M answers “Was anyone else bummed or confused by the...”

Margaret asked this question about The Bee Sting:

Was anyone else bummed or confused by the ending?

M I thought the ending was brilliant! He doesn’t need to spell out what happens—he already let us know on the first line of the first chapter: “In the n…moreI thought the ending was brilliant! He doesn’t need to spell out what happens—he already let us know on the first line of the first chapter: “In the next town over, a man had killed his family.” And throughout the book, with all the omens, foreshadowing, and ripple effects of the past.

Therein lies Paul Murray’s superpower: to make the reader feel so strongly, as to enmesh with the characters and, like them, fall into denial. Just like in his second book, Skippy Dies. It says so, right there on the cover. In fact, it’s the only thing you know about the book. And yet, when Skippy does indeed die, you’re left agape.

I feel we’ve been poorly conditioned by Hollywood movies, where everything is wrapped neatly in a bow, no matter how contradictory to everything the characters may have showed us about themselves, no matter how contrived: must have happy ending. Now THAT is disrespect.(less)

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