Not to completely commercialize the discussion, but one ending I hated was the ending of Stephen King's It. Great book, wonderful characterizations of the kids and their friendships, creepy-spooky clown in the sewer, blah, blah, and then...the "reveal" of the evil just sucked. After 1,100 pages or whatever it was, I expected something a little more sophisticated than a big fat spider. A definite against-the-wall moment for me.

That aspect of the ending doesn't bother me because I have major spider squick, so a big fat spider is pretty much the most horrible thing I can think of anyway. Except maybe a giant pulsating conjoined Mary Kate and Ashley beast. My problem with the ending is the part where all of the boys have sex with the female character when they're down in the sewers. I can't remember the exact reasoning of it, but I think it's supposed to make them closer so they can escape the tunnels or something. It felt like a major misstep and totally threw me out of the book.

It felt like a major misstep and totally threw me out of the book.

Completely agree. {whitefont}It felt like a touch of misogyny, actually. The girl's only reason for being there is to fuck the boys? Her "virgin sacrifice" is what saves them? Euw. And then she becomes the "abused woman". Double euw.

On board with Emlah and juliana, though IMO Beverly's father had more to do with future abuse than her experience with the boys.

Of course, taking the rationale to its logical conclusion, some of the boys would have had to have sex with each other. And that'd never happen in a King novel. It isn't like he showed any clue about homosexuality until at least Insomnia.

I read Girl With a Pearl Earring today. Loved it. No idea about hstorical accuracy and don't care. Loved it. Completely transported me. It was a very quick read too.

Hate to say it (well, not really), but I told you so...

I kept meaning to see the movie but never got around to it, despite Colin Firth. Is it still playing in theaters here?

no idea. I now want to see it too, but think I'll have to wait and netflix it as my next few weekends are pretty full.

Fredpete, WRT It there was homosexuality in it. It was just the bad kind where only the evil pyscho kids do it after lighting their farts or something. Or am I mixing it up with another King book?

Nope, you're right. It was Patrick Hockstetter and whathisname -- Big Bully Kid -- and Patrick the sociopath gave him a a handjob, and offered a hummer, at which point BBK decided that was GAY.

Beverly saw it all from the bushes.

Why, yes, I did read It several times as a teenager. Why do you ask?

And I agree totally re: the sex. I thought it was ridiculous and demeaning even when I read it at 13. Puh-leeze.

Did not. Have NO idea what you guys are on about.

Um, nothing germaine to add. As you were.

Yeah, you did. And you were wearing hot pants and roller skates!

Re: the kidsex in It: Yuck. Felt more creepy-wrong to me than Bev's abusive daddy, or the bad thing in the drains.

I thought of an ending I really enjoyed: The Red Tent. The Narrator concludes the tale in the persona of a benevolent storyteller from the depths of the past. Very short, very sweet.

Obviously I'm big for happy endings. I think I may have to give romance novels another try. Suggest away, readers!