A book starts before page one.
Covers, blurbs, reviews — they preload expectations.
That’s not neutral; it’s part of the system.
Expectation Engineering
A thriller cover with big red text primes you for:
- Pacing assumptions
- Genre tropes
- A mood before chapter one
Paratext sets the baseline.
Intros and Forewords
Scholarly editions stack interpretation up front:
- Introductions tell you what matters before you meet it
- Footnotes guide attention to certain themes
- You’ve already half-read the critical take before your own
The narrative is pre-loaded.
Marketing as Narrative Bias
Hype cycles and jacket quotes frame books as:
- “Important” or “problematic”
- Worthy of prize lists or backlash
The text can’t escape the frame.
Critical Implication
When reading critically:
- Note what paratext you consumed first
- Ask if your response is to the text or its packaging
- Recognise the frame as part of the story system
Stories don’t start on page one.