Book Haven discussion

Everyone has their own taste, especially when if broils down to books. What type of endings to you like the most and which do you hate? Don't name a specific book, but the type. For example...

Personally, my favorites are...

The conclusion of an action scene, such as a battle.

An epiphany, where someone realizes something.

Something big begins, but it's hinted at so that I am dying to read the next book in the series.

The types that I hate...

When a book has built up an amazing climax, such as a battle, but then it feels more like a dud amongst fireworks. In other words, it didn't live up to how big of a deal the author made it sound.

Where it ends too perfectly. In other words, while I always fall in love with the characters, realistically life isn't cookie cutter perfect. It might hurt if a character dies or not everyone ends up happy, but it makes the book more genuine. I love happily ever afters, just not the type where it's obvious that someone had a cleaner come in to eliminate every speck of the mess that should have happened.

Anyone else?

What about cliffhangers? Do you like or hate them in books that are part of a series?

My favorite endings are those that give the impression that everything is going to be OK, but leaves the minor details to the readers imagination.

The ones I hate are those that have you so vested in the lives of the hero or heroine and one of them dies. I really prefer to read for pleasure, not for sorrow:(

I don't like endings where you don't know/understand what really happened. Like when it ends but you don't understand how that author's conclusion fits in with the rest of the book. Or when they've followed one character from the beginning, but at the end they jump to another point of view.

I love endings where they're mostly (if not all) happy, or where loose strings you've been wondering about are tied up so it all makes sense. I like it when all my questions are answered at the end; it makes asking them seem worthwhile.

Surprise endings in mysteries...

WORST way a book can end is a cliff hanger, for me it guarantees not buying the next book. I'm paying for a complete story. A cliff hanger is extortion to have to buy the next book.

I work at getting the ending right, so this is a great thread. It's important to me to satisfy my readers with belief that my heroine is doing the right thing, even if the readers had different ideas. Yet, I want to leave them wanting more. It's a tightrope.

My favourite endings are the ones where you hate how things turn out but that's exactly the perfect way to end it. Does that make sense? Like no matter how much you don't want it like that, you can't deny that that's how things should.

J.D. wrote: "Everyone has their own taste, especially when if broils down to books. What type of endings to you like the most and which do you hate? Don't name a specific book, but the type. For example...

Per..."

That's a pretty nice analysis - battles, epiphany's and cliff-hangers to get the next book started. I'd go with all of those, and add that I just hate the ones that I don't undestand. I don't mind tucking away a few details myself, but if I can't figure out how the main plot has been resolved then that sucker's getting one star. So to speak :-)

Katrina,

Me too! It grips you more than everyone ending happy. Gives you more of a reason to grieve the loss of the story. I also want most (if not all) the issues resolved when you tie the story up and put a bow on it.

I don't mind cliff hangers to urge me to buy the next book, as long as the major issues in this book were resolved. Harry Potter did it quite nicely and so did Vampire Diaries. Resolve this story before you ask me to read the next one!

I also can't stand an epic ending with.... a dud. If there is a major battle building all through the book, don't let the bad guys get there and the author writes(probably thinking, "crap, I'm already at 60,000 words"...) "And the unknown alliance was so overwhelming that the baddies turned tail and ran." Pfffttt.... I'd rather pay the extra $1.00 for the extra words.

I very much agree with Katrina and Heidi. I also desperately want to promote my book because based upon their comments, I know that they'd love it.

However, I shall spare you that annoyance. ;)

I hate when characters die, or bad things happen... but at the same time I find it a bit boring to read a book where I can see the formulaic ending coming from a mile away. Yes, the hero will get the magic sword. He will then defeat the dark wizard and save the village. He will then marry the pretty girl. It's a good pattern, but it's been done.

I do find it odd that I dislike conflict and danger in my own life, but for some reason seek it out in literature.

Forrest, now would be a great (and totally un-annoying way) to mention how your book fits that formula. Unless of course, it is a spoiler for the story! What is the title for your book, you have my interest peeked!

