Do you read reviews, notes or summaries before reading the text?

[osho]

I often choose to read summaries, reviews prior to reading the text. I am reading now Ulysses with a lot of reviews and notes. I have tried to complete the novel a year ago and I could not do so for the intricacy of his style, too many allusions, inferences, metaphors. I find poetry there and yet have to stop at some points and be back to the notes.

The same thing happened when I read To the Light House I had read a couple of years ago. That was a small novel in size and I thought I could complete at one sitting but I had to halt and take help to understand her use of streams of consciousness.

I do not read summaries or notes for simple novels like Great Expectations, Hard Times of Dickens or Anna Karenna of Tolstoy or the Great Gatsby or Tender is the Night by Fitzgerald and Kafka turns up rather intricate and I had to read reviews to understand his novella The Metamorphosis

I wonder how the rest will do their reading.

[kasie]

Unless they have extensive knowledge of Classical literature, myth, legend, etc, I think few people could read Ulysses and even begin to absorb all the cross-references and allusions without guidance notes so I think you should not be unduly concerned at having to take recourse to critical works in this instance.

Usually I like to read the text and then turn to critical texts for enlargement of understanding. I mostly turn past Introductions and read them afterwards as I find that until I have a grasp of the work itself, I do not fully understand the relevance of some of the commentary, not to metion the Spoiler aspect of reading a plot summary before the work itself.

[mal4mac]

I often choose to read summaries, reviews prior to reading the text. I am reading now Ulysses with a lot of reviews and notes. I have tried to complete the novel a year ago and I could not do so for the intricacy of his style, too many allusions, inferences, metaphors. I find poetry there and yet have to stop at some points and be back to the notes.


I had exactly that experience, a year ago, and with the two other attempts I've made over the decades! Having got nowhere by reading notes, I just tried reading it straight through. That didn't work either. There is poetry there, but my level of bemusement was too high, and my level of enjoyment too low. If I was doing a University course on it I'd have to persevere, and it might be "worth it". But, for me, it's too hard a grind - especially when there is greater literature that is much more straightforward to read & enjoy - like Shakespeare and Dante.



The same thing happened when I read To the Light House I had read a couple of years ago. That was a small novel in size and I thought I could complete at one sitting but I had to halt and take help to understand her use of streams of consciousness.


I managed to get through that. I was slightly bemused in a few places, but just read on and the bemusement didn't get too bad, while enjoyment remained fairly high. (And it *is* short :)



I do not read summaries or notes for simple novels like Great Expectations, Hard Times of Dickens or Anna Karenna of Tolstoy or the Great Gatsby or Tender is the Night by Fitzgerald and Kafka turns up rather intricate and I had to read reviews to understand his novella The Metamorphosis


Me too - I always skip the introduction 'cause it often spoils the plot, and it's usually tedious! Sometimes I go back and read them... but mostly not ... I could be reading more Dickens...



... and Kafka turns up rather intricate and I had to read reviews to understand his novella The Metamorphosis


In what way intricate? I think he's more strange than intricate - and can notes really help you with that strangeness? I find (minimal) notes useful with Shakespeare, to define the hardest words and more complex allusions. But I don't feel that kind of need with Kafka.

[YW1990]

I try to but end up getting bored and wanting to delve into the story straight away. I wish i had the persistence to finish the notes and summaries because i feel like it's good background information for what you're about to read.

[Charles Darnay]

I am similar in that when it comes to the critical introductions, or any other critical essay on a work, I wait until after I have read the book. I find (as has been stated) that there are spoilers that I don't want ruined for me, and also I get more out of the introductions having read the book and being able to push my own opinions on the essay.

My Ulysses experience is also a similar one. I needed a lot of help to get me through the first part of the book when I first read it. I enjoyed Ulysses far more during my re-read of it a year later. And now, it's one of my favourites.

As far as summaries or reviews of "less demanding" novels - I like to have some idea of what I am jumping into. When I look for reviews (such as on Amazon or a similar site) I look for ones that try to be more objective rather than "THIS BOOK IS AWESOME!!!!" or "This book sux" - for obvious reasons.

I also find that lately my reading habits have been subjected to random recommendations that come my way.

[Charles Darnay]

In what way intricate? I think he's more strange than intricate - and can notes really help you with that strangeness? I find (minimal) notes useful with Shakespeare, to define the hardest words and more complex allusions. But I don't feel that kind of need with Kafka.

I agree with you on Kafka. Since there are few barriers between the reader and Kafka (unlike Joyce) it really comes down to puzzling the text out yourself and making your own meaning of it. It is interesting to see what others have to say about his works, but Kafka is one of those author's that I wouldn't look to a great authority to show me the way.

[Stewed]

I used to read them, don't now. A few years after my degree I'm having to make an effort to think of reading as happiness rather than a secret mission or religious duty. I may have swung to far the other way now; but before, I'd really let my intellect crowd my emotions (save anxiety) out of the way.

[kelby_lake]

I read the introduction afterwards. It's interesting to find out what other people are saying about the book and how closely it aligns with your version.