Here's the thing: I don't actually *want* to know the ending of a good book in advance, because the experience of getting there the first time is so wonderful. (I'm not sure what I can compare it to; all the obvious comparisons are too smutty.) But it's also true that I sometimes can't stop myself; in a moment of fatigue I'll read the last chapter, know what's going to happen, and be both glad and sad about it.
In the case of HBP, I had purchased the special edition that had all the illustrations in full-page plates at the back. I made the mistake of flipping through the plates and the captions, and saw -- The White Tomb. Of course it was obvious who the tomb was for. So I had an instant flash of insight that (1) Dumbledore would die; (2) he would be mourned in a large funeral with ceremonial arrows. This told me quite a lot; it told me to expect tragedy.
Anyway, I like knowing a little bit about books I'm going to read, or movies I'm going to watch, for the first time, but I do enjoy the fun of being surprised.
Yes, I see what you're saying about the surprise element. I just find that for me the surprise comes as much or more in the tiny detail than in the big plot, so traditional 'spoilers' don't worry me too much.
No, that's fine - that's what that box was for. I just wrote the poll in response to some of the reaction surrounding the release of the publication date for HP, which is why it was skewed in that direction.
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In the case of HBP, I had purchased the special edition that had all the illustrations in full-page plates at the back. I made the mistake of flipping through the plates and the captions, and saw -- The White Tomb. Of course it was obvious who the tomb was for. So I had an instant flash of insight that (1) Dumbledore would die; (2) he would be mourned in a large funeral with ceremonial arrows. This told me quite a lot; it told me to expect tragedy.
Anyway, I like knowing a little bit about books I'm going to read, or movies I'm going to watch, for the first time, but I do enjoy the fun of being surprised.
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Really.
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HP just leaves me cold, and £15 richer, I suppose.
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