The Wide Web of Friends in YA Books discussion

I'm not sure why they annoy me so bad, but I HATE prologues! What about you guys?

It depends on the book. They had prologues in Twilight Saga right? I didn't like those ones. I do like the prologues for The Mortal Instruments books tho.

I have a love/hate relationship with prologues. Sometimes I am like "If there's a back of the book excerpt why do you need background info inside? Eventually we'll get the info. when reading the book." and at other times the prologue is what gets me interested. So I don't lean either way. :-/

I agree, Elle, prologues are usually just back stories that could be written into the book. :)

Rachel wrote: "It depends on the book. They had prologues in Twilight Saga right? I didn't like those ones. I do like the prologues for The Mortal Instruments books tho."

I forgot about Twilight having a preface, but for whatever reason, it didn't bother me in that instance. :)

When I first started reading I never read the prologue, but now I love the prologue....

Wow, I didn't realize how many people read the prologue. I think I must be the only one who skips, lol.

I actually like it. :)

Awesome! Just goes to show what I know, lol. :)

All my friends hate them! They don't even read the prologues and i'm like wth?

I know right? My friends do that too! Prologues are great (most of the time). In City of Bones books the prologues are really important to read and have significance.

Ashley wrote: "All my friends hate them! They don't even read the prologues and i'm like wth?"

LOL, I think your friends and I, are the weird ones. You guys are normal. :)

Celeste wrote: "Ashley wrote: "All my friends hate them! They don't even read the prologues and i'm like wth?"

LOL, I think your friends and I, are the weird ones. You guys are normal. :)"

lol I just don't get it.

Rachel wrote: "I know right? My friends do that too! Prologues are great (most of the time). In City of Bones books the prologues are really important to read and have significance."

IKR!! Same here.

I've really thought about this hard and have finally figured out why I hate them. It's because I like to dive right into the story. I don't want to be delayed with setup or back story. There's actually a ton of literary agents and editors who won't look past prologues either, so maybe I'm not too weird. (just averagely weird.) :D

LOL

Occasionaly, I'm like, "Seriously? I could have totally just read the book without that."
But most of the time I read them. :)

Audrey wrote: "Occasionaly, I'm like, "Seriously? I could have totally just read the book without that."
But most of the time I read them. :)"

Yeah, 9 chances out of 10, I could usually skip the pro and still know what's up. I'm not really sure why the even exist.

Me. I hate prologues. They annoy me. I'm like, 'Start with the book, already!'

I think it depends what the prologue is there for. I've written one into my book, but that's because it contains important information that the reader needs to know before the main storyline kicks in.

I agree though that most are extremely boring. They just chuck a load of feelings or facts at you and you think 'why do I need to know this?'

I'm fine with them since they can have information important in the story of the book. It may also have something from the end of the book that builds suspense, capturing the reader's curiosity and make them read the book. It is also great for when readers are buying book because the prologue is the first impression (after the plot on the back).

Prologues are so important. In my opinion, you're hurting yourself by not reading it. A lot of the times, the author will put little tidbits that help you to enjoy the story more--you'll understand more foreshadowing, more about the characters, etc.

I just skip them, unless they are actually about the characters. Not just the world.

Most books I've read have no prologues,but I did like the ones in The Infernal Devices series

Some books that I read don't have prologues unless its a series like the vampire academy series. Blood promise the 4th book has a prologue and I don't mind it because it gives a recap of what happened so far.

I usually like them. Sometimes they are what hooks me to the book. I have read a few that just drag on.

Yea, I know what you mean.

Sometimes it depends. I loved them in the Warriors Series. It gave me an idea what will happen or what's going on. The one is in Hush Hush isn't the best to me. I do like the ones in the Beautiful Creature series.

Yea, the beautiful creatures one made sense because it gives some back story.

I love the way they did it in Hopeless it had like flash backs in between chapters every so often. Great amazing book.

That's one that has been on my list for a while. I'm gonna check it out when I finish the VA series.

Prologues make me impatient. I'd rather just go straight to the book! But sometimes prologues are important so I don't mind them if they're interesting enough.

I just look at it as a short story setting up the main story. Not always necessary, but more to read, which I'm always fine with.

Prologues can be good or bad, just as Afterwords can be good or bad. Every story is different; no absolute rules regarding either apply.