Do you choose a book by its cover and do you read the last page first?

Question

My fella says its not right as it spoils the story

Answer 1

I look at the cover and read the fly info, but I NEVER read the last page. I don't look for Christmas presents or ask questions about surprises either. I enjoy the surprise.

Answer 2

I NEVER read the last page first. That would spoil the story, and somehow feel like a lack of respect for all the work an author has put into writing and crafting the book.

However, although people say you should never judge a book by its cover, I often find if the cover really grabs my attention, then there's a good chance the book will too.

Reading the review on the back cover might not help much - after all, it is written by the publisher, and they're hardly an unbiased opinion!

If a book is by an author I'm not familiar with I always read the first page to see if it grabs me. This is what I believe: the first sentence should MAKE you want to read the 2nd sentence. The first paragraph, should MAKE you want to read the 2nd paragraph. And the first page should MAKE you want to read the 2nd page. If that works ... it's a good sign; I'll buy the book ... and, usually, I'm happy with it!

Oddly enough, the last book I read, ("Justin Thyme") had an AMAZING front cover, (an ambigram so that the title read exactly the same even when the book was turned upside-down), AND a "grabbing" first sentence:
"Justin Thyme chose not to celebrate his birthday."

That intrigued me ... I HAD to read on ...
I wasn't disappointed!

Answer 3

I choose a book by the author, recommendation, the blurb, the subject and i do look at the cover but it doesnt carry that much weighting with me.

And no, i never read the last page first - i tried once and ended up confused for a while bu then so disappointed cos i knew how it was going to end that i really didnt have the motivation to want to read the rest of the book. Kinda spoiled it for me so i wont do it now!!

Answer 4

If the cover has a blurb on it, I will definitely read that as knowing the basic premise of a story can keep me going. I don't read the last page of the book, mainly because a) yes, it spoils the book, and b) it probably doesn't make sense without reading the rest of the story.

Answer 5

I never buy a book by its cover - Author respectability and the enjoyment I've had of reading the series, or maybe the fact I've just heard its a great laugh.....but I have read the last pages of the book....especially with Harry Potter.

Don't start flaming me though. I read the last Harry Potter book in about 4hrs - so why did I read the last page? Because I could. It sounds sad but that's how I read my books....

Mind you, reading the back page never helped when I used to read the Pick-Your-Own-Adventure Books..... lol

Answer 6

Some book covers can be off putting and not very appealing .... i read the back notes to find out about the book and never do i read the last page, it really spoils the whole book and u cant take it back once u have read it ....

Answer 7

I don't read the last page as I don't want to know how it ends or ruin any twists or surprises in the story. I listen to or read reviews. I read the quotes on the cover and if it's a critic or paper/magazine I respect and if there are many glowing quotes and a subject I'm into, I would probably buy it or get it from a library.

Answer 8

A cover will intrigue me but it has to really key into my specific taste, not as much as a title will though. I do read the last page on occassion to check, (a) how long the book is, and (b) the writing styl.e maintained. often I wont be able to understand what I've read though as I dont know enough about the characters and by the time I get there I will have forgotten what I glanced at.

Answer 9

I think the title is what usually draws my attention to begin with, but I never read the last page first. I will only read what is on the back cover

Answer 10

the summary of the story (you know usually in the jacket of the book or at the back cover) is what I read. And the cover too. I don't like reading the last tho. It does kinda give the whole point away...