When the End Game Is Far From Lame

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This is the beginning of a blog post about the endings of books.

We’ve all read excellent novels in which the latter parts/conclusions were at least somewhat unsatisfying. Among those that come to mind for me are Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, Louis de Bernieres’ Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The House of the Seven Gables, Ian McEwan’s Atonement, Jodi Picoult’s My Sister’s Keeper, Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence.

But I’m going to flip that and discuss novels with endings every bit as good as what came before. In some cases, the conclusion is the highlight.

There are of course a small number of works with iconic final lines or passages; F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities are prime examples. There are also books that, while not having boffo last words, end with great plot developments, incredibly poignant situations, etc.

That was the case with a novel I read last week — Kristin Hannah’s Winter Garden (2010), about two very different adult daughters and their cold, unloving mother who had escaped besieged Leningrad under tragic circumstances during World War II. For much of the 2000/2001-set book, I thought what I was reading was good not great — interesting and intense at times, but repetitive and forced at other times. Then came the ending, which, while requiring a major suspension of belief, was extremely moving and powerful.

Another 2010 novel, (Ms.) Lionel Shriver’s So Much for That, is terrific throughout as it takes a scalpel to America’s very problematic health-care system via the experiences of its main characters. Then the book goes into an even higher gear with a conclusion that combines some sobering stuff with wonderful wish fulfillment.

There’s also John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, which ends with a scene that mixes despair, desperation, hope, and human decency. I’ve read that Steinbeck came up with that seldom-duplicated conclusion before starting the novel, and wrote toward that pre-planned finale.

The conclusion of Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude is quite melancholy, but beautifully written and the perfect capstone to what was an instant classic.

I’ve loved every George Eliot novel I’ve read, but the one with the most satisfying ending for me was Daniel Deronda, with its fulfillment of destiny for several characters and the sadness/bravery of another character facing unrequited love.

Other excellent novels whose latter parts/conclusions — whether upbeat or downbeat, surprising or not, annoying or not, etc. — I thought were knocked out of the park include James Baldwin’s Go Tell It On the Mountain, Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, Lee Child’s Jack Reacher thriller 61 Hours, Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, Lisa Genova’s Still Alice, John Grisham’s The Racketeer, Barbara Kingsolver’s Unsheltered, Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s The Leopard, Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy (third book: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest), Jack London’s Martin Eden, Cormac McCarthy’s Suttree, Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick, Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies, Richard Russo’s Empire Falls, Irving Stone’s The Agony and the Ecstasy, Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch, and Amor Towles’ A Gentleman in Moscow, to name a few.

Any novels with especially memorable endings you’d like to mention?

My literary-trivia book is described and can be purchased here: Fascinating Facts About Famous Fiction Authors and the Greatest Novels of All Time.

In addition to this weekly blog, I write the 2003-started/award-winning “Montclairvoyant” topical-humor column every Thursday for Baristanet.com, which has merged with Montclair Local. The latest piece — which comments on the resignation of an unregistered financial consultant and more — is here.

69 thoughts on “When the End Game Is Far From Lame”

  2. My favorite last line of all the books I’ve ever read was when Breakfast of Champions character Kilgore Trout asks his creator this: “Make me young again” cause the older I get the more I appreciate it. *sigh* As well I appreciate his quote “Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt.” Good theme Dave. Thanks, Susi

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  3. Recently finished Robert Barnard’s 1974 “Death of an Old Goat”, a mystery set on a university campus in small-town Australia. Barnard appears to have based this, his first, on his own experience Down Under at a university there– and the results, as a portrait of people, time and place, is cynically hilarious and skewering of all who fall under the author’s withering gaze.

    The plot: a visiting English lecturer well past pertinence is found in his motel, throat cut, post-lecture, post-cocktail party. Local constabulary and eager junior academics do what they can to root out the killer, yet do not. By the novel’s last page, nonetheless, all is revealed, regarding the murderer and his prey– and his pursuers.

    It is for the abruptness and surprise and bitter laugh resident in this outcome that I recommend “Death of an Old Goat” to those who prize good endings– and good, if cutting, mysteries.

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  5. I put “Winter Garden” on my reading list. Thanks,Dave. “Nightengale ” is a favorite by this author. A surprise ending was in “Elinor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. “

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  6. HI Dave, I ran out of time this morning so I’ve come back. I enjoyed the ending of The Scarlet Letter, it was very reasonable. I liked the ending of The Picture of Dorian Grey although it was predictable, it was still well written and enjoyable. Dracula had a great ending as did The Shining. Oh, and also Pet Semetery – so creepy! Actually, aside from IT, I’ve enjoyed all of King’s endings. I loved the ending of She, it gave me nightmares for years and years and I also thought the ending of For Whom the Bell Tolls was appropriate. The ending of Farewell to Arms made me cry and I never, ever cry. The ending of The Yellow Wallpaper was completely heart rending for me as a woman. H.G Wells also had good endings – War of the Worlds, The Time Machine and The Invisible Man are my favourites. Lastly, I will mention the fulfilling ending of The Red Badge of Courage.

