Do you read the inside flaps that describe a book before or while reading it?
I haven’t done a Booking Through Thursday question in a long time! And the answer is no, I don’t. I really, really hate spoilers. I prefer to know pretty much nothing about a book going into it. I used to read the flaps or back cover because I didn’t have an effective way of getting recommendations, but I am always irritated when I’m halfway through a book and the events on the back cover haven’t happened yet. I prefer to go into a book knowing virtually nothing about its contents. Maybe a general idea of what it’s about, where it’s set, that sort of thing, really as vague as possible. I like to know that others thought it was good and worth a read, but really books work best when they’re left to unfold on their own.
I do occasionally read the flaps after I’ve finished, but I generally find that they’re getting more spoilery as time goes on. Maybe that’s just because my hatred of spoilers is growing, but this is why I write my own summaries. I try to give as little away as possible, but I know other people would probably like to know what a book is about, so I do continue to include that first paragraph of summary.
This is my first time participating in this meme, hosted by Alyce of At Home with Books. Since it’s Edith Wharton’s turn on the Classics Circuit and I’ll be bringing you a review of one of her books, The Custom of the Country, later this month, I decided to feature my favorite, The Age of Innocence.
I adore this book. I was frustrated in high school by a lack of new reads. I liked mostly the same stuff as I do now, but there was a whole lot more romance and fantasy reading going on then, as I needed a lot of comfort with all the angst and drama that goes hand in hand with teenagerhood. I think eventually I wanted something a little deeper. I don’t remember how my teacher recommended Edith Wharton to me. I read a lot of great books through her senior year; she gave us both fascinating modern literature and a great selection of classics, and I often wish I owned more of the books we read that year so I could give them a try as an older reader. I know I started with Ethan Frome and loved that. Then I moved on to this, and I really liked it on the first reading. Eventually we had to choose a book to write a research paper on, and I decided to go with this one.
It was only digging through it and isolating its themes that I completely fell in love with it. This happens to me a lot, because apparently whenever I pick a book apart and it holds up to my digging, it becomes a favorite. I love the image of the restrained New York society and how Newland is inspired so deeply by Ellen Olenska to realize just how stifled he is, but struggles with the conflict between his passion and his duty. Edith Wharton’s writing is beautiful and brings me deeply into this novel every time I read it. And, this may constitute a spoiler so skip the rest of this paragraph if you haven’t read it, I love the ending, although I was devastated the first time. I thought it was perfect for the story as a teenager and that view has remained the same. It’s a gorgeous, tragic novel that simply astonishes me. It’s a book that I want to start again every time I read it.
This is actually one of my top two of all time. The other is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. This is why I should read more classics!
I have a different opinion!
http://cutlex.wordpress.com/2010/01/14/flapper-or-not-a-flapper/
You’re right, the flaps do give too much away. I usually read it after I finish the book.
I don’t think I’ve ever read The Age of Innocence but I have seen the movie. Maybe I should try the book…I don’t remember much about the movie.
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Booking Through Thursday – The Back Flap Issue =-.
I can’t remember an inside flap or back cover that totally spoiled a book for me, I am fortunate.
.-= Nise’´s last blog ..BTT – To Flap or Not To Flap =-.
I don’t read jackets and a lot of times I also skip reading a review until I have finished reading a book. I hate being spoiled now too. I look for the same vague information that you do to determine if I want to read. I also write summaries so that the main story can be discovered by the reader as they read along.
.-= Nicole´s last blog ..Out of Twenty: 14 Questions for Karen White =-.
We have very similar views. Mine is here: http://www.rundpinne.com/2010/01/giveaway-8th-confession-by-james.html
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Booking Through Thursday, 14 January =-.
I am so, so sorry I left the wrong link in my caffeine depleated state. The correct link: http://www.rundpinne.com/2010/01/booking-through-thursday-14-january.html
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Booking Through Thursday, 14 January =-.
The Age of Innocence is on of my favorites too!
I am like you–I tend to stay away from reading back flaps and the like. I may do that before buying a book, but by the time I actually read it, I have generally forgotten what the summary said so I usually go into a book not knowing what to expect.
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Book Review: Ethan Frome =-.
There are so many classics out there that I have NOT read, and unfortunately, I will probably not have time to read in my lifetime. However, The Age of Innocence is one that I will make time for – mostly because of all the glowing blogger book reviews.
.-= Molly´s last blog ..Review: The Case of the Missing Books =-.
I have never read The Age of Innocence before and now I wonder why. I need to pick it up – or maybe I already have a copy. I’ll have to check. Thanks for the recommendation.
