The endings of
Watership Down
and
Doomsday Book
are wonderful, and make me weepy in a very good way. I don't mind sad endings, or even bleak endings such as
Heart of Darkness,
but I feel that those endings need to be earned as much as any happy ending.
Most of Terry Pratchett's books are ended well, IMHO. Plot lines are wrapped up more or less tidily, but very often the characters themselves are left poised on a moment of change.
I
loved
the ending of
Hill House,
for reasons that have been quoted above. The repetition of that opening paragraphy leaves one with the feeling that Hill House is a malevolent entity that can never be completely destroyed or obliterated.
Also, I loved the last chapter of that book. I remember thinking that the book would be completely pointless without it.
You and Anthony Burgess both. He agreed to the cut for the US under protest, and didn't have any say about the movie, though Kubrick let him be the one to have to deal with the press about it. Why he let himself get sucked in, I don't know (he's expressed contradictory feelings about the movie), but Kubrick was an amazingly manipulative bastard. Love his movies, but as a person, not so sure.
shrugs
Seems to be the case with a lot of directors. The most good natured one I've ever read about is David Cronenberg, so there is NO predicting from the films they make.
Just finished reading Jennifer Crusie's Bet Me. Very charming. I remember reading the first chapter on Crusie's website, and not really liking it. I take it all back.
Working on getting a co-worker to let me borrow her copy, so this is good to hear.
But Faking It is still my favorite, followed closely by Welcome to Temptation, and then Bet Me.
So far I've only read three--Getting Rid of Bradley (didn't love it), Fast Women (liked it), and Faking It (loved it). I have high hopes for Bet Me and intend to pick up Welcome to Temptation next time I'm at Target. Yes, I should have read it before Faking It. I know.
Hey, did ita or someone mention Val McDermid here recently? I'm in the middle of one of hers, due to (watch conversations come together!) the fact that I always skim the shelves in the mystery section for trade paper. I prefer paperbacks for carrying around, and trade paperbacks are usually more interesting -- old, or foreign, or just good.
Yes, I should have read it before Faking It.
Naah. No spoilers at all.
No. They're related but not that closely.
Which one are you reading, Jesse? I need to go get more of hers. Maybe I'll get some transferred to my library.
Booked for Murder. It's with Lindsay Gordon?
Ah -- I'm on one from the Wire series, with Jordan and Hill.
