Friday, December 21, 2018

Discussion: Do You Look Ahead?


This Week’s Topic: Do You Look Ahead?

I had recently seen a tweet, which made me shudder. I was truly horrified, and I couldn't ever imagine committing the act described in this tweet. It was about reading the last page of book first. 😱


I can be known to be a little impatient, but I would never take a peek at the last page. I work so hard to avoid spoilers. I carefully select, which bloggers reviews I will read, and often, will read no reviews for a book on my TBR prior to reading it. I always worry about accidentally reading something that will ruin the story for me. So, why would I read the last page first?

I am also well known for complaining about endings. What if I read the ending, and didn't like it? Should I even bother to read the book? I could totally see myself being discouraged.

I know there are people, who would argue, that it's more about the journey than the destination, which I don't necessarily disagree with, but I just have such a thing for endings. I feel like it would ruin the whole experience for me.

Some may also say, that the last page probably probably wouldn't reveal much. I guess that could be true, but what if it's a murder mystery, and the person you thought died "spoke" on the last page? You never know what you may find.

I'm curious.
Have you ever read the last page first? 
What motivated you to do it? 

Now it's your turn!

Do you read the last page first? 
Let us know in the comments!

52 comments:

  1. ALL the time! I used to skim even more and pick out different pages throughout the book to check out, but I don't do this as much anymore. I still look at the end though... probably one of the reasons I've not read a lot of mysteries.

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    1. I think it would probably spoil a mystery. I mean, the very last page doesn't usually contain a big reveal, but it could have a clue to something, which is part of the puzzle. That's my fear.

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  2. I've never read the last page, but if I am getting frustrated with a book and am considering ditching it I would look further along to see what's happening.

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    1. That I could understand. When I DNF, I never look back, but I guess if I invested a lot of time, I might be curious to the ultimate outcome.

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  3. I never read the last page first but my gran's sister always read the last chapter! If she liked it, she'd read the whole book! I never understood the point to that! On rare occasions if a dog is in extreme danger I might sneak a few pages ahead just to check if it lives!

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    1. I bet there could be some big things revealed in the final chapter, but if it worked for her, who am I to comment on the behavior. I do know, it wouldn't be for me. The dog's never seem to be safe in these books. It seems, that if too much attention is paid to the canine friend, its days are numbered.

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  4. OMG! NEVERRRR!! I think that is worse than having someone else spoil a book for you. That just takes all of the fun out of reading, right?!

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    1. That is how I feel, and why I was so surprised by the article I read. It seems a lot of people like to peek ahead. My mother is always behind on TV shows, and she will order me to tell her what happened. She likes to know what's coming, but I like to be surprised.

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  5. LOL, yes, you know I'm one of those people that reads the last page first!! I think I've been better about it lately, though. Actually, no, I spoiled a book for myself just last night! I think part of it is impatience. I think it's also trying to prepare myself for a potentially sad ending. But yeah, most of the time the ending doesn't really make sense because I have no context for it - yet I still do it!

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    1. I understand wanting to know if there is something really upsetting in a story. That is why I struggle with giving trigger warnings. I understand the purpose of me, but the type of reader I am doesn't want to put that information out there. I do like to talk about if the ending was hopeful in my reviews, especially when it comes to those sad books, but I like to keep all the details to myself, because I like working to get to that place, when I read a book, and it's not just the ending, but all the parts that make up the story for me.

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  6. NO NO NO!!! I could never. I sometimes rush my reading towards the end but could never peak at the last page.

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    1. I have rushed as well, but it's usually because I am almost at work or home and want to know how it ends before I am forced to stop reading.

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  7. Never. I couldn't do it. I like the anticipation. And whether the ending is the one I wanted or not, I try hard not to ever include spoilers in a review. And I don't read reviews for books until after I've written mine, unless that is how I discovered the book. I may look at ratings sometimes though.

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    1. Same for me. I want the complete journey and the payoff is knowing how it all works out. I am the same with movies and TV too. Which contributes largely to why I don't re-read/re-watch or read books after I have seen the adaptation. I also wait until I read a book to read the reviews. Mostly for spoilers, but also because I don't want them influencing my perception of the book.

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  8. NO! Well, actually that’s a lie. SOMETIMES! I only read the last page if I think I’m going to DNF the book. I sometimes flip ahead to see how many pages are in a chapter or when my favorite character’s POV is coming back, but I don’t read the pages.

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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    1. I could sort of understand that, but I will be honest, when I DNF, it's because I don't care about the book at all. Flipping is not the same as reading ahead. I always read ebooks, so the temptation is not really there.

