![Reading the Last Page [Oh, It’s Tuesday]](https://fierceandnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/The_End_Book.png)
Reading the Last Page [Oh, It’s Tuesday]
The one reading sin that I absolutely can’t stand is reading the last page. It didn’t occur to me that so many people do this until I actually caught more than one random reader reading the last page of a just-about-to-be-purchased copy of 32 CANDLES. Anyone who’s read 32 CANDLES knows that it’s not nearly as good of a read if you read the last page first. If I’d had my druthers about me, I would have asked these readers why they chose to ruin books for themselves. Were they afraid that they wouldn’t like the ending? Do they have trust issues when it comes to novels? I wanted to know what books had hurt them so bad that they felt the need to spoil the endings of all future books that came after them.
This last page issue bothers me so bad, that I made my prologue my epilogue for the second novel, just so readers would have to work super hard if they wanted to spoil the ending for themselves.
But how about you? Do you read the last page of a book before buying it? If so, please tell me why oh why in the comments.
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I don’t read the last page before buying it, but sometimes if a book is boring me or distressing me, I’ll skip ahead a couple of hundred pages to see if it’s going to get better, or sneak to see if a character is still alive (but really I only did that reading The Hunger Games — a book not meant to be read by parents, I’ve decided). Personally, I don’t think it ruins the book. Even if I know what’s going to happen, it’s still interesting to see how the author gets there.
You did NOT skip ahead in HUNGER GAMES!!! Oh, DebraB….
Yeah, dude. I don’t get that either! Do these same people fast foward movie rentals & watch the end first? They probably eat dessert before dinner. Ooh, that’s actually a good idea….
I adore dessert before dinner. It’s seriously like the best thing on Earth.
I read the last page of 32 Candles after I read the first chapter. But just the last page! It didn’t ruin anything for me. I just like seeing how the story is done, not what the outcome is. My husband thinks I’m weird too.
Hahaha, your husband is right! But I forgive you.
I don’t know WHY anyone would do that either. I like to savor the order in which the author intended. If I don’t like it by the middle…it’s time to move on, but at least I didn’t cheat myself out of potential enjoyment.;-) Now on a serious note…my book club selection was the fantastic 32 Candles…Loved It! We’re meeting this Friday in LA and I wanted to be able to share with the ladies your thoughts of who you’d like to see play each character. To make it fun, just give me a list of actresses/actors and we can figure out who they’d play. And of course you’re invited, Ernessa.:-)
Aw, thanks so much, mackie. I’m actually finishing up the screenplay now, but I try not to imagine any one actor in any role b/c I don’t want to anchor it to someone voice wise. But do come up with a list. People keep on asking me about who I’d cast and I love to hear other’s ideas.
Thanks,Ernessa. I’ll have the ladies of WBR weigh in on Friday. :-) I’m so excited about the screenplay and that everyone will get to know and love Davie as much as we do. Keep pushing!
Ok, the ladies of WBR have weighed in on the wish list to play our favorite characters. Let us know what you think:
Davie-Naturist Naughton
Cora-Thandie Newton or Sanaa Lathan
Mama Jane-Queen Latifah or Monique or Macy Grey
Nickie-Terry Cruz or Idris Alba or Richard T. Jones
Congressman Farrell- Brian Stokes Mitchell
Veronica-Zoe Saldana
Tammy- Tessa Thompson
Mrs. Farrell – Vanessa Williams
James- Jesse Williams
Leon- Gbenga Akinnagbe
Chloe – Zoe Kravitz
Michael Booker- Common
Please keep us posted on your progress. Any thoughts on our casting?
This is a seriously awesome list. I mean seriously awesome. I just copied it and put it on my wall for inspiration. Thanks so much!
Oh, and thoughts on casting:
Davie – Naturi’s name has definitely come up. Especially now that she’s on a series.
Cora – I thought of Sanaa, too!
Mama Jane – I never cast her in my head, but these are GREAT ideas.
Nicky – I think Terry Cruz would be perfect. I don’t think any American woman would buy not getting back together with Idris. :)
Congress Man Farrell – Aaa! Just saw him in jumping the broom and I was like, “THAT’S Congressman Farrell!”
Veronica – are you inside my head? seriously, should I be looking for a mind probe implant?
Tammy – I hadn’t cast Tammy either, but I adore Tessa Thompson
Mrs. Farrell – Perfect!
James – SO many people want Jesse Williams to be James. If we get it greenlit, apparently that’s just going to have to happen. :)
Leon – Oh, I love him. But unfortunately, Leon got cut from the film version.
Chloe – Yeah, I don’t want to give too much away, but Zoe Kravitz won’t work for the film version of Chloe.
Michael Barker – Love Common! Especially since Mike’s a main character in the second novel. I would love to have an actor that can crossover into a male lead.
Man, this is so inspiring. Fingers crossed for a deal!
Can’t say I read the last page. Not sure why anyone would do that. Good to hear you’re working on the screenplay.
I don’t either!
I have to admit, I’m a skimmer of last pages (sorry Ernessa). I really just lightly go through the last pages to get an inkling of the ending. It’s more of a curiousity type of thing. However, in order for me to know how the ending came to be I must start from the beginning of the book. By the way, when is your next novel going to be out? I’m so looking forward to it.
Don’t skim! I just turned the second one into my agent, which is my excuse for this very delayed response. :)