Submitted by yoydid t3_10lkcoe in books

This might be a weird question but I have this problem where if there’s any indication of a big reveal coming up and there’s a clear paragraph break in the bottom of my peripheral vision I’ll impulsively have to see what it is. Im not exactly an avid reader so I don’t have the best attention span, but I was wondering whether anyone else has ever experienced this, and how I can stop doing this. I’ve found that putting my hand over the text helps, but that seems a bit excessive.

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alpha_rat_fight_ t1_j5xef2l wrote

Why stop doing that? As I kid I used to skip to the end of books and read the last few pages just so I knew what to expect, then I’d go back and read the rest. I don’t like the artificial tension of fiction so I don’t read it much anymore but when I do I still speed-read through or skip over the parts before the big tension break. Then I just go back and re-read whatever I missed.

I don’t have those issues when I read non-fiction, even narrative non-fiction which flows similarly to fiction. You might want to give that genre a try.

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Buttercup23nz t1_j5xefef wrote

I do this. Not all the time, only if there's a really tense section with a visible break. It bugs me, but I just accept it, and go back and read from where I skipped.

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danggeun021 t1_j5xf4py wrote

If you're bothered by it, then you could use a bookmark to guide your eyes. I tend to accidentally skip or re-read lines because I lose my place on the page. So, I started using the bookmark to underline the line I'm reading (with a physical book) and that helped me. Doesn't really work with e-books though!

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Blizz6100 t1_j5xkrip wrote

I find with certain dribbling on writers I do that (and don’t go back) if I keep reading and it feels I missed something then I go back Change writers for less dribbling or just accept that’s what you do and own it 😊😉

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CursedBeyondMeasure t1_j5xrwh9 wrote

I too have this problem and i use the same hand covering method to not spoil myself. It works for me.

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Jack-Campin t1_j5y15oe wrote

I've done that sometimes. Nothing to do with the bullshit about "spoilers", I just don't always find anxiety enjoyable. Simple fix is not to read the sort of book that does that.

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dizzytinfoil t1_j5yd1xa wrote

Sometimes I literally cover the sentence containing the resolution/reveal with my hand. I don’t always skip to the end but it happens often enough that I know when to be careful.

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margharitapassion t1_j5ywng3 wrote

I've come to realise that I actually read books only on the second read. The first time around, I just read to know what happens in the end. Only the second time do I actually read it, carefully going over every line and enjoying it. Only some books make the cut for a second read, though...

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lucia-pacciola t1_j5zk1bs wrote

Sometimes I skip to the end of a tense passage because I've had enough tension for now, thank you very much, but I'm still interested in the story and want to continue.

In fact, right now I'm reading One for the Money, by Stephanie Evanovich. Overall, it's a relatively lighthearted bounty-hunter procedural. Some easygoing action, some humor, some slice of life stuff. And then every so often a sudden very dark turn into horrible abuse. So far I can still respect the author and the editor's choice to include those passages. I'm still interested in the characters and the story. But there's no way in hell I'm reading those paragraphs in detail. Just let me skip to the light at the end of the tunnel, please.

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GaPaKa t1_j6069w6 wrote

That's why listening to scary audio books are so intense. You can't flick your eyes to the bottom of the page and see what happens. You are stuck at the pace of the author and it is freaky. Highly recommend The Shining on Audible.

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MountainSnowClouds t1_j61r998 wrote

If I feel tempted to do this I cover up the page with my hand or a piece of paper or a bookmark.

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ilikebooks31 t1_j63iy76 wrote

I do this all the time. The hand covering is a good idea!

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