Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

please recommend some books without the traditional happy ending.

59 replies

sweetheart · 09/11/2011 16:19

My sister loves reading but is always complaining that books always have too much of a happy ending. I thought for her Christmas present I'd try and seek out some good books which don't have the traditional or anticipated ending for her to read. She normally reads fairly easy going books - no war and peace type stuff please.
Thanks

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Jacksmania · 08/12/2011 00:43

Shoot, I broke the thread! Xmas Shock

Jacksmania · 07/12/2011 05:47

Has anyone mentioned The Time Traveller's Wife?

And, maybe too frivolous, but The Deep End Of The Ocean.

Fishpond · 07/12/2011 01:22

Would not recommend We Need to Talk About Kevin for your sister. I know what kind of reader you mean, and that kind of book she wouldn't even get to the end of.

I was going to suggest One Day, but see you are giving that to her already. Will go away and have a think now, just wanted to ax the Kevin suggestions.

Redrubyblues · 06/12/2011 11:53

Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy. A totally smile free read is guaranteed but if you bought it for your sister she may think you hate her. Wink

LadyClariceCannockMonty · 06/12/2011 11:44

oh, also The History of Love by Nicole Krauss and The Glass Room by Simon Mawer.

complexnumber · 06/12/2011 10:06

Remains of the Day, as already mentioned, and Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene. They both made me miserable for days. As did the movie of Cold Mountain so I suppose the book would too.

LadyClariceCannockMonty · 05/12/2011 15:06

The Gathering by Anne Enright isn't a barrel of laughs. In the best possible way. Also The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry. And Being Dead by Jim Crace.

aStarOverMangerways · 04/12/2011 21:19

Rupert Thomson - The Insult.

OrmIrian · 02/12/2011 16:53

Blimey! Give her a box set of Thomas Hardy, That'd do it Grin

HeidiKat · 02/12/2011 16:52

I would recommend the novel Thumbelina about a pregnant teenage girl in the foster care system of the USA.

DuchessofMalfi · 28/11/2011 20:13

Billy by Albert French. I read it about 15 years ago and it still haunts me. Very sad ending.

said · 28/11/2011 19:38

The Moment by Douglas Kennedy fits the bill

PomBearAtTheGatesOfDoom · 28/11/2011 19:16

On the Beach.
I sob pathetically from about half way through, and wallow my way into a positive creschendo of misery by the time I get to the end, every time I read it. I love it, but I do have to be "in the mood" for a good weep.

McPhee · 09/11/2011 22:18

Sorry, pregnancy brain..got you now!

McPhee · 09/11/2011 22:05

WGWAR? I'm lost Blush

gastonscave · 09/11/2011 22:02

One day and When god was a Rabbit, I was crying at the end of both of those.

We need to talk about Kevin is a good read but heavy going.

A particular sadness of Lemon Cake, just finished it and haven't got a clue what it was about, no plot or explanation. Really wish I hadn't have bothered

LunarRose · 09/11/2011 21:59

Hannibal - Thomas Harris

The ending is nothing like the film and is a superb terrifying twist on happily ever afters

KatharineClifton · 09/11/2011 21:58

McPhee - please go over to the WGWAR thread and answer my question!

McPhee · 09/11/2011 21:53

When God was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman. I've not long finished it and it was amazing. Lots of things suddenly crept up on you, thought provoking, funny, and a surprising ending.

And I only got it because I liked the pretty picture on the cover. Please tell me i'm not the only one who does this Grin

baskingseals · 09/11/2011 21:52

i was going to say Atonement

also French Lieutenant's Woman, by John Fowles, and The Collector, by the same writer

Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver

SamsGoldilocks · 09/11/2011 21:51

Anne Tyler - Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant

Carson Mc Cullers - The Ballad of the Sad Cafe/ The Heart is a lonely Hunter

Wally Lamb - she's come undone/ this much i know is true

TeamDamon · 09/11/2011 21:51

Ooh - I tried those Chelsea Cain ones but just found the detective's obsession with Gretchen completely implausible - I think I actually finally flung the third book down in disgust at how unbelievably pathetic he was Grin

LaPruneDeMaTante · 09/11/2011 21:51

Perfume - Patrick Suskind
The Terrible Privacy of Maxwell Sim has a rather odd ending. It's a bit of an odd book (I loved it.) Jonathan Coe. What A Carve Up! has a sad ending.
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters has an unsettling and unhappy ending.

Prolesworth · 09/11/2011 21:48

The Remains of the Day
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold
Room

KatharineClifton · 09/11/2011 21:45

YY to Anne Tyler!