Inscription No-Nos

The other day, Kimbofo, on her blog Reading Matters, wrote about the point of introductions in books. She doesn't see the point, and asked her commenters what they think. My view is that I like them, if I've enjoyed the book. I don't read them before I read the book, but if I've enjoyed the book I invariably want to find out more about it, and if all you have in front of you is an example of "the moribund medium" (as an ex-web editor of Nature was wont to refer to anything printed), the introduction is a pretty good way to find out something about the author and why  he/she wrote the book.

But what annoys me, I wrote in my comments to Kimbofo's post, are acknowledgements. Is it just me, or have they become longer and more effusive these days? I think of acknowledgements as a brief note of one or two names of people who made a significant contribution to either the content of the book or to getting it published. Quite often, one sees acknowledgements that go on for a couple of pages. The author feels moved to thank everyone he or she ever met, as well as everyone in the publishing company and a few unmet role models or sources of inspiration. Who is supposed to read these fulsome tributes? What are they for? Readers of the book will not know any of these people and will never meet them. The author's friends and relations would probably be much more pleased to be sent a signed copy with a personal message of appreciation from the author. And trees could be saved.

Now paperback writer has weighed in, completely coincidentally I am sure, with a post listing the ten things you probably shoudn't inscribe in your novel. Link below.

Link: Paperback Writer: Inscription No-Nos.

Comments

[Lee]

I couldn't agree more about the fulsome tributes.

[Marie]

You're right Maxine, I've noticed acknowledgements getting longer too. There really is no need.

[Clare]

I think acknowledgements are sometimes essential - depending on the book of course. People give up their time to help authors in their research and it would seem ungrateful to me not to acknowledge them.

I have also been criticised for my long bibliographies but I feel it would be churlish not to acknowledge the books I've used too. It does mean a lot to the authors involved - and of course some authors of novels have been criticised for not acknowledging sources.

I agree though that some are a bit too long and mine certainly are. I think if I had another book published I would try to be more restrained - and not include all the people I have ever known. I suppose I was just so delighted to have my book published that I just wanted to say thank you world.

[Maxine]

Clare, you make me feel like a right old grump, now, I am ashamed of myself.
But in my defence, I would say that acks are fine if the people concerned have helped with the book -- with the research for example, if it is the kind of book that requires research. But in many cases, it seems to me that the author lists all their extended family, all the people they were at school with, the receptionist at the publishers, etc. I do think that this is sometimes a bit "much".
But apologies for being a spoilsport.

[Caroline]

I was happily writing page after page after page for my acknowledgements. And now I have read this and you've made me think!
There is a fine balance to be found - not wanting to offend my long lost aunt twice removed, yet at the same time feeling bungles of gratitude to others. Those who have actually encouraged and inspired.
In my opinion, from one currently tackling with who to include, I just want an easy life. And when the novel comes out, I'll have enough to deal with, without people whinnying on because I forgot to acknowledge their existence in the world. It is a problem for me.
Perhaps I could ask someone else to write it!
Cx

[David J. Montgomery]

I love the Acknowledgment sections of novels. I find it fascinating to see who authors choose to single out for thanks or whatever. They can also sometimes be useful to get a glimpse of how or why the author wrote the book.

[kimbofo]

I don't have a problem with the acknowledgements; I usually ignore them!

I like them on CD sleeves though. As a teen and 20-something I used to pour over the acks of every CD I ever bought. I used to find it fascinating and often found very interesting connections between bands - ie. divergent groups thanking the same people. It was a bit like trainspotting I guess! ;) God knows what the current music-buying generation does, because I don't think digital music files come with any paperwork to study!

[Maxine]

In a separate email, Clare mentioned the importance of bibliographies. I agree completely that bibliographies are important. My gripe is with people who spend pages thanking the neigbour's cat, etc. But really, it is a very small issue in the grand scheme of things, I'm happy to live with it.

I don't buy many CDs, Kim, but I loved reading the notes by Howard Shore on the Lord of the Rings CDs -- tantalisingly brief.