Booking Through Thursday: Cheating
Today’s Booking Through Thursday asks…
Do you cheat and peek at the ends of books? (Come on, be honest.)
I do! And I’m only moderately ashamed of myself for it. If I’m reading an intense scene where a character’s in peril, yes I’m going to flip to the back of the book and skim for that character’s name. Or if a flirtatious character winds up in a romance. Just checking for the name. Making sure the character’s okay.
In my more reflective moments, I’m certain that flipping to the back is a reflection of my own psyche. I’m not great at dealing with uncertainty. If my ordinary life has me too overwhelmed, it’s a relief to know that I can fast-forward and check on characters.
Fun fact: R.E.M.’s lead singer, Michael Stipe reads the last chapter of books first, all the time. I read that tidbit in Rolling Stone years ago.
Your reasons for skipping ahead are really similar to mine. I don’t always do it, and I don’t need to know everything, but I do like to check up on characters if I’m worried about them.
I knew someone who would read the first and last chapter of a book before deciding to read the whole thing. If she didn’t like how it turned out, she said she didn’t want to bother reading the whole book….
Didn’t know that about R.E.M.’s lead singer. I can see how uncertainty would cause issues for you. I’m the opposite though and I can handle the uncertainty, but must have everything neat and orderly.
Sometimes I look ahead, but I don’t consider it cheating.
OMG finally someone more on my wave length. I was starting to feel even worse than I already do about reading the endings.
Sally.
http://theelifylop.blogspot.com/2011/03/booking-through-thursday-8.html