After the last reading question….I admit I might be feeling a little intimidated, knowing how many of you disdain the very thought of dog-earring the pages a book! But I did notice that I have a couple fellow rebels. I’m not completely alone in my occasional mistreatment of page corners. 
Ready for this week’s question? Me too.
When you read a book, do you read EVERYTHING? In other words, do you read the dedication, the acknowledgements, the foreword, the afterword, the prologue, the epilogue, the appendices, etc.? Or do you just read the “meat” of the book? Or is your approach somewhere in between?
As for me, I read everything but the index (if there is one), and I admit I’ve been known to scan the index, too.
I start at the beginning and read straight through. Okay, I don’t read every word on the copyright page, but I read everything else. I love to read dedications — I feel like they give me a little glimpse into the author’s mind or heart. I enjoy acknowledgements because they remind me that no author flies completely solo. And I wouldn’t feel like I actually read the entire book if I didn’t read forewords, afterwords, appendices, etc.
I even read the Table of Contents, just so I know what to expect as I go forward.
What about you? Do you start with Chapter 1? Or do read all the extras, too?
I’m right there with you.
I read the acknowledgment (really scan it), the foreword, the afterword, the prologue, the epilogue and the Table of Contents.
If I don’t read these I feel like I missed something.
Michelle´s last post ..Hope Now
As a kid, I read the back of the cereal boxes – what does that tell you?! Yeah, I tend to read everything. Even the publishing page. If I don’t read the table of contents, I feel like I don’t know where the book is going! And I love when authors include a nice meaty list of resources in the back notes or appendix.
Again, fun question!
I consider prologue and epilogue to be part of the story, so yes I read those. The forwards and introductions and afterwards and appendicies mean very little to me. If the book was truly riveting then I might go back and read them to see what those people had to say, but for the most part I just want to read the book. I don’t think I have ever read a table of contents, except in a school textbook, I just trust that I’ll get there when I get there.
Good question! My answer is posted here.
CMash
If the book is really good and I am sad to see it end, then I read everything just so i don’t have to put it down!
But I do almost always read the foreward/prologue since that is where the story usually begins!
Great question!
Wonderful question!! In fact, I was just pondering this the other day.
I do read the title page and dedication, and do find myself often scanning the copyright page.
If I love the book and hate for it to be over, then I just keep reading — taking in the acknowledgments as I try to get over the fact that the lovely book is over. If I don’t feel that way about the book, I don’t necessarily read those, although I do usually scan them.
Jennifer, Snapshot´s last post ..Whats on my Nightstand – October
Another good question…I have to say, I love participating in reading challenges, and answering these questions makes the challenge that much more enjoyable. I feel that as part of the challenge, I need to participate in this, too! Thanks for coming up with these great questions – I look forward to them each week!
The short answer for me is almost everything. You can find my full answer here.
I read almost everything but not quite, my answer is here: http://annsreadingcorner.blogspot.com
hehe love these questions! I read most of the book. I dont read the dedications and acknowledgments I read anything that has to do with the story.. the intro or prologue and anything at the end related to the story.. now what I dont read is the first chapter into the next book.. I hate having that at the end of my books
I read all of it too. I love to read the dedication and acknowledgements.
Same here. I read EVERYTHING… I even scan the copyright page. It just feels more complete reading all that extra stuff.
Kate {The Parchment Girl}´s last post ..Mailbox Monday Episode Eight
I do read all of those — unless the acknowledgments are just a list of names or in some classics where the introduction is very academic and discusses the book as if the reader has already read it. I wouldn’t mind that at the end of the book, but I haven’t read some classics and don’t want “spoilers.” There is one author I read who writes very long acknowledgments to all the members of her family which are much the same from book to book, so I usually just skim over it to see if there is anything new. But other than those exceptions I do like to read forwards, afterwords, acknowledgments, introductions, etc., etc. — I feel I am getting a fuller experience and more understanding of the book.
Barbara H.´s last post ..Book Review- Same Kind of Different As Me
I read everything. I want to know about the author’s family, if it’s there. I want to know the dedication info. Sometimes I do the copyright page. I read cereal boxes and crochet yarn sleeves. Even coupons.
I’m kind of somewhere in the middle. I used to only read the “meat” of the book but these days I’ve also read all, or at least several things, surrounding.
Good question!
My answer to this week’s challenge question is: I’m a meat reader – like so many others!
I read just about everything! Especially when I love a book I want to soak up everything. I often even read the book jacket or turn to the beginning and read it again.
