This is something I've never done, and never likely to do. Do you flick a few pages ahead ,or even chapters ahead, just to find out something sooner? I used to know peolpe from school who used to do it. If you have ever done this, what was it that was so important, you had to know straight away? Were you worried one of your favourite characters was going to die? If you are like me and have never done this, has there been a novel where you were really eager to find out what is going to happen?
[question posted by muscare]
responses and comments:
Noway! I love to read each and every line of the book and read the mystery and climax as and when it comes. heres no point reading the book then. But soemtimes when the story is like boring and dragging, I just straightway jump to the end pages and finish the book. lol [leanette]
That's what I think, too. It's nice and exciting to have the story building to a climax. You are lucky, even with a boring book, I keep reading, thinking 'this is going to get better, this is definitely going to get better' then by the last page 'ok, so it didn't get better'Lol! Thanks for your response. [muscare]
I was reading this book. The blurb sounded so good, but the story was dragging & dragging. So, I skipped to the end to see what happened. I'll tell you want - I couldn't figure out how the writer got from this boring story to the end so I actually had to finish the book. The story was pretty good, but the writing was BAD. Its a pity that the writing was so bad that I nearly put it down. [ElicBxn]
I really have a hard time with confusing books, I'm forever flicking back over pages I've already been, just trying to make sense of things! You write as well, that is good. I do a little, and maybe a chart isn't such a bad idea, rather than wasting so much time flicking back through trying to find the right piece of info! [muscare]
I am usually VERY tempted to do this, but I try to curb the urge and just wait until I get there. I have made the mistake of reading the last page of the book, and then I am upset with myself if I ruin the book. Arg. But, there are sometimes when I just can't help myself. Normally, though, I dont want to ruin it for myself and I keep to the page I am currently reading, hard as it might be! [kfrisk]
Yes, well, the better the story, the bigger the temptation. I know I hate it if one of the characters is injured to the point you don't know if they will make it to the end of the book, but I don't want to really find out until I get there. It is hard though!! [muscare]
I have done this in the past but not often. I usually read through to the end but when I was younger sometimes I just couldn't wait for the plot to unfold fast enough and just had to take a sneaky peek. [beaniegdi]
Yes, it is harder when we are younger to restrain ourselves. I like the way you call it a sneaky peek. I could just imagine you lowering in your chair, having a quick look around you, and then quickly diving into the book, deeper than you were,lol! [muscare]
I do, but I find that I ony do it in books that I am not really getting into. I say that because the last book I read enjoyed ever second of it and wasn't tempted to skip ahead at all! Apart from that, I think it is just a bad habit I have! [purpleshoes]
As long as you're only doing it with the really boring ones!! At least that way you probably finish a book which otherwise you may not have. May be a good habit to try and break, though! [muscare]
I will say yes if it comes to boring books as just wanted to getrid of them and give them a quick end so skip the mid section and read the last and than The End, but as far as other interesting specially mystery,suspense kind of books ,i dont think i'll ever do that as it will just take away the fun part out of it and than it becomes boring aswell. [BrainTeaser]
If it's to get through a boring book quickly, that is good way to do it. I think I usually try to sit through the whole thing, thinking it will improve, but usually being disappointed! At least you don't do it with good books, or mystery novels. [muscare]
Actually, I can't think of a book where I DIDN'T skip ahead. Usually when I browse through books at the store or the library, I'll read the first page or two and then skip to the end and read the last page before I decide whether I want to buy or borrow the book. It wasn't that anything was all that important, I just have always read the end of books first. [Angelwriter]
Does that mean you don't like the suspense of the story. That is a funny way to choose a book. Just wondering if you do it with a mystery novel. Doesn't it sort of spoil the plot a bit? [muscare]
Noo way! I would never want to give away anything to myself. Sometimes I try to not even read the back cover because I'm afraid it will give away a surprise in the story. I always make sure I read from start to finish and never ever look ahead, especially the last page! Sometimes I get tempted, wondering what the last page says, but I know I would be really mad at myself if I peeked. [Candid_Ishida]
Yes, I feel the same way, although I do read the back cover. That usually helps me to decide if I am goin to buy the book or not. The temptation is always going to be there for a good book, but it's good that you don't give in to it! [muscare]
i do that!!! hahaha! i dunnoh but it seems that reading also brings out some of our personality. in my case, im an impatient person and so if there's an idle part of the novel im reading, i tend to flick a few pages ahead to see what happens next. hehe. i dunnoh but maybe it makes me more eager to read fast all those idle parts so i would reach the exciting part. haha. im such a suspense-killer, ain't i? but it's a totally different case if i read sidney sheldon novels. i don't do it. for me, sidney sheldon doesn't have any idle parts. his books just kept me hanging. :) [rojane]
Well, you know the saying, 'a picture tells a thousand words',lol! Oh, and I have every faith in you about being patient with the next book you read.....hmm, actually, I'm just kidding,lol! [muscare]
yes, i've done it before... i am an impatient person and sometimes curiosity just got the better of me and i just want to know the ending straight away... but i didn't do it often... usually, i read the book from the beginning right to the end page by page so that i can follow the whole story and the excitement... otherwise, there is no point in reading the book if i already know how it is going to end... [lingli_78]
I can be quite impatient too, but I actually surprise myself with how I can sit through reading a novel without skipping ahead. I too, don't like to read a book if I know the end, and I don't think I would. [muscare]
never. i don't wanna miss a thingLOL! i care about the adventures more than the endings. from the first few pages i can say that i would enjoy reading that book or not. i stay away from those books with confusing and dragging first chapters. [jojogirl]
Yes I agree with you, the story builds better when it is read the way it was meant to be read!I manage to sit through dragging chapters in the hope I will not be disappointed by the time I reach the end of the book. [muscare]
I have never done so. Because I think doing so will break the novel and you will not really get to know what the writer's gonne tell. You are not really enjoying the book if you do so. [lzjilbb]
I agree, I like to follow along completely what the author is telling me. I guess I like to read things normally. [muscare]
I read quite a bit but for me.I would have a hard time understanding the book if I skipped to the end. [eachen2002]
I'm the same. My concentration isn't the greatest, so skipping back and forward would really throw me out. Cover through to the last page is the only way for me. [muscare]
I do sometimes get compulsions from inside me!! To cheat and just go "fastforward" some pages ...lol!! Just to be in hurry to find the end. Sometimes I even tend to "do" that.But after that I feel like I missed something, fastforwarding some pages of your novel takes away the real feeling of the story!! SO I prefer go back again read them first!! hehe !! Some times I do feel like that why are they killing my fav character its crule!! lol But thats so dramatic!! [stella1989]
That is fair enough. Some people just don't like to read. I know I didn't get my love of reading from my dad, because he has never read a book in his life! [muscare]
there will be no thrill ,if we skip some pages while reading novels. we'll get thrilled only when we completely experience the true essence of the novel. [keerthu]
I agree, to get the story building to a climax, it needs to be read in the right order. [muscare]
i don't think I've ever done that. cos it spoils the whole point of reading. but I have abandoned books before. cos they were too boring to read. or too meaningless, or the writer was really bad. but if the story is exciting. i will read to the end. and read even more quickly. and relish the ending more! [squaretile]
Yes, I'm the same. If I get a book that is boring, I'd be more incline to just not read it rather that skip ahead. I love the way a good story builds, and love to wait til the last page to see it all come together. [muscare]
No, most of time i just enjoy the process of reading a book from the first page to the last one without jumping to the last chapter to see what the outcome is. I think to see how the plot is set and how the characters's fate are developing is more is much more attracting for me than just having known the outcome of the story. [tyuepsc]
I agree with you. The characters need to be built up, just like the story, and you won't get that by jumping around in a book. The outcome isn't important if you don't even know the characters properly. [muscare]
I have to admit I have done this sometimes but not very often. I wouldn't do it if I was really enjoying the book. If the writing is quite long, drawn out and uninteresting then perhaps I would sneak a peek a few pages further on to see how it develops. In fact I have even peeked at the ending to see if it was all worthwhile. Not on my favourite books though, I would be enjoying it too much to spoil the ride. [feliniti]
A lot of my books that I read are over 500 pages, and agree that at times they take a bit of getting into. I just have faith in the author to eventually get the story to the point where I can really get into the story. [muscare]
this is something i haven't done yet. luckily for me i still haven't come across a book that i had to skip a chapter or two. although i did come across a few books that i did not read through the end because it was such a drag. [mari_skye]
Hopefully you never have to. I think I would rather just not finish a book than skip ahead, and if I miss out on a good ending, so be it. [muscare]
No,i've never done this.Cause i want to compelete a novel without any interuption once i started.I don't like know the outcome of the stroy ahead. [zengguoxing]
I agree, its much better to have things falling into place as the story unfolds, rather than out of place and not making as much sense. [muscare]
No I wont.. I dont like to spoil all the fun. Actually, just once. It was when i was reading this book but its not like the normal book, its like a game book. You can choose which actions to choose and each actions leads you to another action.. [silver311]
Was that one of those books that tells you to go to page such and such if you pick this cours of action? I've read one or two of those, they are fun, but I don't really think that is cheating with that type of book! [muscare]
Can't recall if I had. But even if I had, I normally don't. I like the suspense lol. Only if I need to stop reading (maybe because it is near my bed time) and I want to finish a particular mini-story in the story would I flip forward to see if how many pages I have to go. [lordwarwizard]
Oh, I've done that, had a look to see how many pages 'til the end of the chapter, but I never read any words when I do it. I don't think that really counts. [muscare]
I never do this with novels that I read, but I do when watching movies on DVD. I fast forward the scenes just to see what will happen to the hero, how he would escape his predicament (of course we all know that the hero will eventually escape; I want to know how). I find it more enjoyable reading when I read without advancing to find out what will really happen because if I peek in to the next pages just to find out, then it spoils the fun and excitement. Reading a novel or any book is just like chewing food slowly and savoring all its tastes. A movie on the other hand, while it has its own merit, is like shoving food into your mouth and hurrying to swallow all of it. In this way, for me, fast forwarding it will ease the suspense and not let me choke on what I am seeing on the screen. [piropos]
Good that you don't read ahead with a book.I can't say I've done it with a dvd, well okay, I have if I've seen it and know of a boring bit in it. I do prefer a good book though, at least the suspense takes longer to build. [muscare]
On a very few occasions I had to skip some chapters because the writing style of the author was boring. I never tried to jump a few pages in order to find out about the end of the story, especially if I am reading a good mystery book. As a matter of fact, sometimes I reduce my reading pace when I reach the last pages of the book, a way to make the pleasure last as long as possible as if I was enjoying a glass of some good red wine. [spiderman05]
When books get too boring, I just put them away, otherwise I plod through to the end. It is good to slow and savour the end of the book, but also, it delays the end of a good story, almost like a parting of friends. [muscare]
I have done it sometimes just to know how the story will end, because I was so curious. Now I try my best not to do this any more so I will enjoy the plot of the book more. [book1962]
That is always the temptation with a good book! I like the slow build, especially if there's a really dramatic finish to the story. Keep trying your best, the books more exciting that way. [muscare]
Depends on the novel actually. If it had a good storyline, I defenetly won't do this even if I was very tempted. I'll make sure I read it every line so I won't missed a things. It's different with reading some romance novel. If I was bored with the storyline, i made a faster reading, off course by flick a few pages or passed a few lines. Why I do that, because I already know what kind of ending on that novel... [scizophomiya]
Can't say I've ever read a romance, maybe that's why I haven't cheated with a novel. I guess that is probably a male thing, though. I imagine I'd cheat quite a lot if I had to read one, lol!! [muscare]
couple of times i do something like that, when i read and notice that the book is not interested for me. i skip the pages and go directly to the end of the story. Cause i still wanna know how the story end although it's not interesting. [akunz81]
Don't think I could even do that. I think if a book bores me too much, I wouldn't even care about the end. Haven't come across any too bad yet, lol! [muscare]