Ambiguous Endings...

[Gill]

How do people feel about ambiguous book endings? I was inspired to start this after reading the discussion of 'A Little Stranger' by Sarah Waters. I'm all for a bit of ambiguity myself, but I know it drives some people to distraction. (My daughter would happily have killed the director of 'Inception' if she could have got her hands on him!)
My favourite ambiguous book ending is 'Villette' by Charlotte Bronte.

[Andy]

I am not a great fan of ambigous endings, unless there are follow up books which take the story further. Although they do get people talking (which can also generate publicity - cynic!) so are good for forums.

[Stuart]

I quite like ambiguous endings, though if they feel contrived, then I do not like them. There must be something in the body of the story at least hints at the ambiguous ending.

[Chris]

I am quite happy with the occasional ambiguous ending . I think the Little Stranger had it about right; you could draw your own conclusions from a lot of detail. BUT I hate it when things are left way too open, it feels incomplete!

[Sam]

I rather like ambiguous endings as long as they're done well. I don't like ones where it feels like the author (or director/screen writer for that matter)has just run out of ideas or hit a wall or something. Bit I do love the ones that leave you guessing and give you a number of different possibilities so you can debate with yourself and others over which was the most likely (btw I loved the ending to Inception, I still alternate between whether he did or didn't make it home).

[Leah]

I quite like ambiguous endings if it fits the book, and gives you enough to concoct a few possible endings for yourself.
The most frustrating ambiguous ending that I have come across was The Magus by John Fowles although the whole book was ambiguous and drove me bonkers throughout.

[Em]

I generally like an ambiguous ending, if it fits the book and the story - I like being able to reflect and come to my own conclusions (not to mention it makes for a better book discussion.)

[Dan]

Ambiguous is good. I like an open ending rather than one where everything is wrapped up - those stories are often the kind that stay with you. I'm also quite partial to a down-beat ending. But endings . . . man, they're hard to get just right.

[Em]

Yes, it must be hard to get right and what's worse is it makes all the difference to how the reader feels about a book - a really good book and then you hate the ending... so disappointing!

[Rachel]

I like ambiguity if I feel that I have enough information to have a go at forming my own theory. If that's not there, I'll probably feel cheated...

[Alex]

I like these types of endings if they make sense. I don't like books/movies that sort of try to shock you or catch you out. I have some open endings or ambiguous endings in my books, but my philosophy is that life goes on. Not everything needs to tied up in pretty little bows, but I don't like to feel cheated or make my reader feel cheated. I guess it is how it is done.

[Nikks]

I seem to be reviving an old thread :

I recently read 'the reluctant fundamentalist'. Can someone please explain exactly what happened it the end ! I was frustrated by what i thought happened - it seemed so mismatched with the rest if the book. Wierd.

[Patrick]

Rather than than having two endings, perhaps it is better left to the reader to exercise their imagination - for a change - and to work the ending out for themselves. Just leave a them few clues!