Janet Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 I thought we had a thread on this before but I've searched and I can't find it! Inspired by a couple of comments about The Scarlet Letter, I was wondering - do you read the introduction in a book? These usually (but not always) come in the 'Classics' and are quite often very long! So, do you read or skip?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted March 5, 2009 Author Share Posted March 5, 2009 I'm guessing that 'sometimes' will be the most popular answer, but there may be people who always do - or make a point of never reading it! I answered 'sometimes'. It largely depends on how long it is. Usually I skip it because I can't wait to get stuck into the book, but when I was doing A level English, I found the introductions could prove invaluable background reading! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDR124 Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 As INTRODUCTION, never. It's not a stated rule for me, but I prefer generally to read it after I've read the book in question. I want to read the book possibily before anyone told me how he think it is or how I am supposed to read it in order to understand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Occasionally I read the introduction - I'm currently reading the intro to A Short History of Nearly Everything, but most times, especially in history books, I skip the introduction Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 I used to always read the introductions but I find myself skipping them lately. I tell myself that I'll come back to it later, but by the time I've finished the book, I tend to just want to move on, not go back to the beginning and read another 30 pages or something. The intro to my current book is 47 pages long. Needless to say, I skipped it and went straight into the story. I doubt I'll go back to read the intro, which bothers me a little because if I haven't read everything in the book I feel as though I can't really say that I've read it. And I've read spoilers in intros before, so that puts me off reading them, certainly before I've read the book itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charm Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 I always read the intro . I feel as if I'm missing something if I don't read everything in the book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Sometimes for me. It depends on the book, my mood, and the reason I am reading the book. If it's for pleasure, and I want to milk the experience, or I have a particular interest in the author then I will definitely read the introduction. If it's a quick read for pleasure but I want to get straight into the read, or I am not enamoured by the author then it's a big no. Finally, if I'm reading for academic or professional reasons then I will read the lot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaraPepparkaka Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Sometimes, but not very often. If it's short and if it seems to be interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 I think I read the introduction to the Penguin Classics imprint of The War of the Worlds, but as a general rule - if I haven't read a book before - I would skip the intro and then go back and read it afterwards (I prefer to read books without someone elses opinions rolling around in my head!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 I usually scan it before I read the book then go back and read it properly if I enjoyed he book a whole lot. If I wasn't so bothered about the book, I don't bother with going back to the introduction. So, "sometimes" is my answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Dawkins Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Always. I dont always relish the prospect but plough through them anyway:blush: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucybird Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 No, occasionally I go back and read it if the book has been good though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freewheeling Andy Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 I've got to the stage of not reading the introduction to novels like the Penguin Classics and so on, by people who aren't the authors. Because they read more like boring A-level essays. I will, though, almost always read the intro to a non-fiction book, because it's a deliberate scene setting by the author for what's going to follow. Occasionally, if a quick glance suggests it's short and worthwhile, I will read a novel's intro - sometimes it does garner useful information for the stuff to come. But usually it's just very dreary and annoying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilde Lily Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 I usually read the intro. if the author has written it. If it's a "scholarly" introduction by someone else I skip it....I dodn't want the book interpreted for me. I may or may not go back and read it when I've finished the book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bethany725 Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 I let my mood at the time decide this one for me, so I marked "Sometimes".. I don't have a strong aversion to reading intros, nor do I read every one. In a similar vein, my copy of Jane Eyre has a character list at the front, which I was so excited about when I first got the book. Then I sat down to actually read the book, and realized that the "character list" is actually a major spoiler in this book. I am NOT kidding when I say that it listed Mr. Rochester as Jane's love interest, who secretly is harboring another wife, but finally produces a child with Jane." I mean those weren't the EXACT words, but I don't have the book with me, and that's the exact info it gave me. It TOLD me Rochester and Jane have a child together! And this was at the FRONT OF THE BOOK! Needless to say, after reading that description, I quickly moved past the ever-so-helpful "character list" and angrily started the book. I was tempted to tear it out, but I just couldn't do it to a book.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucybird Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Wow talk about spoiling a book! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Bethany: That's so annoying! Same kind of thing happened to me: When I started reading Anna Karenina I was only too glad to have the character list in the beginning of the book because I was afraid that I wouldn't learn all the Russian names without it. Boy did I change my mind about that when I learned that there was no Kitty Levin in the beginning, but there was to be one later in the book. After that I stopped reading intros before reading the actual novel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDR124 Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Bethany: That's so annoying! Same kind of thing happened to me: When I started reading Anna Karenina I was only too glad to have the character list in the beginning of the book because I was afraid that I wouldn't learn all the Russian names without it. Boy did I change my mind about that when I learned that there was no Kitty Levin in the beginning, but there was to be one later in the book. After that I stopped reading intros before reading the actual novel. I find it annoying even with trailers: I can't stand them making a sort of pr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Andrea~ Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Sometimes, although I would never read the intro first - they always contain spoilers. Which is stupid really - they should at least put a warning in them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rawr Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 I love to read every one more or less, it helps me settle into the book and the atmosphere and such if that makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanC_84 Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Always. I just can't find it in me to proceed if I haven't read the introduction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Although I voted "Sometimes", it's really more of an "Occasionally"! I've just read Shakespeare's Wife by Germaine Greer and as it's an academic style book I did start with the introduction, but usually, I'd probably avoid it. I have read a few, but I often find they take enjoyment away from novels, so I don't bother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 I always read the intro . I feel as if I'm missing something if I don't read everything in the book. I agree Charm, I always read the introduction, my only problem is with the ones that just tend to name and thank everyone involved, i tend to skim over those. Another question, how many people also read all the page footnotes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadenza Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 I generally don't read the introduction unless I think it is going to be interesting or written by a person I've actually heard of! Another question, how many people also read all the page footnotes? It depends what sort of subject it is. If I want to know some added information I'll read it but if I don't I won't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angel Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 I don't tend to read the intro - I prefer to launch into the main book as I like to form my own opinion and thoughts about the novel. Reading it in depth reminds me of my exam days............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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