Z for Zachariah question

I didnt really notice it as much of a change in author for the end. I think, judging by how the events had played out throughout the novel, it was rather close to how he would have done it. Its rather brilliant how they tried sounding as much like the original author as well, seeing as the book ended where it started. With the "I am afraid" with the first sentence and however the last sentence is "i am hopeful" or something like that

I would have liked it to end with her getting her place back and him being out on his own once again. (or dead)

I thought the ending was too abrupt, not a lot happened, I thoroughly enjoyed the book but to me the ending was a let down.

ikr i wish it gave a better ending that either let you know how she lived(or if she dies) or if she meant anyone else other then a creepo,but what can you do?

I read this book almost 20 years ago. I loved it. I had no clue the author died and didn't finish it. Since it was a school read that may have been a factoid my teacher could have included. I think I need to pick this up and reread it. Someone refresh my memory, didn't it end with her putting on the hazmat suit and walking out of the valley?

I like to think it would have ended with the return of her family (or at least some of it).

If O'Brien's widow completed the book from his notes and drafts, surely the ending is pretty much whatever he planned?

To me, the book is a 20th-century echo of Robinson Crusoe: a survivor who is also the narrator (Crusoe or Ann Burden) in a very isolated pocket of land (an island or a valley) is shocked to discover they are not alone when a stranger (Man Friday or John Loomis) sets foot in their land. But the consequences are not the same except that the narrator somehow survives to move away, never to return again.

I often wonder if the author, consciously or unconsciously, was re-using the outline plot. Another (this time deliberate) reworking of a classic was William Golding's The Lord of the Flies, which even re-used some of the names of characters in his model, The Coral Island.

Anyway, as far as I'm concerned, the ending is perfectly right for the story, as it's a study in how one copes with solitude, and then how one copes with an intruder into that solitude. Anything further would be superfluous. I suspect that many readers don't like the ending because it doesn't fit the 'happy ever after' conclusion that we usually look for in novels.

I liked the ending...pretty good. I can assume that she made it....and that she got to teach...but it annoys me that Mr.Loomis got her land....so happy that he will die alone... but the ending kind of left me looking for another book. I feel bad that he died and never finished it, so I am ok with the ending for that reason only....not sure what else I could really want...

I didn't really like it. It wasn't so interesting.