I like endings like "Inception" !

[BEGIN MARKETING TRANSMISSION]
Well, I wrote a book called The Northronde Princess (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16...) and while I don't want to give away spoilers, I will say that one of the themes of the book is how we face death and difficulty, and learn not to be depressed when our idyllic expectations are shattered, but rather to cherish the dignity and passion of living each day to the fullest. Life is a story that always ends badly, because it always ends. We should not weep for the brevity, but celebrate the beauty of the chapters we are able to complete, and infuse them with an intense and joyful appreciation for opportunity.

So while it is a story of a princess, you won’t know who gets to live happily ever after because in real life, we don’t live happily ever after. We can only try to live happily and die in peace, knowing that we lived our best.
Also, a dragon eats a giant tiger, so it’s probably worth reading. :p

If you like fantasy novels, and things like The X-Men, I think you’ll enjoy it.

[END MARKETING TRANSMISSION]

David! LOVED Inception! Forrest, I've added your book to my TBR pile ;)

Yay! Thank you. =D If you do decide to read it, I will make sure you get a free copy in exchange for leaving a review (even a bad review) on Amazon. I have a nice review on Goodreads and on Smashwords, but nothing on Amazon and the book page just looks really lonely. Just send me a message when you're ready and I'll send it your way.

I also loved Inception.

Getting a free copy is important, because I am in the middle of a gradual, but absolutely massive price hike! lol

Details of my idiotic, authoritarian price mongering:
http://thinkforrestthink.wordpress.co...

Back to the topic at hand...

I actually dislike it, however, when books end morbidly or have wild plot twists merely as an effect. I mean, plot twists are great, but they need to feel organic. They need to be part of an "interesting story", not make me feel like the author reached out from the page, grabbed me by the face, and twisted my head around. I don't like feeling manipulated.

Neither do I enjoy a grotesquely morbid ending merely to startle the reader, or to make the author seem "deep". It doesn't make you "deep" or "interesting" because you write about a bunch of horrible, deflating crap.

These are my opinions as a reader, not an author.

I like endings that make me think harder, as when the writer reveals some point of view through the ending and I have to decide whether to agree or disagree.

I don't like cliche endings and those that I anticipated in the middle of the book.

As a reader, it depends on expectations. Like R.E. said, if I know the book is part of a series, then I'm I don't mind cliffhangers so much as I know the story is on going. Other than that, I'm not a big fan of cliffhangers. I want a solid resolution.

As an author, I happen to love cliffhangers as my readers can attest to. In my stand alone stories, I use cliffhangers at the end of chapters to continue to propel the story. In my BDSM series, I end each book where I think it is best to set up the next in the series.

From an author's perspective, there is no way to please every reader. I don't care what you do, its just not going to happen.

J.D. wrote: "What about cliffhangers? Do you like or hate them in books that are part of a series?"

Good topic! Personally I hate cliffhangers in a book series. It's so cruel to make readers wait a year or more for the answer.

Andrea wrote: "J.D. wrote: "What about cliffhangers? Do you like or hate them in books that are part of a series?"

Good topic! Personally I hate cliffhangers in a book series. It's so cruel to make readers wait ..."

I find this somewhat interesting. I love book series that follow the same characters throughout, and I've rarely, if ever, found one that doesn't end with some type of cliffhanger. Do you not read book series that follows the same characters? Outlander is a great example of said cliffhangers. I've been waiting for almost 4 years to find out the answers to 3 different cliffhangers the author left us with.

Great topic. I asked this very question elsewhere the other day and I enjoy reading the responses. As a writer myself, I try and learn from avid readers out there.

Cliffhangers? Only in a series, but I so seldom read series, I guess the answer is a definite NO! ;o)

Liz wrote: "Cliffhangers? Only in a series, but I so seldom read series, I guess the answer is a definite NO! ;o)"
I agree with Liz. There are several writers I won't read because of their cliff hangers.

