Do You Peek at the End?
Yep, sure do. I saw this topic during my cyber prowls early this early morning before the rest of the civlized world awoke. I'll admit it. I do peek every now and then. To me, it doesn't ruin the story one bit. If I happen to read a spoiler, say, given in a review, it doesn't bother me. Of course, when I write my reviews, I have to be sensitive to those readers who do object. Surprise endings and twists delight me while reading, but I'm usually more interested in the character development and the prose style and other good stuff like that. Different strokes, I guess.
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Deborah
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Mar 10, 2011 06:55AM
Wow, I never peek at the ending of a book! I want to be drawn in to the story and let it unfold on its own merit. Knowing just how it will end before I read the whole book, takes that magic away for me.
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I can't peek! I want to be surprised at the end. I don't even like it when people tell me what happens. Just tell me it's good and you think I might like it. Peeking or being told totally ruins it for me. My mother is the opposite, she likes to know and reads anyway.
Karin wrote: "I can't peek! I want to be surprised at the end. I don't even like it when people tell me what happens. Just tell me it's good and you think I might like it. Peeking or being told totally ruins..."So, there are other readers like me who, on occasion, will peek at the ending. I guess as a writer I like to see how the writer is shaping the narrative to come out.
Always! Maybe not at the beginning of the book but inevitably somewhere along the story line or close to the end. It helps to slow down the reading to know if certain characters are still in the story or to see if the ending could be happy - lots of reasons. It doesn't take away any enjoyment of the book at all.From the time that we were young though my older sister could never understand my doing it!
Pretty much. Especially if the book is good (I blush to admit I did peek at Quiet Anchorage). I still read the whole book but at some point, no matter how hard I try to resist, I can't stand it any more.
Ellie wrote: "Pretty much. Especially if the book is good (I blush to admit I did peek at Quiet Anchorage). I still read the whole book but at some point, no matter how hard I try to resist, I ca..."Ellie,
My resistance is sometimes low though I haven't peeked at the ending of the Julia Spencer-Fleming mystery I'm presently reading. I'm pretty sure I know who the killer is, but I really want to be surprised this time if I'm wrong. I guessed who the killer was about halfway through GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO.
I know, sometimes I really don't want to. Occasionally I succeed. Far more often, curiosity wins out! :)And I loved Quiet Anchorage.
Ellie wrote: "I know, sometimes I really don't want to. Occasionally I succeed. Far more often, curiosity wins out! :)And I loved Quiet Anchorage."
So glad you liked it! Thank you again for your good words. Much appreciated.
I only tell the truth. I'm so happy it was easy to do so. :-)
Sometimes.......I don't do it all the time but if I am unsure of how I feel about continuing reading I do. If I am thoroughly engrossed in it then I do not...I just let it flow. I usually don't peek in a mystery......I try to figure it out in my head instead. Knowing how it ends doesn't usually deter me from continuing..... but if the story has not merit and I discover the ending is no better then I "put it down".... which means I don't pick it up again.
Maryellen wrote: "Sometimes.......I don't do it all the time but if I am unsure of how I feel about continuing reading I do. If I am thoroughly engrossed in it then I do not...I just let it flow. I usually don't pee..."Right, I don't like to spoil a good mystery either. I didn't peek at the ending of THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, but I guessed the killer right early on. What a good read that was. Thanks for sharing.
I never peek at the end! Never ever ever. Not even on those books I decide to abandon. I agree wholeheartedly with the first comment (by Deborah).
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