Most people read books. I eat them. They are delicious. They are like little papery snacks or entire feasts. It’s rather like gnawing a tree trunk, but you get the added bonus of practising literacy.
But, like most meals, there is always a GLORIOUS section and a less-glorious section. I don’t know about you, but I am not a fan of certain vegetables. Or, well, any vegetables. Pumpkin is the exception. And I’m a big fan of that moment when dessert comes.*
I feel like books are similar to this meal-eating experience.** We all have our favourite sections. Unless the entire book is exceptionally amazing, but let’s face it — that is a rare, five-star occasion. Some people like finales, others love to see how plots develop in the middle, and some people are infatuated with those first sentences.
But, the real question is…
WHAT IS THE MOST DELICIOUS PART OF A BOOK FOR YOU?
* When I rule the world, I’ll abolish this archaic practise of meat-first-dessert-last. Dessert should really be first. What if the zombie apocalypse happens in the middle of dinner?? Do you want to say, “I was just eating broccoli when a zombie ate my left elbow.” NO. You want to say, “I was working my way through chocolate fudge mint ripple ice cream on waffles with rainbow sprinkles when a zombie swallowed my sister”. So much more satisfying.
** Although, let’s admit it, most topics can be compared easily and efficiently to food.
Now I can hear you asking, “Well, what’s your favourite part, Cait?” and I’m glad you asked because that’s obviously the most important question here. This blog is, after all, entirely about me. So, let’s have a quick analysis of how I feel about the basic 3 parts of a meal.
I mean, story. THE BASIC PARTS OF A STORY, DANGIT.
I do not have 3 course meals and this is actually a book blog, not a food blog, contrary to what it seems.
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THE BEGINNING (BASICALLY THE FIRST 100-PAGES)
I do so love a good, sparky beginning. I like beginnings that pop with a hooky first-sentence. I like being introduced to the characters, those first moments of seeing their routines and actions. I like that tasty moment when the writing style starts to worm into your brain and you really feel in the story. I like that “AH HA, I SEE WHERE YOU’RE GOING WITH THIS” feeling as the plot reveals all it’s devious tentacles. I like the newness! The excitement!
THE MIDDLE
Well, I have to admit, I get dubious at middles. Sometimes plot lags a bit. Characters are being moved into places for the finale, but they’ve got to change countries or grieve or learn how to stab-them-in-the-face-with-the-pointy-end-of-their-sword. Things can get tedious. It can be written excellently, of course, but truly — middles are where I lag. I’m always hyper aware of the page numbers and how long I’ve been reading and if I can squeeze in a few pages before I must run off and play with my dragons. Middles just remind me I’m no longer in the juicy beginning and I’m still nowhere near the end.
THE ENDING (BASICALLY LAST 100 OR SO PAGES)
I pretty much adore endings. Sometimes they go too super fast and I get lost and end up blinking blearily and going, “Well, what”. Which is awkward. I don’t even know what I did during the ending of Of Triton but when my sister was discussing it with me we had completely different ideas of what happened. (To be honest, I think I napped? But I digress.) Endings are EXCITING. Endings are powerful. Consequences are about to be dished out and those last few pages are fluttering gorgeously. I love finishing books because a) I can go take photos of them, which is my intensely beloved hobby, and b) I get to review!! I LOVE REVIEWING, and c) I get to reorganise my overcrowded bookshelves (which is slightly frustrating but mostly fun) and shove the book into it’s new display home. I get a huge sense of completion, when finishing a book, and I can cross it off my TBR. It feels good.
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I’m torn. I love starting and finishing…probably more than is natural. But, if I really had to pick — I’d say beginnings. There is a huge chance that my intensely flailing interest has waned by the time I reach the end of a book anyway. I have a very short attention span. (This is why I read so fast, okay?!) And I often feel finales are more rushed and splattery, while beginnings are crisp and defined.
But, truly, the whole book is delicious. Books are basically like dessert (if you are the kind of person who likes to eat trees) and I do so like dessert.
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Bad books: I like the ending because it means I’ve finished
Awesome books: I LOVE the middle because we’ve met all the characters and now I’m just part of this lovely story world, and the ending is so far away that I don’t have to worry about it finishing (or people dying…unless it’s Harry Potter or something).
Even more awesome books: ALL OF IT OF COURSE 😀
Also: totally agree about dessert coming first.
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This is a really good point! I actually really love the rising action JUST after the inciting incident, when everything’s falling over the ledge and I’m screaming internally “LET IT HAPPEN LET IT HAPPEN”. But then every book starts at different points, so it varies across books. But generally speaking this would be the beginning, since so many books are starting closer to or even after the inciting incident nowadays. If I’m not interested, I just walk away. I’d rather stack up my DNF than let my TBR fester!
BUT THE ENDING. It’s so important that everything falls into pieces nicely otherwise I’ll just weep at all the wasted potential of the beginning/premise. I mean, the exact ending itself needn’t be exactly perfect but the climax has to make me feel like everything was worth it. OTHERWISE I FROWN.
We should just have dessert first and middle and last and everywhere.
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Of course this blog is all about you. How dare anyone think otherwise. I like middles, because those are where you really get to know the characters and where you see the emotional repercussions of the sadness/plot/violence around them and see their relationships (and there is tension and you don’t know where the plot is going yet and it’s all exciting. But I like beginnings too. I pretty much like all parts of books because boooooookssss. (and yes, I meant that in the same way that zombies allegedly say brains) But your analysis was interesting. I know what you mean about plots lagging in the middle but in a good book that doesn’t happen anyway 🙂
Hmmmmm…. I don’t know what my favourite part of a book is… I couldn’t say a section exactly, but I really like dialogue, plot and characters. And I also like the beginning before the characters get messed up and sad and angry, but you get to know them and see a glimpse of their life before things go awry and terrible.
My order would be middle, end, then beginning. For the fact that the beginning is where it drags a bit because everything is being introduced. I enjoy the middle and end so much because there is more action happening.
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I just…love books!
The Beginning: We get to meet the characters, get a feel for the writing style, etc.
The Middle: Stuff really starts happening, we get to figure out where the story is going.
The End: Everything wraps up/starts coming together.
And I just love it all! The beginning is so full of the excitement of getting acquainted with the story and the ending is full of the apprehension of knowing the book is ending. And the middle is all about the lead-up to the ending.
Basically, I just love books. (could you tell?)
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FINALLY SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT DESSERT SHOULD COME FIRST. Do you also believe that humans have two separate stomachs, one for sweet and one for savoury? Because I feel that this makes everything make a whole heap more sense, but my Husband thinks I am crazy… DISCUSS.
I am in complete agreement EXCEPT for those very rare books where the middle is just as delicious because I have come to know the characters and I just want to spend all of my time with them. Stiefvater is a prime example for me of books what I loves every single page and never want to end.
