When to use a spoiler tag

[Barb]

I've always been a reader who tries to avoid spoilers about the books I read, and I'm wondering how everyone else feels about it. For example, it ruins part of the fun in reading a murder mystery if I know the identity of the victim before I start the book. In many books, there are multiple candidates for the role of victim, and I like to try to guess who is going to 'win' that spot :)

Other plot points could be considered spoilers as well, and sometimes even some of the background story. I would have been very disappointed, for instance, if I had known ahead of time about the events at the end of the most recent Goldy Schulz book.

Am I the only one who is bothered by this kind of thing?

[Tracy]

Nope. It bugs me, too.

[Melodie]

Spoilers bother me sometimes, but if it's something I REALLY want to read it doesn't matter.

[Tracy]

Here's the odd thing...I say spoilers bug me, but whenever I see a spoiler tag, I open them and read them. ;-)

[Ilene]

I don't want to know the end of a book, I can do without the spoilers.

[Susan]

Barb wrote: "I've always been a reader who tries to avoid spoilers about the books I read, and I'm wondering how everyone else feels about it. For example, it ruins part of the fun in reading a murder mystery i..."

I don't like spoilers, but I will say that sometimes you know who a victim is at the very start of the book. However, if there are multiple candidates, I agree the writer shouldn't spoil it.

A couple of months ago I was at a book signing. A reader--who turned out to also be a writer--got her copy signed, flipped to the epilogue and READ IT OUT LOUD! The bookstore owner was aghast and I was seriously unhappy. She said "I always read the end of a book first to see if it's worth reading." I asked her why she felt the need to read it aloud (which I personally consider the ultimate of spoilers) and she told me she thought everyone else would want to know, too.

I'm still shaking my head over that one...

[Grey853]

I don't mind spoilers. If I did, I wouldn't be able to read a book more than once.

[Tracy]

Susan wrote: "Barb wrote: "I've always been a reader who tries to avoid spoilers about the books I read, and I'm wondering how everyone else feels about it. For example, it ruins part of the fun in reading a mur..."

That's definitely bad. If I want to "spoil" a book, I can do it to myself. ;-)

[[deleted user]]

I have never minded spoilers. I try to be sensitive to others though. For example my best friend hates them. I dread when she asks me if I like a book so I wind up saying yes or no followed by, "we'll talk more after ya read it."

[Barb]

Susan wrote: "A couple of months ago I was at a book signing. A reader--who turned out to also be a writer--got her copy signed, flipped to the epilogue and READ IT OUT LOUD! The bookstore owner was aghast and I was seriously unhappy. She said "I always read the end of a book first to see if it's worth reading." I asked her why she felt the need to read it aloud (which I personally consider the ultimate of spoilers) and she told me she thought everyone else would want to know, too."

Wow! I hope someone set her straight? LOL

Thanks for the responses, it's good to know I'm not alone :)

[❂ Murder by Death]

Since I'm a big re-reader of books, spoilers in general do not bother me much. If I'm unsure about whether I'll like a book or not, I go looking for the spoilers. The only time I can think of where a spoiler would have had a negative impact on my reading was a Harry Potter book and the death of a certain character. If I'd known about that, I'm not sure I'd have read the book or gone further in the series.

I try to be very aware when I write reviews about revealing anything spoilerific - if I think I'm treading a line, I'll warn people at the beginning. If I have questions or comments about the plot, they go in the spoiler tags. I also try not to reveal too much about character development twists, although I'm not sure how good I am about it.

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

I'm with you -- I dislike spoilers, in books or movies. I don't want to hear the entire plot of a book or how it ends before I have a chance to read it. I am currently avoiding a couple group threads in other groups as some participants refuse to use -- or don't know how to use -- the "spoiler" html code.

[Susan]

Barb wrote: "Wow! I hope someone set her straight? LOL ..."

I saw the bookstore owner speaking with her, but doubt it made a difference. She's rather headstrong...

I learned my lesson, though. Now, in addition to having a sign that says "NO SPOILERS" I also ask the book signing host to make an announcement.

❂ Jennifer (reviews on BookLikes) wrote: "Since I'm a big re-reader of books..." I re-read books all the time, but knowing the outcome doesn't feel like a spoiler when I'm reading a book for the nth time. I'm curious to know how others feel about this!

[Marisa, Cozy Mysteries Assistant Moderator]

I don't mind them, I usually read the end too.

[[deleted user]]

I do get annoyed when someone gives the plot of the entire book almost up until the end. Something like: "Mc moves to new town cuz she's newly divorced. Loses her purse. Killer finds it while murdering the gardner, frames her. Setting out to prove her innocence she makes three new friends and they help her til one of them gets shot. Now it's up to MC to solve this crime before she's next. " I hate those reviews. It's like, thanks now I'll just read the last four pages of this 200 page book I just bought since that's the only part you didn't tell me.

I don't mind spoilers, but don't tell me the whole book. Otherwise what's the point?

Sorry, struck a nerve.

[Nancy]

Good point Christina. TMI n some reviews!

[Barb]

Susan wrote: "I re-read books all the time, but knowing the outcome doesn't feel like a spoiler when I'm reading a book for the nth time. I'm curious to know how others feel about this!"

I rarely re-read -- there are too many books out there calling my name to read a book over again LOL -- but when I do, it doesn't bother me to know whodunnit ... IF I can remember in the first place :)

[Barb]

Susan wrote: "I learned my lesson, though. Now, in addition to having a sign that says "NO SPOILERS" I also ask the book signing host to make an announcement."

It's still mind-boggling that you would have to take those measures in the first place, but I hope it's solved the problem.

[Susan]

Barb wrote: "It's still mind-boggling that you would have to take those measures in the first place, but I hope it's solved the problem."

I actually tell that story at the start of a discussion/signing now, and have been gratified by the response.

That person is going to be at a regional literary festival with me this fall. I think I'll have a word (or several) with her just before the event...

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews]

when I'm reviewing a book, I do my best to not reveal too much that would spoil the book, but hopefully include enough to interest someone. I have a friend that said her TBR list grows longer and longer as she reads my blog! LOL

as for authors writing the spoilers...I think it is all in how it is portrayed. Heck I see TV shows that show what has happened and then the next scene is 18 hours previously (or something like that). Of course you may not know who or how things happened and that isn't bad and I don't mind those kinds of books.