a friend. Don’t get me wrong, there are some authors I don’t read because I don’t care for their style, subject matter etc., but I can’t think of an occasion where I had the urge to scream, “NEVER AGAIN!!”
I know a lot of people get quite passionate about what they read. I have my favorite series and I may or may not have even stayed up until midnight to download a new release a time or two. Maybe. And, I’ve even been pissed off and disappointed in a book to the point where I emailed friends, ranted at my husband, whined on twitter and pouted for a few days hours. But I can’t think of any book that has made me want to ban the author from my shelves. I might quit a series but I’ve never quit an author out of frustration or anger.
So my question to you today is, have you ever sworn off an author’s work based on one book you couldn’t finish or did not like? Now, I’m not asking you to tell me what author and book, this post isn’t about that. I just want to know if you’ve ever banned an author’s work from your reading list based on one book that turned you inside out, offended you or made you bare your teeth and growl like a pit bull.
About Sophia (FV)
It’s happened before, but usually it takes at least 2 books that enrage me or are awful for me to put an author on the ‘don’t bother’ list.
I DNF for a variety of reasons. It’s not always about the book or author.
I can’t think of anyone that I’ve banned simply because I didn’t like a book/series. I’ve def not finished a book (and it follows that I didn’t continue w/the series if I didn’t like the first one). That said, there could be an author whose book I didn’t like for one reason or another and that was their only book/series currently on the market and perhaps by accident I’ve done this. Was not intentional, and if they wrote another series or standalone, etc and I heard good things, I’d be willing to give it a try. In fact, there are some authors whose writing styles, etc I love, but for whatever reason, I don’t like one of their series but LOVE another series they’ve written. I just could not imagine not giving someone another shot, because it could have been the story arc or something I wasn’t into on that first go. I’ve also quit reading a book before because I thought I didn’t like it only to come back after lots of urging from friends and discovered just how wrong I was!
This is an interesting post because I *just* created a DNF shelf for my Goodreads profile. I feel so guilty for the two books currently there. Usually, I just delete the books I don’t finish from my profile.
I can’t say that I’d ever ban an author whose book I didn’t finish. I would be less likely to try them again, however.
Wow, never on just a single book alone. I will admit that there’s an author I can’t read anymore because of one book followed by a very unpleasant personal situation that I still feel some bitterness about (yes, I’m a 13-yr. old at heart, I know), but I never do a blanket DNR ever based on just one book alone.
There’s something wrong about that. No author has to cater to every single audience for every single book. It’s not fair to totally write them off for a single book, or at the very least not to do it in an open public forum.
I will admit I have sworn off an author or two, but NEVER after just one book. There is one author in particular that I started reading when I first got into the UF/paranormal genre.
I loved the books, and have all 13 in the series. But after reading more and more in the genre, I’ve come to discover her books are not what I would consider a “love it” book after reading more diverse works in the genre.
I have since stopped buying books from this particular author, mainly because after reading the 13 books series, and starting her 2nd series; everything felt the same. I was done with how similar everything was; even once she moved to an entirely new series.
I have a few on my “Never again!” list because of the way they have have behaved online but only one author is on it because of one book. It was a romance and she killed the heroine off at the end of the book. The trust was gone. I don’t want to put an emotional investment into a book when that is the ending I may get.
I have not sworn off any authors. It is difficult to lump all of ones creations into a DNF shelf. For example, I loved, adored and couldnt get enough of Jennifer Echols Going Too Far. I could not stand and would even go as far as saying I hated Forget You – The more popular of these two books.
@Lillie – I have done that as well. There are a few authors who I have put on my banned list based on their behaviors.
I refuse to support and egg on crazy. If an author does something that I feel is crazy, unethical, or just against my morals- I wont read them.
There are actually more authors that have made my banned list based on their behavior than their actual work.
I’ve not sworn off an author’s books based on one book. I’m reading a 4th book by an author that I just… I don’t really like her books. I love her voice, not her books. But I keep trying. Now, after this book, I’ll probably not pick up another of hers because I can’t get into them.
I’ve sworn off supporting some authors because of their treatment of other authors and readers, etc…
Beyond that though, I at least give an author I’ve read but didn’t really like sometimes two or three chances before I stop trying to read them.
