Please talk me out of reading the last chapter first (HP)!!!!

[MichelleS]

I'm a horrible person... - I read the last chapter of OOP and HBP before even beginning the book. I want to read the last chapter first again; I have no self-control about this, none at all.
Please help, or tell me if you are planning on doing the same thing yourself (at least I'll know I'm not alone!)

[AutumnMama]

Um, you won't get talked out of it by me.

I haven't fully decided what I'm doing yet, but I may check out the spoiler threads here before/while reading it.


PS: love your myspace, and that's a gorgeous babyhawk you have!

[alegna]

Don't do it! (at least wait until you're halfway through or so... )

-Angela

[journeymom]

Originally Posted by alegna

Don't do it! (at least wait until you're halfway through or so... )

-Angela

Do this! You'll get into it enough that you'll want to finish before jumping to the end.

[LiamnEmma]

This is it. The last time you can ever read a Harry Potter book and not know the ultimate ending. The very last time you can ever anticipate it blindly. Don't do it!

I'm re-reading the series right now and dh asked me why (I've reread it about seven times already) and I replied that I'll never again read it without knowing who ultimately dies. More and more I think that Harry will die and the books will never be the same for me. It's like the deaths of the other major members of the books. I cannot read the books the same now without thinking, "And you're going to die soon". At least I have this one last read before the ultimate knowing.

[jennnk]

I'll read the epilogue before I even leave the store, I'm sure.

[Kelly1216]

I'll probably get about halfway through, then I wont be able to take it anymore and read the ebd. That's the way I am about almost every book I read! I get too sleepy to be able to stay awake to get to the end, so I read the end so I can go to bed!

[MichelleS]

Originally Posted by LiamnEmma

This is it. The last time you can ever read a Harry Potter book and not know the ultimate ending. The very last time you can ever anticipate it blindly. Don't do it!

I'm re-reading the series right now and dh asked me why (I've reread it about seven times already) and I replied that I'll never again read it without knowing who ultimately dies. More and more I think that Harry will die and the books will never be the same for me. It's like the deaths of the other major members of the books. I cannot read the books the same now without thinking, "And you're going to die soon". At least I have this one last read before the ultimate knowing.

This IS a really excellent point. I just re-read the series myself last month - I figured it would last me until the new book came out, but I read really quickly, so it lasted about 10 days. I was debating reading HBP once more just to really get into the mood, but I can't bear to really think that Dumbledore is dead; that really depressed me. My DH and I have very differing opinions on the issues of Dumbledore and Snape's true allegiances. I am hoping for the best, but whenever I think about waiting until the end of the book to read the end of the book, I feel very nervous and anxious. :

[nancy926]

I just cannot imagine reading the end first. It goes against every fiber of my being! EVERY other time you read the book, you will know how it ends. But not the first time. Why would you purposely ruin the suspense?? I don't get it.

[BookGoddess]

I haven't read the ending first with the other HP books but I just might with this one. The reason being I worry I'll just skim through the book without really absorbing the plot because I'll be in such a rush to find out who dies. If I know Harry dies or doesn't die then I can read the book at my own pace.

[Ruthla]

What I usually do is rush through the book to find out what happens, then re-read it more slowly and carefully.

But, if you like reading the ending first, then go ahead and read the ending first! It's not like you're hurting anybody other than yourself, and if you can relax and enjoy the book more thoroughly if you read the epilogue first, then who am I to talk you out of it?

[box_of_rain]

DON'T DO IT!!!!!! :

[Krystal323]

WHAT!!! ARE YOU MENTAL?!!? i am scandalized at the very thought of it!!

but then i take HP veeeery seriously.

[alysonb]

With the previous books I always zipped through, kind of skimming each chapter, and then after I read the whole thing I would reread it to look for clues to the next book. Seeing that this is the last book I probably won't do that, but I will have to sequester myself from the internet and TV until I read the whole thing because you can bet that the ending will be EVERYWHERE and not everyone will post spoiler warnings. Fight the urge and savor each chapter.

[Ruthla]

I'd rather read the whole book quickly, and find out the ending in JKR's own words, than try to savor it and have it spoiled by the front page of the newspaper.

[Verity]

I cover up the last page of a book while reading the next-to-last, so I'm not the one to ask.

I never read the end of a book first.

[Stayseeliz]

I'll read the last few pages before anything else I'm sure. I'm 6 months pregnant and hormonal so if Harry kicks the bucket I want to be prepared!! I did it the last time too!!

[JessicaS]

Originally Posted by LiamnEmma

This is it. The last time you can ever read a Harry Potter book and not know the ultimate ending. The very last time you can ever anticipate it blindly. Don't do it!

I'm re-reading the series right now and dh asked me why (I've reread it about seven times already) and I replied that I'll never again read it without knowing who ultimately dies. More and more I think that Harry will die and the books will never be the same for me. It's like the deaths of the other major members of the books. I cannot read the books the same now without thinking, "And you're going to die soon". At least I have this one last read before the ultimate knowing.

That is a good point.

[A&A]

I'll totally talk you in to it. That's what I'm going to do.

[MichelleS]

I'm really going to make a concentrated effort to not read ahead. I may be exhausted for a few days running though, as I am quite certain
I will stay awake for hours losing myself once more in the wonderfulness of a brand new Harry Potter book.