The Bestseller Code: Anatomy of the Blockbuster Novel

by Jodie Archer

but then we know the temptation of reading the first and last page of a book.

My 10th grade English teacher, Mr. Ranta, made us read the first and the last paragraph (or possibly page) before we began reading a book. If I remember correctly he thought we'd better understand it if we were aware of the arc. I still maintain it's the worst advice or direction any teach ever gave me.