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ACK! Sounds well, terrible Jan! So sorry this was not your cuppa. Hope your next read is amazing!

YIKES!! That sounds unpleasant, Jan! So sorry it didn’t work for you. Onward and upward! 😃

Susanne wrote: "ACK! Sounds well, terrible Jan! So sorry this was not your cuppa. Hope your next read is amazing!"

it was, for me at least! lol

Michael wrote: "YIKES!! That sounds unpleasant, Jan! So sorry it didn’t work for you. Onward and upward! 😃"

it was! I gave it a fair chance but it was time to throw in the towel.

Oh dear, obnoxious AND depressing! Glad you didn't have to waste any more minutes finishing this one. Hope your next read is much much better!

Life is too short for books that aren't awesome!

Elizabeth wrote: "Oh dear, obnoxious AND depressing! Glad you didn't have to waste any more minutes finishing this one. Hope your next read is much much better!"

Thanks Elizabeth, it's so freeing to dnf and move on to books that are more satisfying! 💖

Dita wrote: "Life is too short for books that aren't awesome!"

Exactly - 100%!

Jan, sounds like it would have been a dnf for me , too . Hope your next one is a good one!

Angela M wrote: "Jan, sounds like it would have been a dnf for me , too . Hope your next one is a good one!"

Thanks Angela, I just finished a 5 star book today! 💖

Eek. I’m passing! Thanks Jan!

Best to leave and move on, Jan...and best to say it as it is...

:) Thanks for the warning!

Yes indeed...a book that was a super downer for sure......

Oh no! No, no no! Sounds horrible!

I’m sorry this one didn’t work out, Jan, but good for you, knowing when to move on! ❤️

Let this weekend be better :)

Fair enough. I was sort of curious, but given that I wasn't that keen on Wood's previous much lauded novel, I won't be in any rush to get to this.

I loved this book! Shame it didn't work for you Jan. Sometimes reading (and enjoying) a book is all in the timing. I found the story had lots of pathos for sure, as this group of friends look back on their lives and relationships. But it also had a subtle humour. The story spoke to me on so many levels. It brought together so many thoughts about aging, the changing dynamics of friendships...it captured the stultifying heat of a humid Sydney summer incredibly well. The ending was perfection. I would've loved this book to have won this year's "Stella Prize". That's the magic of books, that we can all have such differing feelings to them.

What was your 5 star read?

Jen wrote: "Eek. I’m passing! Thanks Jan!"

Not every book is for every reader so you might very well love it!

Paula wrote: "Best to leave and move on, Jan...and best to say it as it is..."

Yes, dnf'ing gives us more time to find a book we love :)

Theresa wrote: ":) Thanks for the warning!"

Many have loved it so 🤷🏻‍♀��

Marialyce wrote: "Yes indeed...a book that was a super downer for sure......"

And it's defintely not the time for a downer is it? We can watch the news for that 😞

Sophie wrote: "Oh no! No, no no! Sounds horrible!"

It certainly was for me :(

Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader wrote: "I’m sorry this one didn’t work out, Jan, but good for you, knowing when to move on! ❤️"

Jennifer, I've rarely found persevering to work in my favor so I cut my losses and moved on.

Jaidee wrote: "Let this weekend be better :)"

Yes! 🤞 I just finished 2 wonderful books so things are looking up :)

Bianca wrote: "Fair enough. I was sort of curious, but given that I wasn't that keen on Wood's previous much lauded novel, I won't be in any rush to get to this."

Good to know! This was my first by this author and I had high hopes :(

Nat wrote: "I loved this book! Shame it didn't work for you Jan. Sometimes reading (and enjoying) a book is all in the timing. I found the story had lots of pathos for sure, as this group of friends look back ..."

I just read your review - very beautifully said! Maybe it's bad timing, maybe it's COVID reading, or the fact that I lost my mother last year and the wound is still fresh. Maybe it is that I'm not so young myself and it brought up uncomfortable feelings? Maybe it's that I have an older sick dog and we need to make a hard decision soon?

