Disappointing Endings Poll

julie37619 · February 2014

I've been catching up on all the bookish podcasts I missed during my HP marathon, and heard one today that made an interesting point about disappointment in book endings: it's more disappointing for a series to end in a way you hate than a standalone because you have more invested in the series.

True or not true?

What's the most disappointed you've been in a series ending?

Standalone?

SusieBW · February 2014

True.
Divergent.
Gone Girl.

moroccojade · February 2014

True for me, too.

I only read the first two Divergent books, but the second one was so disappointing, that I could not bear to read the third. Same goes for Matched.

I read all three of Lauren Oliver's Delirium books... and the third one was a bit of a let down, too. Same with Shiver -- I thought the first two were pretty fun, but the third was just... blah.

Yeah. It obviously bothers me more when a decent series ends badly. And now that I am thinking about it, I can't pick a standalone that had an ending that really bothers me... interesting.

jenndawnp · February 2014

Delirium

Shiver, the 3rd book makes me so mad still when I think about it.

I've started and giving up both the 3rd books in the Divergent and Matched series, both second books disappointed me and the 3rd books haven't captured me when I've started them. I'm currently giving Allegiant another go.

j*&p* · February 2014

I think it definitely bothers me more when series end on a sucky note since I've got so much invested in the characters and what happens to them.

The disappointing series endings I can think of are:

Requiem

Allegiant

Mockingjay (I'll put this in a different category though because I don't think the book was poorly written so much as I wished that Suzanne Collins had taken it in another direction. I still got why she did what she did and admired her choices though, even if it's not how I wished the trilogy would've ended)

I can't think of a standalone ending I was really disappointed in at the moment.

Adjudi-Kate · February 2014

True. I don't see the point of authors refusing to give readers closure, especially at the end of a trilogy. They had three books to get to the point!

Delirium's final book (Requiem) was severly disappointing. I was sad for the author because I felt that she missed an opportunity to have a really beautiful ending. All the pieces were there and she just didn't put them together.

The Brisinger ending (Eragon series) also did not thrill me. And the books were soooo long. I thought I deserved the best ending ever! LOL

I know most people on this board will strongly disagree with me, but for me the most disappointing ending in a stand-alone book was Me Before You. (KINDA SPOILERY SENTENCES FOLLOW.) I hated the ending so, so much. Like, "throw the book across the room" kind of hate. There was a theme that was pushed on the reader throughout the book, but I thought the ending completely negated that theme. You can PM me if you want to read my alternative ending! That's right, I was so disappointed in the end of the book that I wrote my own ending to make myself feel better. The book did make me think, so I will give it that. Most books don't affect me like that.

Young_Love · February 2014

I'm much more disappointed in bad series endings. I have some standalones I didn't love the endings of, but since I've only invested one book-worth of time, it's NBD if it's a let-down. When it's a series I ran to the bookstore for and waited years for the next installment, only for it to suck, then...yeah, I get pissed.

MrsC7 · February 2014

True.

Series - Allegiant; Breaking Dawn

Standalone - Into the Wild

sfgiantsjo · February 2014

Series are worse, definitely. I agree with everyone here - Allegiant and Requiem come to mind.

Also, in a way - the Dark Tower series. I didn't think it was badly written or anything, but I was PISSED.

packfan20 · February 2014

True or not true? True

What's the most disappointed you've been in a series ending? I don't know if it's the most disappointing but the one that popped into my head first was Requiem in the Delirium series.

Standalone? Can't think of one off the top of my head

RiverPlate · February 2014

I agree with everything that's been said, particularly of the Divergent, Matched, Delirium, and Hunger Games series.

But I think it's more of a let-down when authors begin with a fantastic couple of books, and then beat it to death by never letting the series come to a conclusion. Mortal Instruments should have ended after the third book. Sookie Stackhouse, I think maybe the 4th book was the last good one for me. House of Night, I can't even remember which story was which because they all lumped together, and I can't remember why I liked them well enough to keep reading them. Let it go already!

As for stand-alones, I'm going to go with Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey N. It was well-written and made me think, but it also made me want to throw the book out the window.

julie37619 · February 2014

Obviously, I think it's true. I also think that my disappointment over the end of a series and the major buildup of waiting for the release may create some unrealistic expectations for the final book.

I was disappointed with Mockingjay at the time I read it. And I think largely it was due to my being so emotional about the series ending. With time, I've come to change my opinion. I'm kind of wondering if I'll feel the same way about Alienated.

As far as stand-alones go, Year of Wonders.

Passanie · February 2014

Totally true that you've got so much more invested in a series. Of course, I can't think of any off the top of my head that I felt that way about.

As for standalones, I remember being really unhappy with the ending of the Thirteenth Tale, but that was because the author left it ambiguous, which is a tactic I don't care for.

Young_Love · February 2014

Oh, I just remembered a standalone I was disappointed in the ending of - The Little Friend by Donna Tartt.

Raeily · February 2014

I agree.

Allegiant. I feel like it's always going to bother me.

beebe918 · February 2014

True or not true? Definitely true.

What's the most disappointed you've been in a series ending? A lot of series I've read have gone down hill after the first book so it's a lot more than just the ending that have disappointed me. I mostly agree with the others listed here, Divergent, Requiem, Reached, and Forever. I wasn't disappointed at all with Mockingjay though.

