For me, starting a new novel tends to be something of a ritual, and the ritual hasn't really changed with the move to ebooks. I study the cover then then turn the pages one by one, reading most of the details on each page (okay, so I tend to just glance at any long-winded copyright statements). When I get to the table of contents, if any, I will read down it. When I finally get to first text, I generally pause and try to clear my mind (reading my description here, I'm starting to think it sounds like a meditation exercise ... and maybe it is) and then start. I will even do this with re-reads of favourite novels, it's all part of savouring the experience.
As a result, I like my ebooks to be laid out as if they are a printed book. If the chapters are just numbers, printed books generally don't have them listed at the front, so neither should ebooks. If there is any risk of chapter titles giving too much away, they shouldn't be listed. But if the chapter titles have been created with care and relevance then I like them to be visible as part of the flow of the book.
|