I just finished a book last night that had me saying WTF? about 10 times in a row. My husband, obviously curious as to what had me so upset, turned from the computer to ask what was up. When I explained the story line and then what happened at the end of the book to him he looked at me and said, you guessed it, WTF?
So upset as I am about the end of the book I had to stop and think about how this affected my view on the book as a whole. I really liked the book but I hated the ending. How will this change, if at all, my rating of the book? Yes I felt that the end wasn’t what it should be but was it a bad book because of it? IDK. I haven’t made any type of decision yet and I’m not sure I’ll be able to right away. This is odd for me since yesterday I was just telling someone via email that I normally know the rating of a book right when I finish. But this one, not so much.
Today I started thinking (always a dangerous pastime) about how others feel and how much does the ending of a book affect your view of the whole? For me, I think that it would be judged on a case by case basis depending on the book and ending but I think I might be in the minority here.
What are your thoughts?
You know, I also read a book yesterday that in the last page made me think 'I'll never read this author again'
Generally, I'm not so quick to judge, but I tend to read 'authors' not genres or 'books' I'll choose an author and start reading everything they've written. I do try to start with the earlier writings.
But I can absolutely say that one scene – no matter where in the story it is – can completely change my viewpoint on a book and sometimes even an author.
I find that happens very often with J.R. Ward's books. As much as I ADORE the characters, I hate her endings (poor Vishous). Because of that it often spoils the entire book for me.
MsM
This seems to happen to me with mystery/suspense more than romances – but yeah, a WTF ending does knock the book down on my grading scale. No matter how good the story is prior to that. No matter how compelling the characters. If the author totally throws in random crap out of left field to end the book? Wendy mad! Wendy smash! LOL
I would think that it has to affect the grade for a book. If it leaves you with a sour taste in your mouth, then how could it not? Which is exactly why I don't grade books!
Bummer for you. It's the worst feeling, loving a book and reaching that last page, expecting to close it with an "Ahhhhh" and just wanting to fling it instead.
Oh, so true! That's how I felt with Anne Stuart's Ice Blue. (I think I mentioned it at the book hop?) It's such a letdown. I think that at least if the wtf moment is at the beginning, there is time to rescue the book. But, when it comes at the end, it just leaves a bad taste in one's mouth.
I hope you review the book. I'm interested in seeing what it is, and what provoked this reaction.
I would definitely judge a book by it's ending. Just I like would it's beginning or middle. HP7 and it's epilogue of suck ruined HP for me. I have yet to reread the series from front to back! BD in Twilight irked me too. Talk about WTF endings! Is it worse because it's a series or is it worse when it's a stand alone?
The ending of a book can absolutely have an impact on my overall grade for it, but it doesn't always. Like you, I take them on a case-by-case basis.
I remember reading a book last year (Lori read it too) and the ending made me so angry I dropped the grade by a full point. I love that book. I often re-read it. But the end totally kills it. I just pretend it isn't there and make up my own ending.
There's nothing worse than a bad ending.
Sucky endings ruin more books for me than sucky beginnings and middles, and they definitely affect my overall grade. I tend to grade books on whichever part makes the biggest impact. But I at least explain why the book got graded down. I'll say something like, "AMAZING first three-fourths, but the ending made me so mad!!!"
It's probably not fair, but I've never claimed to be fair. Just honest. LOL
I'm with others on this one. A horrible ending can totally ruin a book for me.
Also, I think it is generally what happens last in a number of things in life that make the most impression and it will take a while for any of us to get over that hump before looking back and considering the whole.
Yep, if I hate the ending then it's all over. My opinion of a book is the overall impression, not only a portion of it. An amazing ending will not save a sucky book either. Imagine dress shopping, you love the color, the style of the bodice makes your boobs look perky and amazing, flatters your legs, but the sleeves look like bat wings covered in mold. Would you still wear it and say "Well, I love most of it so it's okay that the sleeves are ugly." Hell no the whole dress gets tossed back on the rack.
This as happened for me a couple of times and I can't get past it and it still bothers me to this day. LOL I can hold a grudge I guess.