Cover to Cover! I read the back cover of the book first, then scan the copyright page (esp. if it’s a series, to make sure I’ve got the right order), then on to the dedication, acknowledgments, and then right on through! However, a small confession: If (in a fiction book) there is a ton of descriptive “blah blah blah” (I know! I’m a sinner!) then I might tend to skim a bit. I love dialogue (in fiction)! If the main character is just thinking too much or noticing too much (I’m talking pages here, not just a couple of paragraphs), I tend to get a little irritated.
Thanks! These are great questions!
I love to read everything….the acknowledgements especially; sometimes it can give you a little insight into what the author’s really like.
Maryam´s last post ..Teaser Tuesday 9
If a book is really good, I’m with you – I’ll read every little inch of the book I can from front to back. But as I mentioned in my post, I think you can quickly tell how much I’m liking a book by whether or not I’m reading any of the extra stuff :
http://mommablogsalot.com/2010/10/fir-%e2%80%9910-reading-question-5-how-much-of-the-book-do-you-read/
Jen E @ mommablogsalot´s last post ..FIR ’10- Reading Question 5 – How much of the book do you read
So interesting that you read everything. My answer is posted here: http://nurseatkins.blogspot.com/2010/10/fall-into-reading-questions-3_26.html
Have a good reading week. And hope your little ones feel better!
I’m an in-betweener. Definitely yes on the prologue and epilogue…as many others have said, those are part of the story. If I felt it was a good book and I want to know more about the author, I’ll read the other bits. I usually do end up reading the acknowledgments, and I almost always read the author bio. What I really love are when authors use quotes from other works at the beginning of their books. I like to see how the book ties into that quote throughout.
I usually read everything but the copyright and the index. I also like to read the acknowledgements, it’s fun to see what inspired and helped the writer come up with his/her work. What I don’t read is the first chapter on the next book of a series.
I generally read everything–I actually love the copyright pages! I’ll even flip through the beginning and ending pages quite a few times to make sure I don’t miss anything.
The exception is the lengthy introductions written for the classics–if I read those I will usually wait until I’m midway (or done) with the book. I used to read them first but found that it killed my anticipation.
I definitely read the prologue and epilogue. I like to read the acknowledgements if they’re not that long.
Another good question!
I am like you and read everything but I usually just scan the acknowledgments.
I sometimes read dedications/introductions. If the book is a classic that has a very lengthy introduction, I’ll generally skip it. It seems like most introductions for classics give away too much of the story, and I don’t want to ruin the surprise! I sometimes read dedications, if they aren’t too long. Usually I just want to get to the “meat.”
Everything. Sigh. I feel compelled to. Because I don’t want to miss a thing.
If there is print on the book I pretty much read it. I don’t necessarily read everything on the copyright page but close to it. If there is an index or table of contents I skim them to see what is there. I do not always read straight through. I drive my friends and family nuts. If a book is really good and suspenseful I flip to the back and skim it until I find out the answer to my question. For most people this would ruin the book, but not for me. Now I have to go back and read all the rest of it to find out how we got to that end. It seems to make me more eager to read on.
My answer is part of my post for the day: http://markcarstairs.blogspot.com/2010/10/books-books-books.html
I tend to read everything…even the Acknowledgements and Table of Contents. Sometimes I skim if it’s really not interesting, but I generally read it all. Am I the only one who pages through a book reading bits here and there, looking it over forever, reading the back and first pages, before I actually dive in and start reading? I almost feel like I have to savor it a bit before I dig in. I’m probably just weird.
Kara @ Home With Purpose´s last post ..Blog Makeover Giveaway 3: Petra: City of Stone by T.L. Higley
Prologue and epilogue, yes. Everything else depends on my mood. I generally detest book club questions, but like when they put an interview at the end of the book. Introductions and such are fine if they are interesting or not too long, but most are similar from book to book.
I am pretty much all about the story!
Trish´s last post ..Book Review: Sensitive Sam
I read it all! Footnotes! Endnotes! Acknowledgements! Actually, like you, the dedication and the acknowledgements/thank yous are sometimes my favorite things to read. I am fascinated by who deserves credit and gratitude!
Great question!
Lisa writes…´s last post ..Words worth pondering
I skim everything but read the entire “meat.” I am like a previous commenter, if I am sad to see the book end I will read every single thing!
mine is posted. thanks
http://myheartbelongs2books.blogspot.com/2010/10/fir-question-5.html
I’ll read forewords if they’re interesting and/or entertaining. I will skim acknowledgments. I always read prologues and epilogues. And .. of course, I read the meat!