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I CAN’T CHOOSE. The beginning is like the part where I “determine” whether I like the book or not, so of course I like the beginning. However, I also like the ending since the twist and all are usually in there. Also, the ending usually have A LOT OF FEELS, which I like.
But, if I have to choose, I’d probably choose the ending. It’s much more interesting for me. Also, it means I can cross the book from my always-growing tbr xD
YES. You really have to make the dessert come first. Who wants to eat vegetables when you can eat a chocolate cake?
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I am a middle to end person. The beginnings of books usually take me so long to get through because I am not totally invested yet. I will put it down, pick it up, put it down – you get it. But once I am in I will fly through it.
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My favorite part would be the first part! If it’s not too gripping, I end up not finishing a book.
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Well, there are SO MANY reasons why I would pick finales to be my favorite, but gah, I completely understand where you’re coming from, Cait, beginnings – certainly those that are fresh and beautiful and awe-inspiring and engaging…now those. Those are the beginnings that would rank high on my list. Lovely discussion, and I want to meet your dragons. How many do you have? I want a silver one whom I can name Butterfly.
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Oh dearest me, I love this post. Firstly, I whole-heartedly agree on that eat-dessert-before-meal idea. I mean, zombie apocalypse aside (because it really is the most likely), anything could happen to keep you from eating desert–the roof could cave in, the floor could cave in, your sister could steal it, you could have a heart attack, aliens could invade, the toaster could catch fire, etc… Life is too uncertain to delay dessert. And I like your analysis of the three parts of books. I can’t decide which I like best, because sometimes/frequently I get bored with getting to know the characters–I want to get to the interesting plot stuff, and I don’t like info dumping. It drives me nuts. I breeze through the first 150 pages though, before I slow down a little. I do like the middle for the most part because that’s where the plot really picks up and progresses (I mean, in The Hunger Games, Katniss doesn’t even step into the arena until midway through the book–and the arena bit is my favorite bit). But I agree, stuff can lag and characters can get annoying, and if the book is too long I might get distracted by invading zombies. And endings–I like endings, but usually I’m rushing then because I want to be finished so I can move on to the next book. And sometimes I can get confused as to what’s happening–or I can get disappointed because the ending isn’t what I expected/wanted. But I do like rearranging my bookshelves in order to squeeze on that new addition. So probably I prefer middles, then beginnings, and then ends. But ask me another time when I’m in another mood and I’ll give you another answer. (Actually, what am I saying? The most delicious part of the book is the paper. Or the ink. Or the cover.)
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Another AMAZING post Cait, I love your ingenuity and enthusiasm!
I’m with you on this one – beginnings and endings are the best, although endings often leave me with a mixture of emotions: excited because of the usual rapid-fire way things go; but immensely sad when I realize it’ll be months (maybe years) before the next installment (Ember in the Ashes, anyone?).
And there’s some books that are just excellent – or delicious I should say – all the way through!
Darn, now I’m hungry! 😀
Great post!
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I AM HUNGRY TOO. I didn’t think through this post very well. XD HA (I’m most especially hungry for dessert, to be honest..) AHEM. But anyway. UGH. That is so true about endings of series. Especially if it’s a cliffhanger. It’s like welcome to the torture.
BTW. GUESS WHO JUST GOT EMBER IN THE ASHES????? *PARTIES*
OH YES! You are going to LOVE Ember in the Ashes! It’s so AMAZING! 😀
Brett Michael Orr recently posted…Instant Lookback (#1)
Cait, you and I have very similar feelings about our favourite parts of enjoyment in a book. It all depends on some books of course, and there are the exceptions when the beginning is a bit slow, and things start picking up and getting rich and exciting midway; I always find it particularly so with classic books – I think the middle is often my favourite part with classical literature – they just start getting so rich and yummy and exciting with so much character stuff going on, and yeah, I get used to the writing style after sometimes a slow, tedious start to the book and things are glorious!
However, with almost all of the modern novels I have read, the beginning and the end parts are some of the bestest indeed, so exciting and thrilling and crispy and emotional. Sometimes the endings disappoint me, after a glorious start, and I feel let down and go about sulking for a while ;). Other times, the beginning I am all dubious and something happens and I am won over, and the ending breaks my heart with beauty and pain and OH MY GINGERSNAPS! – and yeah, the middle often lags and gets boring. And yes, I most often notice that I am reading “pages” in the early middle section of a book, but I forget about it when I am in the last 100 if the book is in anyway good :D.
Nice post, Cait!
I like how you eat books. I do think books as food a large part of the time. Food for the imagination, heart, soul and mind, which is just about as important as food for the stomach (though probably, not quite as important). But btw, I LOVE’s my vegetables. They are sooo YUMMY! (I guess I’m fond of them like the classics, no?).
UGH. Endings that let you down ARE THE WORST. XD I sometimes feel the build up (like the middleish part) will promise such such great things, but when I get there…meh. Hence I have a mixed relationship with endings. ALTHOUGH. Endings are what lingers in the brain, right? And that’s important. Buuuuug beginnings are MA BABIES. So crispy. So intriguing. SO MANY QUESTIONS. *flips pages furiously*
You can have all my vegetables. ALL OF THEM.
So many of my Goodreads reviews say that the last 100 pages earned an extra star that it’s actually embarrassing. I’m a real sucker for a good ending. I mean, I love the rush of starting a new book, but the last 100 pages tend to be where I get hooked. Shiver did that to me. Blue Lily, Lily Blue, too.
THAT IS NOT EMBARRASSING. Actually the ending can totally change my opinion of a book. IT CAN. Although I always feel kind of guilty because if the beginning sucked…gah. But an ending lingers, you know? And that’s important.
I think that for the best of books, the middle is the best part. In the beginning I am just being introduced to everything, so I do not have emotional investment in the characters and plot. I spend too much of my brain power wondering… is this worth reading?
The end is great, but so often something tragic happens and it doesn’t go as I was planning it to and then I just wanna go punch the author until I realize that I really am not the one who should be deciding the fate of the story world so I just sit in a humph. Or worse, the book is so good that as I see the to-read pages thinning out I begin to freak out – “WHAT THERE IS ONLY THREE PAGES LEFT? BUT EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN CANNOT HAPPEN IN THREE PAGES!”
That is why, I like the middle. I mean, you know a book is fantastic when you are kept interested and on the edge of your seat THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH.
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I totally see why you like middles!! XD And endings can be brutal…or disappointing. Especially if the build up is more intense than the reveal, right?
For me, this really depends on the type of book. For actiony (definitely a word) books, like fantasy, sci-fi, and thrillers, the endings and the middle are pretty much always the best part. For them, the beginnings are filled with world-building and stuff like that, and mostly lack action. I am an action kind of girl. There has to be something happening to pique my interest, not just descriptions of everything the character sees. It is like the meat of a story. It is necessary to the meal, but it does not have the most pizzazz.