I also despise it when someone adds something just because, that doesn't make any sense, right at the end. I know it's a movie and not a book, but in Dark Shadows I didn't like how the teenage girl turned out to be a werewolf. I thought that was ridiculous. There was no point to it, really.

I actually like endings that aren't definite endings (if that makes any sense) idk I guess I kind of like to imagine what will happen to the characters after the last chapter rather than have the author sum it all up for me. I'm a cliff hanger person I guess :)

I totally agree. However, if it is too much of a cliff hanger than I'm wondering too much if it will have a sequal and then if it doesn't, I'm all sad and dissappointed. I guess I'm sort of on the fense. What is your favorite book with a cliff hanger ending?Jessica wrote: "I actually like endings that aren't definite endings (if that makes any sense) idk I guess I kind of like to imagine what will happen to the characters after the last chapter rather than have the a..."

I like Catching Fire (book 2 in the Hunger Games trilogy) , and Lord of the Flies as well. LOTF is actually one of the books that made me want to become a writer :) What about you?

I hate endings where they feel every minor character's plot arc has to be resolved. Terry Pratchett had an attack of this in Soul Music, where the overall book arc ended several chapters before the end. When Cosgrove Hall adapted the book for TV, they cut most of that and the ending was much more satisfying.

In terms of films, the worst has to be Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. I'd had a pint of beer before the film and after a couple of "endings" I had to hurry out to the loo. Thank god for Blu-ray and a pause button.

Andrew wrote: "In terms of films, the worst has to be Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. I'd had a pint of beer before the film and after a couple of "endings" I had to hurry out to the loo. Thank god for Blu-ray and a pause button..."

Totally - up and up and up that wretched volcano and then it still wasn't over!!

Circular endings: story ends in a fashion that ties it to the book's beginning.

Finnegan's Wake is an example of this.

Andrew wrote: "In terms of films, the worst has to be Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. I'd had a pint of beer before the film and after a couple of "endings" I had to hurry out to the loo. Thank god for Blu-ray and a pause button."

I'd have to disagree, but I'm a Lord of the Rings freak, lol. I knew how it was supposed to go from the books, and I wasn't going to be happy unless they ended it 'right.' xD

Sherri wrote: " Do you not read book series that follows the same characters? "

I like the type of series where each book tells the story of characters who are connected in some way. That way you can get a complete look at one couple's story and in the next book, you have a new couple or protagonist, but you continue reading about the same setting and/or mega-plot. Usually the characters are side characters in one another's books. So you get invested in their lives. You are either anticipating their story or you're happy to get a little follow-up about their lives. A couple of good series like this are the Immortals after Dark by Kresley Cole, the Heart series by Robin D. Owens, and the Black Dagger Brotherhood by J. R. Ward. There are many I've enjoyed, some with only 3 or 4 books and some with many, many more.

Other types of endings I dislike are the ones that tie up EVERYTHING in a neat bow whether it makes sense or not. A couple has been arguing and bickering throughout the book over who's job is more important and suddenly one says, Okay I'll give up my career and move across the country with you. Or a mystery where some previously unknown character pops up at the end as the murderer. I like to be able to go back later and find the threads of the ending even if I didn't recognize the hints at first. In fact that's my favorite kind.

Right now I'm reading Killing Floor and to me it's obvious that the murders are going to have something to do with the Presidential campaign that Jack Reacher keeps reading about in the paper. (Oh, and if I get to the end and find out I was wrong, I'm going to have to come back and edit this message! lol)

An interesting thing about my award winning children's book A Lesson My Cat Taught Me

is the ending, which is the last six words of the book and comes in the form of dialogue from the main character.


Runner Up – 2011 Smart Writ Awards – Children’s Books Category
http://www.book-lovers.net [please note for some reason when the virtual award presentation video was created, they used the cover from the first edition for my book.]

"A Lesson My Cat Taught Me" - available on Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Lesson-My-Cat-T...
The book is also available on Amazon in The UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain