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READING
Start Reading In the Middle
A new take on the “page 69” method
Do you judge a book by its cover?
There are millions of good books in the world — more than you will ever be able to read. You don’t want to spend precious time reading a book that sucks. So how do you choose what lucky book is going to get into your mind next?
Some people start on the first page, but there’s a problem with that. The beginning of every book, song, movie or show is now expected to open with a huge bang — and sometimes, the rest of the work can’t keep up. Often, it shouldn’t keep up. This new expectation forces creators to enter the story not at the point they believe is best, but at the point their publisher believes is most likely to hook a reader.
To get around this, try what calls the “Page 69 Test.” It’s pretty obvious how to do it: Turn to that page and start reading there. Others recommend page 99. It doesn’t matter — just pick a page far enough along that the writer has settled into the story.
I want you to visit a trailer park with me
This trailer park is on the outskirts of a (mythical) small Illinois city called Loire, and if you try to pronounce it the way the French do, the locals will immediately know…
