Excellent, Robbie. I’m so glad you’ve emphasized the importance of endings, and you drove home the point with the many examples. After all, the ending serves as a book’s capstone. Thank you!
I agree that the last “Harry Potter” novel was kind of a mixed bag after six fantastic books, and that the epilogue was indeed a clunker. I also agree with Dan Antion (in another comment under your post) about “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”; the appearance of Tom Sawyer, and his actions: unfortunate after the novel’s amazing first two-thirds. I was disappointed, too, with the ending of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The House of the Seven Gables” — more upbeat than it should have been, as with “Great Expectations,” per your mention.
As for my own recent part-fiction/part-factual “Misty the Cat…Unleashed,” I had a general sense of the ending but didn’t work it out specifically until I wrote the rest of the book.
Thank you, Dave. I have only read The Scarlett Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and I liked it very much. HP, well, maybe it just got overhyped and overrated. It was a good idea and made the author lots of money.
I changed the ending of ‘Revenge’ when some readers were dissatisfied with it. However, I soon learned that you cannot please all the people all the time, and stopped trying to.
Robbie, I liked reading what your five worst book endings were and why. This such a great topic, because the ending matters doesn’t it, if we want to write books. We need to know what doesnt work and ruins a perfectly good book until the end.
Hi Bella, I think it does matter. Some books become famous despite a disappointing ending but for most of us, a bad ending will kill the book and reader relationships.
Hi Andrew, that is fine. My sons both liked the ending of HP. Maybe I’d tired of HP by the time the last book came out. Strong endings are nice but I still appreciate a good book even if the ending is disappointing.
Hi Robbie: I read most of those books but can’t recall the endings: that is a judgment it itself ; but I love your fondant clown and spider: you EXCEL at this craft 🙂
Hi John, thank you. I haven’t done much fondant art this year because I’ve been painting. I do plan to create a giant gingerbread house for Christmas though.
Well done, Robbie. Hugs.
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Thank you, Teagan. Your endings are always good.
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Excellent, Robbie. I’m so glad you’ve emphasized the importance of endings, and you drove home the point with the many examples. After all, the ending serves as a book’s capstone. Thank you!
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That is a lovely way to express it: The ending serves as a book’s capstone.
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Excellent post, Robbie!
I agree that the last “Harry Potter” novel was kind of a mixed bag after six fantastic books, and that the epilogue was indeed a clunker. I also agree with Dan Antion (in another comment under your post) about “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”; the appearance of Tom Sawyer, and his actions: unfortunate after the novel’s amazing first two-thirds. I was disappointed, too, with the ending of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The House of the Seven Gables” — more upbeat than it should have been, as with “Great Expectations,” per your mention.
As for my own recent part-fiction/part-factual “Misty the Cat…Unleashed,” I had a general sense of the ending but didn’t work it out specifically until I wrote the rest of the book.
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Thank you, Dave. I have only read The Scarlett Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and I liked it very much. HP, well, maybe it just got overhyped and overrated. It was a good idea and made the author lots of money.
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A bad ending can ruin a book. But everyone’s idea of a bad ending can be quite different.
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Yes, that is true. Although, these endings are cited generally as being poor although the books are very famous.
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I changed the ending of ‘Revenge’ when some readers were dissatisfied with it. However, I soon learned that you cannot please all the people all the time, and stopped trying to.
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Yes, you are right. Some people like the endings I don’t like, but not that many. I must look for Revenge.
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Off to check it out, Robbie. Still trying to get back in the swing!
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I can imagine. I’ve been on training for two days and I’m behind.
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A fine example of your knowledgeable wisdom, Roberta.
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Hi Tim, I’m glad you enjoyed this post.
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Robbie, I liked reading what your five worst book endings were and why. This such a great topic, because the ending matters doesn’t it, if we want to write books. We need to know what doesnt work and ruins a perfectly good book until the end.
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Hi Bella, I think it does matter. Some books become famous despite a disappointing ending but for most of us, a bad ending will kill the book and reader relationships.
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Brilliant post Robbie .
I agree 😉 it really does make or break a book.
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Thank you, Maggie. That being said, I still like Captain Corelli’s mandolin.
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My pleasure Robbie.
I skipped that part as I have the book, but not read it yet 😉
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I know what you mean about the ending of a book; I’ve always felt a book (and movie) series needs to end on a strong note.
I actually liked the Harry Potter ending, but that’s just me.
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Hi Andrew, that is fine. My sons both liked the ending of HP. Maybe I’d tired of HP by the time the last book came out. Strong endings are nice but I still appreciate a good book even if the ending is disappointing.
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Hi Robbie: I read most of those books but can’t recall the endings: that is a judgment it itself ; but I love your fondant clown and spider: you EXCEL at this craft 🙂
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Hi John, thank you. I haven’t done much fondant art this year because I’ve been painting. I do plan to create a giant gingerbread house for Christmas though.
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Wow ! that will be something !!!!!!!
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I also hated IT. The book is huge, and after all that reading, the ending was just terrible. A giant spider? Come on.
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Haha, yes, I also didn’t like the spider. I do still like the book through, ending excluded.
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Yes, you’re right about that. It was a good read.
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I’m glad you also like King’s books. My favourite is The Shining. Scared me to death when I first read it.
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Absolutely! I’m thinking about reading On Writing. It seems like a good book about the art of writing.
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I have it but I haven’t read it yet. I have heard its very good
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Great, I’m adding it to my reading list.
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Great, I’ll read your review before I commit 🤣
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Funny, because I was thinking that since you already have it, I would wait for your take on the book before buying it. 🤦🏻♂️😂
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😂🤣
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Okay, heading over! Will leave my comment there.
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Thank you, Resa.
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Hi Robbie, heading over there now. 🙂
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