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I'm with you. I read the Author Notes, About the Author.... Why not? They must be there for a reason, no?

They set the stage for the book, novel or non fiction. They provide context. I consider them bookends.

If I stay with a book to get to an epilogue, I'm definitely reading it. Prologues I also read thinking there could be something important relative to the book I haven't read yet, in the prologue. May or may not be the case, but I wouldn't know until I read the book.

well, snooze ya lose. Can't control anyone and if they choose to be ignorant, wahh their loss.

I do too. I've read epilogues and found out a lot about the author, which made the book all that much better. (..i.e. Someone Else's Bucket List.)

If there is prologue- and epilogue-shaming going on, those responsible should cease and desist, or the word police will be communicated with by telephone.

Epilogue is the only place you get plot progression in the Apothecary Diaries light novels

I heard people say they only read dialogue and that’s the fuckin wildest shit I’ve ever heard. Sorry dude you’re not reading if you’re only reading dialogue

When I was younger I thought that prologues where a recap of the previous book and epilogues were a sneak peak of the next one So I skipped them, I was an idiot and missed plenty of content

also footnotes. it makes me crazy that they are often relegated to the back of the book. if an author provides a footnote beyond a simple citation, I want to be able to read it without flipping to the end - which is even more annoying on an electronic book.

I read footnotes if they've got sole.

How Tolkien of you

What do you mean you don’t want a little extra? Just a bit more detail. A snicker snack of content there for a bit of a clue, an insight. Is there another book, you’re about to find out!

Same! They put them there for a reason (sometimes it is because it was how it was done at the time they published and that is always interesting too!)

I read them, but only after I’ve read the main book. If the book can’t hold, no prologue/epilogue can save it. Usually I skip them because they explain the story you’re about to read, thus ruining it. The best prologue? That’s in “Little Big Man” by Thomas Berger An essential part of the story.

You’re not alone, lol.

I don't understand it either. They're losing out and they don't know what they don't know. But then, I even read the acknowledgements. I love indexes, glossaries, maps, especially in fiction, if they are done well.

I actually with more audiobooks would read the author's notes and other parts of the book that aren't the actual story. They're there for a reason and I want to read it all.

Dedication, footnotes, book cover…

I always do...these things are part of the book's presentation, and are important

Sometimes the best stuff is in the beginning or the end

The whole idea of adults crowing, "Look how many books I've read this year!" makes me think of elementary school summer reading challenges. Which are actually age-appropriate to that target group, BTW. I guess we need to print up more gold stars.

The writer takes the time. As the reader I should take the time.

What are those lil character bios at the front of the book too? Gotta read those, it really really helps keep the factions straight. I wonder if the skippers don't bother with those too?

There might be maps, or world building, or salacious details in the bits at the beginning and end that will enhance or make you notice an easter egg you wouldn't have otherwise seen. Oh, wait, I may want to keep those secrets to myself...carry on.

I'll read a prologue, but I'll skip an introduction. I just want to get started, I don't need a 20 page essay about a book I haven't read yet.

I’ve even seen some decent acknowledgments

Absolutely!

With my focus on the English Renaissance period, I'd pencil in the meanings of Early Modern English words over those of Shakespeare's & others of the time from the annotations at the bottom of the page & reread it for full understanding. Plus, I heavily annotated all I read. Made my essays easier.😁

👋 [Reads backs of cereal boxes.]

My prologues contain the inciting incident, the moment Mrs. O'Leary's cow knocked the lantern into the dry hay. I suppose the story of The Chicago Fire could be told without it, but that detail is crucial.

Just to pre-empt your judgy post. No where in the original post do I say these people ought to be forced to read any parts of the book they choose to omit. I'm just fascinated by them. I want every bit of the experience the writer intended. Who wouldn't? Well, that's why I'm fascinated. Carry on.

Looks like this post is going for a ride.

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skipping epilogues makes time for watching the end credit scenes

In the books I write, the prologue often ties into the story you're about to read and the epilogue will set up something that is going to happen in a future book. I guess you don't have to read them, but as the person who wrote them, I obviously think you should. They are part of the book.

I read these too, the prologue often sets up the story well and I'll go back to it when I get to the party of the story that was foreshadowed. Also, sometimes the best information is in the footnotes of nonfiction.

They should all be forced to read House of Leaves until their behavior improves.

Seriously, the authors included them for a reason. The least we can do as readers is read all their words, at least once.

All of that, plus the author's bio if that's included. And I'll do Wikipedia dives as well.

I also read the acknowledgments and the footnotes. I put a bookmark at the start of the footnotes and move it along as I read them.

You and me both, my friend.

