A 'Happily ever after' ending Versus 'To be continued'

Discuss the August 2017 Book of the Month The Expansion by Christoph Martin.

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EmunahAn
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A 'Happily ever after' ending Versus 'To be continued'

Post by EmunahAn »

Christoph Martin ends his narration abruptly leaving the reader wanting more. Would you prefer a different ending?
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Post by ritah »

EmunahAn wrote:Christoph Martin ends his narration abruptly leaving the reader wanting more. Would you prefer a different ending?
If the author chooses to have an ending that leaves the readers wanting more then I think it'd be fair to have a follow up book that eases some of the questions the readers were left with. About "happily ever after endings" sometimes it works most times it's a little cliche for me, I'd like a more realistic believable ending.
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Post by kandscreeley »

I prefer to have my books at least somewhat wrapped up. If they want to leave some things dangling for another book, that's okay with me. I don't like the story to just end though. That's not satisfying to me.
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Post by Donnavila Marie01 »

I love the ending of the book because it made the reader think and imagine possibilities. I welcome the idea of a sequel for it though.
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Post by Mallory Whitaker »

kandscreeley wrote:I prefer to have my books at least somewhat wrapped up. If they want to leave some things dangling for another book, that's okay with me. I don't like the story to just end though. That's not satisfying to me.
I agree with this completely. It also helps if they let you know the book is going to be part of a series. Then I at least know to expect things not to be all wrapped up. Even then there should still be some kind of conclusive ending to one, if not more, of the main plot lines.
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Post by Mosubi »

I prefer the book to end. This brings a sense of closure. I mean, who doesnt want closure?
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Post by Darakhshan Nazir »

I prefer ' to be continued' only if the endings has that spark . I feel ' to be continued' leaves a long lasting impact that somehow plays with reader's mind and makes him wonder what will happen next . And don't leave out the point , that it will increase selling of next part. Moreover , happy endings aren't that much alluring these days because maybe now, some part of reader knows that ' happy endings' don't exist.
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Post by Zelinda »

I don't mind a book "hanging" as long as there is enough closure to warrant its ending and there is a follow-up continuing the story. But I love happy endings when, and only when, they are believable, not pat, and tie up the end of the story nicely.
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Post by The Researcher »

I prefer to have a wrapped up book ending. Too many questions at the end or an abrupt ending does not go down well with me. It leaves me unsatisfied.
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Post by Aarush Kumar »

Abrupt endings are fine if there's a sequel coming up, and of course we all know happily ever after is just so cliché.. I guess it depends on the story and the writer...
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Post by Athena Moon »

I love cliff-hanger endings; this way I am forever hungry for more and more, and it bugs me for the rest of my life with no way to appease my hunger, with no possibility to forget about the story either... That's how you feel after reading Murakami's books. You are always left craving for more.
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Post by Lest92 »

I like a "to be continued" ending even if the book is standalone and won't have a follow-up. Having the ending suggest that the characters will have new adventures and that their lives continue satisfies me, especially if the author does it deftly.
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Post by El-kanah »

Professional writer says 'to be continued' sentence at the end of a book is great, but I don't fancy that as it creates tension. And if the next part of the book is not out on time, I will blame myself for reading it. So I prefer Happily after as a book ending.
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Post by Creating Serenity »

As a child of the 80's (I'm aging myself there), I love it when there is an ending that fits the theme of the book. HEA is great and all, sometimes, but if I'm reading a psychological thriller or something that fits the horror genre, then I am going to expect a big ending. HEA does not work in those types of stories.

As for cliff hangers, sometimes they annoy me. It depends on how the author and publisher decide to do it. If I know that a year from now the next book will be out, then I'm all for it. It will help me to remember that I want to read the next book!
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Post by Onyinyechukwu »

I prefer 'happily ever after' endings, they are much better.However, if you must have an inconclusive end, then please, you should have a follow up novel. It's aim would be to round it up as either a happy ending or a tragedy.
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