I have a bit of an unusual habit, and I know I’m not the only one: I can’t stop reading the acknowledgements in books.
Whenever I go into a bookshop and pick up a book, I can’t resist but take a peek at the acknowledgements and I get very confused if they’re not situated in the back. They just don’t feel right to me if they’re in the front!
I look for familiar names and interesting stories in them. Even if I don’t know the people named, I love seeing an insight into the author’s life and every single person who helped to make that book a tangible thing.
God forbid I find a book that doesn’t have any acknowledgements at all! I get so, so disappointed by it. The acknowledgements make the book and I feel as if part of the soul of a book is missing. Like I said, I’m a bit unusual!
10 Comments
Fionnuala
6 November, 2014 at 6:05 amLucy, I have the exact same habit! Usually I’ll have a wee read of the Acknowledgements page before I buy/read the book and then I’ll read it again at the end because it makes the book feel so much more complete and I feel like I get a little peek behind the curtain at the actual author… glad to know I’m not the only one! ^.^
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Annette
6 November, 2014 at 4:15 pmI read them. If they’re in the front, I read them first, in the back, last. I figure that’s how the author wanted it. I look for familiar names and stories too. It helps me connect with the author, make them more human. Especially if I don’t like the book, I think it helps my review, because the author put his/her heart and soul into this work, and I need to remember that.
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Michelle @ Pink Polka Dot Books
6 November, 2014 at 4:46 pmI HATE when the acknowledgements are in the front!! A lot of stuff the author puts in there is better understood once you’ve read the book so….. yeah no clue why they sometimes do that. The dedication should be in the front only. Anyhow, I do love reading these. It’s interesting some of the tidbits that authors will share… and they sometimes thank bloggers and reading fans, so that’s fun 🙂
Michelle @ Pink Polka Dot Books recently posted…Reading Future- November
Kaja
6 November, 2014 at 10:09 pmOh, yes, I read acknowledgments as well. I started out just by skimming over them to see if they contain anything more than just the usual list of editors and agents, but then I had to translate a couple (I’m a freelance translator) and I found out that they’re actually fun insights into the authors’ personal life. If I ever write a novel, I’ll definitely be writing the acknowledgments as well! 🙂 I also prefer them at the end of the book.
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Weekly Recap| Nov 2-8, 2014 | Oh, the Books!
9 November, 2014 at 6:03 am[…] Lucy can’t stop reading acknowledgement pages. […]
Lauren @ Lose Time Reading
9 November, 2014 at 4:08 pmI LOVEEEE reading the acknowledgements! Sometimes I even jump to that part before I read the story 😛 I love when I spot another author, for some reason it thrills me 🙂
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Rita @ Weaving Pages
9 November, 2014 at 8:58 pmYESYESYESYESYESYES!!!! LUCY ME TOOOO!!
I used to NEVER read acknowledgements and now I read them ALL the time!! Whenever I see someone I know mentioned it’s like someone’s set off party poppers. I just love how sentimental some acknowledgements are and I look forward to reading them just like you 😀
Rita xx
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Lola
9 November, 2014 at 9:54 pmI don’t read the acknowledgements when I pick up a book in a bookstore or library, but I do read them. I’ve seen acknowledgements in the back of the book a few times as well. It’s always fun to read who the author wants to thank and for some reason I feel like it’s a part of the book and I should read it as well.
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Cassie @ Happy Book Lovers
10 November, 2014 at 5:11 pmThis never used to be a thing I did, but in the past year or so, I’ve found I love reading them. I always read them at the end of a book though because then I feel like I have more context for what they’re thanking people for.
I’m so glad to see other people enjoy reading them as much as I do!
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Weekly Highlights; The First In A While Edition | A Daydreamer's Thoughts
16 January, 2015 at 11:15 am[…] This week Lucy has admitted one of her reading habits. Find out what it is and let her know if you do it too, here. […]