Woman baffles people after realising common mistake with maps in fantasy novels
It might seem bizarre, but we don't all read the same way.
We know that reading preferences vary widely, much like tastes in films and music. The books you enjoy might differ greatly from someone else's favourites, whether you're absorbed in a captivating romance novel or getting into the Halloween spirit with a gripping horror story.
However, one woman has just realised that even if you read the same books as someone else, your reading experience is likely to be quite different. This is particularly true for books with additional visuals such as intricate illustrations, maps, and supplementary information that enriches the world-building.
Such added details are often found in various genres but are most prevalent in fantasy-themed books where the author has created an entirely new universe. For instance, anyone who has delved into 'Lord of the Rings' by JRR Tolkien would have encountered the extensive, meticulously crafted map of Middle-earth.
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Yet, a book enthusiast named Carly sparked a significant online debate after revealing she has never paid attention to any maps in her books and is puzzled by those who do.
She expressed her surprise, saying: "I recently learnt that people actually read maps in books. Are we supposed to? I don't. I open it up and go, 'Oh, pretty map', and then I never think about it again. You're supposed to use them?"
Carly's video sparked a heated debate among commenters, especially those who disagreed with her perspective. Many viewers pointed out they needed to frequently refer back to the map to follow along, whereas others believed it served as a useful tool for tracking the narrative's geographic progression.
One viewer remarked: "I use it all the time, and you'd be surprised about how often a place they mention or go to just isn't on the map." Another joined in: "Yes, especially when the story takes place in several countries/continents but has connections. It helps visualise it."
A third chimed: "I use them all the time! Every time a place is mentioned, I run straight to the map to see where they are."
In response, Carly posted replies to several users, confessing she had "never thought" to consult the map pages for further insight. She argued she expects the narrative to guide her without relying on maps to fill in any blanks, a sentiment echoed by some who critiqued it as "bad storytelling" if a tale can't convey its setting without a visual crutch.
A different person said: "I didn't know we were meant to use them. I just assume the position that I'm supposed to know where we are going... if the main characters know, then I know."
While another added: "I'm with you .. like I managed to follow Lord of the Rings no problem without one. I just assumed it was a visual confirmation of the map you built in your head while reading?!"
Some readers have expressed that using a Kindle or e-reader can make referencing a map in a book feel like "hard work" since continually navigating back to the map at the start is cumbersome, leading many to choose to "suffer without" the aid.
