Do You Pay Attention to Book Dedications? Do They Affect Your Reading? Any Favorites?

I can't think of any favorite dedications at the moment, but I agree: they can really enhance the book.  Now I'm going to have to consider carefully how to dedicate my book! 

I never used to read them. Now I do. The dedication in Suzanne Forster's The Arrangement gave a whole new depth to the entire book and the character of the mother. Also, the dedication in Maria V. Snyder's Poison Study about chemotherapy really touched me and made the book so special. ( A friend of mine is a breast cancer survivor.) The same goes for acknowledgements. Jason Pinter's showed the enthusiam of a debut author that was thrilling and special to me as a reader. And of course I almost died with excitement when I saw the acknowledgements in Lori Devoti's new book, The Guardian's Keep. I confess I bought 5 copies of te book for my parents and in-laws. Her acknowledgement brough back giggles too to Debiw781's awesome 2007 Challenge blog about trying to explain to her dad about dating a hellhound. I still giggle when I think of that. Lorie sure comes up with some great, inspiring topics but I think that topic and blog should go down in Harlequin lore.

Merri can tell the story better but basically the book is dedicated to all of her hellhound lovers and Merri and I are named specifically, along with some others.  No last names but...

Lady A, Lorie had this great Mini-Challenge topic called Bad Boys and we were supposed to imagine what our dads would think of us bringing home the hero.  Debiw just wrote this great creative blog about her dad's reaction to a hellhound boyfriend.  Lori Devoti has these neat tote bags thast say "Official Hellhound Lover" with this silhouette of a hellhound.  She got such a kick out of Debi's blog that she sent us a tote, Debiw for writing it and me for pointing her to the blog.  We both wrote reviews on the book too.  Debi's review was great and mine said something about going from a werewolf scoffer to a hellhound lover.  But the main thing was that Debi's blog was just sooo funny, creative and full of spirit.

Vince, this was a good question.  I think acknowledgements can add a dimension to a book sometimes, some are playful and fun and others move the heart.  I now try to read all the preceding pages, particularly with Harlequin books. 

I usually read the dedication but do forget at times.  The last one I really remember was in a Lindsay McKenna book and she thanked her mother for teaching four turkeys to fly like eagles.  I really enjoyed that.  Another I remember, but forget the author, was about meeting a friend at the Rainbow Bridge.  As a hopeful believer of this bridge I hope to meet many of my friends there.

Joan 

Hmm.. must be on people's mind.  On one of my yahoogroups this was discussed. 

I enjoy reading acknowledgments and end notes.  My all time favorite was the one that Suzanne Brockmann wrote in dedicating a book to her son.  It was wonderful.  Here's the link to her dedication that she shared along with her countdown to the release of Hot Target.

I love reading these. I have to agree that some can even make the book better. That is one thing they don't always read in audiobooks and I wish they would. A lot of dedications do tell us more about the author or the how the book came about.

I sometimes dedicate certainn books to particular people, then others I leave without any dedication at all - it depends.  And sometimes dedications I wanted to put it get missed out at the copyediting stages and there's nothing at all I can do about it.

I've dedicated 2 books to eHarlequin community (Hi Jayne!)  One was The Married Mistress (USA 2006) that was dedicated to my many friends on eHarlequin, specialy the group who posted in 'The Teahouse' which was the place to be then,  and the writing group that then existed - the Gonnabeez. And At the Sheikh's Command was dedicated top the Hoods and the rest of the readers who joined in on the Writing Round Robin that I ran where they'd asked for a Sheikh story.  The characters who appeared in the WRR came into At The Sheikh's Command at the very end.

I have also dedicated books to my family and some very special writing friends - though the dedication that was supposed to appear in The Italian's Forced Bride for very special reasons  was missed out which disappointed me so very much.  Perhaps it's an English thing thought  that I mostly make my dedications very simple - then add to them personally when the book comes out. So the one dedicated to my husband just says 'For Steve' - but you can bet I added to it later!

 Kate

I find in used books

they particularly fascinate me

Of course I like seeing my own name in books (and thanks to some
Silhouette and Harlequin authors have actually had the experience )

I'm always willing to be a guinea pig and check French / Irish / continuity
details if people need it and I read reasonably quickly so it doesn't
noticeably slow up the publication process

I am SO envious of all the Harlequin editors having that endless supply of manuscripts

What's probably next up on my proofreading agenda is a thesis on Andrew
Marvell - not quite as interesting from my pov, but to each his or her own

Hugs

Sadhbh

Who is Andrew Marvell?  a client?  I'm sure you can slip a little something interesting inbetween.

Jeannie

I actully do read dedications. I love to see who the authors are writing a message to in the book. I especially do even more than I used to since I've had two (that I know of anyhow) books dedicated to me along with other folks too. And let me say, what a feeling that isto see an author dedicates a book to you! I was "featured" in a book once too. My parents' house was the house some of the characters lived in, one character was named after Mom and Dad and anotehr character was named after me, all in the same book. That was really special! Mom still loves to tell people she was in a book! LOL

Vince, Michelle is my critique partner and I sent her the link to your comment.  I know she'll be so pleased.

Donna

Vince -- I am so pleased you liked the dedication in ACWW. It was very heartfelt. I know my husband with pleased with the dedication.

I ALWAYS read the dedications as I think it is interesting to see why. I also try to include a bit in my newsletter about why I dedicated a certain book to whomever mainly because I figure if I am wondering why, other people must be as well. It is one of my favourites bits -- figiuring to whom a book should be decated to and why.

I do hope you enjoy ACWW.

MIchelle S

I'm still playing catch up. I wanted to say something about dedications. I find that in a PB I tend to skip dedications and go straight to the story, then I'll go back and read the other stuff. But with an ebook it comes up as I scroll to the TOC. 

I'm reading Alaskan Fantasy, HI, by Elle James. The story takes place during an Iditarod race and she dedicates the book to the racers, specifically a couple who read her manuscript, and her cousin and his wife who inspired the story. Having read that I knew the authors depiction of the Iditarod race would be as close as she could get. It's an exciting story. I'll blog it in a day or so. 

I just posted my review of Alaskan Fantasy. I think you'd like it. I really felt like I was out there on the trail with the mushers. How long does it take Sony to get the ebooks from Harlequin? This one was published in PB in Dec 07 and on the eH boutique in Dec, too. 

Hi Vince.

An interesting topic. I always read the dedications as well, since I sometimes know the people involved and it tickles my funny bone to see them mentioned.