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Original poster

Books that have "unsatisfactory" endings

54 replies

emkana · 17/06/2006 19:57

I finished "Notes on a scandal" today and really didn't want it to end, wanted to know what would happen to the characters.

I always find "Gone with the wind" really frustrating, too.
And "Pride and Prejudice".
I just get into the characters so much that it seems unbearable to have to leave them, never to find out about the rest of their lives.

It's even worse when there are "sequels" to the books - they never live up to the original and don't satisfy that "craving" at all.

OP posts:
tassis · 17/06/2006 20:00

I didn't like the ending The Pact by Jodi Picoult, but for the life of me I can't remember how it ended and don't want to be a spoiler (though IMO it's her worst book so aviod it!). If the boy gets off with the murder I thought he shouldn't and vice versa...

nikkie · 17/06/2006 20:17

Another one who felt the end spoilt 'The Pact'
Can't remember which other book by her was similarly spoit by the ending.

PanicPants · 17/06/2006 20:19

I agree about 'The Pact' the ending didn't live up to the promise iuswim.

Original poster
emkana · 17/06/2006 20:22

I didn't like the ending on "my sister's keeper" much either, tbh.

OP posts:
tassis · 17/06/2006 20:30

Yeah, I know what you mean re MSK emkana. But the rest of the book was a better read than The Pact I thought. Salem Falls in my favourite so far, but I've only read those 3.

Dior · 17/06/2006 20:33

I finished 'PS, I love you' today (totally chick lit Blush. I wanted her to get togehter with the obvious guy, and she didn't...

I have read so many books that fizzle out towards the end. It's so disappointing. On the other hand, I read 'The Last Time They Met', and the ending seemed to be crammed into a short chapter, but, boy, was it a good one! I don't mormally like AS much, and I had to force myself to keep reading, but I'm glad I did. I just wish it had happened in more than a few paragraphs though.

Dior · 17/06/2006 20:33

Sorry, Anita Shreve!

stleger · 17/06/2006 20:39

The Picoult ones kindor rush to conclusion. Emkana, how are you today? I was hoping you'd be away enjoying a luxury weekend!

FrannyandZooey · 17/06/2006 20:39

I thought the ending of that Jodi Picoult one about the paedophile was completely unbelievable. It was so ridiculous I have erased the name from my memory.

I love Diana Wynne Jones' books but think she always goes totally bonkers at the end. Everything gets very complicated and fast moving and 'quick let's tie up all the loose ends in 15 pages flat' sort of thing.

Original poster
emkana · 17/06/2006 20:40

stleger, thanks for asking. I'm not great, but trying my best to stay positive.

OP posts:
FrannyandZooey · 17/06/2006 20:42

Oh and the end of the His Dark Materials is so totally sad that I suppose it is satisfying in an utterly tragic way. But it is very, very sad and I would have liked a happier ending.

Great Expectations, however, has an unsatisfyingly happy ending. The earlier ending Dickens wrote hints fairly strongly at future unhappiness but the rewrite is just smushy and unbelievable.

stleger · 17/06/2006 20:45

But I keep reading Jodi Picoult books, and can't remember the titles. And I work in a bookshop. Emkana, if I don't notice you around, take care and all the best over the next couple of days.

womblingalong · 20/06/2006 20:00

F&Z,

Completely agree with you about His Dark Materials, and Dianna Wynne Jones, but I still love her! Need to remind myself about the Dickens, been meaning to re-read for a while.

controlfreaky2 · 22/06/2006 00:23

the worst ever is gaskell, wives and daughters.... 750 pages andthen ..... NOTHING! no ending at all (unfininished)..... beyond awful

northstar · 22/06/2006 00:36

Reminds me of essays for school. I used to be totally imaginative and descriptive and immerse myself completely in the story then suddenly realise I had reached the required number of words and just scribble "all of a sudden the war ended and everyone went home"

Californifrau · 22/06/2006 00:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bakedpotato · 22/06/2006 06:30

Brick Lane has rubbish ending, very "all of a sudden the war ended and everyone went home" ( northstar)
The courier must have been at the door

levon · 23/06/2006 21:45

Has anyone else read 'I know this much is true' by Wally Lamb? I loved it but felt the end kinda compromised by pulling everything together too neatly. Would still recommend it thouroughly though.

brimfull · 23/06/2006 23:59

just finished elizabeth berg's "the mending something".It was such a fab book ,but ending was really disappointing...anyone else read it.what others of hers are good?

levon · 24/06/2006 10:29

What I've read of elizabeth berg I've enjoyed. I'd recommend range of motion and open house.

SoupDragon · 24/06/2006 10:33

Atonement is a book where I was unsatisfied with the ending but DH thought it was brilliant!

Agree about Notes on a Scandal. IMO it just finished rather than had an ending.

niceglasses · 24/06/2006 10:47

Notes on a Scandal, yes.

Also that Graham Swift one - the one about the affair, can't remember the name now.

That massive Dickensian one - The Quincunx - partly cos I didn't understand it all!!

niceglasses · 24/06/2006 10:53

The Light of Day was the Swift one I was thinking of.

vitomum · 24/06/2006 19:06

levon - hello! i also loved "i know this much is true" but was annoyed at the end by how the abuse experienced by the american indian bloke (forget his name) was suddenly minimsed for the sake of a neat and tidy ending (have been meaning to ask you for ages actually about whether you thought the same!.

Snafu · 24/06/2006 19:11

The Secret History. So unsatisfactory was it, I can't actually remember what happened, but I know it left me deflated.