I’m strange…
Lissa
I’ve never done that! Sometimes you read a subject matter that may not suit you at the time, or the H/h bothered you to the point of pulling your hair out, BUT to completely remove them from your reading list is, imo, hurting yourself in the long run. Banning an author because of 1 bad book experience is like swearing off of chocolate just because you didn’t like the particular candy bar you were eating at the time.
I certainly wouldn’t want to be judged on one action, book or occurrence. I’m a multi-faceted person with lots of layers and I would hope that I would be judged as a whole, not just a piece.
That poor cat!
I’ve been very, very, very disappointed by some books from authors I adore. I can recall one in particular that was on my most-anticipated-of-the-year list that turned out to be a terrible book, almost a DNF for me and I was very annoyed. Does that mean that I will never read anything by this author again? Of course not! Everyone’s entitled to a bad day, or a bad book. Unless an author does something crazy like writing about incest or showing up on a YouTube video killing elephants or something like that, I won’t stop reading. If you have loved every book by an author why would you change your opinion of him/her based on just one book?
Then I’m strange too because I don’t like to give up totally on an author unless I just don’t like their books. But one book isn’t enough scare me away.
I think the closest I’ve come to that reaction was after reading Christine by Stephen King, which took me the better part of 2 years to complete. I have a hard time enough DNF’ing anything :-p Despite this, I still consider trying his books again, thinking maybe it was just where my head was at the time. I think it’s too extreme to ban an author based on one (bad)reading.
@Amber: Yes sometimes I DNF because I find I’m just not in the mood for the book. I’m likely to come back and try again later.
@Nicole:
Me too!!
@Mrs. Hanson:
Yes I agree, I might not run out and buy the author’s new book on release date. I’d check the reviews first.
I have sworn off one particular author but it wasn’t due to one book. It was a long and I thought rewarding writer/reader relationship and we grew apart. I felt her books were getting progressively more and more formulaic. The last book I read was more of the straw that broke the camel’s back and I swore never again because the book angered me and frustrated me so much. The heroine was an insult to heroines everywhere and the resolution was so unfulfilling that I felt I wasted my time and money on the book.
But I can’t imagine swearing off an author entirely, bar none, with only one book to base the judgment on. To each his own, I suppose.
Great topic of conversation, by the way!
Absolutely not. I’m like you, I may not read anything from the series again, but I will not ban an author.
However, I will say that if I didn’t like or couldn’t finish a particular book, I sort of by default tend to be leery of future books by the same author. It’s kind of just automatic like that.
I won’t swear them off and ban them from my reading life though. Like with anything, an author can grow and their writing can change and evolve, and who knows, one of their future books could be one of my favs when a past book was one of my least favorites.
I can’t say that I’ve ever sworn off an author because of a bad book. I’ve been enraged and angry and have ranted to whoever would listen, but I haven’t sworn off an author because of it. Although I don’t seek them out again specifically, unless I already have a history of enjoying their books.
Usually I drop an author when I try a couple times and realize I don’t like their style, regardless of the different storylines. Or if I notice habits I dislike about their work. Like never closing a plotline or never ending a love triangle or jerking the reader around with constant “twists”.
But to flat out swear them off? That’s just way too much effort for me. I’ll read whatever appeals to me, regardless of who wrote it. But, as I said, I doubt I’ll be browsing specifically for that author again.
I do have one. Will I get in trouble if I post the author? I actually would like to say.
Hmmm…never an author after just one…I don’t think….but I do have lots of DNFs. And after 2 or 3 and we don’t get along…yeah..we are done.
Yes. Once or twice, due primarily to subject matter.
<3,
-J
There was a time when I read a book by a new-to-me author and I didn’t like the author’s writing style thus is was a DNF for me. Will I read another book by that author? Probably not. I wouldn’t go as far to say I’m banning that author but chances are I won’t read another of their books.
I have 20 books on my GR’s DNF shelf. Will I go back and try to read any of those books? No. I like having a DNF shelf so I know which books I’ve already tried.
