Hmm. Both those phrases make it sound like the author doesn't play fair. He does. All the evidence is there. It's just the single best unreliable narrator I've ever seen outside of Pale Fire.
Jayne: 'Cause I don't know these folks. Don't much care to. Mal: They're whores. Jayne: I'm in.
'Heart Of Gold'
We're Literary 2: To Read Makes Our Speaking English Good
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
Betsy HP - Mar 10, 2004 5:35:32 pm PST #1219 of 10002
If I only had a brain...
§ ita § - Mar 10, 2004 5:36:46 pm PST #1220 of 10002
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
It only requires perfect execution of your themes, and structural integrity to pull this off.
Didn't I say I was a mass-market avoiding snob? I demand no less.
DavidS - Mar 10, 2004 5:37:11 pm PST #1221 of 10002
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
I can see how that would work.
Conversely, I'm willing to take examples of works which are great despite a bad ending. Also, opinions on why they went wrong.
msbelle - Mar 10, 2004 5:37:49 pm PST #1222 of 10002
I remember the crazy days. 500 posts an hour. Nubmer! Natgbsb
It's funny, I am generally bad at remembering anything more than whether I liked a story or not, and I have read only a couple of books more than once, so I have forgotten most storylines and structure points altogether.
I can't recall one single book ending that I remember loving. That said, I do know that I liked Geek Love a lot and did not like the ending. That I couldn't deal with The Cider House Rules even having an ending (it should have gone on forever). And that I liked the ending of Mystic River, because it speaks to the story continuing without leaving you saying "But what happens?", like many books do.
It's an interesting thing to think about.
DavidS - Mar 10, 2004 5:38:03 pm PST #1223 of 10002
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
Didn't I say I was a mass-market avoiding snob? I demand no less.
Did I mention my theory on why you find Viggo somewhat disturbing?
§ ita § - Mar 10, 2004 5:41:14 pm PST #1224 of 10002
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
Did I mention my theory on why you find Viggo somewhat disturbing?
No, no you've neglected to.
I can't remember other endings. There are books I liked or loved, but Owen Meany was the one where I looked at the ending, and thought about the whole again, without there being any sort of twist.
sarameg - Mar 10, 2004 5:43:36 pm PST #1225 of 10002
I loved the end of Map of Love. (I loved the way it was so much a weaving, which was also an element of the story.) It brought everything into this mythic structure and felt so completely right. I guess, I like the ending if it seems to fit the rest, so a lot of stuff. But I lovelovelove when I get to the end with a major WHOA and I feel compelled to reread with the new subtext I get in the last section.
Dana - Mar 10, 2004 5:44:07 pm PST #1226 of 10002
I'm terrifically busy with my ennui.
Joyce's "The Dead" also achieves a terrible/beautiful lyrical quality in the final passage.
Joyce makes me shake for a whole different reason.
Betsy HP - Mar 10, 2004 5:46:26 pm PST #1227 of 10002
If I only had a brain...
I love the ending of the movie (don't know if it's in the book) Barry Lyndon.
Everybody's life has, one way or another, been destroyed. Then there's a voiceover with titles: (paraphrase) "Rich or poor, good or bad, lucky or unlucky, they are all equal now." Sent chills up my spine.
DavidS - Mar 10, 2004 5:46:48 pm PST #1228 of 10002
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
Joyce makes me shake for a whole different reason.
Are we talking about Molly Bloom now? checks notes...