Fact about me – when I was younger I read the acknowledgements and dedications of books. Religiously. They were usually short and sweet and they made me feel “closer” to my favourite authors. Roll on (quite) a few years, and I realised that I don’t read the acknowledgements and dedications anywhere near as often as I used to. I wracked my brain and I really don’t have a good reason for why I used to read them, and why I don’t anymore. Sometimes I’ll take a peak if it’s a book by a favourite author, or a series I love, then I might spare a few minutes to read it, but generally I just want to dig in to the story.
A recent article by Buzzfeed opened my eyes as to what I could be missing out on…
So, what about you? Do you read acknowledgements and dedications? Have you come across any great ones you want to share? I feel like we should get a hashtag going for this on Twitter!
This discussion was inspired by this post by Escape From Reality and this article by Buzzfeed.
Confessions of a Book Geek 
One of my favourite dedications is Neil Gaiman’s Anansi boys. I’ll take a pic of it and put it on my instagram but it makes me smile- what hashtag do you want for it? (my profile is private so idk if you’d see it, but I’ve linked it on my book blog profile…)
Rick Riordan, what a trololol.
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Ohhh, what hashtag would be good??? Something snappy though because #acknowledgementsanddedications isn’t doing it for me!
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hmmmm…. can’t think of one atm (I’ve just woken up haha), Here is the link to the anansi boys one on my instagram http://instagram.com/p/qTiOBplPF-/
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barefootmedstudent has thought of using #bestbookdedications. Pretty to the point! I’m gonna keep an eye for any good ones. That’s a good one! I need to read some Neil Gaiman!
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I love these! I enjoy reading acknowledgments. Though I can’t think of any good ones right now. Just occasionally they’re a bit boring and annoying. As for a hashtag… mmmh… #bestbookdedications? I dunno!
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That’s not bad actually. We should run with that one I think, I’m lacking creative juices this morning!! I’m going to start keeping an eye out for good/funny dedications and hashtag them from now on 🙂
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This post made me realize that I do indeed read book dedications. I guess I don’t do it consciously, but I recognize the Austenland one and the Harry Potter looks vaguely familiar (it’s been awhile since I read Deathly Hallows). I flipped to the dedication in my current read (The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde) – yep, I totally read it when I started the book. 🙂
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Interesting that you do it without even realising it! I’m definitely going to make this a thing I do. My Twitter should be prepared! R x
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I always read the dedication page, but never read the acknowledgment pages in the back-those are usually really long, and I think are aimed more towards the people being thanked 🙂
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I’ve started reading both, it’s like being nosy and learning something new. Sometimes you get an insight into the author as a person with the acknowledgement pages.
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I’m not a huge acknowledgement reader, but I LOVE reading dedications. I almost always read them. I’m particularly found of the ones in Julia Quinn’s novels, and, of course, the ones in the Lemony Snicket books.
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Get a photo with #bestbookdedications up somewhere and join in, I’m looking forward to seeing more of these. I’m starting to read both 🙂
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I usually read them, and I don’t know why. My eyes just always search for the dedication before starting the book.
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I read them as a kid, but I pretty much ignored them for a long time there. It’s a new habit to read them now. R x
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Actually since I’ve started blogging I’ve begun reading the Acknowledgements. It came to my attention that authors often mention bloggers and other authors that have helped to promote and just aid in the publishing process for their books. So now of course I’m curious to see which bloggers and authors I can spot in books! 😀
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This seems to be what’s happening to me 🙂 I didn’t know bloggers are sometimes mentioned, that’s nice! Must keep an eye out now, especially now I recognise so many author names I wouldn’t have known before.
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I pretty much always read them because it tends to give insight into who wrote it and what is important to them and what helped them get book done =)
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For some reason, I’ve only just started realising this! As I’ve fallen in love with reading again, I’ve fallen in love with my favourite authors again too. Definitely having more of an appreciation for Acknowledgements and Dedications 🙂
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I’m a little obsessed with dedicated and have some memorized by heart. For instance, I love that Stephen King has dedicated and continues to dedicate so many books to his wife and now her son, Joe Hill has dedicated one to her as well. She must be one hell of a woman.
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Aww Hayley, it’s nice that you follow them! She must indeed to be the muse/inspiration/dedication for so many creative works. Not sure how I’d feel considering the topics of Stephen King books though! Hopefully not life imitating art!! 😀 R x
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*dedications
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[…] @ Confessions of a Book Geek is curious to know if YOU read Acknowledgements and Dedications in books. I do, what about […]
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I always read the acknowledgments, even the really long ones at the end. It amazes me how many people go into making a book and it’s cool it get inside the author’s head and see how they write when they’re just themselves and not their characters.
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I’ve started doing that recently, and it is nice to see other author names mentioned who are friends of the author, or when they thank family with “in” jokes, it’s endearing 🙂
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[…] was nominated to take part in the Book Blogger Test, and I chatted about Acknowledgements and Dedications and the Harry Potter […]
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