I finished a book this week where the ending had me scratching my head. In that case, the reader was left not knowing what had happened to four or five of the main characters, there were lots of unresolved questions, and after 800 pages the ending felt rushed and incomplete.Whilst in this case, it wasn't a cliffhanger ending in terms of the shock ending on the very last page, but it was cliffhanger enough for the fans of this series. Worst thing about this particular ending? This author takes anywhere between 3 to 5 years to produce her next book, so it is a VERY (or verra if we were using the parlance from that novel) long wait to find out what happens next!
Reading this book did however leave me pondering the nature of endings, particularly cliffhanger endings.
First, here is a definition of cliffhanger ending from Wikipedia:
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction. A cliffhanger is hoped to ensure the audience will return to see how the characters resolve the dilemma.
Depending on which genres you are reading there are certain things that a reader can expect from the ending of a novel. If it is a standalone romance novel, then you can expect to get some indications of a happily ever after (even if it isn't the normal marriage and children that happen so often in the epilogue). For a crime novel it is fair to expected to have the identity of the perpetrator revealed as well as some explanation of the whys and hows of the particular crime.
To me, it does seem as though there does seem to be a lot more of these cliffhanger style endings. They seem to be right up there with love triangles as a way of continuing story lines from one novel to the next. A well done cliffhanger can leave you wanting more. Other times I feel a bit emotionally manipulated by them.
So, as readers, do we like cliffhanger endings? Feel manipulated by them? Seen too many of them? Are there particularly well written cliffhanger endings that you read that left you gasping for more? Do you think they are an overused technique?
Let's talk endings!
I feel manipulated, most often. Annoyed that I'm not getting the whole story. If I hear that a book has a cliffhanger ending, I'll wait until other books come out and I hear the whole story is resolved before I even buy.
ReplyDeleteCliffhangers are not my favourite ending by a long shot...if it's an author/series I like I'd buy the next book regardless but I hate it when I feel like I'm being forced to keep on reading a series. Stuff like that has made be give up on certain authors (like Karin Slaughter for example) (though there were other reasons too but her endings didn't help).
ReplyDeleteCliffhangers can be fine if the author releases books quickly, but when you have to wait years it is terrible! That's too bad that you have to wait to find out what happens next! I am still back on book 1, so by the time I get there she will probably have two or three more books out. lol
ReplyDeleteI must say I most often feel a bit cheated, if the book I'm reading ends with a cliffhanger.
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
Tiina
Are you talking about the latest Gabaldon? My mom is often driven crazy by her endings, lol.
ReplyDeleteI think BOOK cliffhangers endings are a kind of cop-out, and chapter cliffhanger endings are a kind of cheap literary trick. But no judgement...ok, a little!
On the subject of endings, I really hate it when an author writes a book that conforms to genre expectations, but then delivers a sad ending instead of the expected happy one. I feel betrayed and pissed! Fortunately, it's only happened a couple times.
It's overused, especially by certain authors. I'm like Rosario, I'll often wait till each book is already out before I even start a series. Because quite often, by the time the next book is released, I've forgotten the previous book's cliffhanger and then I'm all confused for the first couple of chapters.
ReplyDeleteI know the book of which you are speaking, and those cliffhangers go beyond the pale.
ReplyDeleteIn books, I don't mind minor 'what is going to happen next' scenarios, but not leaving someone dangling by a thread. Leave that for Dallas and Dynasty where you only have to wait through the summer to get the conclusion.
I'm with Michele, it's better to wait until a series is complete and then start them, especially if there is such a long wait in between.
I know the book of which you are speaking, and those cliffhangers go beyond the pale.
ReplyDeleteIn books, I don't mind minor 'what is going to happen next' scenarios, but not leaving someone dangling by a thread. Leave that for Dallas and Dynasty where you only have to wait through the summer to get the conclusion.
I'm with Michele, it's better to wait until a series is complete and then start them, especially if there is such a long wait in between.
When a cliffhanger seems to fit with the story, I don't mind. Though if I like a non-cliffhanger book that's part of a series, I'll definitely read the next book, so a cliffhanger ending doesn't really affect whether or not I'll read the follow-up. By the time the next book comes out, I'll most likely be over my "Whaaaaat??" from reading the cliffhanger anyway!
ReplyDeleteI do, though, often wait to start a series that most likely will employ cliffhangers.
I'm okay with certain cliffhanger endings. Catching Fire had me gasping and railing against the fact that I had to wait, but I felt it was a perfect cliffhanger. Yet, I feel as if there are too many series, and subsequently cliffhangers, being released right now. I'm getting burnt out on stories not being resolved because I have to wait for books two or three, or even eight or nine. I'd rather go back to the days where series were the exception and not the norm.
ReplyDeleteI have mixed feelings about cliffhanger endings (whether they're mid-series books or stand alone's)-- part of me likes having the chance to dwell in the uncertainty. If I don't have access to the next book in the series (or if there isn't one!) cliffhangers give me the time and space to imagine my own conclusion, to think "I wonder where the author is going to take this..." By the time I get to the next book I usually have MY idea of how the situation is resolved, and it's fun to see how close (or how completely far off!!) I was. I don't like to do ALL the work though, so it's nice if author's give me a fairly solid conclusion, or follow up with the next book in a reasonable timeframe (unlike the 12!!! years it took Stephen King to get from book 3-5 of the Dark Tower series....)
ReplyDeleteThe "series" I read most often are romance trilogies. By their nature, they have to have a satisfactory resolution AND a cliffhanger.
ReplyDeleteYou have to know that this hero/heroine have solved their part of the problem and found happiness together... but that there's still a related problem to solve.
Susan Mallery and Nora Roberts both do this really well.
I hate, hate, hate the cliffhanger ending, and always feel like I have been cheated, even if I have the very next book in the series sitting right nest to me. I have a feeling I know which book you are referring to, and it's disappointing to hear that it ends in a cliffhanger for all the reasons that you mention. Sorry that you were disappointed as well.
ReplyDeleteIf I've all the books in the series to hand I don't mind cliffhangers, otherwise I do tend to become unattached to it and have stopped reading them (Harry Potter was like that, I've still not got round to it). Sometimes they are unnecessary, especially if the story wasn't so good to begin with and you're left wondering why the author thinks continuing into another book is a good idea.
ReplyDeleteha! I know exactly what book you speak of Sassenach!
ReplyDeleteI was alright with her first four in the series. Not really cliffhangers, but some unresolved issues. However, I felt the fifth one was filler and didn't enjoy it that much. So much so that, I haven't read the 6th or the 7th, may not at all.
Unresolved issues or things are fine to a certain extent, but to have 5 main characters with question marks and it takes like 5 years between books???? Come on already! She has to know where the series is going, and I think this is a reflection of a very big ego. Especially after that little flap about fan fiction.
But I digress. HP was different and the next book was never too far off. So that was livable. But to have these big gaps and tons of questions, makes me feel as though I wasted time.
So for me, whether I accept a cliffhanger or not, depends on the book or series. Most books that I have read with cliffhangers, left me wanting more, but yet still satisfied with what I just read. hope that makes sense :) Great post Marg!
Of course, ti's the Gabaldon you're talking about, but she's not the worst. One of the other authors I read can write a 400+ page book and only have 24 hours elapse. Particularly in the fantasy realm, series go on much too long, as characters can receive what should be killing injuries and miraculously heal. Yet the characters are just good enough to hook us. I have stopped buying these books and will only read them secondhand, as I am always mad that "I spent money for no resolution or character change."
ReplyDelete