Table of Contents in a novel?

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What do you think about a Table of Contents?
Good	4 (50%)
Don't care	2 (25%)
Not a fan	2 (25%)
Total Votes: 8

Table of Contents in a novel?
Topic Started: Feb 20 2009, 06:47 PM (176 Views)
UnknownSoldier	Feb 20 2009, 06:47 PM Post #1
iBelieve Posts: 435 Group: Writers Member #57 Joined: Oct 25, 2008	One of my friend's was complaining (she likes making a big deal out of everything) about a novel not having a table of contents. I think I would, too- be annoyed, not complain- if it were non-fiction, but I think Table of Contents are useless in novels. I know this is kind of an odd and unimportant question, but what do you think?
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RedHead97	Feb 21 2009, 09:45 AM Post #2
Writes 50 Words Per Chapter Posts: 276 Group: Writers Member #81 Joined: Feb 21, 2009	I like Table of Contents if the novel is long, like Harry Potter, otherwise I don't care.



Lykaios	Feb 21 2009, 04:22 PM Post #3
Crayon Posts: 1,216 Group: Global Moderators Member #10 Joined: Mar 23, 2008	Tables of contents are stupid in fiction novels and really unneded. You're going to be using some form of bookmark generally so why would you need to look up a chapter? I have never used one and some are rediculously ong. One of my favourite books had a table of contents three pages long because it's a big book with short chapters. It's really irritating. I have no problem with them in non-fiction books though, because you don't always read them cover-to-cover and need to look up specific places in the book, whichyou wouldn't do in a novel.
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Allyson	Feb 21 2009, 04:38 PM Post #4
Observer of all Posts: 2,337 Group: Root Administrator Member #1 Joined: Jan 29, 2008	That's a good question. I like having a table of contents because then if I want to read a certain chapter again, and I know what the chapter title is but not the page, I can just look it up! To me, all books need one.
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Lykaios	Feb 21 2009, 04:47 PM Post #5
Crayon Posts: 1,216 Group: Global Moderators Member #10 Joined: Mar 23, 2008	I just flick through a book 'til I find the place I want. Numbers aren't my thing, they're way too confusing. So maybe I'm a little biased.
	>Spattered Ink - a forum for young writers<


pjh1	Feb 22 2009, 01:28 AM Post #6
I'm trying to get 1,000 posts by the time my birthday comes around!! Wish me luck!! Posts: 536 Group: Writers Member #49 Joined: Oct 7, 2008	Usually, I don't like very long books or inapropriate books so the chapter names help me and how many chapters there are give me an idea on the book b/c most paragraphs on the back are not very helpful. :P
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Allyson	Feb 22 2009, 11:09 PM Post #7
Observer of all Posts: 2,337 Group: Root Administrator Member #1 Joined: Jan 29, 2008	So...is that a don't care?
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Sammi	May 18 2009, 12:14 PM Post #8
Random Words Posts: 22 Group: Writers+ Member #94 Joined: May 12, 2009	I like table of contents in novels.... I don't know why, though ^^; If a novel didn't contain it, it wouldn't matter to me.
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