It Shouldn’t End That Way!

Yesterday, we thought about first impressions, introductions to books, and if the way a story begins is important. I kind of like a story to grab my attention with the first sentence, but I’ve read a few books that didn’t really get interesting until toward the last of the first chapter. Today, let’s think about how a story will end.

I’ve just finished reading a book, finished it yesterday, that was really a nice cozy, kept me turning pages, but the finish of the story was disappointing. At least, it was to me. You see, the good guys won and I wished they hadn’t! Surprising, isn’t it, that I should feel that way? The tension built up and up; the heroes raced to the airport to prevent a plane from leaving. On that plane was the murderer. Guess what? I was rooting for the bad guy. You see, his victim was really awful. The victim was the true villain, and the murderer, although his method was lawless and wrong in itself, had a good motive for killing the ornery coot. So, I was hoping the bad guy/good guy would escape. He didn’t. Justice was served and everybody was happy; everybody but me and the person who was prevented from leaving the country.

Then, there’s Gone With the Wind. Oh, my goodness! If any book every had an unsatisfactory ending, it was that one. I would have had Rhett disappear into the fog; Scarlett would run after him. She, who couldn’t see where she was going, would stumble into the river (what river, you ask?) and Rhett would rescue her. She would repent and he would relent and they’d live happily at Tara. But then, that wouldn’t be so poignant or memorable, would it? The way Margaret Mitchell ended it has stayed with readers for decades and, I’m sure, is a much more suitable way for the fickle and wayward Scarlett to get her just reward. Sigh.

Presently, I’m reading Case Closed. Not by Sharon Mierke. It captured my interest right away. In fact, I read until I went to sleep last night and can hardly wait to get back to the book this morning. Sharon is a friend and a talented writer. The book began in an interest-catching way and I haven’t a doubt that the ending will be most satisfactory!