I have not just declared a blanket no to any author. I love to try different books. Just because one does not work, I do not assume none will. This is particularly true in authors who write in more than one genre. I may love their paranormal but not contemporary. You get the idea. I do not have a DNF list either, not sure I believe in making one. I guess I do not see how they are beneficial to anyone.
Ditto! I would never ban an author if I think one of his/her book did not work out for me. That would be attacking the author.
I do have a DNF book on my GoodReads, but that does not mean, I am banning said authors of the book. Like TBV, its is an indicator for me that, I tried reading it but for some reason I lost interest.
@The Book Vixen:
This reminds me of something.
Remember that one author and reader outburst that happened in GoodReads before? One reader rated her book with 2 stars and the author went ballistic, a lot of people reacted and said, they will not read said author book EVER! because of her attitude. Do you think that would be grounds for banning an author?
I personally love her book but the attitude kind of throws me off a little bit. I don’t even know if she is still writing.
@Peaceloveandpat: Yah, attitude matters. I love authors who are available and network. If I email and get an assistant… its a bit irritating. Though I may still read their books, a review or other post may not happen.
I seem to be in a minority here. The usual reason a book ends up on my DNF shelf is that, IMO, it’s bad. Often within the first few paragraphs it’s obvious the author is writing by numbers. In some cases she or he should have taken a course in remedial English at a local community college before investing in “Writing Best-selling Novels for Dummies”.
With so many thousands of excellent, as-yet unread authors out there, there’s no way I’m going to waste money or time going back to a sub-standard author, just to see if she/he has improved. I wouldn’t call that ‘banning’, rather ‘learning from experience’.
Lots of good comments on this topic!
I don’t think I’ve given up on an author based on a single book I couldn’t/didn’t finish. I have, as have other commenters, given up on authors due to their public misbehavior, particularly if it involves going ballistic over reviews or sending minions to hound someone for a less-than-favorable review. I’ve given up on authors because a series went from being interesting to being a Mary Sue sexfest. I’ve given up on authors for repeatedly ending series books on cliffhangers. I’ve given up on authors for killing off a favorite character.
@Jud: Oh don’t get me wrong, I’ve DNF’d plenty of books I thought were bad. However, I still may try another book by the author at some point down the line. Here’s why: I’ve read books where I thought, “Wow, that was awesome”, and then gone out and bought books from the author’s back list only to read them and think “Wow, those are bad”. Sometimes earlier works are just not as good as later works where the author has more writing experience.
@Samantha: Really? Why? Is it a book I read and said NEVER again? Are you about to embarrass me? LOL. Email me.
@Catherine:
Damn. I totally mistook you for the flouncing, hair flipping type that would dramatically throw your hands in the air proclaim the relationship over. My image of you is totally blown. hmph. How dare you be sensible.
I’ve only swore off authors’ bks who behave badly. I DNF a J Frank bk the other day but I know I’ll read another bk of hers in a different series.
Yes, I don’t think it’s happened more than a couple of times, but in particular, I tried to read a book featuring vampires that was just the most ridiculous, stupid, unamusing, uninteresting book ever, and I threw it in the trash after reading a few chapters. I’m not interested in reading anything else by that author, I think it would be a waste of time.
@Peaceloveandpat: Yup, I remember that one. Didn’t she remove herself from GR? And yes, an author’s behavior will (and has) been a deciding factor for me on whether or not I will read their books.
Case in point: Not too long ago I was reading a book where the author used a pseudonym. Before starting to read the book, I knew it was a pseudonym but I didn’t know who was behind it. Then when I was half way thru the book I found out who was behind the pseudonym and I stopped reading it right there and then. I wanted to continue reading the book, and I tried several times to do so, but I couldn’t get it out of my mind. So I had to DNF it. I have major beef with that particular author and will not read anything they are behind. I completely lost interest in that particular book and I never looked back.
Normally I will try one other book by the author or something from a different series by the same author. Usually if I don’t like two books of one particular author I will call it quits. There are so many good books out there that I don’t want to waste too much time reading books that I know I’m not enjoying.
That cat picture has me dying.
I give an author 2 chances. If their first book is a DNF, I will try and read their second one. If that is a DNF also, we’re just not meant to be.
@Sophia (FV):
LOL! I guess there goes my dream of being seen as a diva.