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  7. Wonderful post Dave. I do like how you talk about wonderful last lines or where the lines might not be in that category but the ending itself is amazing. i see we also agree and have oft discussed the books that whose endings were agaisnt the wall. You avhe mentioed so many here and yes so has Rebeca, I think many of mine are gone BUT I will add, Alex Garden’s, The Beach, in terms of what’s been learnt and how. But goods too. ‘Like Water For Choclate’ Laura Esquivel, in that given how it is a novel of the longings of two p[eople who can’t be together and now there’s no cahnce of them being together, and you’re thinking, now what, it just ties up in the love of the heroine’s great neice and the recipes the herine turned to, her cookbook being the only saved at the end. I also espeically liked the endings of Cain’s Mildred Pierce because it went full circle in terms of her starting the book and ending the book at sqaure one. And his Serencade. because the scene at the end while not remarkable in terms of a stand out line, after so much drama, was a rerun of an earlier one where the heroine had got spooked at a funeral and now it becomes clear that was a premonition.

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    • Thank you, Shehanne, for the kind words and all the great mentions! Full-circle endings — like the one you cited in “Mildred Pierce,” which I STILL want to read — can be very effective. Reminds me of Daniel Keyes’ “Flowers for Algernon,” which was about as full circle as full circle can get.

      I liked didn’t love “Like Water for Chocolate,” but the ending was indeed poignant. Very painful when selfish parents thwart romances. 😦

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  8. Hi Dave,

    I’m not sure what this says about me, but I’m not sure I often remember the endings of books unless they really stand out to me. I remember “Rebecca” ending up somewhere very different than I thought it would, but that’s more a comment on the plot, rather than the ending. Some really memorable endings that have stayed with me include Stephen King’s “The Dark Tower” and Rohinton Mistry’s “A Fine Balance”. I also need to mention TL Klune’s “The House in the Cerulean Sea”. It’s not that the ending was memorable as such, but I had a list of things that I wanted to happen by the end and Klune gave them all to me. And then he gave me some more. So very very satisfying.

    Ooh, Lionel Shriver’s name just jumped out at me. The ending of “We Need to Talk About Kevin” was unforgettable, even though I forgot to mention it until just now.

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    • Thank you, Susan, for citing several great examples of memorable endings!

      I also don’t always remember the conclusions of books after a few weeks or months unless those finales are particularly good or bad.

      “The House in the Cerulean Sea” and “We Need to Talk About Kevin” remain on my to-read list. 🙂 And I borrowed “A Fine Balance” from the library a few days ago; will hopefully get to it in two or three weeks.

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  9. It is good to be back from a blog break and catch up on your posts, Dave. Another insightful conversation. I confess (please forgive) that sometimes in the past, I read the last sentence of a book before I read the book itself. I have refrained from doing so these days, but it still it a temption. Why you ask? Because, for me, endings of novels are crucial for providing closure and resolution to the story. They tie up loose ends, answer lingering questions, and leave a lasting impression on me, the reader. The ending of a novel is the final opportunity for the writer to leave a lasting impression on the reader and ensure that their story resonates long after the book is finished.

    There are so many marvelous endings. Here are a couple of my favourites besides the ones already mentioned:

    “The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.” Animal Farm by George Orwell

    “After all, tomorrow is another day.”Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. (Yikes – what will Scarlett do next)

    “He loved Big Brother.’ 1984 by George Orwell (still have goosbumps when I read that!!)

    The last line of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare “For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.” And so brings a profound conclusion to the tragic love story of the two young protagonists.

    “Well, I’m back.” The last line of “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” is a powerful conclusion to the epic tale. These simple words, spoken by dear, dear Samwise Gamgee, defines the journey and growth of the characters throughout the trilogy. In just three words J.R.R. Tolkien conveys a sense of closure, resilience, and the bittersweet nature of endings.

    Thank you again, Dave – its always an exciting conversation when I stop by…

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    • Dave – forget my comment above. I’d like to just copy and paste this one 🙂

      PS. It seems that I’ve figured out how to stop being anonymous which makes me happy

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    • YES! Rebecca is back. And I do love this comment with all the wonderful end lines. GWTW was one I thought of in terms of what is the next bit and pity those in the way of this woman when she makes a vow, but also this eternal thing with human nature in a way to move on whatever the obstacles. But every ending here is a treaure.

