Am I the only one who does this?
By cutepenguin
@cutepenguin (6431)
Canada
September 30, 2012 4:34pm CST
Quite often, when I'm about to read a book, I flip ahead to the end to see how it's going to end. Sometimes if I don't think I like the ending, I might not read the book.
I especially do this if it is a mystery novel. I didn't do this for fantasy novels until I read a Guy Gavriel Kay novel and half the main characters died horrific deaths. So now I do it almost all of the time.
Do you do this too? Or can you actually remain in suspense the entire time you are reading a book.
5 responses
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
2 Oct 12
I will occasionally read the last little bit of a book before I will read the beginning of the book. However, this is the exception to the rule for me. I mostly feel like if I've read the end of the book first, then the build up to the finale of the book ends up really being a let-down. Sometimes what happens at the end of a book is not something that I really like, but by the time that I get to the last portion of the book I am committed to it.
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
3 Oct 12
I think my thinking is that I don't want to read the entire book and get attached to characters if something bad is going to happen to them. I used to want more suspense, but now I feel like I need to know what is going to happen.
@marty3888 (2355)
• Acme, Michigan
30 Sep 12
My mom told me she did that on every book she reads. So no, you're not the only one.
Me, If I did that, it would take all the suspense out of it because I know wht's going to happen. I even hate on TV shows when going into commercial they say "coming up," and show what's coming up. So when it comes back on and that part comes on, you know what's going to be said and what's going to happen.
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
3 Oct 12
My mom doesn't understand the looking ahead, either. She can't reread books because she already knows what is going to happen.
@skydancer (2101)
• United States
4 Oct 12
No, you're not the only one! I do this somewhat. I may skim through the last few pages just to give me an idea, however, I don't usually read through enough of the ending to take the full surprise or satisfaction out of it. I am not sure why I do this but I started doing it around elementary school or so. I never liked surprises, so maybe it's just that part of my personality - though I can't say for sure as surprise endings in books never bothered me much.
Also, I don't think I've ever changed my mind about reading all the way through the book just because of what I read in the last few pages.
As for remaining in suspense, I don't read a lot of genres in which suspense is really an element, so I am not sure that usually applies to me. I can let a book keep me "hanging" towards the end because, like I said, I read enough of the ending to merely have some sort of an idea of how the story ends, but not enough to be able to form a prediction as to how the rest of the story ties in with those last few pages.
@lyricmemphis (260)
• United States
30 Sep 12
No I have to keep the suspense going I go so far as to put my hand over the next page of a book so I won't skip ahead.
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
3 Oct 12
It is more enjoyable to read the book if you don't know what is going to happen, isn't it? For some reason, lately I just haven't been able to hold out.
@comrade661991 (4)
•
30 Sep 12
You know when I'm bored of everything and if I can't cool myself on the internet I just take something to read. It is mostly something I like a lot, tech magazines, computer science etc. So mate I think we all have our ways of reading the books :D I read em from start to the end and i agree with you, I don't like bad,sad or miserable endings but still I wish to read it and I do :)
