Hi everyone. I actually have not DNFed many books since the last round-up post back in May (which is a good thing) but just recently I did have to put down a few so instead of posting full reviews for them I like to do these round-up posts to explain why a book didn’t work for me – and hey maybe what I hate is something you love in books, you never know! 🙂
Red
Alison Cherry
Felicity St. John has it all—loyal best friends, a hot guy, and artistic talent. And she’s right on track to win the Miss Scarlet pageant. Her perfect life is possible because of just one thing: her long, wavy, coppery red hair.
Having red hair is all that matters in Scarletville. Redheads hold all the power—and everybody knows it. That’s why Felicity is scared down to her roots when she receives an anonymous note:I know your secret.
Because Felicity is a big fake. Her hair color comes straight out of a bottle. And if anyone discovered the truth, she’d be a social outcast faster than she could say “strawberry blond.” Her mother would disown her, her friends would shun her, and her boyfriend would dump her. And forget about winning that pageant crown and the prize money that comes with it—money that would allow her to fulfill her dream of going to art school. Felicity isn’t about to let someone blackmail her life away. But just how far is she willing to go to protect her red cred?
I wasn’t expecting the level of silliness this book had going on. It was kind of satire and while I usually enjoy those kinds of reads this one was just annoying for me. They live in this whole town of people who bread redheads and if you’re a brunette or a blonde in that town you’re basically a pariah. The town is run by a guy called Mayor Redding – how convenient O_o Just silly things like this that made it all ridiculous. Maybe it was meant to be funny or something, but it only gave me a headache.
Here’s about the tone of this book:
“Lorelei’s mother had won the Magnificent Mommy award for having produced seven redheaded children, the highest number in the community.”
“It’s exactly what they want to hear! There’s nothing they like better than a reformed girl who’s seen the light and realized how important pageants are.” (a pageant only redheads can be in, of course. No lesser beings.)
—
Tumble & Fall
Alexandra Coutts
A novel about the end of days full of surprising beginnings
The world is living in the shadow of oncoming disaster. An asteroid is set to strike the earth in just one week’s time; catastrophe is unavoidable. The question isn’t how to save the world—the question is, what to do with the time that’s left? Against this stark backdrop, three island teens wrestle with intertwining stories of love, friendship and family—all with the ultimate stakes at hand.
I usually try to get through at least 40-50% of a book before I decide it’s not worth my time and DNF it. This one was an exception. At only 10 pages in (no joke) I was already wanting to put it down. By 20% I could not take anymore, it was really that bad. 3 POVs all in 3rd person, characters as flat as doormats, writing that was so off I felt jumbled, insta love… I read some reviews after I put it aside and it seems like I made a good choice. The quotes and plot happenings I read about that happened later on in the book are definitely not improvements from the first part. The father buying his son a prostitute and the POVs having no links to each other, and so on. There is no way I would have ended up enjoying this one whatsoever.
—
The Dollhouse Asylum
Mary Gray
A virus that had once been contained has returned, and soon no place will be left untouched by its destruction. But when Cheyenne wakes up in Elysian Fields–a subdivision cut off from the world and its monster-creating virus–she is thrilled to have a chance at survival.
At first, Elysian Fields,with its beautiful houses and manicured lawns, is perfect. Teo Richardson, the older man who stole Cheyenne’s heart, built it so they could be together. But when Teo tells Cheyenne there are tests that she and seven other couples must pass to be worthy of salvation, Cheyenne begins to question the perfection of his world.
The people they were before are gone. Cheyenne is now “Persephone,” and each couple has been re-named to reflect the most tragic romances ever told. Everyone is fighting to pass the test, to remain in Elysian Fields. Teo dresses them up, tells them when to move and how to act, and in order to pass the test, they must play along.
If they play it right, then they’ll be safe.
But if they play it wrong, they’ll die
At first when I was reading and things were just odd and kind of stupid, I figured there were drugs or mental illness involved (no I’m serious), but it’s really just an annoying book.
It’s about this young teacher, Teo, who, after this zombie-like epidemic has returned (or so he says), builds this “ideal” town where he brings 7 couples with him who are all students. He renames them after famous couples in literature – like Romeo and Juliet – and forces them to act and dress like them. If they want the vaccine they have to do as he says. So… 13 teens and one weird 24 year old. Why is he in charge? Why are they not just… you know… taking the vaccine? Oh wait, maybe it’s the lion. The lion Teo lets out of some random hole (in a wall or the ground I’m not even sure) who eats and kills one of the couples. Lolz. A freaking lion!
