Top 5 Story Endings
Ah, The End, where all the carefully constructed mysteries are resolved, final gut-wrenching twists are thrown in, and you’re left with either a sense of awe or disappointment.
The whole story might be perfect, the beginning engaging, characters compelling, plot fast-paced, but if the ending is off, game over. A less-than satisfying ending can mean the difference between a 4 or 5-star review and whether I recommend the book to a friend.
Here are my favorite endings of all time (*warning* contains spoilers):
The Dark Tower by Stephen King — In the final book of his Dark Tower series, King writes an epic ending for his beloved gunslinger. Roland Deschain has traveled through other dimensions, defeated formidable enemies, and sacrificed friends to finally find what he’s seeking, the fabled Dark Tower, only to discover it’s his own personal hell. The top of the tower sends him back to the beginning of the series in an infinite horror-inducing loop.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie — Considered one of the best mystery novels of all time, Christie wrote a haunting ending to this whodunit. The Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, warned all the suspects, including the narrator, that the truth would come out, and boy did it. As more clues were disclosed, I found myself thinking surely not… it can’t be… but it was. The narrator committed the crime!
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens — This remains to be the only classic novel that has made me cry. Dickens hammered home the theme of doubles through Sydney Carton’s heroic final act and his words, “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.” Sydney loved Lucie so much and wanted her to be happy, even if that happiness meant a lifetime with another man. His final act: taking his look-alike Charles Darnay’s place at the execution block so that Charles could marry Lucie.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho — The ending of this beautiful story both was both shocking and satisfying, encompassing the idea that it’s about the journey not the destination. The Egyptian treasure Santiago first dreamed of, which spurred him to give up everything and travel to far away lands, was buried by the tree where he first had his dream.
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card — As if it weren’t enough of a twist that Ender was tricked into killing off an entire species of innocent aliens, there’s the aftershock that the alien queen had been communicating with Ender throughout the entire story. She understood he was being tricked and forgives him, entrusting Ender to protect the last of their kind.
What are your favorite story endings?
What I’m reading: The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer (book club pick!)
What I’m listening to: Lorde — Pure Heroine
I’ve only read the last two, but now I want to re-read The Alchemist! I had forgotten what a beautiful story it is.
Yes, Teri, The Alchemist is definitely a good one to re-read! I think that’s one of my all-time favorite books 🙂
I was thinking about Eleanor and Parks and the mystery of what the post card said at the end. I heard recently that in the Italian version it said Ti amo.
I like happily ever afters with epilogues showing happy futures.
Yes! I love that the Italian translation of Eleanor and Park said the postcard contained 2 words instead of 3, proving Eleanor had said, “I love you.” What a fantastic ending! I like the happy ever after epilogues too 🙂
I have to agree with your last 3 books & Eleanor and Parks, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, and The Kite Runner are other book endings that impressed me. I’ll have to read the Murder of Roger Ackroyd.
I’d forgotten about The Kite Runner! Such a powerful ending. I’ll have to add The Reluctant Fundamentalist to my TBR pile 🙂