This week's Booking Through Thursday question:
How about a chance to play editor-in-chief? Fill in the blanks:
__________ would have been a much better book if ______________________.
The response I am about to give is honestly the first one I thought of, despite the fact that I read the book over three years ago. Maybe part of the reason that I thought of it is that I have just finished reading People of the Book this week by the same author. Not sure.
So my answer:
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks would have been a much better book if it didn't have such a stupid ending!
If you've read the book you will understand - it kind of takes off an this completely unbelievable tangent that just doesn't fit the rest of the story. Of course, that is just my opinion!
Hi,
ReplyDeleteMany people (myself included) seem to be picking on endings... I haven't read your choice but it sounds frustrating!
This is sitting on my shelf for reading over the next few weeks. I'll bear your comments in mind when I come to it.
ReplyDeleteHave not heard of it. So can't comment! If I come across it, I will sure give your opinion a thought.
ReplyDeleteHere is my BTT post!
Yes!! I read it a few years ago and really enjoyed it up to the point where I started thinking, As if!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this, but have it's good. I really liked March by Geraldine Brooks. Have you read that?
ReplyDeleteI haven't read that. I did hear that March was good.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. If I hadn't gone with the answer I had, my second choice would have been a novel where the ending involved one of the characters behaving completely out of character, and things going in a totally unbelievable and frustrating direction. I hate it when authors do that! I mean, I know endings are hard to write, but still...
ReplyDeleteA lot of books have terrible endings, but that's the author's fault, isn't it? I mean, an editor can change a thing or two about the book, but if he changes too many things he might as well put his name on the cover. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI never read books by Geraldine Brooks before, but did "People of the Book" much better than "Year of Wonder"?
ReplyDeleteNot participate in BTTs this week, but just want to stop by to visit your blog :) Have a good day!
I was obviously a bit tired last night and should have expanded my answer to say don't get me wrong - I LOVED the rest of the book. Just that ending was oh so wrong. I'm glad that you agreed with me Coversgirl!
ReplyDeleteI have read March and thought it was excellent Booksplease.
Nithin, the reason why I chose the ending is that editors often make story suggestions as well, not just the grammar and punctuation.
Hi Julia! To be honest, part of People of the Book were good, but the book as a whole was missing something for me. Review will be up...eventually!
I haven't read it. Happy BTT
ReplyDeleteGosh, for some reason I hadn't thought of a book that I would change anything on, but all of a sudden I remembered The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett. The ending just seems incongruous with the rest of the book.
ReplyDeleteooooo I hate when there's a tacked on ending that doesn't fit the rest of the book. Annoying!!
ReplyDelete