Instructions for the reader inserted in books

1swollen1 · Apr 26, 2012

What would be the reaction to a book that had instructions in it? For example: "You must be standing to read pages 4 to 9" or "Please arch your back while reading this next paragraph." It sounds childish.........I think that it would be kinda fun.

McBeanie · Apr 26, 2012

Who is the book directed to?

Once! · Apr 26, 2012

For a child's book, maybe. As you say, it could be fun.

For grown-ups? I'm not so sure. I don't like being told what to do. You risk alienating more people than you would please.

Bufty · Apr 26, 2012

It is childish, so be careful where you use it.

Lady Ice · Apr 26, 2012

1swollen1 said:
What would be the reaction to a book that had instructions in it? For example: "You must be standing to read pages 4 to 9"

What if they're in a wheelchair?

aishashadow · Apr 26, 2012

It might work for a comedy novel.

Nimram · Apr 26, 2012

While reading these words you must stand up, salute and hum your national anthem.
I see this kinda working only if the book is read by child and parent together. The parent might find it fun and inflict it on the child.

Also, these are not the droids you're looking for.

RobJ · Apr 26, 2012

1swollen1 said:
What would be the reaction to a book that had instructions in it? For example: "You must be standing to read pages 4 to 9" or "Please arch your back while reading this next paragraph." It sounds childish.........I think that it would be kinda fun.

It would have to serve a purpose, so can you give an appropriate example?

writingismypassion · Apr 26, 2012

I could definitely see something like this working in a children's book, especially as a creative learning tool. But for adults? Not so much.

Cliffhanger · Apr 26, 2012

1swollen1 said:
What would be the reaction to a book that had instructions in it? For example: "You must be standing to read pages 4 to 9" or "Please arch your back while reading this next paragraph." It sounds childish.........I think that it would be kinda fun.

It would be really gimmicky, even for a kid's book. If I came across that in a book for adults, that wasn't a non-fiction book on exercise for example, I would return it for my money back and likely avoid that author... forever.

Jamesaritchie · Apr 26, 2012

It's not a new idea for children's books. We had a number of books for our kids that worked this way, and teh kids loved them.

I can't see it working for adults, though. Reading is reading, whether you're sitting down, standing up, or doing anything else.

JayMan · Apr 26, 2012

aishashadow said:
It might work for a comedy novel.

Agree with this. If you were writing a humor novel, and if it was actually humorous/appropriate in context (this second point is key), then I could see it working. It would be a comedic thing, of course, i.e. I wouldn't actually expect someone to stand or arch their back, but rather to see the instruction in the context of the chapter/page and laugh.

But otherwise, it definitely wouldn't work.

Bufty · Apr 26, 2012

Definitely wouldn't work?

Children of a young age might well get fun out of the suggested actions while someone reads the story to them. As usual, the effectiveness will be in the execution.

JayMan said:
Agree with this. If you were writing a humor novel, and if it was actually humorous/appropriate in context (this second point is key), then I could see it working. It would be a comedic thing, of course, i.e. I wouldn't actually expect someone to stand or arch their back, but rather to see the instruction in the context of the chapter/page and laugh.

But otherwise, it definitely wouldn't work.

kuwisdelu · Apr 26, 2012

I could see something like that possibly working in an experimental postmodernist novel. It would be difficult to do effectively, though.

Deleted member 42 · Apr 26, 2012

I think Laurence Sterne already got there with Tristram Shandy.

meowzbark · Apr 26, 2012

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0375703764/?tag=absowrit-20

EDIT: Apparently people refer to it as the Blair Witch of Horror books. Never read it myself but it sounds well-done by the reviews.

Cliffhanger · Apr 26, 2012

meowzbark said:
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0375703764/?tag=absowrit-20

EDIT: Apparently people refer to it as the Blair Witch of Horror books. Never read it myself but it sounds well-done by the reviews.

House of Leaves is a maze. In an absurd and fun way. It's like getting lost for days on end at TVTropes.org only it's a consistent narrative throughout. Drives you a bit insane, like reading the Illuminatus! Trilogy.

Rhoda Nightingale · Apr 26, 2012

Eh, I wouldn't quite equate House of Leaves with what the OP is suggesting. I mean, okay, the passages are written upside and backwards and side-to-side and there are pages and pages of footnotes and appendices so you have to flip it back and forth and spin it around in a circle to read it, period. But nowhere in the text does it say, "Please stand on your head and recite the National Anthem before reading the next chapter." It's not quite that direct.

To the OP: I'd have to see it in context, honestly. I can see the humor angle as a possibility, and also the experimental angle, and also the children's/middle grade angle, but without knowing what you're actually going for, it's hard to say.

Personally, I resent being told explicitly what to do, by anyone, and that includes books. I'm just stubborn that way.

Stlight · Apr 26, 2012

Rhoda Nightingale said:
Personally, I resent being told explicitly what to do, by anyone, and that includes books. I'm just stubborn that way.

And I didn't care for it as a child.

Instructions for the reader inserted in books

1swollen1

Where I do all of my reading.

McBeanie

Twice Attempted Writer

Once!

Still confused by shoelaces

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

Lady Ice

Makes useful distinctions

aishashadow

Aisha Shadow

Nimram

sometimes woefully inaccurate

RobJ

writingismypassion

~Charity~

Cliffhanger

Jamesaritchie

JayMan

Like Burt Reynolds in Gator

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

kuwisdelu

Revolutionize the World

Deleted member 42

meowzbark

Cliffhanger

Rhoda Nightingale

Vampire Junkie

Stlight

ideas are floating where they will