Do Spoilers Ruin Your Reading a Book?
I run across a lot of "spoiler alerts" in email messages posted on the various boards. A reviewer will often inadvertently give away the ending in discussing a mystery, including my own published titles. I may've been guilty of putting in spoilers myself.
Readers are disappointed if they know how a book will end before they begin Chapter 1. The elements of surprise and fun are destroyed. I can understand their point. But spoilers don't bother me as much.
For instance, I just finished reading Ken Kesey's explosive debut novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. I'd see the movie at the cinema in 1975, so I remembered how it ended. No biggie there. I still enjoyed reading the novel.
On the other hand, I've learned to be sensitive about spoilers for other readers. And I also have to admit it would've been an extra thrill for me to NOT know how Cuckoo's Nest ended.
By Ed Lynskey
@edlynskey
Author of Lake Charles
"Satisfying."
The Rap Sheet/Kirkus Reviews
Readers are disappointed if they know how a book will end before they begin Chapter 1. The elements of surprise and fun are destroyed. I can understand their point. But spoilers don't bother me as much.
For instance, I just finished reading Ken Kesey's explosive debut novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. I'd see the movie at the cinema in 1975, so I remembered how it ended. No biggie there. I still enjoyed reading the novel.
On the other hand, I've learned to be sensitive about spoilers for other readers. And I also have to admit it would've been an extra thrill for me to NOT know how Cuckoo's Nest ended.
By Ed Lynskey
@edlynskey
Author of Lake Charles
"Satisfying."
The Rap Sheet/Kirkus Reviews
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Lynne wrote: "Sometimes I can concentrate on other parts of the story except the plot when I know the ending, and often better appreciate how the characters are layered, how the narrative is paced and whether th..."You nailed it better than I did. That's my feeling, also.
There are times I'm okay, in fact prefer knowing the ending. I'm the same way with movies, too. The journey is most of the joy. My husband, on the other hand, absolutely hates it when the ending is ruined. A friend blurted out a character that survived in "Game of Thrones" at dinner the other day and made him angry, especially after my husband specifically told him he didn't want to know. I try to be very aware of avoiding spoilers in my posts.
Julee wrote: "There are times I'm okay, in fact prefer knowing the ending. I'm the same way with movies, too. The journey is most of the joy. My husband, on the other hand, absolutely hates it when the ending is..."Right. Either avoid spoilers or some flag them and the reader what's coming. If they proceed, then it's their doing.
I can think of a few examples, such as After Dachau, in which it would be downright rude to deprive a new reader of the jaw-dropping surprise that comes along partway through the story. However, most of the time knowing the outcome in advance doesn't matter much to me. Agree with the journey being the joy. Also agree that spoiler alerts are appropriate.
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But I try to respect others' feelings about spoilers.