As I consider the endings of my 14 (so far) published novels, what I see is that they bring the reader to a satisfying point in the story without closing anything off. That is, the characters are realistic, and their story doesn't end with the words "The End." But they also don't leave the reader hanging—just, I hope, wanting maybe just a little bit more.
It's interesting to hear about endings from the point of view of a novelist, Robin! Thank you for responding. Your endings sound like the ideal for both types of readers; a satisfying closure whilst leaving space for the reader to do some of the work :)
Great newsletter! I love looking a little deeper into your chosen texts. I agree that our personality as a reader (and when we find a book, as you’ve mentioned before) can really impact our thoughts. I enjoyed The Guest, but like you I found it stressful at times - Emma Cline really knows how to write books that keeps you on the edge of your seat! Ambiguous endings always feel just a bit dissatisfying, but I agree that books that try to wrap up everything can seem trite. The Awakening is a great example of a book that keeps the ending ambiguous but also doesn’t feel quite as abrupt, for me. Thank you for sharing :)
Thank you! 😊 I love writing these occasional little deep-dives into the themes behind the writing. They're often sparked by conversations and comments from readers, which is great 😀
Very interesting to consider what your response to the literature says about you! I think this idea about a full story or even parable in a way vs the ambiguity of life is an interesting and compelling one. I do think a more 'complete' ending gives the author more authority over the text in a way. I guess for me it really depends on the book. How's that for a non-answer? :)
I was just so worried about Alex, the character in 'The Guest'...I think because she was around my daughter's age haha I felt I needed to make sure she was safe...how's that for getting too involved in a book/character... ; )
As I consider the endings of my 14 (so far) published novels, what I see is that they bring the reader to a satisfying point in the story without closing anything off. That is, the characters are realistic, and their story doesn't end with the words "The End." But they also don't leave the reader hanging—just, I hope, wanting maybe just a little bit more.
It's interesting to hear about endings from the point of view of a novelist, Robin! Thank you for responding. Your endings sound like the ideal for both types of readers; a satisfying closure whilst leaving space for the reader to do some of the work :)
Great newsletter! I love looking a little deeper into your chosen texts. I agree that our personality as a reader (and when we find a book, as you’ve mentioned before) can really impact our thoughts. I enjoyed The Guest, but like you I found it stressful at times - Emma Cline really knows how to write books that keeps you on the edge of your seat! Ambiguous endings always feel just a bit dissatisfying, but I agree that books that try to wrap up everything can seem trite. The Awakening is a great example of a book that keeps the ending ambiguous but also doesn’t feel quite as abrupt, for me. Thank you for sharing :)
Thank you! 😊 I love writing these occasional little deep-dives into the themes behind the writing. They're often sparked by conversations and comments from readers, which is great 😀
Great summary. For me I like a ‘proper’ ending. One where I am in no doubt about.
Very interesting to consider what your response to the literature says about you! I think this idea about a full story or even parable in a way vs the ambiguity of life is an interesting and compelling one. I do think a more 'complete' ending gives the author more authority over the text in a way. I guess for me it really depends on the book. How's that for a non-answer? :)
Ha! I think you've hit the nail on the head with your "non-answer", Kate: it all depends on the book and your response to it as a reader :)
I was just so worried about Alex, the character in 'The Guest'...I think because she was around my daughter's age haha I felt I needed to make sure she was safe...how's that for getting too involved in a book/character... ; )
Oh!! I can see that happening 🩵🩵