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  9. I would NEVER do something so atrocious :P Hahaha I never read the end of the book and I also follow book bloggers who don't spoil books. I totally dodge spoilers like crazy. I feel most proud about having no spoilers for Harry Potter or Game of Thrones yet. Those two weren't easy to dodge :P

    My recent post: https://oliviascatastrophe.com/2018/12/bloods-revolution-book-review/

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    1. It gets harder and harder to avoid spoilers. I am impressed with HP and GoT too. That stuff is everywhere, and both have been adapted.

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  10. I've never read the last page first, but I have gotten impatient with a book and skimmed ahead until I reached the end. If it seemed like the story improved, I would go back and read every page, if not -- done. I'll just set it aside and move on to something else. It's better than reading the entire thing and feeling unsatisfied with the ending, I think. It really just depends on the book and my current mood.

    However, if it's a book I'm REALLY enjoying, or one I've been looking forward to, I will not skip a single word. I want to keep enjoying the suspense and be surprised. Like you, I won't read reviews for them beforehand, just in case a reviewer slips up and says something slightly revealing. In the end, I guess it depends on how good the book is!

    Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬

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    1. I am learning so much about everyone's reading habits today. I don't know if I would go back after skimming. I won't even read a book after seeing an adaptation. I feel like I know enough. I am also a notorious DNFer, so I guess I am never compelled to skim just to finish. I have to be enjoying a book to finish it.

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  11. I hate it if I let my eyes slide ahead to the next PAGE when I'm reading an intense scene, so no, I do NOT read the end. You can't even judge if it's good or not without everything that leads up to it. I was going to say, "You haven't earned it yet," but that's pretty judgmental. I actually don't care how other people choose to approach books, but that's not a method that works for me.

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    1. I kind of nodded when I read that "You haven't earned it yet" comment, because, to me, the ending is the reward. That's why I get so mad, when it's unsatisfying.

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  12. NEVER. I hate being spoiled in any way- hell, half the time I don't even read synopses! I mean, whatever makes people happy, but it would make me very, VERY unhappy to know the ending before the thing even started!

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    1. Same, on all counts. I am not judging people. Just because something is not for me does not make it wrong, but I never want to know it all before it's time.

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  13. Oh my goodness, NO! I would NEVER! I definitely do not enjoy books as much when they've been spoiled. I love having a big twist or reveal at the end!

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    1. Same for me. It just seems so anticlimactic, if I already know how it will all end.

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  14. There's this book I wanted to read (I'm Thinking of Ending Things) and a MORON of a reviewer apparently hated it so much, she had to go and spoil the whole twist for everyone in a hateful...ten-line-or-so review? Now, for some reason I still want to read the book, but the idea of going into it knowing THAT THING it's SO frustrating - also because the whole book hinges on it. I mean, I reread all the time, even thrillers (I have a huge classic thriller collection, by Agatha Christie and the likes), and I agree it's more about the journey and whatnot, but I want to go into a book knowing nothing (or as less as possible) the first time I read it! I do read a lot of reviews, but I try to avoid spoilers at all cost...

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    1. I think knowing the big twist or the killer would ruin my pleasure with a mystery/thriller. That's the payoff for me. It's one of the reasons I don't read reviews (except from trusted sources) until after I read a book.

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  15. Hahaha I am guilty of this but will explain why.
    1) Certain kinds of books are difficult for me to read (sick or endangered kids) and I need to know if it will be too upsetting.
    2) Not enjoying the book and planning to DNF it and just want to see how it ends or if it's worth continuing.
    3) I'm an anxious person and sometimes knowing the ending helps with that
    So I don't do this habitually but have done it and have NO REGRETS
    Happy Holidays to you Sam and see you in 2019!!
    Jen Ryland Reviews

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    1. I have heard other people express these reasons as well. I guess I am one of the few people, who DNF and forget the book ever existed. I just don't care about it. I thought I heard something like the library of congress listing should/does contain trigger warnings. I think that is a great way to let people know if a book can be upsetting without having to put spoilers out for everyone else. I hope you enjoy the holidays as well!

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  16. I used to do it! When the suspense was too much or if I planned on DNF a book but not anymore! I am a very good girl now LOL Sophie @bewareofthereader

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    1. I guess I can understand if you are going to DNF. There's really nothing to lose there, but the suspense usually just drives me to read faster.

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  17. I do! For a lot of the reasons that Jen stated -especially #3. I can relax more. It doesn't ruin the experience for me at all. I sort of skim so I never know exactly what happens - I just check to see if there's an HEA kind of thing - and I still don't know how they got there.

