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How are you reading this book within a book?
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I was wondering the same thing. I only just started last night and got through the translator's note at the beginning and a bit of chapter 1. It is a bit overwhelming to take in. I also read the story on each page first and then read jen and eric's convo.
I'm reading one paragraph of the story, and then the annotations written in black and blue. I think the notes written in other colors (red, purple, yellow, green) are written further down the line.
I red a chapter then go back and read the annotations.I have heard that another way to do it, is to read through the book then go back and read the annotations.
I'm trying to figure out whether to buy the iPad/iBooks version or the physical version.
Buy the physical version. Lots of paperwork and fun extras tucked into the pages. The book has a wonderful old feel to it. I definitely think the hardcover book is the way to go. I've been reading a page of the book and then the notations. I tried just reading the book but the notations are just too tempting to avoid. I'm sure it'll all make more sense one the second reading.
I read a page, then the annotations on each page in chronological order. So I'm experiencing the story of the annotators and the Theseus store at the same time.
I gave up trying to read both at the same time. I'm reading the book first and then will go back and read the notes. Though I am reading the light gray notes along with the book. They seem to be the first that were written and not part of their conversation.
I'm still trying to figure out how I want to approach this book. What about the extra gadgets and newspaper thingies? Do you guys read that when you find it or when you're done? This is the first book I've ever experienced that needs a guide to how to read it.
The extras do seem to be related to their placement in the book, so I just read them as I come across them. I'm glad it came with a box for that reason
I have a feeling I'm going to be reading this book more than once. I'm reading everything on each page, one page at a time. However, I read on an amazon review that if you read the actual book first, then go back and just read the black and blue notes, then the other colors, it'll make more sense.I'm hoping my memory serves me well to keep up with what seems like 3 different stories tangled together.
I've read a few chapters now by reading the full chapter first then the notes, but as Ronv said, some of the notes are different time periods (colors.) The best method seems to be to read SoT, then the blue & black, then the green & orange, then purple & red. But of course, you should read it however it seems to work for you. I find myself incredibly tempted by the margin notes when trying to read SoT straight through though, so we'll see how long that lasts.
I was at a book discussion in New York this weekend with JJ Abrams and Doug Dorst. Dorst pretty much said to make up your own mind how to read it but Abrams said he would read a chapter of the actual story and then read the Jen/Eric stuff. This is how I read it and I am glad I read it this way.
Prince wrote: "Same question in my mind "How to read this book?" can anyone tell me that the stuff which come along with the book like postcard,newspaper etc..are the part of Jen and Eric conversation? or we have..."They are part of Jen and Eric's story.
I read page by page (or rather, two-page spread) with the novel first and the notes next. At first, I thought I would read the entire novel and then go back, but the notes were so much more interesting than the book that I couldn't help reading them. Of course, this caused me to fear that I wouldn't be able to keep it all in my head, but I think I managed. Once I got to the end and could review it all, I felt like I had the story straight. Or, as straight as it's possible for this story to be. :)
(Plus, I felt some of the notes added important information to the inner story.)
I read through each page, and when I passed an annotation, I'd hold my place, read the annotation (however sprawling or compact), and then get back to the novel. Probably not the best way, but I finished the novel a little while ago.
Has anyone heard the audiobook? I have a hard time imaging the ebook version that I can't imagine how to listen to it. Novel in one ear and notes in the other?
One Way I heard to read it was to go through a chapter at a time then go back and read black and blue. Then after you finish the book read the green and orange all the way through, then go back and read purple and red the whole way, then go back and find the black and black. I tried reading everything at once and it gave away too much. But again, the adventure is yours!
I read it taking in everything at once, first a two-page spread then the notes, then on to the next two pages. I felt it was better this way, couldn't keep my eyes from wandering to the notes anyway. :)I didn't think that reading in this way gave too much away, but maybe that's because I have seen Lost and I am used to this game of "revealing parts of the mistery but not the whole thing".
Agree, whatever works for you is the way to do it. I started reading it by essentially reading everything at once, but after 3 chapters I decided to read the entire "Ship of Theseus", then go back and read the margin notes. My reasoning was that the notes were written by people who had already read the entire book, and I was finding things a little disjointed. I'm pretty happy with this order, as the margin notes occasionally reference things that happen much later in the book, and they don't make sense if you haven't read it.
Amanda wrote: "I was at a book discussion in New York this weekend with JJ Abrams and Doug Dorst. Dorst pretty much said to make up your own mind how to read it but Abrams said he would read a chapter of the actu..."I'm going with the J.J Abrams way. Thanks for the nice bit of info @Amanda.
Azzri wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I was at a book discussion in New York this weekend with JJ Abrams and Doug Dorst. Dorst pretty much said to make up your own mind how to read it but Abrams said he would read a chap..."No problem. Hope you enjoy the story :)
I read it sort of as Jen and Eric were annotating it--I would read until I came across an underline or other notation, finish the sentence, then read the annotation in the margin. What confused me is that Jen and Eric's story didn't seem to be linear--they would talk about things that seem to happen to them out of sequence.
LB wrote: "I read it sort of as Jen and Eric were annotating it--I would read until I came across an underline or other notation, finish the sentence, then read the annotation in the margin. What confused me ..."They are making notes on several different pages every time they pass the book back and forth, so there's a little bit of non-linear commentary within the timelines defined by the same colored inks.
I'm reading the entire book without annotations then I'll go back and read it with annotations
Amanda wrote: "I was at a book discussion in New York this weekend with JJ Abrams and Doug Dorst. Dorst pretty much said to make up your own mind how to read it but Abrams said he would read a chapter of the actu..."Lucky. Was that the one at the apple store in NYC?
Carey wrote: "I've read a few chapters now by reading the full chapter first then the notes, but as Ronv said, some of the notes are different time periods (colors.) The best method seems to be to read SoT, then..."About 3/4 the way through the book I realized that the color of the notes was probably really relevant. By then, however, I had already gone far enough that I didn't change my "process". But if you haven't started yet, I would advise someone to read the notes by colors
Karen wrote: "Carey wrote: "I've read a few chapters now by reading the full chapter first then the notes, but as Ronv said, some of the notes are different time periods (colors.) The best method seems to be to ..."I did the same thing, Karen. It would be interesting to reread the book from the beginning using the color method.
Jason wrote: "I read through each page, and when I passed an annotation, I'd hold my place, read the annotation (however sprawling or compact), and then get back to the novel. Probably not the best way, but I fi..."This is the same way I've been reading it. It can be confusing at times but I like getting peaks into the future.
I read the book itself first (with Eric's pencil annotations) and am now working on the footnotes (blue/black first, then green/orange, purple/red, and then the few black/black). I'm so glad I did it this way; one of Jen's very first annotations refers to something that happens in the last chapter of the book (there have been a few other instances of this as well).
Has anybody gotten too far into it and thought one way is better than the other?