The middle is where all of the fun stuff happens. Relationships start, the evil villain concocts his plan, the characters start to solve (or be incredibly confused by) the mystery. It is like the mashed potatoes of the story (I love mashed potatoes. They are so universal and versatile and yummy, like middles.)
For me, endings are like the dessert. It is basically the best part. All of the action happens. The bad guy is (hopefully) defeated. Guns are shot, the gauntlet is thrown, and chaos ensues. And after everything, the characters (again, hopefully) live their happily ever after.
Thank you for the wonderful discussion. Now excuse me while I try to satisfy my craving for mashed potatoes.
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Actiony is so totally a word. It is exactly my kind of word. GO ACTIONY. HUZZAH.
Ahem.
But yesss…I agree it can be different from story-to-story. ABSOLUTELY. Like contemporaries are probably best for beginnings, and laggish (totally a word too) in the middle. And I agree the bigger, more epic, books take a while to get set up. That can be dry. 😐 I approve of the mashed potato analogy too, btw. FOOD ANALOGIES ARE BY FAR THE MOST SUPERIOR.
Ooh, this is a very tough question, Cait. I’d say that it really depends on the book, but for me, endings usually tend to be my favorite. Endings are where the story really picks up and I’m usually flipping the pages the fastest, desperate to see what happens. If the book is written well, it’s also where I reach the last page and get that resonant feeling that hints to a subtle message underneath the layers of plot and character and setting and worldbuilding, and makes me think about the book for days after finishing it. However, if we are completely detaching from this whole beginning, middle and end stuff and transition to character/plot/setting/writing, I would have to say that the writing element is almost always my favorite aspect of a story. I guess that’s a bit weird to some because it’s usually characters or plot that are favorites, but I love seeing different writing styles and just reveling in beautiful words. I suppose that’s why so many lyrical books end up becoming my favorites. I can’t get enough of gorgeous writing.
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I have a severe weakness for gorgeous writing too…although I’m probably more fussy. It has to be utterly EXCEPTIONAL. Sometimes too much purply beautiful writing gets…gah, it gets too confusing for me. I like things to be said plainly. But beautifully. *happy sigh*
I like endings, I DO, but I tend to flip those pages too fast and…gah. I often totally have no idea how books ended. The first time I read the Divergent books you couldn’t have even asked me to sum them up. The second time?! IT was like “OMG I DIDN’T REALISE THIS HAPPENED.” >_< I love them but clearly I wasn't paying attention. hehe.
I like the middle to the end because that’s where all the excitement is at:) Every now and then the beginning is fast pace, but typically it’s slower, so I prefer the middle and ending.
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It’s true!! Excitment IS building in the middles…yesssss. It is fun. XD
*nods* Very interesting… verrry interesting… Now that you mention it, books ARE like food, that never occurred to me O_O *hides*
I think my favorite part of the meal is the ending, I just love it when everything comes together so neatly and wonderfully and perfectly and sweetly and nicely :D… unless the book *cough* meal *cough* has a bad ending, then I cry… and that is when I prefer the wonderful beginnings 😀
Nice post, I will have to dwell on this… and … figure out… which one is the bestest… because that’s a word…
Ps: Your posts always make me laugh/smile/hungry… I JUST ate waffles and now I am hungry… XD
Have a great day Cait!!!
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Too true. *nods sagely with you* It’s like having a last bite of food and it’s GROSS instead of the awesome good taste you expected. After taste is important!! IT LINGERS. Bestest is totally a word.
But seriously. Waffles?! That suddenly is giving me a grave craving. THANKS FOR NOTHING. xDXD
This is really interesting. I’m not sure I’ve ever thought about it before. I think I like all parts, but my order would be:
1. Middles
2. Endings
3. Beginnings
I like a book to grab me RIGHTIMMEDIATELYNOW from the get go, and if it doesn’t I’m just waiting for it to get good. I don’t like slow beginnings, it feels like a chore if they’re slow. I have a rule with myself; I can only DNF a book if I’m yet to get to 100 pages. I am not wasting my time. But if I get past that, and I’m still meh… well. Got to really give it a chance, now.
Middles! Right in the thick of it all! The real meat of the book! (Look, Cait, I used a food analogy!) You know your characters, you know the basic plot, it’s all happening now! I enjoy trying to see if I can guess where it’s going to go! You’re up to your armpits in the story, and I love it!
Endings. Endings can be tricky. Endings can throw twists at you, and you have, “WOAH, I did not see that coming!” moments. Or everything just gets more intense as things build up to the climax of the story, and I like that tension! It’s exciting, you’re soon going to know everything! But endings also mean the book is over, and sometimes that’s really sad. Especially if it’s the end of the final book in a series. I’m not a fan of those endings. I don’t like the characters leaving me 🙁
ALSO! Cait, have you seen the movie Remember Me, with Robert Pattinson and Emilie de Ravin? Because she pretty much says what you did in your post when they’re at a restaurant and she orders dessert first! It’s something like, “I don’t want to have missed out on dessert if the apopcalypse comes,” or something to that effect. If you haven’t seen that movie, then that is weird! And also you should, because it’s awesome. 🙂
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I approve of your food analogy. :’)
Also I AHVE THE SAME RULE!! I refuse to dnf before 100-pages (on the rare occasion that I decide there is no hope and I might as well eat a cacti instead of reading the book) but I agree that beginnings have a tendency to be rough. 😐 I’M GLAD YOU LIKE MIDDLES!! We are basically completely opposite, but THAT IS STILL COOL. And also, agreed about the ending. If the twist is done right? Omg, I am so in. The ending is usually where my lingering feelings come from. So if it’s a sucky beginning and an AMAZING ending, I’ll probably still rate the book high. *nods*
OMG I HAVE NOT SEEN REMEMBER ME. I THINK I SHOULD. IT SOUNDS LIKE IT’LL SPEAK TO ME ON A SPIRITUAL LEVEL. We used to walk by this store that had a SIGN in the window saying “Life Is Short: Eat Dessert First”. I loved that sign.
Hmm . . . that’s an interesting question. I think I like beginnings best also (especially a brilliant first line), but a thoroughly satisfying ending is also, um, thoroughly satisfying. xD I like endings that end somewhat happy but not neatly, if that makes sense.
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That makes perfect sense, actually. I’m mostly opposed to completely tie-it-in-a-bow-perfectly endings, because they never seem to be realistic, you know?! I’m okay with the devastating ones though. Mwhaha ha. AHEM.
I think it’s a tie between beginnings and endings. Beginnings ’cause they’re what draw me in, endings ’cause they’re the ones that tend to pack the biggest emotional punch, if that makes sense.
And dessert coming first? Yeeessss. You have my vote for ruler of the world.