I just finished writing a review on a book that I really did not enjoy. The things I disliked about this book FAR out numbered the things I enjoyed about the book. I WILL give this authors books another go. I have read WAY too many positive reviews on her books. I just happened to read the one that was a complete miss with me.
First I must state that I have never bad mouthed an author; if what they’ve written has turned me off or didn’t catch my attention I simply don’t finish it, and leave it at that. I do have a DNF pile but any books there are books I just could not get in to for one reason or another. I can’t say that I’d ever BAN an author but I guess there’s always a first time.
This does seem rather extreme, no? I’m with you. I wouldn’t write off an author because of one book, ever. Heck, I’m known for despising a certain series because of the main character, but I actually love one of the author’s other series because of the character. Hmmmm…
Excellent topic:
I can only think of one author whose work I loved early in her series and by about book 6 or 7 it lost it’s appeal for a variety of reasons.
I’ve never sworn off an author for one DNF though O.O Author’s are people too and we all can have an off day!
Enjoyed your post and the comments!!
I am with you on this one, too, Sophia. That’s really extreme and dramatic, LOL. I am one of those people that LOVE LOVE to express my LOVE for authors and books that I LOVE – and if I don’t like an author’s book I just move on. I tried a DNF shelf, added one book to it, and then just stopped bothering with it. But, I guess that’s what Twitter is for, and opinions are like assholes
@Spaz: I like to keep a DNF shelf because I like to keep track of all my books. I’m a stats girl.
@Sophia (FV): Me too. I need to keep my numbers accurate.
Yes, I’ll ditch an author after one try for a few specific reasons:
1. Mean, misogynistic tone or language — EVERY WOMAN in the first 35 pages is a throwaway stereotype (“If The Mercenary had ever been pretty, it was hidden beneath too many scars to see … The Office Worker wore her usual tight sweater … The bitter Cougar worried that her varicose veins would scare off the cute young thing … etc.) The main character wasn’t much more interesting, but the nasty portrayal of women was the deal-breaker.
2. The hero talks to the heroine like she is an idiot. “You know what electricity is, don’t you dear?” The tone often comes across as though the author thinks the reader is an idiot: I’ll ask the heroine this question because you’re too dumb to know anything about it.
3. Blatant anachronisms or other clearly bad research, particularly in historic novels. “King Henry VIII contemplated his eighth marriage while donning his tuxedo …”
4. Writing style that doesn’t work for me, particularly combined with crummy editing or proofing (“He conceited the point to his opponent, whose boots were shined with champagne blacking by his extremely skilled valet, whom he had hired while traveling in France on his last mission.”) (huh?)
5. Violence! Sex! More violence! More sex! A joke about violent sex, ha ha! More sexy violence! Sex! Violence! … No, thanks: give me decent characters and a plot. Sex and/or violence can be part of what happens, but they aren’t enough to carry a book by themselves.
Finally, I’ll put up with somebody crushing the heroine’s self-esteem for ONE book, but not two. One extremely popular romance author has the hero show/tell the heroine that she’s stupid AND ugly, she spends the rest of the book agonizing over it, then marries him. I think I put up with this for 2.5 books; the last one was off the freebie shelf.
So, yes: I’ll deep-six an author on the basis of one book. I may try her/him again a few years down the line, hoping s/he’s improved. If s/he has, I am delighted!
There a few authors I don’t read just because there style doesn’t appeal to me. I’ve given them several shots, but they do nothing for me. However, there is one author who came to mind when I began reading this post. I loved her writing, her characters, everything I’ve read by her, but at the end of one book she killed off a character in such a way that I was so revolted, I just don’t even “look” at her the same anymore.
Just my two cents.
Honestly, I’ve never quit a book. Even if the start of the book, or the middle is boring, or not my subject matter, I do not quit reading a book. I give the author every opportunity to tell their story. I would hate it (and I have read reviews of my own book and found just this) if someone gave up on my story just a couple of chapters in. I have only sworn off one author, and that is because I started reading a series by them and suddenly 9 books in…nothing. For thirteen years nothing. They started several other series and fell on their face with one that they had started. I found that sort of rude to the readers.