Prologues/ Epilogues

[deadstar4188.livejournal.com]

Hi,

just a quick question, when you read a book do you read the prologues/epilogues?

I know a few people who don't (but they also read the last chapter first) and i have both in my story, but i feel as though the prologue might give one of the twists away.

I'm probably thinking about it too much (i do that a lot)but your opinions will be a great help.

Thanks

Comments

[starlight83.livejournal.com]

I am of the opinion that prologues and epilogues should only be used if they're absolutely necessary.

A lot of thrillers I read use a prologue as an opening gambit. And I rather like that use. Epic fantasies seem to use them to detail back story from a thousand years ago. And that use sort of frustrates me.

Epilogues I don't see much of in my reading. When I do, they're either in romance novels and utterly useless or in part of a series where the author is setting a hook for the next novel. I read them. But I always wish author had just closed the meat of their novel and wrapped up their loose ends tightly enough not to need an epilogue.