Book Ending Methods ~ Likes & Dislikes

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

This is a page to consider the concluding of a book, or a book series - what makes a good ending? What endings do you like/dislike the most? Should endings be conclusive or enigmatic?

I personally think it depends what the series/book is about, and whether the author plans on creating another series afterwards, or another book for that matter.

However - to me - the last book shouldn't have a major cliffhanger at its end. Maybe a first, second, etc. book in the series can have a cliffhanger (all they all can!) to spice things up, but a final book shouldn't have one - not only does it annoy the reader, who will never discover what occurred and are left in permanent mourning, but it doesn't make the story...neat (for want of a better word!).

There doesn't have to be a stereotypical 'happily ever after' but there should be a definite conclusion. Maybe not all issues are solved, but the ones that matter should be.

An example (to me) of a series that didn't conclude in a satisfactory manner is: The Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket.

We never found out how their parents died.
We never found out if the triplets were still alive.
We never found out what the question mark was.
We never found out what VFD actually stood for.
We never found out what became of the Baudelaire orphans afterwards.
We never found out what was inside that stupid sugar bowl.

Moral of story: We didn't find out anything.

Your opinions on book endings below!

[talltyrion]

Honestly, I love it when a book actually concludes--the way Clockwork Princess did. That's the real end of a story.

[Zohal, Co-Moderator]

WordlesslyAmazed03 wrote: "Honestly, I love it when a book actually concludes--the way Clockwork Princess did. That's the real end of a story."

I loved the ending of that trilogy!!! IT WAS SUPERB!!!!

I hated the ending of Series of Unfortunate Events because I read all 13 books to be given an ending as open as that. ANNOYING!!!

I also got really angry with the ending of Requiem. At first I was fine because they were going to do the TV Show. So you know .. I'd get some answers. But then Fox8 didn't pick up the Pilot so it has been cancelled.

:/ :/

A series/trilogy (especially Dystopian) has 3 things.
Introduction, Complication, Resolution.

WHERE WAS THE RESOLUTION?! We don't even know if they actually won or if it was only Portland that was free. What about everywhere else? And what about Julian!!!!! It's like he wasn't even there in the last 10-20 pages. :/ :/ Not happy.

[talltyrion]

They. Canceled. The. Show. What.

[Leyah]

Huh. I just wrote my blog post on this, and then I see this in my notifications. Huh. Coincidence, much?

[Leyah]

That would be incredibly creepy *looks around warily*

[talltyrion]

Silence will fall, Doctor... Silence...

[[deleted user]]

I like endings of books with the complete information about what happens with the characters. (Whether it is in a one person point of view or a third person point of view)
Endings that end without entirely wrapping up most of the characters. If that makes any sense.
Where as in the final Harry Potter book. The ending was wrapped up with what happened to the characters without wrapping up completely, making us wonder about what happened during those years but it's still as good.
What I don't like are book endings like Mockingjay from the Hunger Games trilogy. It left me wondering about loads of questions that were left unanswered, the ending also seemed to be rushed. But I still love the book nonetheless. ^^

[talltyrion]

Oh, me too... None of my friends knew what I meant when I complained about the epilogue being rushed.

[Nenia]

I really hate in books where there's a love triangle but it's pointless because you know that the MC is going to end up with exactly whom you DON'T want them to end up.

[Sasha Ivashkov-Herondale-Jackson (aka Clarisse)]

172 Hours on the Moon
this book there wasnt an explaination of where the doppelgangers come from.
And the ending what like a HUGE twist.. but was also kind of amgiguous.. so its kinda confusing to deduce what happened... (since the POV swtiches and then when u read teh ending twist ur like WHA-?)

[Nenia]

H99 wrote: "Nenia wrote: "I really hate in books where there's a love triangle but it's pointless because you know that the MC is going to end up with exactly whom you DON'T want them to end up."

Yup. Sometim..."

That rarely is why I consistently come back to set myself up for more disappointment. Again and again and again... xD

[Sasha Ivashkov-Herondale-Jackson (aka Clarisse)]

Nenia wrote: "I really hate in books where there's a love triangle but it's pointless because you know that the MC is going to end up with exactly whom you DON'T want them to end up."

yeh thats bczuase maybe you like the second guy....

Usually the main girl will o for teh guy that she first met and she's first been with.


Example - Shadow Falls

- Hex Hall
- Obsidian
- Half-Blood
-Vampire Academy

- Infernal devices

[talltyrion]

Well, yeah. Because she's known that one longer, trusts him more, maybe skipped the awkward "friend zone" most of these couples start out in...

[Sasha Ivashkov-Herondale-Jackson (aka Clarisse)]

xactly, so hence that guy isnt tha "wrong guy"
as someone had said be4 earlier

[talltyrion]

Too rare.