Standalone? I know there have been a million times when I've finished reading a book and hated the ending but the only 2 recent ones that are coming to mind Are Where'd Ya Go Bernadette and The Spectacular Now. Both were left fairly open ended and I wanted a more clean ending.

alithebride · February 2014

I agree with Gone Girl. I wanted to throw it across the room.

booknerd226 · February 2014

I agree. Series take up so much more of your time and there is the awesome build up anticipation for the new book, especially when it's the last one and you hope it ends amazing and you'll think of it for years to come.

I'm scared to read the Divergent trilogy for this reason. I have book one ready to go but I'm worried it'll be ruined

moroccojade · February 2014

booknerd226 said:

I agree. Series take up so much more of your time and there is the awesome build up anticipation for the new book, especially when it's the last one and you hope it ends amazing and you'll think of it for years to come.

I'm scared to read the Divergent trilogy for this reason. I have book one ready to go but I'm worried it'll be ruined

After reading Insurgent, I now pretend Divergent does not have any sequels. I think it works just fine alone. (Sure, there are questions left unanswered, but I think a person could just use her imagination and leave it at that.

ohioloveyou · February 2014

Allegiant is definitely the worst series ending for me. Standalone is a tie between Gone Girl and Inferno. Just thinking about their endings makes me angry.

MrsJenE · February 2014

ohioloveyou said:

Allegiant is definitely the worst series ending for me. Standalone is a tie between Gone Girl and Inferno. Just thinking about their endings makes me angry.

I forgot about this one! I HATED this ending. It left me thinking, "THAT'S IT?!?!?!? THAT'S THE ANSWER TO THIS BIG MYSTERY?!?!?"

jackiback · February 2014

I hated how the Gemma Doyle series ended. I was honestly shocked at how stupid it was and it tainted the whole series in my mind even though I did actually enjoy it up until the end.

MrsC7 · February 2014

@ohioloveyou @MrsJenE Are you talking about Dan Brown's Inferno?

MIL rec'd it so hard that I finally broke down and downloaded it. Now I'm afraid to read it!

MrsJenE · February 2014

MrsC7 said:

@ohioloveyou @MrsJenE Are you talking about Dan Brown's Inferno? MIL rec'd it so hard that I finally broke down and downloaded it. Now I'm afraid to read it!

That ending annoyed me to no end.

MrsC7 · February 2014

MrsJenE said: MrsC7 said: @ohioloveyou @MrsJenE Are you talking about Dan Brown's Inferno?

MIL rec'd it so hard that I finally broke down and downloaded it. Now I'm afraid to read it! That ending annoyed me to no end.

Crap. Well, I'm only on Goblet of Fire and still need to make it through Deathly Hallows, so it'll be a while before I dive into Inferno anyway.

At least I am forewarned. :-L

GreenBride624 · February 2014

sfgiantsjo said:

Series are worse, definitely. I agree with everyone here - Allegiant and Requiem come to mind.

Also, in a way - the Dark Tower series. I didn't think it was badly written or anything, but I was PISSED.

I kinda loved this ending! But then again, SK can do just about anything & I will love it!

@jackiback @myjunegirls - what do you think?

krispy83 · February 2014

Definitely true for me.

The Divergent and Delirium trilogies are the ones that come to mind. I was SO angry when I read Allegiant and was more disappointed by Requiem.

The only one I can think of off the top of my head is The Spectacular Now.

sfgiantsjo · February 2014

GreenBride624 said:

sfgiantsjo said:

Series are worse, definitely. I agree with everyone here - Allegiant and Requiem come to mind.

Also, in a way - the Dark Tower series. I didn't think it was badly written or anything, but I was PISSED.

I kinda loved this ending! But then again, SK can do just about anything & I will love it!

@jackiback @myjunegirls - what do you think?

Oh, it's a love/hate thing, for sure!!! But my first reaction was definitely pissed! Not disappointed, but pissed. I can't believe SK did that to us after 6 million pages or whatever.

DT remains my favorite series of all time next to HP, though.

brittk0486 · February 2014

True.

Like the last 10 Sookie books. haha.

Most recently, My Name is Memory.

jackiback · February 2014

GreenBride624 said:

sfgiantsjo said:

Series are worse, definitely. I agree with everyone here - Allegiant and Requiem come to mind.

Also, in a way - the Dark Tower series. I didn't think it was badly written or anything, but I was PISSED.

I kinda loved this ending! But then again, SK can do just about anything & I will love it!
@jackiback @myjunegirls - what do you think?

I 300 percent LOVED the ending.

You know what disappointed me? That LOST didn't end the exact same way.

ohioloveyou · February 2014

MrsC7 said:

MrsJenE said:

MrsC7 said:

@ohioloveyou @MrsJenE Are you talking about Dan Brown's Inferno? MIL rec'd it so hard that I finally broke down and downloaded it. Now I'm afraid to read it!

That ending annoyed me to no end.

Crap. Well, I'm only on Goblet of Fire and still need to make it through Deathly Hallows, so it'll be a while before I dive into Inferno anyway.

At least I am forewarned. :-L

Yep that's the one. The story wasn't bad but the ending wasn't good.

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