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Book dedications - whom do you dedicate your books to?

I will only write a short one today, as I am still feeling quite sick, and need to use my energy for working on my jobs. Part of my work is translating books, sometimes "real" books, sometimes e-books. All of them (and most of the books I read) have dedications. I am also writing a book, but when it comes to dedications, it's always a page that bothers me a little, and to be honest, a page that makes me sad. I read how other people can dedicate their books to partners, friends, their family and so on, and then wonder who I would dedicate my book to.

Michael Jackson, because he was more of a friend to me than anybody else?
Patrick Stewart, because I learned more from him than from my own father who just hated me and always had to remind me that I was just an accident?
Lucy Lawless, because she helped me a lot even though I never got to talk to her?
Kate Mulgrew, because I wanted to have a mother like her?
Kenny Wizz, because he gave me hope?
Tolkien, because he inspired me?
The chickens?
Nobody?

You see the problem: they are all not people who are personally connected to me. Why do other writers have so many people in their lives? What the hell is wrong with me?

But I guess, no reader would actually miss a dedication page. Do you actually read them?
I know that I only read the ones that are short, not the one or two page long speeches of acknowledgements. I usually care more about the stories than about anything else surrounding them.
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  1. AnonymousMarch 31, 2015 at 2:04 AM

    I read the dedications, I might be sometimes rather meticulous, and I read very slowly, seldom more than 10-20 pages a day. Sometimes I just read the foreword and leave the following pages for the next day. I like to think about, meander along the thoughts I have read.
    It is difficult to use a standard formula for someone special.
    May be it is good to remember, and honor, and be the voice for those, who are outcasts, who are left behind, who are not deemed worthy, who are yet not a bit less precious, than any of the heros of the world. : ))

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