Why I Usually Don’t Read Excerpts

Excerpt

noun

1.

a passage or quotation taken or selected from a book, document, film, or the like; extract.

verb (used with object)

2.

to take or select (a passage) from a book, film, or the like; extract.

3.

to take or select passages from (a book, film, or the like); abridge by choosing representative sections.

Source

Excerpts are not an uncommon thing in the bookish online world. These days I often see excerpts offered of books on Netgalley or publishers offer up the first few chapters of an upcoming release. I understand why they do it. They want people to be curious, to see that start of the book and crave the book. To pre order the book or if they come across it in a book store to remember it from the excerpts and buy it. It creates buzz in a different way from reviews. Sometimes a book will have the first chapter of the next book in the series or a completely different kind of book in the back as well.

I never read excerpts. Well not never. Earlier this year I read the excerpt or preview of Sightwitch. I had requested it on Netgalley, thinking it was the full book (and I still swear that the first time I saw it it did not say preview excerpt). It turned out to be the first 100 pages of the book. Hundred! I will tell you that this prequel only has 200 pages in the kindle edition. So this preview excerpt, excerpt meaning a passage or a quatation selected from a book, was half of the entire book.  I don’t get that? Anyway that was my bout of frustration of the day.

As said I rarely read excerpts and below I will share with you a few reasons as to why that is.

Waiting Time

Excerpts are often shared a bit before the release of a book. Sometimes there can even be a few months between the sharing of the excerpt and the actual release of the full book. I can be a very patient person. With books and stories? Not so much. I.Need.It.Now! If I don’t read the excerpts I’ll still want to read it as soon but at least I haven’t been teased already.

Stuck With Half a Story

In the case of the above mentioned Sigthwitch I am now stuck with half a story. The first half of it also did very little for me. While where it ended was somewhat of interest, the chance of me buying this book has been reduced to zero. I lost all interest in it. The next half might be super amazing and might redeem the first half completely, but I will never know because this first half was boring. And since I read it so far in advance there is no way that is not going to be stuck in my head forever. The taste of dissapointment.

Chapter samples I have received at events in the past.

Expectations

But when you do like the excerpt you are still stuck with half or a portion of a story. When you are excited it is hard to contain your curiousity. It can create high expectations for the rest of the book. That the book might not be able to meet after it has been build up in someone’s head for weeks or months. I am certain that will be the case for me with a lot of them.

Added to that is that the time might give me plenty of time to start creating my own ideas about how the story will go. Which might not happen in the book or not the way that I wanted. I think it would possibly taint my excitement of the book.

My Wallet

If I do read an excerpt to see whether or not I would like a book, there is the chance I will want to buy the book. Which will result in me spending money. My wallet will weep. My husband will weep even harder. I do not need excerpts as an extra excuse to buy books okay. I already have all of you. Kidding. Sort of.

Summary:
I’d just rather not know anything until I can read the full book.

Do you read excerpts? What has your experience been with them?