A post in the Guardian Book Blog discusses the “extras” that have been popping up at the back of books in recent years. Most often these include the increasingly-common “reader’s guide” with suggested questions for book group discussions. I’ve also read author interviews, and excerpts (often the first chapter) of an upcoming work.
The note at the bottom of my review of Thrity Umrigar’s The Space Between Us mentions that I had read the paperback Harper Perennial edition, which contains a “P.S.” section with an author interview, additional background information, Umrigar’s writing tips, and a lengthy excerpt from another of her novels. I feel these additional sections add a lot to my understanding of the work and the author’s motivation and inspiration. Yes, there’s an obvious benefit to the publisher/marketer, but it seems to be a win-win for the reader as well!
Click here to read the article as it appears at the Guardian’s website (it’s worth a look for the accompanying photo alone; a handful of women sitting in what looks to be a panelled room in a church basement … is that wine in their glasses or grape juice?!)
What “bonus features” do you like to find in the back of your books? Discussion questions? Author interview? Excerpts? General historic information about the period or setting portrayed?
One of my favorites recently is a bonus story that appears in the back of Joe Hill’s book, 20th Century Ghosts. If you read all the way through the acknowledgements, there is another story hidden there – quite a good one, actually – that most people probably never find. When I reviewed the book, I told people that just like the last X-Men movie, you need to stay past the credits, clear to the end, so you don’t miss the little surprise.
I readily ignore “discussion questions” when they crop up in the back of the book – I feel like they’re telling me what parts of the story I should have found important and noteworthy, instead of just letting me enjoy it on my own.
I do enjoy author interviews, though, especially when they contain information about the book’s origin. Several audiobooks I’ve listened to have these included, which is always nice to hear the author’s perspective.
I love author interviews at the back of a book and it has only been in recent years that I’ve started noticing them and reading them.
I enjoy the bonuses at the end of books, especially when they feature an excerpts from a new book by the same author. There are several authors who include recipes from the story. Mary Kay Andrews is one of the first authors I noticed doing that years ago. As a person who has always enjoyed watching the opening and closing credits on movies and tv shows, I like to see who the author acknowledges. You can learn interesting things there as well.
I love author interviews! I also like recipes and fun stuff like that.
I don’t like playlists. I kind of develop my own playlists to books so I don’t like to be influenced by what the author thinks should be good music to fit a scene.
LisaLynne and Lisa – yes, that’s true, about finding more info in the acknowledgments, I hadn’t thought about that.
fyrefly – I imagine those audio books add a lot because you can hear the author’s voice! Interesting perspective on the discussion questions; I have read some books that include discussion guides that tried to make the book seem much *more* than it truly was.
lisamm – I try to find one online if the book doesn’t include one (after I’ve read the book, in case the interview contains any spoilers)
Amy – recipes! I like that idea. Funny that you mention playlists. I just finished Victoria Lustbader’s *Stone Creek*; in the acknowledgments she thanks the musicians “whose music provided the daily soundtrack to the writing of this book.”
Dawn, I nominated you for a blog award:)
Oh, yeah, recipes- I have read a couple books recently with recipes!
bookroomreviews – thank you! I’m challenged to find 7 (or even 1 at this point!) blog on my Google Reader that doesn’t already have the icon … I’ll keep looking. Thanks for your kind words.