Does anyone remember that ad campaign for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (mmmm, peanut butter cups) about how there’s “more than one way to eat a Reese’s?” Well, it never occurred to me that there’s more than one way to read a book. I assumed most readers followed a similar pattern to mine…pick the book up, start at that opening first paragraph and read (often compulsively and through the night!) until I hit the last page, then sigh in satisfaction as I close the covers and reach for the lamp.
Yet there seems to be—gasp—an epidemic of people who do nearly the opposite! Imagine my surprise when I learned that my sister, best friend and favorite aunt all read the last chapter first. This blows my mind. “But doesn’t that spoil the ending? Aren’t you taking it all out of context? It probably makes more sense when you understand…” Yet these people hold firm that if they hate the way it ends or there’s an unhappy resolution, they don’t want to waste their time reading the 300 pages that come before.
What about you guys? Do you like the safety of knowing how a book or movie ends before you spend time or money on it? Do you trail the internet looking for spoilers on your favorite television shows, or when someone starts to tell you the latest rumor of who breaks up with whom on Grey’s Anatomy, do you cover your ears?
I guess I fall somewhere in the middle. I love romance novels because 99.99% of the time, the hero and heroine resolve their differences and find happiness together, so in a way, I do know the end. But I like taking the journey with them instead of “cheating” and looking at the map ahead of time. Of course, my husband would tell you I wouldn’t get in half as much trouble as I do if I bothered to read maps, but that’s another story…
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
I don't like reading the ending first. The book may have have a HEA but I like reading about the character's journey to get there. But when I pick up a new book to read I don't immediately go to chapter 1. I read the back blurb first. Then I go to the very last page and read about the books coming next month. I also read the last couple of page that advertise upcoming books. Now I can go to the front of the book but not chapter 1. I gotta read the little teaser pretaining to a scene in the book and then there is the note to the reader (ok the author has me salvating now.) Only one page seperating me from chapter 1. The page about the author and previous works That way I know if the book is part of a series and now I have to look for others. Ah the end but it's not finished. There is a preveiw that I will read if I haven't already. I also won't read it if it is a book in my TBR pile or if I have already read the book.
I like to grub. Page 1 here I come. I have eclectic tastes so reviews never mean much to me. I'm sure they'll matter more to me when I finally get published. Most storylines have a HEA but I enjoy the roller coaster.
My best friend's mother, the one who introduced me to romance novels back in high school (Rosemary Rogers, anyone?) used to always read the last page to make sure it ended happily with the hero and heroine together. For years I only read books she recommended so I was never tempted to read the last chapter!
I can remember a few times she threw books in the trash without reading them if she didn't like the ending!
Christa, your ritual is funny! I usually read all that stuff, too, but after the book is over and I don't want to say goodbye to it yet.
I almost always read the last page first. I hate, Hate, HATE books with unhappy or ambiguous endings. That's one of the reasons I like most romance (I say "most" because I can't stand Nicholas Sparks... he depresses the snot out of me).
Yup, I'm a last page first kinda gal.
Post a Comment