How do you handle "Did Not Finish" reviews?

[Lori]

Hi all,
I am currently reading a book that I just don't think I can finish. I'm not enjoying the story - - although it may not be entirely the author's doing - - the book has quite a bit of typos, grammatical errors and run-on sentences which I will freely admit I am completely anal about.

Do you publish "Did Not Finish" reviews? How do you handle this kind of situation?

Thanks!

~ Lori
Psychotic State

[haley mathiot]

review what you've already read, and tell exactly why you can't handle reading any more. people should know if it's atrocious.

[Evie Alexis]

If you are going to write a review, it is my opinion that you need to finish the story. If not, then pass the story on to someone else who will review it. While all our reviews are subjective, there needs to be a certain degree of "objectivity" in the matter. You have to give the work the full read to give an informed and intelligent opinion. Just my two cents.

[Christy Pinheiro]

If the book has serious grammar issues or typos, I post a review saying that. Authors need to hear it, trust me.

The Publishing Maven

[Michael Sullivan]

I think you should stop reading (your time is too valuable to waste on something you are not enjoying). If you stop just due to "taste" - for instance the genre is not up your ally then I would send an email to the author indicating that you won't be posting a review, because it wasn't a good fit for you. If you stop due to poor writing or editing. I would tell them. It is actually a service to a writer to say: I didn't find this book "ready for primetime". If you wanted to go the extra mile you could indicate some of the issues (i.e. many typos, bad grammar etc). A smart author, will take this feedback, get addditional help with editing and re-release the book. Don't feel bad about being honest - again you are actually helping them out.

Fortunately, everyone I've ever given a review copy to has not only posted a great review but also put future books on their "anxiously waiting" list. But if my book was not "up to snuff" I would appreciate being told so.

Michael Sullivan (The Crown Conspiracy | Avempartha | Nyphron Rising)

[emperatrix]

Sometimes I don't bother reviewing it at all, just silently push it to the side. However, I have posted a couple of reviews on books that I just could not get through; I usually summarize the plot, based on what I read and then explain why I couldn't continue reading.

[Stormi Johnson]

I think it is fine to put a did not finish review up as long as you state why it was that you couldn't finish it (from grammar to not my type of book) If there are some good things about the book make sure you state those too that way its not extremely negative.

Recently I told a author that I just couldn't review his book. He sent it to me in ebook form and it was just horrible I tried and tried but I couldn't get past his sentence structure, so I told him instead of giving him a bad review I would rather just not review it and left it at that. (I couldn't get past the first chapter)

[Christy Pinheiro]

I agree with Stormi-- it's good to let the author know that there are serious issues. In order to make it through an e-book, which I find difficult to read to begin with, I think that the material has to be good, the formatting has to be up to snuff, etc.

I have given positive reviews on books that I have "partially read," if I can tell the book is good, and I just won't have the time to finish it ASAP. This is because it really helps the author to have positive reviews when the book is still has a fresh copyright. Usually I only do this with non-fiction, though. I don't think I could do a "partial revew" for fiction.

The Publishing Maven

[Enbrethiliel]

+JMJ+

On my own blog, my book posts make up my "Reading Diary"--and I'm clear about diary "entries" being informal records of what I've just read rather than collections of reviews. My readers don't seem to mind--or at least they've never complained! =P

So if a book were a DNF for me but I thought I had something interesting to say about the reading experience, I'd have no problem putting up a post about it. It wouldn't be a formal review, but then again, I blog for pleasure. =)

[Book Calendar]

Put it down and say you can't finish it. It is not to your taste.

[Azlan]

hi..sometimes me also facing this problems.. well, what i usually do is just close the book and wait till i on my the mood to read that book again..sometimes when i read that book again, my interest will come again, but sometimes not...depends on you..

[Azlan]

hi..sometimes me also facing this problems.. well, what i usually do is just close the book and wait till i on my the mood to read that book again..sometimes when i read that book again, my interest will come again, but sometimes not...depends on you..

[Luc Gendrot]

The point of a review is to give (as Evie said) an honest opinion on a book, and if you simply could not read the book than you should give your opinion on WHY you could not read the book. As a lover of reviews I can honestly say that I enjoy seeing all the sides on an issue, and that includes those people who could not finish the book for whatever reason.