Do you remember when you were a kid and were assigned summer reading lists? Oh, how kids loathed (and probably still do) their summer reading. I secretly loved my summer reading list (well most of it, anyway)- maybe it was because it only furthered my obsession with checking off giant to-do lists or the fact that we had to write a paper on each book after we read it (i loved writing- hence the blogging)- regardless, I liked it.
Side note: My dear little sister, J, is also a fan of the summer reading list, despite what she may argue otherwise. Her face lights up and she pretty much begs my mother every spare moment they have to take a trip to the book store to pick up her summer reading list- a purchase which can't be denied, because "I have to read it for school." She may be sulking on the outside, but I see the excitement bouncing within.
But what I didn't like about summer reading was the beginning of the books- I'm not talking about the opening sentence- I'm talking about the Acknowledgments and the Introductions and the Prefaces (and the Acknowledgements disguised as Prefaces). What is the difference between a Preface and and Introduction anyway- well, I think a Preface is written by the author and an Intro by someone else (0r vice-verse. As my sister would say, "idk") Either way- who cares?
If you are the author writing the Preface- too bad for you! You should have written it in the book!
I hated, as a child and still today- does that tell you anything?- when I would pick up a book and have to sift through anywhere from 2 to 20 pages of introductory remarks before I even got to the meat of the book. No wonder kids think they don't like to read- they decide reading is boring within the first few pages- because what they are reading is all the boring stuff. Leave it out and they will read (okay I am sure the country's educational problems are a little more complicated, but hey! every bit helps).
More so, I couldn't stand it when teachers would test you or make you include those remarks in your book report- for no other reason, but to make sure you read it. Why should I memorize how the book touched another author's life or why they decided to write
its introductory remarks?? It matters not to me.
Husband reads every introduction/preface/acknowledgement/footnote/publisher's page/index in every book he reads (okay, okay, I stretch the truth a little there), so I don't expect him to relate-- what a rare specimen he is.
I finally picked up F.A. Hayek's The Road to Serfdom to read- long over due- and I am immediately bombarded with 19 pages (19 PAGES!!!!!!!) of PRE-pages (marked ever so cutely with roman numerals). After about 5 pages, I thought I was going to pass out- I want to read the book! not this stuff! But what if I miss something? What if the author retracts something, corrects something, explains something, whatever, and I miss it? What if? Argh!!
Wait! Husband has read this book before, maybe I can ask him if I will miss anything. "Just read it," he says. Some help... One of these days Husband, you are going to want to know why Giraffes have thick, hairy lips and I am going to tell you to "just look it up."
To top it off, the first 12 pages of the actual book's material is chapterized© (yes, I made that word up) as "Introduction". I thought I was going to die.
Sure, sure, keep all that "stuff" in the books- what do I care? But move it to the back... Stop forcing me to PRE-read about why the book is so great... I am already reading the book, friend, you don't have to convince me! That stuff is for the real fans, the second time around readers, not me- Me, who is trying to read it on her lunch break. Me, who just wants to soak up what the book has to offer me. Me, who just wants the meat- no veggies!
Okay, I am down from my soap box.
For all those who read this "Preface to ANIB-SHO Blog"- I thank you, because not only was it poorly written, but I know if I saw that title, I would have just skipped right on to the good stuff.
PS: I plan to review this book later on my blog, stay tuned- I promise no Inroductions (because I need no introduction-ha ha)- but there may be a Preface --> :)
