My sister always reads the end of books first. She says it's like a compulsion; if she doesn't do it, she'll just keep thinking about it and be distracted from reading until she gives in. I can't understand it because I hate spoilers of any kind!
But I can understand being very sensitive and vulnerable. I find emotional books extremely tiring (I was talking about this in the survey I posted earlier actually), sometimes to the point where it outweighs the enjoyment I'm getting from the book. It's very frustrating! I was reading a really good book last year (Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner) and just as I was approaching the end I had to put it down because it was getting a bit tense and I didn't feel like I could take it given that other, real life, things were getting me down at the time. Now I really want to finish it but it won't feel right going in so close to the end, I'll have to start over again and make sure I finish it while I'm feeling strong! And the reason why I stopped watching 24 was because I was worrying too much about my favourite character. I feel like I could only start watching again if I read spoilers first, to prepare myself, except I really don't like spoilers so instead I just won't watch it anymore.
I'd never resort to spoilers to save heartache. You're right, the anticipation and "not knowing" is all part of the reading experience. When I reread, even though I know what's going to happen, I remember that thrill of reading it for the first time and so it's like I'm feeling it again. If I get really gripped by a book, I start reading faster and I have to force myself to slow down and cover up the rest of the page with my hand, to stop myself getting even a line in advance!
What a long comment -- I could talk about reading all day!
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But I can understand being very sensitive and vulnerable. I find emotional books extremely tiring (I was talking about this in the survey I posted earlier actually), sometimes to the point where it outweighs the enjoyment I'm getting from the book. It's very frustrating! I was reading a really good book last year (Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner) and just as I was approaching the end I had to put it down because it was getting a bit tense and I didn't feel like I could take it given that other, real life, things were getting me down at the time. Now I really want to finish it but it won't feel right going in so close to the end, I'll have to start over again and make sure I finish it while I'm feeling strong! And the reason why I stopped watching 24 was because I was worrying too much about my favourite character. I feel like I could only start watching again if I read spoilers first, to prepare myself, except I really don't like spoilers so instead I just won't watch it anymore.
I'd never resort to spoilers to save heartache. You're right, the anticipation and "not knowing" is all part of the reading experience. When I reread, even though I know what's going to happen, I remember that thrill of reading it for the first time and so it's like I'm feeling it again. If I get really gripped by a book, I start reading faster and I have to force myself to slow down and cover up the rest of the page with my hand, to stop myself getting even a line in advance!
What a long comment -- I could talk about reading all day!