Athena Posted February 3, 2017 Share Posted February 3, 2017 So I was reading the synopsis of a book online, and the first line of the synopsis spoiled a large plot point. I am angry! I really don't like being spoiled for something, unless I specifically ask for it (which I don't often do, particularly not for books). I'm sure most of us have similar stories, that you accidentally get spoiled for a book because of a synopsis online, because of a friend, someone online, etc. Share your stories, I'd be interested to hear them. I couldn't find an earlier topic on the subject, though the word 'spoiler' often appears in topics. But please, don't mention any actual spoilers! I don't want anyone else to get spoiled and feel crappy like I do now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted February 3, 2017 Share Posted February 3, 2017 The worst I can remember was on Queen of Babble in the Big City by Meg Cabot, where the synopsis on the back of the book tells you a huge plot point that only happens on page 263 out of 307! Why would any publisher think that was a good idea??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Begins Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 Jeopardy tonight had a category of "Books By Their Endings" and proceeded in giving away the end of The Scarlet Letter, Gone Girl (both of which I hope to read) and to Lolita (which I'm set to read this year). I was so upset. Also, Amazon gives a lot of the storylines away, especially to Kurt Vonnegut's novels. I'm sick of Amazon ruining books I consider, I only read the first part of their synopis, to the part where they start giving away the whole plot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobblybear Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 I can't remember any off the top of my head, although I know I have read a few which have annoyed me. Sometimes, you think something is a spoiler but it is revealed in the first chapter. And also, something is revealed that isn't necessarily a spoiler but I've been glad I wasn't aware of it when I read the book (The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber springs to mind). I've found that professional reviews (ie. like in The Guardian etc) are the worst, so I now know never to read them before I start a book. I mean, they often give away the whole plot...and even if they aren't spoilers per se, they take away a lot of the impact of a certain plot point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCat Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 Is it even possible to avoid spoilers these days? We are daily on the internet and there are movie adaptations left and right so staying away from a possible spoiler would mean staying away from the internet. I guess it is annoying when someone spoils a book but at least one can still read the book for something else, like character and writing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madeleine Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 Yes it's annoying, reviews are the worst - generally on here we're pretty good at not giving away spoilers, but someone on another book forum years ago listed all the deaths in the final Harry Potter book the day after it came out. OK not exactly a hanging offence but still really irksome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian Posted February 9, 2017 Share Posted February 9, 2017 Very annoying this. If I read it online, then I only have myself to blame, so this only really irritates me when the blurb on the back of the book does it. I remember reading a Jo Nesbo book that did this. The back said that a certain character died, so I naturally thought that this was something that happened very early on. It actually happened halfway through and would have been a complete shock if I hadn't known. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madeleine Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 the fifth Game of Thrones book does that as well, so don't look at the back of it if you haven't read the previous books! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 The worst spoiler for me occurred when I was halfway through reading my first Agatha Christie novel, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. I was browsing through a secondhand bookshop around that time and came across a book called Who Killed Roger Ackroyd? I picked it up to read the blurb and found the twist written right there in the first sentence of the blurb. I mean, I suppose I should have known it was a possibility, but the blurb could easily have been written without mentioning the actual twist! It totally ruined the book for me. Coincidentally, I found this book at the bookfair the other day and I decided to buy so I can read the actual analysis of the book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.