Then there’s an icky romance, an even ickier love triangle – with 2 brothers – and an irritatingly naive protagonist.
“Plus, I’ve broken Teo’s cardinal rule: Never interfere with what he says. I’m mostly mortified I somehow forgot about that unspoken rule, but I can’t help wondering why he thinks calling people names is okay. But that’s Teo. His mind is so far ahead of everyone else’s that he has a hard time being patient sometimes.”
Uurgh. Being an advanced human being is so demanding!!
“I shake my head; It’s impossible to be perfect. Of course, Teo knows that, but who am I to challenge his authority?”
“I can’t help wondering if it hurt him to be angry, if he realizes how much he hurt me. But it doesn’t matter; I’ll do anything to prove myself to him. Because I can show him I’m worthy of his love, his dreams, this place. He might have unrealistic expectations, but I can do better. He will see.”
Yeeeah… O.o
—
That’s all for today’s DNF round-up. If I’m lucky it will be the last one of 2013. Seeing as I read 200 books a read, a total of 14 DNFs this year is actually fairly low (well I find) so I have been having generally good luck with books this year. What are some of the books your had to DNF lately?
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Maya @ The Book Nook
Wow, Red just sounds ridiculous. The others sound pretty bad too – I will be steering clear!
Nick @ Nick's Book Blog
LOL. I completely agree about Red. It was such a silly book. It actually bordered on ridiculous which is why I didn’t enjoy it that much either.
Ugh! Same goes for Tumble & Fall. I hated DNFing that one but it didn’t work for so many people, so I don’t feel that bad. You’re lucky you didn’t reach the part where the father buys his son a prostitute. I don’t even want to know where the author might have gotten an inspiration for him.
The Dollhouse Asylum sounded so intriguing. It seemed twisted and quite exciting, but judging from your review everyone in it was probably deranged. That’s another one I will not be reading.
Great honest reviews, Giselle. Hopefully, you won’t have anymore DNFs this year, although I see that you might be reading Waterfell. I’m currently reading that one and the MC makes me want to throw her off a cliff because how annoying she is.
Pili
Both Tumble & Fall and The Dollhouse were two books I new to stay away from only by their blurbs.
I’m not sure if I have DNF any books this year, not definite DNF! I’ve put a few on try-again-later list, but I hope to go back to them eventually.
Except for maybe Betrayal by Mayandree Michels, I’m not sure if I want to start reading it again. The beginning was very intriguing and all, but the twist really left me all blah.
Kristen@My Friends Are Fiction
I attempted Tumble & Fall and just couldn’t. I’m so happy I didn’t have the others because they do not sound like anything I’d want to read. So disappointing.
My Friends Are Fiction
JennRenee
I felt the same way about Red. I did finish it but there were things just way too ridiculous in this book. Too bad about Dollhouse Asylum, I had high hopes for that one. I have heard many of the same thoughts for Tumble & Fall.
Chel
I read from another blog that Red is a satire, which means I’ll have to pass on it since satire and I don’t go well together. Love the cover of the second one and the third one, ugh! I want to read the third one! But now I’m going to skip it. Thanks for the reviews, Giselle!
Leanna
The cover of Tumble & Fall had me thinking that I should maybe read it, but then I read a lot of not so great reviews, and it didn’t sound like one for me, so I decided to give it a miss!
Emily
Goodness, that all does sound pretty ridiculous! I do love a good social satire, but Red does seem plain overboard >.< The cover of Tumble And Fall looks so enticing, but what's a pretty cover if the story is just boring? We all love pretty covers, but a pretty cover can never justify a bad/boring plot!
Sorry you didn't enjoy these Giselle, I do hope something better comes your way soon! 😀
But thanks for sharing, all the same 🙂
Michelle @ Book Briefs
awh, bummed to see you DNF the dollhouse asylum. I have had my eye on that one for a while now. I’ve had a couple of DNF or “shelved for now” books so I may have to do a post on these sometime in the near future too.
Megan @ Adrift on Vulcan
Red: Lol, I read the synopsis for this and already thought it was kind of stupid, but I still wanted to read it because maybe the author had a valid explanation for why such a community existed. So I’m wondering if an explanation was given? Like, maybe this is set in the non-too-distant future? But yeah, based on those short quotes you shared, that does sound pretty ridiculous. O_O Mayor Redding — hah! Magnificent Mommy — what is this, middle grade?!
