One book haunts the pile on the nightstand, while another peers accusingly from where it lies casually tossed on the couch. Yet another book skulks in the dark corner of the car where it waits, just in case it’s needed. But it waits in vain.
In any reader’s library, there exist books TBR—to be read. Readers joke about, brag about and occasionally bemoan the size of their TBR piles and lists. These same bibliophiles also encounter a more ominous acronym: the books they DNF—did not finish. If DNF arises in conversation, shame and excuses can follow.
But no more.
Take a moment to pause reading or listening to your current book. Are you enjoying the experience? Are you thinking new, interesting thoughts? Does this story offer you a connection to another person or group? If you answer yes to any of those questions, you probably haven’t considered putting the book aside.
On the other hand, if your interest wanes and you’re not learning anything, having fun or engaging with anyone over this reading material, you might find it more satisfying to let it go.
While every book has its reader out there somewhere, not all books meet a reader’s current needs. There may be a better time to revisit a certain genre, author or story. Do not fall prey to the sunk cost fallacy: time and energy are valuable and deserve to be spent with care. You can put that book down at any time. If you need official permission, here it is:
We at the library do not care if you finish anything you check out, and the books don’t either.
In fact, while a few library staff members are completists and finish everything they start, half of all library staff boldly commit to not finishing books whenever they stop wanting to read them. For library staff who end up abandoning a book, almost two-thirds report feelings of either pride, excitement or calm self-reflection. Fewer than 15% report negative feelings.[1]
Now that you are boldly committed to casting aside books that don’t work for you, what next?
- If you find you’re picking books that don’t match what you really need, try our May We Suggest service or browse NoveList for new ideas.
- If you are in a reading rut or having trouble focusing, try these tips to fire up your reading engines.
- Don't be discouraged if you choose to put down a title. Practice saying, “That book just wasn’t meeting the moment for me—I might try again later.”
- If you purchased a book and are no longer interested, you can donate it to our Secondhand Prose Used Bookstore, operated by the Friends of the Canton Public Library.
While finishing a challenging book can bring satisfaction or build reading stamina, one of the key qualities of a vibrant reading life is choice, and the library is here to support you and your reading choices!
[1] Data taken from an informal library staff survey with a limited sample size, April 2026.
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