I’m Embarrassed to Admit: The Books You Start, a Few Times, but Never Finish

Have you ever been somewhere and everyone is discussing a classic book, raving about its brilliance and you’re there thinking to yourself, why am I the only person on the planet who couldn’t finish it?

Everyone has a number of books they couldn’t finish despite others raving about them. You probably have a few titles on your shelves that you tried to read, you even feel you should read… but simply can’t. Generally, I don’t have a problem admitting defeat and deciding to leave a book unfinished. Life’s too short and there are too many wonderful books available to spend time on something I don’t enjoy. But there are a few titles, always classics, that I still plan to read, even though earlier experiences with them weren’t positive.

It’s confession time. Time to fess up, to claim those failures. There’s nothing wrong with someone who can’t read something everyone else loves.

I’m Natalie, the Campaign Manager here at Better Reading, and my did-not-finish (DNF) confession is The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. At the age of sixteen, I wanted to watch the movie, but my brother-in-law insisted I read the novel before doing so and gifted me his copy. While I couldn’t get stuck into it back then (I was too busy reading the Twilight saga and every other supernatural YA novel to exist), I was sure I’d have better luck when I grew older and wiser… But here I am, twelve years later, going through the same cycle every few years: each time I pick it up, I can’t get past a few chapters. Maybe it’s time I give up on reading, and give in to watching the movie so I can finally find out what the story is actually about and how it ends.

What book are you a little embarrassed to admit you couldn’t finish? I asked around the office and it quickly became a therapy session for booklovers purging their embarrassment and guilt. Here are some of the Better Reading team’s confessions:

Cheryl Akle, Director

“Bliss by Peter Carey. So many people I know loved this book, and, generally, I like to stick with a book to the end… but I simply couldn’t with this one. I walked out of the film as well. Just wasn’t for me.”

Jane Tara, General Manager

“My major literary failure is a book that many others adored. I’m reluctant to admit this, because I know I’m at risk of losing my job (it’s one of Cheryl’s favourite books ever). Drumroll, please… One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez. I tried. I tried three or four times. But only a few chapters in, I felt like I’d been in solitude for 100 years. Or more. I still have it on my shelf, so perhaps one day.”

Dexx Halme, Marketing Coordinator

“I’m a serial DNFer. Once I lose interest in a book I move straight on to the next one, so I embarrassingly have a list with far too many to choose from. However, one I would l love to revisit would be A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. Even with its infamously depressing story, it’s one that I’m constantly being recommended. Maybe it’s time to give it another go.”

Sophie Bellotti, Marketing Coordinator

“I am categorically incapable of abandoning a book once I start reading, so I don’t have any DNFs to share! But my aversion to giving up halfway does mean I tend to procrastinate on the more intimidating reads on my bookshelf. I do intend to get around to The Divine Comedy one day…”

Now it’s your turn. What book are you a little embarrassed to admit you couldn’t finish?