Sometime over the past few years, I've picked up an embarrassing habit. Around page 50, I read a book's ending.
I've long felt that this was a serious character flaw. Why can't I accept delayed gratification? Why do I insist on spoiling my enjoyment of great books?
The best part of my day is the hour or two I read in bed, before falling asleep. This night-reading consists of thrillers and mysteries. I'm reluctant to turn off the light until I get to a break in story. Inevitably, good books have wonderful narrative drive -- there's no break. So I read on and on... Until I decide I need my sleep, so read the ending, already!
It turns out that by reading the ending, I'm not spoiling my enjoyment at all.
This article, Spoilers don't spoil anything reports:
"I was just ahead of the curve, because spoilers don't spoil anything. In fact, a new study suggests that spoilers can actually increase our enjoyment of literature. Although we've long assumed that the suspense makes the story—we keep on reading because we don't know what happens next—this new research suggests that the tension actually detracts from our enjoyment."
Excellent -- my embarrassing habit is a GOOD thing... Who knew?
Do you read book endings before you should too? Why?
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