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The 43 Books I Dropped in 2022

January 18, 2023 by Kenna Griffin

You probably know that I think life’s too short to read bad books. While I always say it that way, it may not be the fairest phrase. The books I drop aren’t necessarily “bad.” In fact, there are likely books on my DNF list that you read and loved. People have different tastes, right? So, I guess I should say that life’s too short to read books you don’t enjoy. Hopefully, we can all agree on that.

How I Decide to Drop a Book

People often ask how I decide to drop a book. It’s a difficult question to answer because I don’t have a method or formula. I use my gut. Sometimes I drop a book after less than a chapter. Other times, I may be halfway or more through reading a book and decide I’m just not enjoying it. 

Usually, when I drop a book, it’s because the plot isn’t interesting or advancing. I also DNF books if I don’t like or can’t relate to a character. Why read a book if I don’t care what happens to or with the character? Seems pointless, right?

Regardless of when or how I decide, I don’t regret dropping books. I often get sad when I think about all the amazing books I’ll never have time to read, so I don’t feel guilty when I refuse to waste my precious reading time on something I don’t enjoy.

I don’t regret my DNF list any more than I do the list of books I’ll never pick up because I don’t like the genre or premise. It is what it is.

open book lot
Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash

The 43 Books I Dropped in 2022

I realize that 43 books is a lot. I dropped more books last year than most people read in a year. I get it. But I read 132 books last year and gave 44 books perfect grades. These numbers balance the scales a bit and make the drop number much more reasonable. 

The books I dropped were:

  1. Twenty Years Later
  2. Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess
  3. When You Are Mine
  4. Such a Pretty Smile
  5. The Murders of Christopher Watts
  6. Wish You Were Here
  7. Her Last Affair
  8. The Sorority Murder
  9. Greenwich Park
  10. What My Bones Know
  11. The Perfect Escape
  12. No More Words
  13. The Children on the Hill
  14. Flying on the Inside
  15. Like a House on Fire
  16. Easy Beauty
  17. The Golden Couple
  18. My Wife is Missing
  19. Her Final Words
  20. Do I Know You?
  21. This Time Tomorrow
  22. Don’t Cry for Me
  23. The Last House on Needless Street
  24. Radical Compassion
  25. Under the Harrow
  26. Far From You
  27. The Hush
  28. The Friend
  29. Tampa
  30. Lotus
  31. How Emotions Are Made
  32. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
  33. The Island
  34. American Girl
  35. I See You
  36. Somebody Out There
  37. The Shadow Box
  38. Lies We Bury
  39. The Light Through the Leaves
  40. Don’t Lie to Me
  41. The Quarry Girls
  42. Dirt Creek
  43. I Am Not Who You Think I Am 

I copied the list from my GoodReads account, so I’m pretty sure they’re in the order I tried them. No real significance there. 

Happy Reading!

So, there are the 43 books I dropped in 2022. I always end these book posts with “happy reading” because I truly want you to enjoy reading as much as I do. Hopefully, that also means you’ll take my advice and not waste time on books you don’t enjoy. Consider this post your permission slip any time you’re thinking about whether you should DNF a book. 

Also, if there’s something on this list that you really think I should reconsider, let me know. I’m not opposed to giving a book another try with a strong recommendation from someone I know. Just leave the title in the commends and tell me why you think I’ll love it.

As always, happy reading!

Related Posts:

  • My 32 Favorite Fiction Books of 2022
    My 32 Favorite Fiction Books of 2022
  • My 28 Favorite Fiction Books of 2021
    My 28 Favorite Fiction Books of 2021
  • My 12 Favorite Nonfiction Books of 2021
    My 12 Favorite Nonfiction Books of 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above (typically those to books) may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I promise that I only recommend products or services I use personally and think will provide you value. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Prof KRG

Prof KRG aims to create an ongoing educational dialogue among media professionals, students and educators.

Please let me know what resources you need or topics you wish you better understood. If I don't know the information, I'm happy to seek out someone who does.

Contact me via email at kennagriffin@gmail.com.

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Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.

— Alan Cohen

About Kenna Griffin

I am a mass communications professor, journalist and collegiate media adviser. I teach classes including those on writing, reporting, media law, media ethics, social media marketing, and public relations. I am married, have two children and live in Oklahoma. More about this site's purpose

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