So apart from wanting to make my ass laugh, I see no reason why I should read this. Thanks for the heads-up!
Tumble & Fall: Ugh, I totally get what you mean! I disliked the narration so much — I mean, third person present is just WEIRD. And the characters were flatter than doormats. They were like pieces of crepe paper. I never really got what the whole “asteroid” thing was about either, since all these things could have happened with or without the asteroid disaster happening. I managed to finish it, but it was totally not worth it, because the ending SUCKED big time. *kicks chair over* Yep, I’m still mad.
The Dollhouse Asylum: Such a shame that you DNF’d this one; it had such a cool premise. 🙁 I can’t decide if Teo is more pedo or crazy, but either way, he’s mad out of his pants, dude. WTF with that town? And haha, I wonder where he managed to get that lion. Of all things to grab, he grabs a lion. Seriously.
Anyway, I’m so sorry that you haven’t been reading the best so far! I’ll keep my fingers crossed that your next reads will be much better. Thanks for these reviews, though. I’ll be sure to steer clear of all these in the future.
Bethzaida (bookittyblog)
UGHHHHH!!! I heard about The Dollhouse Asylum not being very good but I didn’t know it was that bad lol! The sad thing is that I have it and I was planning to read it soon. Not anymore!
Kezia D
Red sounds so silly and stupid but I cannot deny the fact that I was sooo interested in this book earlier this year…
Ugh, I’ve only seen negative reviews of Tumble and Fall and boy that book seems pretty bad too me. On top of the writing, there’s that evil insta love… -_-
Aww Dollhouse Asylum .__. I put it on my to read list instantly cause it’s a Greek mythology and I practically a greek-geek so yeah… I guess I will be skipping all these books, Giselle! They just seem not worth my time and I hope you’ll find better reads! Three DNFs in around 6 months is pretty good considering how many books you have read 🙂
Angie F.
The Dollhouse Asylum sounds like…WTF…a lion, really?! I don’t even know what to think about that! LoL
I feel bad, but I was sort of glad that my eARC of Tumble & Fall expired before I got it, because it seems like everyone I follow hated it or DNF. I can’t think of one person who even liked it a little bit…
I was kind of excited about Red. It sounded fun, but now it sounds kind of silly.
Nereyda @Mostly YA Book Obsessed
Wow, is Red for real? Luckily I didn’t get any of these but I have waaaaay too many books I DNF this year. I have a very short attention span…
Christianna
I don’t know why, but for some reason the things you had to say about Dollhouse Asylum make me wanna read it even more. Now I’ll just know that it’s pretty silly going in. I’m also glad that I avoided the other two on your list, they don’t sound like things I would like at all.
Savannah
Too bad about Red. I was looking forward to reading that book. But I’m not liking the way it sounds. Sounds cult-ish.
Jack
I haven’t DNFd many books this year either, luckily. Red sounds utterly ridiculous! Wow, I mean I don’t think I’d ever get past the forts few pages of a novel like that. I won a copy of Tumble & Fall from fierce Reads recently, but in hesitant to read it because of all the negative reviews. It sounds like it had potential, but looks like it was disastrous. The Dollhouse Asylum looks pretty interesting, I must admit. I might give it a go, but I think I may end up in the same situation as you. Great post, interesting to see which books you’ve ended up leaving unfinished.
Leslie
The Dollhouse Asylum… oh man, I wish I had DNF that one, but it was a tour book so I had to finish it. It has been a long time since I’ve wanted to punch a lead character in the face as much or as often as I wanted to with Cheyenne. It got to the point that her stupidity and naivete made my teeth hurt from grinding them together.
You made a good choice. That book is ridiculous and not in any good ways. It only got more ridiculous the longer it went on (even more so than the lion!).
fishgirl182 @ nite lite book reviews
What a strange premise for Red. It doesn’t even sound plausible. Sad you didn’t like Tumble. I like the cover.
Candace
Yeah I’m pretty sure none of these would work for me either. Luckily none of them were on my TBR or anything I was planning on reading. Sorry they didn’t work for you though!
Kristin@Blood,Sweat and Books
All 3 of these were books I’ve been meaning to read. I didn’t realize Red was such a silly plot. I thought it was just about a girl whose passed herself off as a redhead and is afraid of not being unique anymore.
Jenni
I am so happy that I decided to skip Red because I don’t think there is any way I would enjoy that at all. Tumble & Fall is so disappointing because that cover is absolutely stunning! And the Doll book never stood a freaking chance with me!