So the advice to authors - just number all your chapters if you want them to be read.

I feel guilty that I only read the footnotes that interest me. And yes, I find the jokes often.

I love it when they put a hint at an otherwise hidden side quest in an open world game inside the game's lore pages.

I even read footnotes. Especially, footnotes in the Bible. That’s where the juice is.

Me, too, but when the introduction is as long as the book, I get upset.

I do not read them 🤷‍♀️

me too... never know what easter eggs will appear

One of the funniest passages I read was in an epilogue of an audiobook book from Jodi Taylor's Time Police series. It was late at night, I couldn't laugh aloud or I'd wake everyone, so I just sat there, holding it in, all teary eyed. It was brutal! That's why I read the prologue and epilogue.

I honestly never even considered that skipping those was an option. 🫠

footnote: David Foster Wallace

I'm sure I've read a prologue here or there that simply didn't do much for me. I can't think of one though. I CAN, however, think of many prologues that were worth reading

I skip even-numbered chapters since nothing interesting ever happens in them /s

You have to admit though Tolstoy's "Great Man Theory" stuff at the end of War and Peace really pushes the limits of, "acceptable use of an epilogue"

There was one book I read where the appendix was actually the best part of the book. It had lots of world building, very fascinating.

Same!

I simply skip the middle Act 1 sets up the story and tells you who's who, Act 3 is the conclusion. All the stuff in the middle, let's be honest, is just a bunch of waffling around. Once you know how it starts and ends you can figure out what was in the middle without wasting time reading it.

I generally read prologues just because they are there. However, the "prologue" to Don Quixote kind of soured me on the book.

Just don’t make me read a foreword.

I have taken to reading acknowledgments too🙂

Readers have written to me specifically to share how much they appreciated the insights in my authors notes! That’s where I point out what’s historically accurate versus fiction

Yes, especially prologues. I was ten when I first read the Dragonriders of Pern. I did not read the prologue. I had nightmares for weeks, because I didn't realize it was on a DIFFERENT PLANET.

I couldn't agree more.👏

i didn’t know this. 😪😪 the concept of just not reading part of the book??? why not skip chapter 2

Wait till you hear about the people that skip all the epigraphs. Or read the ending before they start the rest of the book. I agree with you in that I don't understand all of this behavior, but I'm fine with it, as long as they don't complain later because of it. I am unable to force a specific 🧵

only time i skip either is if i have reread the book MANY times. i skip the prologue of Alanna the First Adventure for this reason. i know it almost by heart. OH sorry. i skip part of champter 1. once alanna says "lets go find maude' i turn off skimming the words.

I have a friend who has read LotR over ten times. He’s never read the appendixes or the Silmarillion. Refuses to watch the movies. I’m like, “Dude, you’re missing a lot of the story!”

Infinite Gest is just right for you

One might argue that the speedrun is the purest form of the human experience.

What???? oh dear Lord. This is the first time I’m hearing about this. Why on earth not? It’s there for a reason. They probably hold the keys to significant portions of the book. What an age we live in.

To state the obvious and as well put by the OP, "If they're good" is the only qualifier necessary to read any part of any book.

You know you're talking to a clout chasing booktok-er when you try to discuss a book & they're hating on major aspects of it...& then they admit they prefer reading mostly just the dialogue & not long paragraphs. Hating on a book for things you dont understand, & it's cause you dont even read-/

It's kind of weird not to read the prologue..it sets the tone for the whole book after. I understand not reading the epilogue if you're satisfied with the ending and don't wish to taint it's idea in your mind. I've done that same mistake of adding too much crap into an epilogue

Same. I dumped Marcus Luttrell’s ‘Lone Survivor’ back at the library halfway through his prologue. In it, he claimed to have seen the non-existent Iraq WMDs with his own eyes and that Americans spit and called him ‘baby killer’ upon his return. I knew his memoir was a work of fiction 17 pages in. 🤡

I mean... authors write them for you to read. So bizarre.

Thank you

Same!

Same here. I even read the epilogue to Stephen King's The Dark Tower and it was preceded by several paragraphs asking me not to.

I read the dedications, gratitude and credits too. 📚

Especially if it is a really good book you don't want to say goodbye to. I read everything, even scan the index . . .

never in my life have i come across someone who proudly proclaims they don't read prologues or epilogues

I usually only skim the appendices to see if there’s anything interesting. if it’s just definitions of words you can figure out from context cues, I skip.

LOL, I once read the iii, ix, etc pages of the phone book. Excellent information! Did you know that the click click you hear on the line means someone is listening in? This was pre-9/11. I don't recall hearing any since. Here's some more info. constitution.laws.com/the-supreme-...

