How do you read a book?

June 25th, 2008 | Books

Do you read a book from the first page to the last?

Do you read the ending first?

Do you skip around and reread sections when you come to them again?

Do you read books more than once? (College Girl does.) (It is rare for me to.)

Do you read all types of books or only certain genres? What type(s) do you like?

Do you give yourself permission not to finish a book if you don’t like it or it bores you? (This one took me a long time. I was such a prolific reader growing up that I read everything — and fast — so it was only as my adult life got more involved that I just didn’t have time to finish a book that didn’t hold my interest or was too grueling. It was so hard the first time! Now I’ll skim a couple sentences on each page if I simply must get an idea before I cut it loose.)

I was surprised to find out a friend reads the endings first, like I do. She reads constantly and never leaves home without a book. I generally devote my spare time (what spare time!) to one thing at a time, could be knitting, reading, beading, needlework. Right now it is reading.

Her reasoning could be mine:

Always. Mostly with mystery books, because they tend to get under my skin otherwise. I need to know who lives and dies, so I read the final 2 pages, sometimes less, sometimes more. WIth some mysteries, like Stephanie Plum, they are funny and I don’t bother, but if there’s any chance of a sober ending, I’m reading the end first. There’s just as much fun finding out how they got there as there is in the surprise, with less anxiety.

How about you?

Karin

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