Because the anticipation is building and it came out yesterday and I'm sure you just cant wait...

Kidding. But those did factor into my decision to read it. Actually, I decided to read it when I heard Matthew Stover was writing it. I've read some of his books and he is a very descriptive writer who excels in philosophical conversations about the Force (light/dark, etc).

But then, that's what you get out of a book - more description. You also get inside the character's heads, more of their internal stuggles are apparent and you get a better understanding why they make the choices they make. I'm not going to provide any spoilers (although the fans sites have provided everyone with the ins and outs of the story), but I will say this. I don't have any faith that Lucas can bring the movie to the emotional level that the book does.

His shortcomings as a director and some of the performances will water-down what I read to be some pretty impactful stuff. To think that the acting will be significantly better in ROTS than the previous 2 movies is a pipe-dream and the dialogue and scenes will undoubtedly be shortened to get the film to around 2 hours.

Obviously the action will be there and plenty of it. But if you enjoy Star Wars as a STORY and not a special effects extravaganza, I think the film will cheapen that. Lightsaber duels and a glimpse of Vader will not be enough to vindicate the other films. It's the "why" all this happened and what Anakin was stuggling with that is most important.

If you chose not to and are waiting for the big screen, then you have more self control than I. But for those that read it, I think you will enjoy it quite a bit. Quite a bit more than the movie, in fact.