Stupid endings ultimately ruin a book for me. This is the last part of the book, the bit that stays and if it sucks it annoys me no end!!
Had a couple of 2009 reads that had me wishing I'd never picked them up! Guess I like things tied up well, doesn't have to be all neat with a picket fence but some sort of resolution is a must.
Yes an ending can ruin a book. I was posting about this somewhere else a few days ago. It hasn't happened to me too often – for which I'm profoundly grateful.
But the ending of Skin Privilege by Karin Slaughter ruined not only the book but also the series for me. To the point where I got rid of all my copies of her books.
Interesting thoughts from everyone. Tam – love the dress analogy – that was priceless. lol
With the book I just finished, in particular, it was the incredible build up to a whodunit and then at the end we find out that a certain person didn't do it but we never find out who actually did! We were left hanging – and it didn't have the cliffhanger feel to it. I can only assume we'll get more info in the next book – but I could be completely wrong. Drove me nutty! The HEA was fine, but with the other lack of info it left a bad taste in my mouth.
Now everyone get out of Wendy's way! lol
Because in a way the ending is how you leave a book, it can have a huge impact. Saying that, any part of a book can have you scratching your head and wondering what the author was thinking for going 'there'. (Back on the fence after yesterday 🙂
The book is a whole. Any part out of whack? Affects all the other parts. I've stopped reading a series or two because of something that happened at the ending of one of the books. (I'm looking at you, Kim Harrison! He SO didn't need to die, dammit.)
Tracy: Yeah, what you just described? I hate that. I feel like the author is manipulating me into reading their next book just because "they" were too lazy (or greedy) to give me closure. Minor plot points? Fine. Major, massive HUGE plot points that make up a big chunk of the book's conflict? And then to not have it resolved at the end?
OMG – hate that!
Wendy mad, Wendy smash – LOL
@Chris: I stopped reading the KH series after his death. I was so PO'ed.
@Chris: Me, too! Ah, another Khris moment. 😉
This happened to me with My Sister's Keeper… that ending still haunts me. I seriously wanted to hurt J.Picoult for that ending. I love the story… completely heartbreakingly beautiful. The ending killed me.
It didn't so much as ruin the book for me as made me leery of reading any more of her work.
The one book that I can think of off the top of my head that killed my enjoyment of the book was JD's A Knight in Shining Armor. I adored the book up until the end. The end totally killed it for me and to this day, I still hate that book.
Huh…you know I know exactly what you mean.
I just wrote a review for G&BB where I hated the beginning and therefore couldn't get into the book. Sadly it was a DNF for me.
I think it all depends on perception. If the book's good all the way up UNTIL the end, then I'm horribly disappointed. *sniffle*
I stopped reading the KH series before his death. I managed this by accidentally having a skim through the book in the bookshop before I bought it. It was on the shelves a few days before release date and I was curious. I think my first thought was – Oh NO you DID NOT! And then I put it back on the shelf and walked away.
Tracy, in a who-done-it who leaves me hanging (just read your comment above), I go nuts. It ruins the whole book for me. I don't care how well crafted the rest of the book is, in that type of book the outcome is the key for me.
In general, the ending can spoil my view of the whole book also — no matter the genre. I think for me it's the worst case scenario. It's a case of invested time and emotion thrown down the drain. It pisses me off, royally.
I think the ending should totally reflect the tone of the book and stay in tune w/ the characterization of the main characters. Reading is so subjective though so without knowing exactly why you didn't like it, I can't offer much more than to say I hate it too when the ending makes no sense compared to the rest of the story. I read this three series book from Silhouette Nocturne a while ago and I LOVED the first two books but hated the ending of the last book (all different authors) so it ruined the entire series for me. I'm sorry you were disappointed w/ the book!! 🙁
Wendy – yes, I feel like I was manipulated. A friend pointed out that this author had done it in the past – and I knew the book she was speaking of – but I don't think that bothered me as much. It just wasn't so blatant.
Thanks, everyone, for your thoughts. This has helped considerably in making my decision about my personal rating of the book. 🙂