[talltyrion]

Glad we're in agreement. :)

[[deleted user]]

I don't like open endings with last lines like, "The battle is just beginning" or "We'd only just started." Finish it up. Have an epilogue if you need to, but FINISH THAT PUPPY UP. Characters are in good endgame positions and the plot has been tied up tight with a red bow.

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

Tessa ☤ On the Fields of Trenzalore ☤ wrote: "I don't like open endings with last lines like, "The battle is just beginning" or "We'd only just started." Finish it up. Have an epilogue if you need to, but FINISH THAT PUPPY UP. Characters are i..."

I agree with H99 and Tessa. Don't use cryptic lines to end your tales. Put in a little bit of effort and tie up all the threads. It makes for a much more concise and creative ending, as well as one that will sit well with readers.

[[deleted user]]

Ugh. The ending to Mockingjay.

(view spoiler)[IT was so stupiddddd. And so anticlimatic!!! They went through all of that power stuff and in the end, it was just soooooo disappointing.

Like I do sort of get what Suzanne Collins was trying to achieve in this last book. She clearly showed the traumatic effects of war, and that often both sides are responsible for unjustified deaths of innocent people (i.e. Coin's bombing of the children), and that even when an oppressive government is overthrown, it's impossible to just forget all the tragic loss that war has brought.

But ugh.

There are so many things I hated about it.

I mean I hate that Katniss ended up with Peeta. Not once does she seem to show love towards Peeta she simply "cares" for him.

And then Gale just moves away to like District 2 and that's the end of the love triangle and the end of Katniss' friendship with him.

Tada. The end.

I just sort of wanted something more action-y. Books one and two were amazing and then book three was just an epic letdown. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Ugh... I dunno. There was something anticlimatic about it that I didn't like.

(view spoiler)[Like wasn't Katniss asleep when they overturned Capitol? I expected her to be out on the frontline fighting... (hide spoiler)]

[Lady Poppy]

I'm going to bring up cliffhangers.

On one hand, I love them because they build up suspense and leave you aching for the next book

On the other, if the next book isn't released until a year from then, then... I'm sure all of you understand the pain.

All in all, a cliffhanger is only okay if the next book has been released, but that all depends on your timing in reading it :P

[Jazzy]

The ending of The Hunger Games and the Series of Unfortunate Events are two separate book series that I was disappointed with concerning the ending. I also didn't enjoy the ending of the Harry Potter series. The epilogue nearly brought me to tears for multiple reasons. They tied up the main characters, yes, but Harry and Ginny made some awful naming decisions and it was a jarring experience to go from the topsy-turvy uncertainty and adventure of the books up until that point to a peaceful ending where everyone's happy and smiling. Personally I think the HP series could've ended with more uncertainty or possibility than it did.

[Monique]

Very much depending on the book, I love when a book ends with a you-can-guess-what-could-happen-in-the-future based on the last pages, but not a complete, cookie cut ending. With the Series of Unfortunate Events (my first "dark" series when I was younger:), I got nothing (although I think in another book of Lemony Snicket's he writes little hints about when they are older, what they were doing,etc. Not enough to satisfy me tho...)

[L]

In life, {as reflected within honest literature} there isn't always a 'Happily ever after'. Things transpire differently to expectations -- with the reader feeling a sense of completeness at a more accurate conclusion..

{sadness may follow for a time, until contentment is found through one's consciousness}

--

I simply love this Quote..


“Maybe there aren’t any happily ever afters..in real life, Prince Charming isn’t always perfect – he’s just as flawed as everyone else in the tale. And that princess, alone in her tower? She’s not perfect either.

But she’s also smart enough to know not to accept poisoned apples from strangers, or prick her finger on deadly spindles!

She doesn’t wait around for a prince to charge in and slay the dragon.

Maybe she saves herself and in the end, rides off into her own goddamned sunset!!”


If she loves hard and it's not reciprocated, then {feeling sorry for the Prince who doesn't appreciate that..} she turns to those who do care and of course self-love!!


Cause' the truth is -

Quote..

“Even the smallest shift in perspective can bring about the greatest healing.”



I suppose, in the words of author C J English - sometimes “I wanted to know what it felt like to be loved by the man of my dreams.”


If good writing encapsulates realities {unless of course the intent of the narrative is not so}, then you know it is honest, identifiable and poignant.

[Olivia]

Lucinda wrote: "In life, {as reflected within honest literature} there isn't always a 'Happily ever after'. Things transpire differently to expectations -- with the reader feeling a sense of completeness at a more..."

That was beautifully put.

[L]

Thank you!!

[Olivia]

You are welcome!:)

[Ziyue]

I've read so many YA books where they kiss at the end and while that's sweet and all I can't help but roll my eyes every now and then

[L]

Yeah -- everyone assumes that the main protagonists/ hero & heroine kiss at the end.. well, what if they don't?!

*amended* ~ feelin' a bit miserable earlier, so I would have to say of course! the sweet ending should happen!