I read prologues when they're there - most books don't have or need them. But I've been known to buy and read a book (typically sci-fi) later in a series and only go back and buy the preceeding books if that book was interesting enough. C'est la vie.

Footnotes too!

Back when I cared about such things, you could easily find me digging through endnotes/footnotes in law review articles.

Prologues and especially epilogues are an important part of the story. And the appendices are usually pretty relevant too.

I also read the prologue and the epilogue. I just have to. What if there's something wonderful and important there? And usually, there is.

I, too, read the prologue and epilogue. For me, it's all part of the story.

If you don't read my prologue, you will have no idea what the book is about. Always great and necessary information in that prologue, which is why I wrote it.

If it’s there I’ll read it. Chapter headings too. My favorite is “Covering a Multitude of Sins” in Dickens’ Blesk House.

Why would you skip those? If never heard of such a thing.

I draw the line at the index :). I do love a good appendix / dramatis personae / map (give me all the maps please) and family tree.

I also prefer an avatar. introduction and prologue on Bluesky, tells me something about the person. Stats mean nothing to me, except the mpg of my pickup.

If I enjoyed reading it I want to scrape every last word out of it.

I also read the Acknowledgements, even though I don’t know and will never know any of the people mentioned.

I’ve observed for a long time that most advice boils down to “You should be more like me.”

and acknowledgements...don't forget acknowledgements...@CoreyDoctorow writes especially good ones

Me too!!!!

Same

Me personally, I like to skip chapter 9 of any book I read. There's no reason for it aside from my contrarian, "you're not the boss of me" outlook.

Yep! Same.

I love a good acknowledgements section, especially if it's the author's first book.

It never occurred to me to skip a prologue or especially the epilogue!

But...they're part of the story? Who does that? Thats like saying "I don't read odd chapters"

I listen to the acknowledgements too. Sometimes it will inform on what inspired the book, what are actual historical facts or based upon or who characters were based upon. Can add another layer to the effect of the book.

It breaks my heart that this is such a widespread phenomenon

I seem to remember the appendices of Frank Yerby's later books were a read in themselves 🤔❤️

When I was young, I thought that way, but one day, I read the prologue and I’m hooked. And I, too, want to know what else I’ve been missing, so I at least read thru the appendix 😁

Why on earth would people not read the entire story? That just seems lazy to me. Right?

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They're often not even that long! Sometimes books really pack in the bonus material, but a good prologue and epilogue add up to just one extra chapter—it's crazy so many people skip them!

They’re only robbing themselves of the complete experience. Seems like an odd thing to be proud of.

Years ago I read a prologue that explained it was the “Ahem” part of the book, meant to get my attention before things begin. Needless to say, I always read them.

I think it's better to read the forewords, and the epilogues. Like I've said, the whole story can be changed by either.

1/ When I went back to grad school in my 40s I often would write 150% more than required for my papers then edit the crap out of them. Instead of deleting anything, I’d cut and move unused parts to the end of my paper.

I have a Master's in English, & it is a toss up on prologues...tho I have gone back & read a prologue when I felt like I was missing something in the first few chapters. (Need that hook or nFm) Epilogues tho...if I've made it to "The End," I have to read the Epilogue or the book isn't "complete."

Some thoughts: 1. Imagine actually thinking you've read JONATHAN STRANGE AND MR. NORELL if all you read was the dialogue. 2. On stat chasers, a guy the other day was crowing that he'd "read six novels this week." Amongst the six? DAVID COPPERFIELD, BLEAK HOUSE, and BELOVED. Right, buddy.

Speaking as a writer...if I write a prologue or an epilogue, it's for a reason. It has a function in the story. Speaking as an editor (my other hat), the same is true for my clients. Sometimes a prologue doesn't work, but then I tell them, plus why I think that, and they fix it.

I always read notes, intros, acknowledgments, dedications, and study maps if the book has them. You might miss something if you don’t!

I'm so excited for this book! (turns to page 3, the prologue) Oh yuck, words! (tosses book in furnace)

That's how you read a book. A page or two of the beginning always. The summary at the end is a must. Notes too the writer spends so much time on those.

Me too! The prologue is there for a reason, and if I’m interested in the book, that will interest me too.

👏✨👏

💯💯💯💯💯

If it's a part of the book, I'm reading it. Prologues and epilogues can be wonderful parts of any book.

I didn't understand the importance of reading the Prologue, setting a scene. I didn't understand the importance of the Epilogue either. Then I turned eight.

I'm a sucker for footnotes massed at the end of a book. I've found some gems in those, especially history books.