I saw Amrita do this tag over on her booktube channel, Amrita by the Book, and it seemed like a fun way to talk about how we read and what makes or breaks the experience. So I’m jumping on the bandwagon once again! If it interests you, too, please consider yourself tagged! Answer in the comments or on your own platform. Everyone reads in their own way, and I’d love to hear your answers!
QUESTIONS:
1) What do you consider a Spoiler?
In the strictest sense, I suppose a spoiler is plot-related. Revelations of twists and turns seem to ruin it for most people, but I know there are others who’d say talking about a character arc is also spoiling. And I can see both points. Personally, knowing the plot or the way the character development will go doesn’t matter to me – it’s mostly about how it happens. Knowing the facts in advance doesn’t significantly change my experience of the way it’s told.
2) Does the genre you’re reading impact what you consider to be a spoiler?
Yes, because some genres rely more on plot for the fun – so, of course, a mystery is more dependent on… well, mystery, than say, a comedy of manners. Some books are puzzles and some are paintings.
3) All the best bits are in the trailer, sometimes a synopsis can be too detailed. Do you research books prior to reading them or do you go in blind?
Sometimes yes and sometimes no. If it’s a classic, I tend not to research because I’ve already picked up enough about it from just living in the world. For non-canon, though, I do tend to at least look it up on Goodreads!
4) Sometimes the introduction or translator’s notes can spoil the ending, especially for classics. Has this ever happened to you?
A few times, yes – and yes, usually with introductions to classics. I remember reading the Middlemarch introduction gave away several plot points (as well as the ending). But as I said, I’m not very concerned about spoilers, generally, and sometimes knowing how things will go actually helps me enjoy the journey more because I’m not worried. This was very much the case with Middlemarch because that book is long and there are a lot of obstacles for our characters. Having read only one other George Eliot novel before this (Daniel Deronda), I would have expected (and been stressed about) a very different sort of resolution if I hadn’t been “spoiled.”
5) Name a time somebody spoiled a novel for you?
Hm…. Dumbledore’s death? That’s the last literary spoiler I can remember really caring about, and that was years ago.
6) Have you ever spoiled a novel for somebody else?
*small voice* Yes. So, when I’m reading, I tend to have a lot of thoughts, and if I also have a lot of FEELINGS about what I’m reading, I kinda have to talk about it. In my enthusiasm, I spoiled a couple of books for a friend who does care about spoilers, so I had to learn how to hold it in – or just go into DMs with other folks who’ve already read the book and vent to individuals instead of in the group chat. (I love you, Brain! Look how hard I work for you and our friendship!)
7) If spoilers ruin novels, are there some authors or genres you can’t reread?
As a serial reader, absolutely not. It’s all about the journey for me – the way the story unfolds, the writing technique, etc. So a lot of times, I actually enjoy a novel more when I reread because I’m able to take everything in without being caught up in the suspense.
8) When reviewing are you spoiler free? Does this limit your ability to discuss?
I try to be spoiler-free whenever possible because I know a lot of people want to experience a story for themselves with no foreknowledge, and I don’t want to ruin anyone having the reading experience they want. Although avoiding spoilers is hard when I’m just talking with friends, it’s pretty easy for me to avoid in my writing. If there’s something I feel I really need to discuss, of course, I’ll give a spoiler warning for anyone who wants to skip.
9) Shoutout! Tell us about 5 channels you enjoy and then tag them.
Well, I co-opted this tag from booktube, so no channels here in the blogisphere! But as I said, if you want to do this, too, please consider yourself tagged! (And let me know you’ve done it, so I can come see your answers!)
–b
Book It With Becca 