*Friend Me Friday is a new feature I’m starting on my blog.  Every Friday I’m going to share something about myself.  These posts most likely won’t be book related.  The main reason I started blogging was because I wanted to make friends, but sometimes I worry that my personality isn’t shining through my reviews.  I want to share a little bit about myself, so you all can get to know me better.  And, hopefully, I’ll get to know you a little better by the comments I hope you leave*

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It’s my first Friend Me, Friday!  Wahooo!  Since this is my first post with this feature, I’m focusing on something book-related today: Dedications!

Book Dedications

I LOVE reading the dedication pages.  You know, that page before the actual story begins with a line or two from the author, dedicating the book to someone.  I read the dedications every time I read a book, and although they are often not very interesting, sometimes I will find some gems.

Take A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, for example.  What’s special about these dedications?  Well, they’re actually connected to the story!  Plus they are hilarious!

Here are a few examples:

To Beatrice –
darling, dearest, dead.
-from The Bad Beginning

For Beatrice –
My love for you shall live forever.
You, however, did not.
-from The Reptile Room

To Beatrice –
My love flew like a butterfly
Until death swooped down like a bat
As the poet Emma Montana McElroy said:
“That’s the end of that.”
-from The Miserable Mill

For Beatrice –
I cherished, you perished.
The world’s been nightmarished
-from The End

Aren’t they so much fun?  And they add to the story, too.  These dedications are my favorite part of this series!

But of course, most book dedications aren’t part of the actual story.  As for the traditional dedication, Julia Quinn always delights me!  I think I got really into reading dedications when I started reading her books while in college.  Julia Quinn always has two parts to her dedications, and the second part is always dedicated to her husband, Paul.  And they are really quite entertaining.

Here are some examples:

For Pam Spengler-Jaffee.
You are a goddess in every way.
And also for Paul,
even though when I went to him
for medical advice to save my ailing hero,
he replied, “He has to die.”
-from Just Like Heaven

. . . And also for Paul,
even though he took it as a personal victory
that I managed to involve Star Wars
in the title of this book.
-from Lady Whistledown Strikes Back, “The First Kiss”

. . . And for Paul, even though he seems to think
he can get out of just about anything by saying,
“You’re very cute, though.”
-from How to Marry a Marquis

For my mom,
who makes all things possible.
And also for Paul,
even though she once introduced us
as her son and daughter-in-law.  Sheesh.
-from The Lost Duke of Wyndham

. . . And for Paul, even though he just doesn’t
understand why I can’t end all of my titles
with exclamation points.
-from Brighter Than the Sun

I think I’m usually most excited about getting Julia Quinn’s newest book, just to read her dedication.  Okay, that’s not true.  I really love JQ’s books, but her dedications just make her books even more enjoyable.  They really show-off her personality, and I like feeling like I know a little bit about the author.

So, do you read dedications?  I always do, and although they’re normally nothing noteworthy, it’s worth that extra minute, because I never know when I will come across something amazing!

And if you do read the dedications, let me know you’re favorites!

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