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All Things Literary > Guessing the Ending

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The Nate Gatsby  (macenro) | 97 comments Do you feel proud when you can guess the ending of a book because you notice foreshadowing? Or are you more letdown that you figured out what was going to happen?


Branwen Sedai *of the Brown Ajah* Nathan wrote: "Do you feel proud when you can guess the ending of a book because you notice foreshadowing? Or are you more letdown that you figured out what was going to happen?"

I usually feel it as a letdown, but only because I really LOVE to be surprised at the way the story ends!


message 3: by Linda (new)

Linda (lindacee) | 392 comments Mod
If it's a mystery than I'm usually pretty happy at figuring it out but anything else is better as a surprise.


message 4: by Ashley (new)

Ashley (ashleyjeffery) | 4 comments I love sorting out the mystery but hate if it's too easy. So I guess for me it's a balance just enough to keep me guessing!


message 5: by Heather (last edited Oct 08, 2011 12:13PM) (new)

Heather (littlebits) | 6 comments I like being a good detective and figuring it out myself.


The Nate Gatsby  (macenro) | 97 comments I guess I want to have suspicions that someone did it but not be confident they actually did it. I'd rather be able to figure it out than for there to be some random twist that no one could have been able to expect.

I don't like stories like Scooby Doo (anymore)...it can't either be the only other character in the plot or someone you never even had a chance to see.


message 7: by Dierdra (new)

Dierdra McGill (dierdramcgill) | 112 comments Mod
Nathan wrote: "Do you feel proud when you can guess the ending of a book because you notice foreshadowing? Or are you more letdown that you figured out what was going to happen?"

For me books are the same as movies, I TRY VERY HARD to NOT figure anything out because I LOVE the mystery of it! Actually I was EXTREMELY irritated with Shutter Island because IMO the stupid move commercials gave the whole thing away and I was just about to start the book when I seen them and yup I was right.... good book tho and move non the less.


message 8: by Shannon (new)

Shannon Dermott (shannondermott) It is mixed bag for me too. On the one hand I feel pretty smart if I guess the ending. But on the other hand, I want to be surprised. But I think more than not, a book that can surprise me is one I will enjoy more.


message 9: by Athena (new)

Athena Nathan wrote: "Do you feel proud when you can guess the ending of a book because you notice foreshadowing? Or are you more letdown that you figured out what was going to happen?"

I think of foreshadowing as litle hints; they may give away some of the story without enabling the reader to guess the rest of the story. When I first started reading I did feel proud that I figured out what was going on, but now I am disappointed by it whenevr it happens.


message 10: by The Pirate Ghost (new)

The Pirate Ghost (Formerly known as the Curmudgeon) (pirateghost) I'm better at Television, but I've gotten pretty good at guessing likely events to happen in books and coming up write. I actually have a peeve with authors that dont' give all the clues you need until it's too late to guess. I want the same chance as the main characters to solve the riddle

Sometimes I can aslo guess the direction that a story's going and what's going to happen next.

of course, I'm not perfect. I'm better at TV shows and movies. It has to do with formula. If you know the formula, the guess factor goes way up.


message 11: by Ottilie (new)

Ottilie (ottilie_weber) | 53 comments Movies I'mg getting good at guessing them, I'm waiting for my friends to get annoyed...


message 12: by Linda (new)

Linda (lindacee) | 392 comments Mod
lol, I guessed the ending to a season finale and all my online friends couldn't believe that I guessed it but I thought it was really obvious and all my friends that actually watch tv with me told me that I'm no longer allowed to talk when something is on 'cause I hardly ever guess wrong (not true, but I only share my theories when I'm absolutely positive)


message 13: by Dierdra (new)

Dierdra McGill (dierdramcgill) | 112 comments Mod
Linda wrote: "lol, I guessed the ending to a season finale and all my online friends couldn't believe that I guessed it but I thought it was really obvious and all my friends that actually watch tv with me told ..."

My boyfriend talks during shows and tells me what is going to happen and I always tell him to stop ruining the show for me and threaten to stop watching TV shows and movies with him ! LOL


message 14: by Dan (new)

Dan Schwent (akagunslinger) The Nate Gatsby wrote: "Do you feel proud when you can guess the ending of a book because you notice foreshadowing? Or are you more letdown that you figured out what was going to happen?"

I love when I can't guess the ending of a book but I always try to figure it out ahead of time. I think that's why I've gravitated more toward crime and mysteries in recent years.


message 15: by Mike (the Paladin) (last edited Apr 04, 2012 06:09PM) (new)

Mike (the Paladin) (thepaladin) | 1 comments I guess I like it when a book surprises me (of for that matter a movie or TV program). I find I guess the ending more often than not anymore, but I think it's more because I've read so many books and seen so many movies and TV programs. You know the feeling especially with some types of books or programs.

"Okay there's that character and they always end up being he opposite of what they seem".

Or maybe there's a character who only shows up for a few minutes at the first of the book or mystery or whatever.

Just the feel of a book often tells you it's going to be "one of those", especially if it's a writer who also likes to lecture about his or her personal philosophy (political, religious or whatever).

Anyway when I read a book and I expect it to go one way and it goes another (and it's not a deus ex machina type ending) I'm usually plesantly surprised.


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