Apparently it was Nora Ephron who said: 'When I buy a new book, I always read the last page first, that way in case I die before I finish, I know how it ends. That, my friend, is a dark side.' (Although I do believe Woody Allen said something similar.)
I have to confess that I don't read the last page first, but I do regularly stop half way through a book and check the ending out just to make sure things pan out how I want/think they should. I can't help it...I just can't bear the suspense (THAT, my friend, is a sign of a good book, great writing and brilliant conflict).Some friends who I've spoken to about this...affliction... think I'm bonkers to spoil the surprise...others agree that it's the only way to be able to relax into a story. This article says I'm wise (!) and get greater enjoyment out of my reading experience.
The last book I just HAD to read the end of was Me Before You by JoJo Moyes (this is not a romance)- I couldn't bear to go to sleep before I knew what happened. I couldn't read another single word unless I had my questions answered.
In my defense, I often watch movies/TV programmes that I know the ending of (Downton Abbey for example- I know what happens before I watch because of scheduling differences across the world and friends/family openly discuss episodes I haven't seen yet) ..so why would reading a book be any different?
Tell me, am I the only one who sneak previews the good bits ....or do you ONLY read a book chronologically even it the suspense almost kills you?
I peek! I peek! My husband has been known to tell me that I don't need to read the end of the book when I tell him I have only a few pages left to read. He knows that I've usually read it already.
ReplyDeleteKaelee! I knew I wouldn't be the only one! And you can tell your husband that what you do is apparently very wise! LOL. I think knowing how the story ends can allow you to relax and read more slowly and enjoy the story more....
ReplyDeleteWow Louisa, I could never read the end first and I would have died if I'd known what was going to happen at the end of Season 3 of Downtown Abbey. Even if the suspense is killing me I read page by page. Having said that, I can watch my favourite movies over and over and over even though I know the ending.
ReplyDeleteHi Louisa - I must admit to being a bit of peeker! For two reasons - either the book is good I can't bear to NOT know how it's going to end...or it's a stinker and I want it to be over.
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
Ooh, that Nora Ephron quote is from one of my favourite movies, Louisa--When Harry Met Sally. :-)
ReplyDeleteOkay, I'm in camp "Don't Peek!" And yes I absolutely positively had to put the exclamation mark in. I want to eke every bit of pain and suspense I can from a story and I will howl at the sky if someone gives me a spoiler. Mind you, I can reread or re-watch these exact same books and films and gain just as much enjoyment from them the second and third time around. :-)
I love the suspense. I want the story to unfold as I read it. No peeking here.
ReplyDeleteNooooo! I can't read the last page - in fact, sometimes I have to make myself not read ahead on the page if something tense is happening.
ReplyDeleteThough, like others here, I can reread that same book over and over knowing the ending and still enjoy it as much. Sometimes more.
Great topic, Louisa!
You are not alone! Sometimes I'll skip straight to the last page. I use the euphemism 'killing a fairy', because when I mention this behaviour to other readers, they react with such horror, it's as if I'm killing innocent little creatures of magic. :D Sometimes peeking at the ending allows me to relax and enjoy the rest of the story instead of speeding through it and missing a lot of the details.
ReplyDeleteI dont read the endings first - the ending is my pay off. But man - dont piss me off with it, either!
ReplyDeleteI did once ask my husband about the end of Ice Station by Matthew Reilly. Well not really the ending, I needed to know if the kid was going to die - be eaten by a Killer Whale to be exact. I'd just had a baby and I couldn't bear the thought of it. He assured me the kid lived and I read the book quite hapily :-)
Hi Jen! I admire your restraint!! If I'm sooooooooo anxious to find out what happens I just can't help myself! (And I still don't really know everything that happens at the end of season 3 of DT- so no spoilers please!!)
ReplyDeleteHa Helen! If the book's a stinker it doesn't get finished full stop- I usually don't care what happens!! LOL...nice to meet someone else in camp peek!
ReplyDeleteAh, Michelle- thanks for letting me know where that quote comes from (Gotta love WHMS!)....
ReplyDeleteYour patience is amazing! don't know how you can bear the suspense of waiting to find out what happens - I'm just as bad if I'm watching something like US X Factor, or Biggest Loser or something where the competition has already finished- I just HAVE to know who wins and always google as I'm watching!!
Hi Mary- another member of Camp Don't Peek! You're in good company here!
ReplyDeleteRachel- yes- I do that too- fast forward to the end of the tension!!!! Maybe I'm just a wuss and you're all very brave!
ReplyDeleteHi bookthingo! YES!!!! Another kindred spirit. Killing a fairy????? OMG, I hope I'm not doing that every time I skip ahead (I *do* believe in fairies...) I'm with you all the way- I can relax knowing the ending. Well, almost.
ReplyDeleteThank God the kid didn't die- I could NEVER read another book by an author if he'd had a child eaten by a killer whale!! LOL!
ReplyDeleteAnd you're right, the ending has always got to be right! I hate books where I feel cheated or disappointed by the ending. All that reading for little reward!
The only time I read the ending too early is when I absolutely hate the book. If I don't like the way a book is written, I flip forward to the last chapter and read my HEA ending. Then I throw the book against the wall, promising myself never to read that author again.
ReplyDeleteMind you, I have read a dozen or more books by one author and loved each one of them and not liked the 13th book. I keep reading that author's books, though, as I know you can't make everyone happy all the time, or something like that. With the example above, though, it has to be a really really really really bad book (in my eyes) to warrant that much aggression.