Have you ever been really into a book, engrossed in the story, waiting to see how it all ends …
… only for the ending to disappoint you?
I’ve read a few books like that.
And the sad thing is, I wouldn’t re-read them, or recommend them to friends. Because if the ending doesn’t land properly, the whole reading experience is just a bit disappointing.
A slow start or a meandering middle are okay.
An exasperating ending … that’s a lot harder to let go of.
(The same’s true in life. If you’ve had a day that started promisingly, but ended badly, you probably think of it as a bad day overall.)
When you’re reading a novel, in a way, the ending is the whole point.
Structurally, the ending (the climax and resolution) solve the major problem set in place at the beginning (by the inciting event). If the ending doesn’t resolve things in a satisfactory way, we’re left disappointed.
Read more...