    Having said that, I would never spoil a book for someone else in my review. If I have something to say that might be spoiler-ish or even TW that might spoil something, I'll mark it so they can choose whether to highlight or not.

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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    1. I know this is not the biggest sample size, but it's impressive how many people share that view. A lot of romance authors will put it right in their synopsis, that there it's an HEA romance. Those are the only kind I want to read. I love all the reviewers, who take the time and effort to prevent spoiling books for other people. Know that I appreciate it a lot.

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  18. Yeah... I do it. Not for every book but for books/series/authors that I know, or have a feeling they'll, stress me out then yep! I need to know it works out ok so that I can relax and enjoy the book. If I know it's ok, I can handle the hell they go through. If it doesn't end ok... Well, then I am prepared for that too.
    Spoilers don't spoil books for me either. I quite enjoy them and that's because I'm all about the journey and don't care whether I know which waypoints get hit on route, or where it ends, as long as I enjoy the ride.

    To each their own, eh?!

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    1. It seems a lot of people preemptively look ahead if they are worried about the book stressing them out or being too sad. You are in good company there. You are the first to tell me that you cannot be spoiled, but I think that's great, because it can be really hard avoiding them.

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  19. Reading the last page was never a thing I got into. I also avoid spoilers like the plague so I wouldn't get any enjoyment out of doing that either. Also, what if the book ends in a cliffhanger? What's the point in reading the story if you know where it'll end up essentially? I can understand the saying about the journey vs the destination but that doesn't sound like something I could live with where a book is concerned :)

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    1. Spoilers are getting harder and harder to avoid. I think, when the moderator revealed something big from Lord of Shadows, it frustrated me so much, that I have been reading less and less series.

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  20. My husband almost always reads the last page first and it drive me crazy. He says he has to know how a story will end before he's willing to commit to reading it. I can't recall ever doing it myself because I just like to be surprised by how the book ends.

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    1. I never ever thought of doing such a thing and am really surprised by how many people do it. I guess it's good I mostly read eBooks. It eliminates the temptation to flip to the end.

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  21. Why would anyone do this?! I work hard to avoid spoilers so I will not be reading the last page until I get there. I do remember that several people I know went to the store to find the last Harry Potter book when it came out just to read the last page. I thought it was weird. They had no plans to read the book but wanted to see how it would end.

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    1. There are so many things people do, that make me scratch my head, but this is really a thing. Some people have said they need to see if the ending will be too sad, and that looking ahead reduces their stress, others say they do it when they DNF. I think I would be like you. I would read the ending if I had no plans to read the book, but if I commit to the book, there is NO peeking.

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  22. I don't read ahead, but sometimes I google to find out an answer. Are Jace and Clary really brother and sister (I don't think so)? Did so and so really die in Illuminae (I was ready to stop reading based on the answer to that one, I was pissed off).

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    1. I guess you have to be careful with those searches, because the answers may not be reliable. I have not never done that either. I think I have looked for information for past books in a series, when I was reading the latest book, but that's because I could not remember some details.

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  23. I agree. I mean, I do read reviews, but I try to avoid spoilers, and I never read the last page first! I even cover the page with my hand if I'm reading at an exciting or nerve-wracking part and know I won't be able to stop my eyes from jumping over lol.

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    1. I have been really particular about which reviews I read. I know which bloggers share my thing about spoilers, and I know they will tag a spoiler, and I am safe to read their posts, but I am careful. I think it's adorable that your cover the page. Love it!

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  24. I could never read the last page first. That would ruin the WHOLE book for me. Like why bother reading. I avoid spoilers too. When my daughter wants to talk about a book I tell her not to spoil it for me. Most time we read the same types of books and a few or on both of our lists to read. But, yes I don't want anything to spoil my book reading.

    Mary

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    1. I feel the same way, but it seems to work for some people. I only like to talk about a book with my daughter AFTER I have read it, but she is good about keeping spoilers out of the discussion, because she shares my feelings on those.

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  25. I've done it before but I do find it can ruin my enjoyment. I accidentally get spoilers in physical books when I flick ahead to find how many pages I have in a book as well. It's not for me. Now I only tend to do it if I'm part way through a book and want to DNF but still want to know what happens at the end. It kind of feels wrong to flick ahead and I felt like a rebel when I've done it before.

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    1. I get not being able to resist, but I so don't want to spoil the experience for myself. I guess it's good, that it's a lot harder to flip ahead when reading an eBook.

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  26. NO WAY! But my daughter always does this. I just don't get it!

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. Some of the reasons people gave seem reasonable, but I just could not do it myself.

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