That was a great adventure
There is a brew-ha currently going on over the last Sookie book, the ending of which was leaked by a disgruntled reader, and die-hard readers are being both wonderfully supportive and aggressively loud in their disappointment of the final book’s direction.
I’m trying to stay out of it because my opinions don’t matter, but I did voice my sympathy to Charlaine that her final book’s ending was leaked by an unhappy reader. I’ve had my joys trumped by one person before, and it’s very sour.
So now I’m waiting for the noise to spill onto my boards, as it usually does, and I’m asking up front that unhappy Sookie readers don’t threaten me with not reading my books if “you do what Charlaine did.” The books are what they are, and though you can’t please everyone, if you are the one spending the year writing, rewriting, copyediting, proofing, and creating . . . then you ought to please yourself, especially in long running series that have encompassed a decade or more of your life.
It’s the writer’s job to take the reader on a journey. Not all the turns will be the ones the reader would take, but if the writer does his/her job, the reader will always look back and say “that was a great adventure.”
Read it before you decide it wasn’t.
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Oh no! What a lame reaction. Like the ending, don't like the ending, it's not your decision and the author always has his/her reason. Don't ruin it for others! I'm a bit behind on Sookie's story so thanks for the heads up- I will avoid any vampire-centric internet discussions for a bit.
It's absolutely ok for a reader to like/not like a story, character, love interest... But, the author owns it and really shouldn't kowtow to what they think the readers want. Some of the most resonant books didn't have a happy ending, in my opinion, but haunted me nonetheless. I just hope I can keep from finding out what happens before I read the book!
I like your opinion and agree with you that it is the author's decision on what happens to her/his story and characters in that story.... Geeze, let's not forget "Misery" and his "Number 1 Fan." To believe that there are people out there that really feel they have some kind of influence over what an author will/won't write is just silly. I hope no one threatens you like you mentioned in your comment that they won't read your books if you do the same thing. For Real? I hope you don't have to experience that. I have followed the Sookie books and am eagerly awaiting the last installment. This is the first that I've heard of a leak to the ending, but I will read it all the more as I've followed Sookie from the beginning. Shame on someone for spoiling it for everyone... and too bad they didn't agree with the ending.
I remember when the last Harry Potter book came out and everyone was all up in arms as to how J,K Rowling should end her book. She did end it well and everyone was satisfied for the most part. Most of the world would like a happy ending... it's what keeps us going in the darkest of dark.... the hope that it will all be ok. But, in reality, not everyone gets a happy ending, and that is just life.
I will continue to read your books for as long as your choose to write them. And, since they are your books, well... you have full control of your characters and their fates rest in your pen. And, I will enjoy the journey.
That is incredible that people would be that lame. I think writing stories is like umpiring a baseball game. You make half the people happy and the other half mad. If everyone is happy, well you just didn't do your job!
This is why I hardly join any facebook groups. People just cannot help themselves.Still waiting for the last book to be released here. I don't generally mind how books end but sometimes I wish for two characters to be together so bad that I get a bit disappointed when it doesn't happen. But I really hate it when people rate/review a book based on the characters love interest (just because it didn't turn out to be who they wanted). Its even worse when they spoil the ending for other people.
At least if there's outcry, as an author you know that someone actually cares - you, and the characters you created, have touched someone enough for them to expend emotional energy complaining. A reaction of "Yeah. Whatever." would be far worse!
I like your comment Jen. You're right!
