After all, tomorrow is  another day.” –Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind.

Book endings.  Firstly, a question – do you flip to the end of a book out of impatience??  I used to do this for some reason – not sure why and I don’t do it any more – what about you?

So last week I took a look at opening sentences.  This was prompted by a question brought up by the Classics Club and it got me to thinking.  The results are here.  I think that what this made me see is that whilst some books really hook you from the first sentence it’s not always necessary, you still continue to read and the book speaks for itself.  That’s not to say that openings are not important – sometimes they provide a great hook or serve to demonstrate what you can expect for the rest of the story.  What I think personally is that if you really enjoy the book remembering the ending will give you an extra sense of nostalgia.

Anyway, moving swiftly on this got me to thinking I should give endings a look at.  Let’s face it endings are pretty damned important.  I’m not sure I’ve reached a conclusion with this topic.  It feels to me that if I’ve really enjoyed the book a disappointing ending might not necessarily spoil it but I think if I was only so/so about the book and the ending was naff the book stands no chance.  On the other hand, if I’m a bit so/so about a book but the ending is terrific it definitely raises the status because the ending is what provides you with the feeling you finish with when you put the book down.  Basically I’m sitting on the fence and looking at it from all angles!

I must admit that picking endings was more difficult.  It’s tricky talking openly about book endings because you’ll be giving away spoilers.  This is what I’ve come up with and I’ve kept my discussion to a minimum to avoid giving away the plots.

1. I am Legend by Richard Matheson – the ending of this book is bloody brilliant.  I mean, I can’t really say too much without giving it away for those who haven’t read it.  This is only a short read, it’s a bit grim and I don’t think you’ll always like the main character, plus a lot of the technical elements wouldn’t stand up to a great deal of scrutiny.  But the ending is perfect.  And, in case you’re thinking ‘I’ve seen the film’ – it’s  different in the book and much more poignant.
2. A Wonderful Year by Geraldine Brooks.  This is a great book that I loved, but, I didn’t like the ending.  I won’t go into the reasons why because I don’t want to spoil it for others.  Just that the ending of the book seemed surreal and out of place.  I would however still very much recommend this book – it’s just so good.  The voice and historical detail are brilliant and it’s based on actual events.  It’s set in a small town where the inhabitants decided to impose a quarantine during the plague.  It’s a compelling read.
3. Room by Emma Donaghue.  A good book.  Well written.  Intriguing concept but I was disappointed slightly with the end because I would have preferred for the second half to split between the mother and boy’s voice – I think the ending spoiled this book for me a little.
4. The Midwife by Chris Bohjalian  – a shock ending.  That’s all I will say.  And, yes, I recommend this book.
5. The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian – I was really looking forward to this one.  I like the author and it’s a horror/ghost story.  It starts off really strong but then for me it became unsatisfactory.  Plus I really didn’t enjoy the ending and it just spoiled the book for me which was a shame.
6. The Road by Cormac McCarthy – a very respected book.  Talk about your grimdark!  I liked the fact that it doesn’t delve too deeply into the whys and wherefores but makes the story one about survival.  Would I have liked a different ending.  Yes.  Do I still think it’s worth reading – yes.  Is it a light read – nope.
7. Sister by Rosamund Lupton.  This story is a murder mystery.  I think that, unless you’ve read spoilers, the ending will be a surprise.  It’s the sort of ending where you have to go back and rethink virtually everything you’ve read.
8. One Day by Dave Nicholls – this is actually one book where for me the ending spoiled the book a bit.  Sorry, but there it is. Why Dave Nicholls?  Just Why?
9. Game of Thrones by George Martin- This is a great book but as I was reading I couldn’t help but wonder where the fantasy element came into the story.  It felt more like a fictitious historical novel – right up until the ending.  Made me finish the story with a bit of a cheesy grin.
10. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer – yes, I read all these books and I admit it here quite openly so break out the pitchforks and torches right now.  Breaking Dawn has got to be the strangest ending to a series that I’ve ever read.  The tone of the book was completely different to the rest of the series.  The ending was a none event and there was far too much ‘trying to please everyone’ which never really works.  The whole book felt like it had been written by someone else!

‘More ending in death, but this time it sounds like a solace after life. I lingered round them, under that benign sky; watched the moths fluttering among the heath, and hare-bells; listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass; and wondered how any one could ever imagine unquiet slumbers for the sleepers in that quiet earth.’  Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.

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