Comments on: Why I Won’t Read a Book With an Unhappy Ending

By: Raine Thomas

Raine Thomas — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:34:46 +0000

In reply to Rainy Kaye. Thanks for weighing in with your opinion, Rainy! I agree that there are varying endings for a reason...everyone has their preference.

By: Rainy Kaye

Rainy Kaye — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:25:14 +0000

I think, first and foremost, the ending should fit the book, whether it’s a Disney quality riding off into the sunset or a more bittsweet tug at the heart. I personally prefer the latter, but only if comes naturally. Blanket statements are too restrictive when there are so many exceptions.

By: Francis W. Porretto

Francis W. Porretto — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 12:42:25 +0000

Completely unhappy endings — villain triumphant, hero completely defeated, everything just sucks — are to be avoided, but not because they’re realistic. They’re to be avoided because readers detest them.
However, fairy-tale endings — hero triumphant, villain completely defeated, everything absolutely wonderful — are also to be avoided. Readers find them implausible and undramatic.
A good ending that straddles the gulf between those two extremes is one in which your hero wins, however that works in your fictional setting, but he pays a price for victory. Moreover, the price must be significant; you can’t wring any drama out of a trivial price. Drama only exists when men must suffer for being good.
Mistreating your hero adequately to wring drama out of his dilemma can be unpleasant. I know that from extensive personal experience. But then, if it were easy, everyone would do it.

By: Bethany Lopez

Bethany Lopez — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 12:06:03 +0000

I tend to agree. Sometimes I enjoy a book or movie that gives me a good cry, but I always want it to work out in the end. I wll get upset and sometimes angry when the couple doesn’t stay together or someone dies. I want to be swept away and end on a happy note!

By: Melissa

Melissa — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 02:02:33 +0000

Raine we really are peas in a pod! I feel the exact same way. Things in real life don’t always go as planned, but I honestly believe that everything happens for a reason. I look to books and movies to lift me up, inspire me to dream big and give me the warm fuzzies. People do tend to make fun of my fairytale like dreams, but that’s okay. My dreams make me happy, they make me, ME. We need all the positive we can get, it can and will only help us. I would love to be more like Skye :)

By: Sarah Evans

Sarah Evans — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 01:37:51 +0000

I have to agree. I love happy endings!! Don’t get me wrong, I like a little self discovery or tough times in the middle, but always want it to work out in the end. Love the story about how you met your husband. I met mine after backpacking Europe alone and telling everyone “there is non way I’ll meet someone at work”. And sure enough, a few months later when school started again, I did.