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GOOD. I have lots of votes for World Ruler at the moment, which is fabulous because all I need to do is promise food and everyone agrees with me. #DessertfirstandCaitforWorldRuler
OH, ENDINGS. Endings are delicious, you know? The grand finale. But then, beginnings are often amazing – like the *first bite* of carrot cake. But yeah, the middles – sometimes tough to get through.
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YES THE FIRST BITE. *craves carrot cake because, well, you mentioned it* I often feel like middles are sometimes just killing time?? Not always, of course, but sometimes.
I DEFINITELY have to agree with you, Cait! It’s tough for me to choose between the ending and the beginning, too. I mean, if perhaps it’s the last book of my favorite series, then I’ll definitely want to devour the ending more, but normally I’m more drawn to the beginning. If a book starts of STRONGLY, then it gives you a sense of what to expect as the book goes on. AND it makes it so much easier to get attached to the characters!
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YESSSSS. I feel like those first few chapters really set the tone and style and quality, you know?? And that then gives me a huge indication of if I’ll enjoy the book. XD
Gosh it’s so hard to choose! This is so hard because it normally depends on the book for me, sometimes I only like only like one of them (beginning/middle/end) or I like only two of them because maybe the ending really went southwards and the crickets start chirping during that awkward silence of finishing a book that had a bad ending, and sometimes I like all of them! But as you said that is a rare, five star occasion. So I think if I think the book is okay I’ll prefer the beginning because it’s that place where sometimes you don’t really know if you like the book or not. And if it’s a good book that I’ll most probably like the ending more?.. Hmm I don’t know actually. But if the book is phenomenal then obviously I normally love EVERYTHING, and normally if it’s that’s good then I’ll most probably start flailing around like a mad person and try and figure out who of my friends have read it so I can at least try and stop having to contain all those FEELS, but I guess that’s what review is for 😀 (it’s why I love it ) Awesome post, you always make me laugh! XD
Oh oh true, though, I didn’t think of that…nearer the middle/ending you do have a better idea of if you like the book or not. TRUE. Endings usually have me thinking, “Umm, is it GOOD or is it NOT. I DON’T EVEN KNOW.” But for some reason I still love them because it’s fresh and exciting. ^_^
REVIEWS ARE LIFE WHEN IT COMES TO NEEDING-TO-FLAIL-AT-ENDINGS.
I’m ALL about the endings! So many books I’ve boosted a star rating because the ending was good, even when the beginning and middle were completely boring. (Maybe I’ll post one of those on my blog). I can’t believe beginnings are your favorite! For me, they’re just a setup to the juice of the story, and sometimes they’re hard to read but they’re especially hard to write.
Endings can totally change my feelings about a book too. HAHA. WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT AND SLIGHTLY WEIRD, AMIRITE?!
I like your thought process here ;). I personally like endings. There have been occasions where I’m not really feeling a book and then BAMMM. A good ending can make me completely forget about how much I didn’t like the beginning or middle. Plus, I love a good cliffhanger. I may hate the author at the time for the painful torment, but I secretly love it.
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Omg, I loooove those endings. The ones that totally blow you away and make you sit there with a book hangover?! I LOVE THEM TO THE MOON AND BACK. *hyperventilates quietly over gorgeous endings* The secret love of wicked cliffhangers? YUP. ME TOO.
I had to think about this a bit. I was inclined to say that I like beginnings… but then I realized that good beginnings often lead to disappointment. So many books have a wonderful, shiny, polished beginning that makes you say, “This is going to be so good!” And then either the middle is boring or the ending is just mediocre.
So I think a well-executed ending is probably my favourite. I’ve read some books where the amazing ending almost made up for the so-so beginning. And what makes an ending amazing? The fulfillment of the writer’s promise to the reader. If nasty things are hinted at, I want to see them play out; if the author chickens out, I’m going to be annoyed. If good things are hinted at, I want to see those, too… or you could also hit me with an amazing twist that makes me sit up straight in my chair and wonder what the heck just happened (but also think, “Oh, yeah, that makes sense because the author snuck that little hint in at around page 80”).
So, yeah. Endings.
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Yessss! I FEEL LIKE THAT TOO! Like the endings are just in a rush for the book to be over with?! And, as a writer, I get that. But it’s still kind of no excuse. *heavy sigh* And plus I often feel like the buildups are actually bETTER than the reveal. So the reveals often fall flat for me (or I predict them and that’s like my own brain spoiling the book for me -_-)
I think beginnings are my favorite for movies, but they always go so slow for me in books. But sometimes endings go too fast and are disappointing. The middle, though–the middle seems to be just right the majority of the time. Maybe between 50% to 75% of the way through the book. That section is gold. Usually.
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I’m a notorious non-movie-finisher. I DON’T KNOW HOW I DO IT. In books I have to finish them, but I almost always leave a movie 2/3rds through. >_> But I digress. Endings can totally go too fast and sometimes the build up is better than the reveal, you know?
YOU MAKE ME LAUGH SO MUCH, CAIT. This is completely creepy but I do adore you (and your blog).
Love/hate relationship. If there’s a massive cliffhanger and if the book has been written well where I am rooting for all of the characters, I will fondly hate the book. If it’s the last book of the series AND there weren’t major things that made me want to rip my hair out, I will bitterly love the book.
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Well isn’t this embarrassing. I MEANT LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH ENDINGS.
Hilary recently posted…Review: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
HAHA IT IS OKAY. I knew what you meant anyway. 😉 And yes. Fondly hating books is basically my life at this point. Is it just me or have cliffhangers gotten worse?! THEY ARE SO CRUEL. X) And yet I love them.
AWWW. IT ISN’T THAT CREEPY. And if it is, here, let me offer you creepy pineapple cake because you are such a fabulous thing.
The beginning is so important to me and all the other people out there with short attention spans and a mountain of exciting TBRs waiting on the desk next to them. If the book doesn’t just hook me and carry me off on some wild inciting event then I slow down or put the book down in the “hang in there, Joan” pile. I know we have to be introduced to the characters’ daily lives and learn the basics of the world first but that doesn’t mean it has to be slow & boring. It can still be explosive and when it is, then it’s the most delicious part for sure~
Ju @ Fictional Skylines recently posted…Reading Habits Tag
I basically love that you have a “hang in there, Joan” pile. I NEED ONE. Except I’m beholden by my crazy brain to read ALL of books. It kills. But DNF’ing makes me twitchy…but gah. Short attention span and mountain of a TBR? ME TOO.
I totally agree on a lot of this, although my absolute favorite part of a book (if it’s a good book) tends to be the middle that’s slowly climbing into a glorious ending.
PS: Is it just me or have your graphics and gif skills gotten even more fabulous lately?
