Avid Readers: Do you read Prologues and Epilogues??

[Skywalker]

I know there are quite a few readers here and I have seen this question brought up lately on several writer and reader forums that I visit. I admit I am an aspiring novelist and so I am very curious about reading habits. It has been said that 90% of readers don't read prologues, and that shocked me. My book has both a prologue and an epilogue darn it!

Tell me, do you read them??

 

[aprilgail2]

I read all the time...I can go through numerous books every week adn to be honest I never read the prologues and sometimes I read the epilogues but not normally!

 

[teacherforhi]

I do read them, but don't understand why they're there. If you need some exposition, just make it Chapter 1. If you need some wrap-up, make it the last chapter.

 

[highland3]

I always have good intentions and may start... but that's usually as far as it gets.

 

[lsyorke]

Nope! I read at least 5 books a week and don't read prologues. If it's important to the story, then put it IN the story.

 

[MAKmom]

Yes I always read them. It is part of the book.

 

[liamsaunt]

Of course! I always read both!! If I skip something, anything in the book I might miss a clue or event. I always assumed that authors used the prologue to set up the scene in chap. 1--maybe something that happened a long time ago that has direct bearing on the story. The epilogue wraps things up, maybe many years later--like seeing how a parent's decision impacted a child once they were grown.

Of course, I read the credits too, and the acknowledgments, and even the isbn page, so maybe I am not the best person to ask!

PS: OP, what genre is your book? Just curious.

 

[GoofyDad869]

I never realized that prologues & epilogues WEREN'T part of the story. I always read them (I also read footnotes too so call me weird)...

 

[Deb in IA]

Yes, I do. I feel I'm missing part of the story if I don't.

I also read the notes on the dust jacket.

 

[kpm76]

Yes, I always read both. In fact, after reading the prologue of a book I started last night, I decided it was not what I expected and moved on to another book. I know, I should have given it a chance but my time is so limited that I can't spend time reading a book that did not grab me in the first 20 pages.

 

[pearlieq]

On the first reading, I will skip the prologue about 50% of the time. Usually I'm just to excited to get into the story! I will always read them on subsequent readings, and I actually find them more meaningful after having read the whole work.

I always read epilogues!

 

[tinkamom]

Yes, I read them. Why wouldn't you?

 

[StitchIsARedSoxFan]

Yep, read it all. Prologue usually sets up the story with info that isn't really "Chapter-worthy" while the Epilogue wraps up the whole thing...hopefully. Of course, I also read dust jacket synopsis and Author Bio as well.

 

[lindalinda]

I read them. I also read any maps, charts, family trees....anything there, I read it.

 

[jenks0718]

I usually skip the prologue, but I do read the epilogue

 

[Skywalker]

PS: OP, what genre is your book? Just curious.

My book is a romance. It is not the first book I've written, but it is the one I feel in my heart might just go the distance.

I am not understanding people who don't read prologues and epilogues! Ugh! I am trying so hard to get this and I just don't. Maybe I should just make my prologue say "Chapter 1", but in my heart it is properly a prologue because it starts a couple of years before the "main" story, but I want people to read it, and it is essential to a full enjoyment of the events. If it wasn't, I would have deleted it like I did the other 80,000 unnecessary words during my editing process. LOL.

 

[Marseeya]

Absolutely! I'm surprised that there are people who don't.

The only thing I don't read are the long acknowledgements where the author thanks everbody, up to and including the first grade teacher. I glance through it for tidbits, but that's about it.

 

[caitycaity]

ALWAYS.

 

[Briarmom]

Absolutely. They are part of the story! I am surprised that people DON'T read them.

 

[Skywalker]

Will anybody else weigh in? Pretty please?