Status Updates From Akenfield

I'm enjoying the passages in which people talk about their lives--joining the army, losing a husband, hunger, etc.--but some of historical/sociological bits drag on.

Most readers, when they pick up a book, want to read the book. So it can be a drag when a book has a preface, acknowledgments and TWO introductions before you even get to page 1. So-called page 1 (actually page 33, and if you count the latin numeral-ed pages closer to 50). Grumble, grumble -- I feel like a philistine for not reading the front matter. I really just want to read the book.