I’m with you on spoilers. I want to have a very general idea about what I’m going to read and that’s about it.
I haven’t read anything by Edith Wharton, and prior to blogging I hadn’t heard very much about her writing at all. I guess I have a lot of catching up to do with reading the classics too.
.-= Alyce´s last blog ..My Favorite Reads – January 14 =-.
It’s pretty sad that I haven’t read this book, since I’ve loved everything else by Wharton, but I just bought a copy of it on Monday! So I am very excited!
Alayne – The Crowded Leaf.
.-= Alayne´s last blog ..Review: The Last Dickens by Matthew Pearl =-.
I flap when there’s a flap to flap but I read a lot of paperbacks so it’s not always possible! I like getting a little head start on what’s going on and usually find the summaries don’t give away too much.
I loved The Age of Innocence too. Wharton is one of those really top-shelf writers who can do no wrong as far as I’m concerned!
I’ve never actually read Wharton. I started reading Ethan Frome one time, but got side-tracked. And I know there’s a movie for Age of Innocence, but I’ve never watched it, though I don’t know why. Maybe I’ll make it a point to read some of her books next year.
As for flappin’ it, I don’t really read them much, either, and wonder if it’s the “not wanting to spoil it” thing as much as the ADD. I love reading a book and not knowing much about it, that way it’s all a surprise
.-= The Kool-Aid Mom´s last blog ..BTT ~ I’ll Flap You Silly! =-.
Flaps on fiction books usually do give part of the story away, but I often read the flaps when it’s nonfiction. I want to know more of what I’ll be getting into when it’s all facts.
You’ve made me want to reread AoI! :p I am also the only book blogger on the planet who doesn’t like Jane Eyre, lol. I’ve read it 3 times now, and each time enjoyed it less. Eek!
.-= Eva´s last blog ..White is for Witching (thoughts) =-.
I try to avoid spoilers too, so I don’t read the flaps either.
I feel like I need to read something by Edith Wharton now. I feel so under-read at times!
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..The Swan Thieves National Book Launch =-.
I looooooove The Age of Innocence, too, Meghan! My English teacher let us pick our own reads for American Lit, so I picked this one and something by Edgar Rice Burroughs. I sat down to read the weekly assignment for Age of Innocence, the first 30 pages, and literally did not get up from my seat until I had finished the whole thing. It is completely engrossing. The only part that I felt lagged was the begging of Part II, after Archer has married May. I was like, “What?!? Dude. I’m disappointed in you.” (I often talk to characters in books
As for the ending, it gutted me. I can see him not leaving May for Olenska, but after May dies? I felt like Wharton was deliberately cheating me out of a happy ending.
Anyway-I’m thinking of doing a classics-themed month later this year. Maybe you’d like to join me?
.-= heidenkind´s last blog ..Artsy Wankers, Yuppies, Blood, and Crises. =-.
When someone says a book is one of their all-time favorite especially in the top 2, I know I need to pick it up and read it! I picked Roman Fever and Other Stories for the circuit but I do plan on reading this soon.
.-= Vasilly´s last blog ..Library Loot 6 =-.
I’ve always been scared of this book, but if you love it so much I think I’d like it too! I do love Jane Eyre
I’m so glad that Edith Wharton won the Classics Circuit vote. I loved my novel for this tour and now I can pick all your brains for what to read next.
I hate reading the back or the flaps — I don’t like knowing much about a book before I read it.
I haven’t read Wharton for a long time — perhaps it’s time for a revisit.
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..Weekend Cooking: Chocolate by Max Brenner =-.
Well I certainly need to re-try this book. I have seen this around blogville a lot lately. I never saw the movie either.
.-= jennygirl´s last blog ..Review: The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry =-.
I’m the same way with jacket flaps and blurbs. I usually read them after I’ve finished the book, just to see how the copywriter’s opinion of the plot jives with what actually happened, but I avoid them beforehand because I don’t want to run into any spoilers.
I do glance at them from time to time, though, and the other day I came across a book with copy that seemed to cover the entire plot, minus the climax. I’m stymied. What ever happened to hooking the reader and leaving them in suspense?
.-= Memory´s last blog ..TBR Additions =-.
I only read the jacket flaps after I finish the book because I want to be pretty much be surprised by what’s in front of me. I agree that there are too many spoilers inside the flaps these days. I just ordered Custom of the Country after a member of my book club praised it to me. I hope I enjoy it as much as you did!
.-= zibilee´s last blog ..Samson’s Walls by Jud Nirenberg =-.