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    • Thank you, Rebecca! Great to see you back in the blogosphere! You were VERY missed. 🙂

      So true that the endings of novels are crucial. I’ve liked many books with somewhat disappointing conclusions, but still felt a bit let down. Of course, it’s hard for an author to be firing on all cylinders for every part of a novel.

      I appreciate the various examples of excellent endings that you mentioned. The conclusion of “1984” — to cite just one of your examples — was indeed powerful, devastating, and unforgettable.

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  10. So, “We the Living” by Ayn Rand sounds a bit like you say about “Winter Garden”. “interesting and intense at times, but repetitive and forced at other times.”

    Perhaps more repetitive than forced, and although it was years ago that I read it, the repetition of the grind of life in 1922 to 1925 post-revolutionary Russia, has stayed with me.

    So has the ending remained clear.
    Not the brilliant “far, far”words of Dickens, but the poignant conclusion of the grind and hope; a message to the free world.

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      • I never read “The Fountainhead”. I saw the movie, though.
        It was interesting enough, with an odd point making ending. I think Rand liked to make points & engage arguments, of which she was always right.
        I worked with Barbara Brandon, who was a close friend of Ayn’s, and part of “The Collective” ( a hypocritical Rand reality imo). In the end they were NOT friends. It’s a real life .. almost cultish story. Barbara wrote a book about it, Showtime made a movie and I did the costumes.
        I learned a lot about Ayn Rand, and feel no further want to read another book of hers. Although, I did get about halfway through her book “Capitalism”. Dizzying!
        Alan Greenspan, former chairman of the American Federal Reserve (1987 to 2006) was in her Collective. I always found that more than interesting.
        I think she as a person, and her life story are profoundly interesting, beyond her writing.

        LOL! I was interviewed for a book about her, “Ayn Rand at the Movies”. I proof read the part Denise Noe wrote about me in it. It was good. The book is out now, but I can’t bring myself to spend the $26.00 US for a copy. I was hoping to get a free one, but I guess not.

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        • Ayn Rand certainly has strong views and opinions on capitalism, democracy and similar matters. I will finish The Fountainhead. I just have to come up for air every now and then 😀. How exciting you are featured in a book. You must get a copy as part of your life achievements. You are involved in fabulous projects 🌺

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  11. Great post, subject and comments, Dave. Endings are tricky. My first book didn’t have the ending I wanted, but I worked harder at it after that. I’m going to add a recent find to the list. “Love Set in Stone” by Staci Troilo – I was totally unprepared for the ending.

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    • Thank you, Dan! Like anything else, practice and experience can indeed help in writing great endings. And your mention of Staci Troilo’s “Love Set in Stone” is a good reminder that surprise conclusions can be excellent and memorable.

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  12. The Moonstone – so much that the reader still doesn’t know,

    and two perverse suggestions –

    ‘ And now I think I have said sufficient’ ( Agnes Grey )
    ‘ So now, my readers, we will say farewell to the characters in this book.’

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    • Thank you, Esther! I love Wilkie Collins’ “The Moonstone”! (Along with his novels “The Woman in White,” “No Name,” and “Armadale.”) All with interesting endings, middles, and beginnings. 🙂 Same for the Bronte sisters. 🙂

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  13. In the “old days,” classic books with satisfying unhappy endings were often turned by Hollywood moguls into movies with unsatisfying happy endings — WUTHERING HEIGHTS being a good bad example. Too bad someone hasn’t since appended the film’s ending to add a scene of Emily Bronté turning over in her grave.

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    • Thank you, mistermuse! So true about Hollywood making some endings of novels inappropriately happier. (Great angle by you on this topic!) Also the case with the film versions of “The Grapes of Wrath,” Bernard Malamud’s “The Natural,” etc. Funny/sad line about Emily Bronte. 🙂 😦

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    • I thought the last chapter of “Wuthering Heights” was a sappy/happy ending that detracted from the power of the novel– but it’s to be expected that when Hollywood makes a movie, the perceived demands of the movie audience, and the requirements of profitability will compel even more sugar be added to the original property.

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  16. Dave, the end game definitely makes a difference in the way I respond to a novel. It’s been a while since I’ve read some of the novel’s you mention. Jodi Picoult’s My Sister’s Keeper did leave a memorable impression. A novel, not mentioned, that immediately came to mind was Sarah’s Key by the French-British author Tatiana de Rosnay. Sarah’s tragedy in Paris of July 1942 collides with the American-born Julia in Paris sixty years later.

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    • Thank you, Rosaliene! I agree that a novel’s conclusion has a strong impact on how we respond to the book as a whole.

      I loved “My Sister’s Keeper” until a painful plot development near the end that felt too…gratuitous or something.

      That’s quite a time “event” at the end of “Sarah’s Key”!

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