Christina @ Fairy Skeletons recently posted…Publication News: Rose Red Review
To that P.S.: oh my goodness, yes! I laughed so hard at the first one of the baby eating the book. XDDD My new favorite gif.
Tracey recently posted…Father
I LIKE TO THINK THEY ARE CONSTANTLY GETTING MORE FABULOUS. *flips hair*
bahaha, but thank you, Christina. XD You are SO NICE. fajdslk I shall just award you with pineapple cake right now.
@Tracey: BEST. GIF. EVER I say.
Ooh, this is a goooood question. And I honestly don’t have a neat and tidy answer, because it all depends on the book! In general, I think I agree with your beginnings/endings love. Middles are the easiest to get wrong, because of pacing and stakes and whatnot. BUT sometimes the middles are positively delicious. And the endings wouldn’t be near as good if we didn’t have those middles building up to the climax. So basically I’m torn. I’LL JUST EAT IT ALL, OKAY? XD
(Just thought of something: there is the rare occasion where I actually love the middle MORE than the ending. Usually when there’s a whole lot of mystery and secrets and “unsolvable” conundrums…and then sometimes the revealed answers can be disappointing. Or not as interesting as they were when they were veiled in mystery. Thankfully, such a situation is rare.)
Tracey recently posted…Father
YES LET’S JUST EAT IT ALL. It’s really the only answer. I mean, there is no way to have one part of the book without the rest. THERE IS NO WAY.
I’m more leery of beginnings than you are. I like to fall in love on the first page (think Fangirl or Simon vs.), but often the stories take forever to set up. (I guess I do read a lot of high fantasy.) Middles, though, also tend to drag (especially in those high fantasies), and they are most likely to contain stressful drama. Endings can be amazing or heartbreaking or wonderful or disappointing or confusing. Sometimes I rush to finish because I can’t wait another second, and sometimes my reading slows to a crawl because I don’t want the book to end. Sometimes I just sit there and hug my book with a silly grin on my face (again, Fangirl or Simon vs.).
In conclusion, I am indecisive about all things except dessert.
AGH. Why are epic fantasies so slow in the beginning?! SERIOUSLY. That’s my biggest downside with Game of thrones. Like book 2 took basically 400-pages to get over the “beginning” and that ain’t okay. -_- Hopefully book 3 will be better than that. BUT GAHHH GOOD ENDINGS ARE LIFE. I also was talking about this with my sister and we botha greed that we rush endings and never remember the details because we’re so desperate to find out what happens. And I also get bored. >_< I feel so bad for admitting that!! But I just want new adventures all. the. time.
Out of the three I read, book 2 was my least favorite. It was such a slog. Book 3 was my favorite, though! I mean, I still didn’t like what was happening, but at least things *were* happening. So I think you’ll enjoy it. 🙂
I know what you mean. Even as I’m reading and loving one book, I’m also thinking, “WHAT WILL I READ NEXT GIVE ME MORE MORE MORE.” I just want to read all the books RIGHT NOW.
Everyone is telling me how good book 3 is!! I’m SCARED though. I just borrowed out Part 1 and it’s like 600-pages. AND IT’S ONLY PART 1?!! I feel like I should get double rewards on Goodreads for these or something. xD
I can’t believe you’re loving them as much as you are, considering how long and tedious the writing is! You definitely need double rewards. (And cake.)
OOH, fabulous post! But now I want dessert. Darn it, Cait! My favourite part of a book issss…I don’t actually know. I’m torn between the beginning and the end haha! I love beginnings because it’s a whole new writing style you’re experiencing, new characters, new stories, it’s just such a wonderful feeling, all those new possibilities! But I also love endings because you really know the characters by the end of the book and you’ve (hopefully) grown close to them and you’ve just been on an amazing adventure. UGH I CAN’T MAKE UP MY MIND.
Kyra recently posted…Review – Crash Into You – Katie McGarry
YOU ARE LIKE ME. We shall be torn together by those beginnings vs endings. Sometimes endings are awful because I have to say goodbye. *sobs* Or everyone dies. *hiccups* But if they’re awesome endings, then that’s what stays with me.
I’m all about the endings! The sadder, more heartbreaking, more cry-worthy the better. LIKE CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE ENDING TO ALLEGIANT. I don’t care what anyone says, BEST EVER. And books ARE like dessert, because dessert is the best kind of food to cry into. I’m a red velvet cake kind of girl, myself.
OMG OMG YES YES!! IT IS THE BEST EVER. LET ME CRY WITH YOU. IT WAS SO PERFECT I LOST MY MIND.
I MEAN. IT KILLED ME. I’m fairly certain I’m a vampire/ghost/zombie thing because there is NO WAY I SURVIVED THAT ENDING.
Erin @ The Book Archive recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Top Ten Topics We’ve Done in the Past 5 Years
BOOK ARE AS DELICIOUS AS CAKE. Haha NO NOTHING IS AS GOOD AS CAKE. Books have been a fine delicacy for many years, and I’m am so happy that peoples are finally realizing this. Although hardback books tend to get stuck in your teeth and have a weird aftertaste. Paperbacks are much more delectable.
AWESOME POST AS ALWAYS CAIT!
I’ve tagged you to do the Ultimate book tag! I hope you can join. 🙂 It was so much fun and it really is ULTIMATE. 😀 I really hope you can join!
Daisy @ A Bookish Flower recently posted…The Ultimate Book Tag
ERk, exactly. People don’t understand how much more difficult it is to chew through a hardback. It’s all pointy. SOMEONE SHARPEN MY STEAK KNIFE. But too true, too true, cake is the best.
(I think I’ve done the Ultimate book tag before, but I shall check out your post ASAP!)
I actually rather like middles, but I don’t really have a favourite. Like I’m not a big fan of starters, I’m not a fan of beginnings. To write and to read; I just find that if a book is difficult to get into, I am more likely to give it a lower rating at the end.
Desserts are amazing. That is all.
Alexandrina Brant recently posted…Photo of the Week: Window-Sight
I find I forgive dodgy beginnings if the ending is great. BUT. You have to be able to get to the ending!! I looove writing beginnings. Also endings. Middles are where I go to die. XD
Can we just take over the world and make it a thing that dessert goes first???
I have a love/hate relationship with beginnings and finales. Like sometimes beginnings are too slow. But then some books are fast-paced which I like!
Finales. The build up of the suspense and the excitement because you’ll get to see how it finally ends. Sometimes you get disappointed because it’s not how you’d want it to end. I do love good endings!
YES. Let’s do it. We shall make it a culturally accepted practise and ALL THE WORLD will be eating their desserts first. *dreams of pie and ice cream*
But I digress.
YES. Finales are hit-and-miss for me too. I often find myself predicting how they’ll turn out, you know??? And that kind of bothers me. I want surprises!
Oh wow…this is a really interesting post Cait – I haven’t really thought about this before. For me, I think it depends on the genre.
For mysteries and thrillers, I’d definitely have to go with the end – when my mind is blown by the reveal of the culprit and as everything starts to come together in a big circle. (I mean, c’mon, look at Dangerous Girls. The last few pages of that book blew me out of the water).
For contemporaries, I think it’s the beginning as well. I have to get to know the characters and the situation they’re in. I don’t like the end of contemporaries because they usually end up with everything wrapped up in a nice, tidy bow and that never feels realistic to me. (Although, of course, some authors manage to do their endings wonderfully).
For fantasies and dystopians, I’m actually going to have to go with the middle. I don’t like the beginnings of fantasy and dystopian novels because they’re so set on introducing the backstory of the world and the characters, and sometimes it just makes me want to say “get on with it already!” But the middle of these books is typically where the action and the intensity is. Although occasionally they end up having really strong and mind-blowing endings as well. (*cough* Percy Jackson series *cough*)
Wonderful and thought-provoking post Cait!
Zoe @ Stories on Stage recently posted…Rounding: Up or Down?
OMG YOU ARE SO WRITE. I’m just going to say I agree 100% actually, particularly with the dystopian/fantasy ones. Their beginnings are usually not-so-great. (That’s the only downside of Game of Thrones, I feel. It takes FOREVER to get to the good stuff. gah.) And Dangerous Girls – yus, agreed. That ending punctured my brain. Seriously. I was like “HALF OF MY BOOK IS MISSING OR SOMETHING THIS IS NOT THE END.” Still not okay. *sits in wide-eyed shock in the corner*
I love that moment of the big reveal! You know, that twist that completely changes your reading experience and puts the story down a path you never expected. LOVE THAT PART!
I also love the next 100+ pages that follow that big reveal. So I guess I like the end? When everything is coming together but you’re left waiting for more! Which simultaneously rocks but sucks because you literally have to wait a year (in most cases) to get the more!
SERIESous Book Reviews recently posted…Series Review: Madison Sisters by Lynsay Sands
ENDINGS ARE GOOD. I completely agree. *nods* I still think I’m a beginning-lover myself, but seriously? That “OH I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE” moment is incredibly rewarding.
For me, I’d say it varies depending on the book. Some books have have gripping beginnings but disappointing conclusions, or detailed middles but lacking introductions, etc. Other times I love the entire book so much there’s no way I’d be able to pinpoint one specific part I liked the most. For example, with Dangerous Girls, I was hooked the entire time. The intro caught my attention immediately, and I stayed engaged the entire time. If I had to try and specify, I could say the middle slowed down a bit, but for me that would be extremely picky. Even in the middle, I felt like Dangerous Girls was interesting, maybe just not as plot-twisty and cliff-hanger-y (yep, those are words now) as the beginning or ending. You bring up some great points for each part of the story, though, I enjoyed this post!
Claire recently posted…Shadow and Bone (The Grisha #1) Book Review
Omg, I totally agree about Dangerous Girls. TALK ABOUT WILD RIDE. I was glued to the page the entire time (I think I read it in one day because I was so forced to, aghhhh, I NEEDED TO KNOW).
Ugh, I love beginnings, too! Meeting all the characters that you’ll either love or hate, getting a sense of the plot direction, feeling the promise of potential GLORIOUSNESS! *ahem* but anyway. X)
Oh yah I reviewed your necklace, too. ALL GOOD THINGS ALL GOOD THINGS CHILLAX. XD
Rachel W. recently posted…Product Review – Mini Book Necklace, from PaperFuryInk on Etsy
OMGGG. YOU DID A POST ON MY NECKLACE. *flails and runs over ASAP*
I don’t know which is my favorite (I think I like endings because then I’m done because satisfying, but I’m always starting books because I can’t wait so maybe…? But middles if one is enjoying it is good because stuff is HAPPENING but it’s not OVER yet). SO I DON’T KNOW WHICH IS MY FAVORITE BUT IT DO KNOW THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST AND MOST HILARIOUS AND AWESOME POSTS IN THE HISTORY OF EVER. Cait I love you. *feeds you cake*
Deborah O’Carroll @ The Road of a Writer recently posted…Double Liebster Award
*eats all the cake* See, this is why you’re the best. My braincells worked so hard on this post and you feed me rejuvenating cake. I SHALL KEEP YOU. Ohhhh, it’s a hard question. IT IS. That’s why I ask these hard questions and let everyone flounder answering them. *cackles evilly*
I think I like the beginnings the best. I love being introduced to new characters and their life. The middle part of a book is kind of “me meme meh” (now I’m just sitting here wondering if you understood that reference), except with some books. Some books have amazing middle sections. It just depends what time of book it is. Endings can be pretty great too. Except when they end on a cliff-hanger or its the end of the series. *cue the tears*
Those Tony Stark GIFs are just 10/10 for awesomeness. And I’d vote for you if you ran for leader of the world.
Felicity Green recently posted…Why You Should Read Other Blogs
This is a fantastic question…and seemingly one I have no answer to! If I were to say that I was reading a book that I’m liking, then I’d say that my favorite part is the ending. In Romances, it’s where the boy and girl finally get back together after one of them has messed up. In Fantasy novels, it’s where the evil lord/lady of the land is defeated and you can look back and see how much the MC has changed throughout the course of the book.
I’m really not too big a fan of the beginnings because everything seems to be just starting out and everything and everyone is introduced and I admittedly, skip a lot of the stuff in between. I know, I know. But hey, I’M ALLOWED TO SOMETIMES SKIM THROUGH THE BORING PARTS OKAY?! Okay. And of course, if I have to DNF *sob sob* or if I know that the book isn’t for me, the beginning is the best part to decide!
Rhea @ Rhea’s Neon Journal recently posted…Blog Tour: Under The Lights by Dahlia Adler {Review & Giveaway}
I love the endings! But then again, I also hate them because it means the book is over. Sad.
Cynthia recently posted…BOOK REVIEW: Skyscraping by Cordelia Jensen
I’ll have to agree with Emily here 😉 For bad books, the end is pretty much the light at the end of the tunnel, therefore AWESOME. I CAN FINALLY BREAAAATHE! And the ranting begins thereafter which always feels therapeutic ;D
Awesome books, I love the middle. That’s when you see all the amazing things happe – hte backstory, the action, the romance developing, etc. this is where I’m almost always giddy with excitement; )
Faye le Potato recently posted…ARC Review: Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway
What a hard question…. WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME!!!?!?!!! I have no idea. I kind of feel the same, like I love beginnings and endings, but most of the time I lag in the middle. I don’t think I can choose. If it’s a book I love then I’m usually a fan of the whole thing. Beginning. Middle. End! 🙂
Charnell @ Reviews from a Bookworm recently posted…A Colleen Hoover Mini Review Extravaganza!
Haha this is a funny concept. XD I think my favorite part of the book is actually the middle or the end. I really like watching the characters grow and change and I also love the intensity of the climax. 🙂
storitorigrace.blogspot.com
Victoria Grace Howell recently posted…Writing Lessons from Anime: My Neighbor Totoro
I think my first writings failed partly because the part of a book I devour mostly, are descriptions. I love worldbuilding, building complex systems within another world, also complex descriptions of how the outside of my world looks like, and describing things anyway, until there was that one shiny (or not so shiny?) day I discovered there was also plot in books… before, plots had usually made me hate the author, especially endings, because when I was seven years old, I wasn’t able to understand, why it wasn’t all perfect for a main character. And even though I have pulled back a lot of my immense and detailed descriptions (I’m still writing them, but just as a part of developing the story) and concentrating a bit more on letting the characters do things instead of leading them on a sightseeing tour though my worlds.
So much, just to say, that I love all the juicy or crunchy pieces inbetween (to stick with the food (cake?) analogy) that parts, that make a story richer and more exciting (Also, again the food analogy: Before I discovered that plots have a meaning, I would be the one, picking the raisins or chocolate chips out. The one fishing the noodles out of the soup and leaving the broth. Or whatever).
It ENTIRELY depends on the book.
If it’s a bad book, then I’m basically crying at the middle and waiting for the end of it all.
Otherwise, I’m usually loving books the whole way through, but endings are always my favoruite parts.
Sure, a hooking beginning is great because in my head I’m like “YAY! I’ve got 300 more pages of this!”
The reason I love endings so much is because you get a conclusion to all the chaos in the previous pages. I love everything being wrapped up in a nice bow and either being angered or fangirling.
THIS MAKES NO SENSE I’M SORRY FOR SUCH A RAMBLY COMMENT CAIT!
Holly recently posted…I’VE MISSED READING:: [TBR]
The beginnings. After all, they can make or break a storyline. The first chapter usually sets the scene for me. How well the author will go, how involved the characters are. yes, I’m completely judgmental like that. Within the first quarter, if I book doesn’t grab me and shake me about or have me hissing with excitement, I tend to put it down. Life is too short for dull reads. And they taste terrible.
Kelly recently posted…How To Be Bad… ROAD TRIP!
I love good beginnings. It’s where the magic begins and the author (expertly – I hope) ropes me in. I love first sentences and if a book doesn’t hook me after the first chapter or so, I might never give it another try (I’m a huge fan of those “look inside” features on Amazon – though the “buy with one click” is my nemesis).
Incidentally, my 10 month old kid sometimes licks the books we’re reading to him but I think he’s a) teething b) trying to smooch a kiss on the cute characters (he’s really fond of Oliver Jeffers’ Lost & Found).
Kaja recently posted…Finishing Series
I love all parts of books in general! I think my favorite part is the excitement of starting a new book. The last 1/3 or the end also tends to be really good too!! 😀 Lovely post, dear <3
Rachel @ A Perfection Called Books recently posted…The Ultimate Book Tag
Geeze, I have never really thought about this. I find them all equally important, I think. But in my opinion the worst thing an author can do to me is drop the ball after a good/great middle. They should be spiking the ball at the end not letting it drop and roll away. I also dnf most books in the beggining, a few in the middle, and as of yet none during the ending. Another great gif! 😀
La La in the Library recently posted…TELL ME TUESDAY #49
I tend to like the endings best, I guess because that’s the bit when everything ties together and the author can finally reveal their secret genius as they’ve been stringing you along. That thing that makes you go, “OHHHHHHHHH” because that makes me pleased. Also, I like your idea of eating dessert first; when my grandma was dying, she always ate her dessert first, because life is short and you never know when you’re going to go. 🙂 Good times.
Heather recently posted…Would You Rather Tag
I think the beginning is really important, especially when it comes to first getting to know the narrative voice, setting and characters to set the ‘vibe’ for the book. But – endings can really be hard hitting too, especially when there’s a twist which adds a ‘wow’ factor. Fabulous discussion Cait 🙂
Eugenia @ Genie In A Book recently posted…ARC Review: Risk by Fleur Ferris
Ooh! Well, let’s see… definitely NOT middles. I mean… I /like/ them, but they’ve never the most exciting part of a book for me?
Honestly I would say that it depends on the book – sometimes I adore beginnings and sometimes I adore endings. I LOVE collecting favorite first sentences. And endings!!!!!!!!!! Wow. Some of my favorites endings are:
-Scepter of the Ancients
-The Faceless Ones
-Mortal Coil
-Death Bringer
-The Maleficent Seven
-Last Stand of Dead Men
-The Dying of the Light
-The Miseducation of Cameron Post
-Ash
-A Game of Thrones
-A Storm of Swords
KDSGDKJFHGKDJHGSFJGSHDFG Basically all of the Skulduggery Pleasant books? And OMG the ending of ASoS is even more intense than the ending of AGoT! I basically shrieked because WHOA PLOT TWIST AND HUGE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. DLKSGDLGKHDGLKHSF. And I shall now shut my mouth because SPOILERS.
nevillegirl recently posted…9 LGBTQ+ Role Models | Also A Giant Heartfelt Thank-You Letter
Ooh, this is such an interesting question! With me, it mostly depends on the book, I think, although I can say that in general I’m not a beginning kinda person. It usually takes me a few chapter to get into a story. Not always, though. Most 5 star reads are winners right from the start! I think I like endings the most – it’s the part of the book when I usually can’t stop reading. But middle parts are pretty awesome, too, although I’m with you on the awareness of the page numbers. Conclusion: CHOOSING IS HARD, MAN. Books are just awesome!
Anne @ booksbakingandblogging recently posted…Fruity Popsicles (with strawberry, banana and mango)
I loooove 5-star reads. *happy sigh* I need one. I haven’t had one all month and I’M DEPRIVED. *whinges in the corner* And omg, I’m so glad I’m not the only page-counter. I can’t even seem to stop. :O
Haha, I totally get you girl! I often feel like even the most amazing books sometimes drag in the middle. (Remember Graceling?:)). I myself am a huge fan of endings. Though I do love some great explosive beginnings- especially if it starts with Death:)- I am a huge fan of endings that stump me and leave a huge impact. I am even a fan of cliffhangers, because to me, the more unique and memorable the ending is, the better!:)
Mishma @ Chasing Faerytales recently posted…Blogging has changed me a lot as a person
YES. Graceling totally died in that middle mountain trek. They could’ve cut that and just said “And they climbed a mountain in snow, nearly died, and it wasn’t fun.” And it would’ve been great to move on. -_- DEATHY BEGINNINGS ARE SO HOOKY.
The middle is probably also my least favourite part. I am a fan of a great first line/page, but I also love a good ending… Not sure I can choose between them.
Chantelle recently posted…Which Hogwarts House Do You Belong to?
First lines are GREAT. I collect first lines because they’re so epic and glorious and delicious.
LOVE THIS POST. “this is actually a book blog, not a food blog, contrary to what it seems” <– I would probably be okay if your post suddenly veered into food blog territory because I'm sure I would be dying with laughter anyway and probably drooling. XD Also, your gifs are perfect.
Asking for the favorite part of a book is a bit like picking a favorite child, but they ARE admittedly quite different. If you had asked me a while ago I would've said "endings, duh, beginnings are slower" but now I'm not so sure. I think blogging and reviewing has made me savor books more and more easily recognize when something different and exciting comes along — so beginnings have slowly been capturing my heart. Vicious was my last read and the beginning was just so great to me.
I think middles definitely do have the most potential to go wrong, but that doesn't mean they have to. It can get annoying when it feels like the plot is spread too thin, but in a really good book I'm never looking at page numbers to think about when I will finish the middle, but rather WHY IS IT GOING SO FAST I WANT TO STAY HERE FOREVER.
And I'm with you on endings — my love for them is starting to wane. There can be amazing endings, but sometimes the wait is so long for all that fabulousness. Too often it's disappointing. And even when it's not, sometimes I read through them way too fast so that I'm satisfied when I finish but hen I'm like "wait, what? I think I read that too fast."
Lina recently posted…Review: “Vicious” by V.E. Schwab
I should really review a recipe one of these days. IT COULD BE FUN.
AHEM.
But yes, it totally is like choosing a favourite child. NO WAIT. It’s like chopping a child in half and asking which part you want to keep. (Zomg. what an image. Someone shush me.) ERM. AHEM. It is a mean mean question. Who runs this blog? WHO ASKS THESE QUESTIONS. Seriously.
I feel like too often I’m disappointed with endings because I’ve read so many books I just predict ALL THE THINGS now and then I never get any “woah that’s a surprise!” moments. Which is sad. I need a brain wipe. hehe.
YES you should review a recipe — or better yet, make some sort of recipe inspired by a book, I’m sure they’re out there (hey, I might actually do this!). ACK poor child but you’re right that’s actually what it would be like! in which case, who doesn’t want to keep the head?
Lina recently posted…Review: “Vicious” by V.E. Schwab
There are plenty of bad endings buuuut I find I usually fall in love with books after reading the ending (*cough*Crown of Midnight*cough*). I take a while to become invested in a story, so not beginnings. But of course it all depends on the book. I have to say I find beginnings are easiest to write; the ending is hard, but the middle is a freakin nightmare.
CROWN OF MIDNIGHT. FAJDKLSAFDS STILL NOT OKAY. Although the more I think about that ending, the madder I get. It destroyed my ship. BUT STILL. fajsdkla Best book ever.
Cait, this is HARD. HARD CHOICES. Okay. I generally am NOT a fan of beginnings, because I feel awkward, like I don’t know these characters or this world and I am not sure what to do. Will we get along? Will they disappoint me? I don’t know, and I don’t like the not knowing!
I think I would usually say the ending is my favorite, but there’s a caveat- what if the ending is awful!? THEN WHAT!? Then I don’t know what part I liked. Maybe the middle, because it was a time before the book was destroyed? Those books just fill me with regret overall, I suppose. Anyway, I am off to ponder this more extensively.
Shannon @ It Starts At Midnight recently posted…We All Read Throne of Glass (And No One Remembers)
The more I’ve thought about this topic (aka, the more people’s comments I’ve read and opinions I’ve swallowed) I realised I don’t like beginnings for EVERY kind of book. Particularly fantasy. Fantasy is helluva confusing in the beginnings. 😐 It’s the middles of fantasy were the good stuff happens. SO YEAH. IT IS A HARD QUESTION AND WHO IS THE IDIOT WHO ASKED IT? *glares at clones*
I completely agree about the whole dessert zombie thing. Vegetables are definitely NOT going to keep me from panicking, whereas if I’m eating a spectacularly delicious chocolate thing, I might not even notice it’s going on. Also I have a lot of trouble with middles. Occasionally I find a book that is so evenly paced and well-written that every single page is wonderful, but mostly there’s at least a few points in the middle where my mind wanders and I just want them to GET ON WITH IT already. Endings are either something I rush through because I’m not really enjoying the book and I want it over, or they go way too fast and I’m despondent because WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WHEN THIS MAGICAL WONDERFUL BOOK ENDS?? I love them, but I hate them. Beginnings are good as long as they jump right in – I need to be gripped and intrigued, dammit!
M | BACKLIST BOOKS recently posted…BOOK THOUGHTS ON THURSDAY | WHAT’S IN A NAME?
It’ll be a whole “WAIT ZOMBIE. I’VE GOT A CHOCOLATE CREME TART HERE. JUST CHILL.” And they’ll chill. And it’ll be the stuff of legends. *nods* We are so ready for the apocalypse, clearly.
Yessss, I agree with the need of beginnings to be grippy and intriguing. YES PLEASE. If they’re not, it sort of colours the whole book, right?
Beginnings are SO important to me! When I’m looking for my next read, I often grab a few book I really want to read and then read the first few sentences until I come onto one that captures my attention from the first few sentences. If the first few 100 pages don’t capture my attention, I really have to make myself read the book to finish it.
BUT I do love my endings. Although sometimes they leave me mystified -and not in a good way. I can’t really choose. But I’m going to go with beginning. That’s my final choice. I think. Maybe. We’ll just go with it.
Jolien @ The Fictional Reader recently posted…Friday Reads, June 26th
Beginnings are definitely the best, they can tell you so much about the story. And while endings are good and wrap everything up with a pretty bow, there is always something disappointing about them because they mark the end of the book which (especially when the book is amazing) can be quite sad!
Charlotte recently posted…Review: Killing Monica by Candace Bushnell
YES I think beginnings and endings are the most exciting book for me, when everything is unveiled or there is an epic battle or the characters profess their love for each other. It’s always exciting picking up a new book and reading the first few pages.
Jeann @ Happy Indulgence recently posted…The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes Review: Highly Unexpected
Great post!
It’s funny that you like beginnings best because, honestly, I think they might be my least favorite part. Not that I don’t love every part, but the beginning is only the setup and I feel like most books get so much better after the beginning.
I like the endings best. I feel like once i’ve gotten through half or a little more that half of the book, it really picks up. It gets to the point where I don’t want to put it down. And that’s the part I love. That feeling when you can’t put it down anymore. You’ve had the whole book to love and get to know these characters and you’re finally seeing the final climax.
Olivia @ Fluttering Pages
Olivia @ Fluttering Pages recently posted…Weekly Wrap-Up #8
I can’t decide which part I loved best- it really depends on the book!
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