Bekka @ Pretty Deadly Reviews
Wow, I am so surprised by The Dollhouse Asylum. I didn’t actually know what it was about before now, but still, who could imagine that? And a LION? Yikes.
I’m disappointed by all the negative reviews of Red. I thought it was going to be amazing, but the more I read about it, the less inclined I am to give it a chance.
I wish I had skipped requesting Tumble & Fall, but how could I ever predict that it would be so damn boring? I mean, the world is going to END, there’s nothing humanity can do about it, and yet, I couldn’t barely stay awake through the one any only page I read.
Jesse @ Pretty in Fiction
I really really wanted to read Tumble and Fall and was so dissapointed in what I got. I DNF’d at about 50% and, even though I would have liked to see how it ended, I just couldn’t take it anymore. I think if it had just been a contemporary it would have been okay, but with the asteroid and inminent doom headed for them, I felt the characters were a little too whiny about everyday issues. I mean, an asteroid is about to hit the earth, people! Feel something about that!
Jenea @ Books Live Forever
I have Red and Tumble & Fall coming up to read. I am not especially looking forward to Red, but I will try it. 🙂 Only 14 DNF’s out 200 books read isn’t bad at all. 🙂
Mary @ BookSwarm
OMG. The Dollhouse Asylum–hated it. Actually, I was on the blog tour, emailed the publicist and pulled out because I couldn’t even promote it. That MC was So. Stupid. And such a squicky “love” thing plus the forced triangle… Just no.
Rachel @ Unforgettable Books
🙂 I find it interesting how something that bothers you can be liked by someone else. Red does sound full of outlandish satire; unlike your opinion, I kind of like satire and dramatics. Very funny quotes.
I really dislike uninteresting plot books too and when POV characters do not have a connection.
Your commentary on the Dollhouse Asylum is hilarious!
Vivian
I’m starting to think I need to DNF books, if not just for the simple fact that I have way too many books to read and I’ve been undergoing way too many reading slumps this year from “meh” books. Sigh…sucks you didn’t like Dollhouse though, I’m supposed to read it soon!
Precious
Hi Giselle! I’m sorry to see Tumble & Fall included in your DNF list but then, thank you for the warning! This is one of my most anticipated reads for 2013 and I was actually about to order a copy. You may have just saved me from disappointment.
Precious @ Fragments of Life
Charlotte
I love this post even if I personally don’t DNF books. And I am so happy to see two titles here that I have really coveted and requested months ago only to be rejected. Can you believe that you have saved me from doom twice, Giselle?
I remembered our brief chat in Goodreads about Tumble and Fall and how I laughed at the kitty picture you posted. You freed my tortured soul. When I got rejected, I really pondered that I am missing on a very good book. Ha! At least, I can now let go of Tumble and Fall’s memory.
As for Red, wow! TBH, its synopsis caught my interest when I first saw it in EW, thus, I immediately put in a request. Sadly, I got rejected again. But upon reading this, it was a blessing in disguise after all. Wohooo!
And 200 books? OMG! Reading frenzy FTW!
Jennifer @ Some Like It Paranormal
I never started any of these based on a lot of bad reviews I had seen. They don’t sound like my kind of thing so I’m sure I won’t be picking them up in the future either.
kay
Haha! I guess I’ll be the lone voice here when I say I had fun reading Red! It wasn’t outstanding in any way, but it was okay as a light read. I can see why so many people didn’t enjoy it though!
And I agree about Tumble & Fall. I had such a hard time with this one, uh! I struggled through it and wish I had DNF’d it.
Bonnie
Tumble & Fall was the same for me. I didn’t get very far at all. If I’m struggling with a book sometimes I’ll check out reviews to try and give me hope? But.. it only made me want to quit more what with the insta-love and YES, the son buying his son a prostitute? LOL Absolutely not.
Mel@thedailyprophecy
I already saw your DNF review of The dollhouse asylum on Goodreads, sounds like a ridiculous story.. It’s a shame that Red ended up like that, because I love the sound. I think it could have turned out to be a fun book. And almost everyone seems to dislike/DNF Tumble & Fall. So disappointing!
Molli
True story: I have NO interest at all in reading Red. It just sounds ridiculous, so I can’t blame you for not finishing it.
Tumble & Fall. LOL THAT BOOOOOK. Too bad you didn’t finish it for LOLs because they are there. It’s SO beyond stupid.