I definitely don't need my characters to be likable. I found Olive Kitteridge unlikable but it's an all-time favorite. I truly don't know but I do wish my experience had been similar to yours. I was probably too harsh and will edit my review that this is simply not for me at this time.

My recent 5 star read was Writers & Lovers :)

Thanks so much for your lovely and insightful comment. This truly is the magic of reading and the wonderful community of readers here 💖

It wasn’t for me either. So much depression and unlikeable characters, aye caramba. 😅

TMR wrote: "It wasn’t for me either. So much depression and unlikeable characters, aye caramba. 😅"

It's always good to know I'm not alone, thanks. I loved your review! 💖

JanB wrote: "Nat wrote: "I loved this book! Shame it didn't work for you Jan. Sometimes reading (and enjoying) a book is all in the timing. I found the story had lots of pathos for sure, as this group of friend..."

I understand completely Jan. We bring our own feelings and experiences to what we read. I know last year I couldn't read a few books because they were too close to home.
And the current world situation is so difficult and angst ridden. So I guess most of us are looking for some joy from our reading.

I've heard many good things about "Writers and Lovers". I'm so glad you enjoyed it 💕

Life is too short, Jan. If it doesn’t light your fire it’s definitely time to move on 👍

Must admit I’ve put books down recently ....... reading shouldn’t be a depressing experience.

Sorry you couldn’t get into this one, Jan. It happens! Better luck with your next read. 🧡

I hope your next one is a winner!

Bummer, but I've had my share of dnf's this year!

Good for you for stopping, Jan. Ah, I need to get better at DNF instead of just trudging on and on.

Hope your next book is awesome!! 💖

I hope you enjoy your next book more. I wish I would have dnf a recent book. Took me 19 days to read - but in the end I did enjoy it. I just haven't the patience for slow burns lately.

Nat wrote: "JanB wrote: "Nat wrote: "I loved this book! Shame it didn't work for you Jan. Sometimes reading (and enjoying) a book is all in the timing. I found the story had lots of pathos for sure, as this gr..."

Nat, thanks for your understanding. Timing really is everything.

Andrew wrote: "Life is too short, Jan. If it doesn’t light your fire it’s definitely time to move on 👍"

Thanks Andrew! I think that is an excellent mantra to live by :)

Richard wrote: "Must admit I’ve put books down recently ....... reading shouldn’t be a depressing experience."

Exactly - we can watch the news for that, right? ugh

Mischenko wrote: "Sorry you couldn’t get into this one, Jan. It happens! Better luck with your next read. 🧡"

Thanks Mischenko. I'm glad I cut my losses early. Not every book is for every reader, right?

tamar wrote: "I hope your next one is a winner!"

Thanks Tamar!

Holly wrote: "Bummer, but I've had my share of dnf's this year!"

Holly, dnf'ing gives us more time to find a book that works, right?

Yun wrote: "Good for you for stopping, Jan. Ah, I need to get better at DNF instead of just trudging on and on."

Yun, as a completionist it took me many years before I embraced dnf'ing but some still sneak through, ha!

Julie wrote: "Hope your next book is awesome!! 💖"

Thanks Julie!

Debra wrote: "I hope you enjoy your next book more. I wish I would have dnf a recent book. Took me 19 days to read - but in the end I did enjoy it. I just haven't the patience for slow burns lately."

Debra, I hear you. Slow burns can work for me if they are written beautifully but even then sometimes the plot is weak (as my most recent book!)...it's tough to know which side of the fence we will land on!

Oh no! I just started last night and am liking but not loving it. I'll keep going, but this is not good news.

Catherine at The Gilmore Guide to Books wrote: "Oh no! I just started last night and am liking but not loving it. I'll keep going, but this is not good news."

Catherine, Maybe it's timing: covid reading and the stress we are all under right now, but I just couldn't read about obnoxious women. Plus my dog was very ill and we had to say good-bye to her shortly after this so I didn't want to read about an old dog 😢 I'll be interested in your thoughts.