Book Rant (and maybe a spoiler)
One shouldn't rant about books. Books are wonderful, glorious things, as are libraries (just a side note). But I'm getting rather irritated by the increasing number of books that have good plots, and are well-written right up until the last page. Then the author apparently woke up one morning and said, "I'm bored now. Let's end this and I'll decide later if there should be a sequel."
Today's case in point is "Shanghai Girls" by Lisa See. I literally did not realize that there was no ending until the last page of the text, since there were a good 20 pages beyond it of notes, acknowledgements, and references. After all that time invested, it's like getting the middle finger from the author - the hell with you if you actually cared about what happened next.
On the other hand, I have a morbid addiction to Jodi Picoult novels, most of which are designed to punch you in the gut every few chapters. The latest one I read was "Change of Heart." I was watching for the gut-punchers and expecting them, but I was shocked by the last page - did not see that coming. And THAT'S the way to end a novel.
Back to plotting my own great American paragraph or two - no novels in me.
Today's case in point is "Shanghai Girls" by Lisa See. I literally did not realize that there was no ending until the last page of the text, since there were a good 20 pages beyond it of notes, acknowledgements, and references. After all that time invested, it's like getting the middle finger from the author - the hell with you if you actually cared about what happened next.
On the other hand, I have a morbid addiction to Jodi Picoult novels, most of which are designed to punch you in the gut every few chapters. The latest one I read was "Change of Heart." I was watching for the gut-punchers and expecting them, but I was shocked by the last page - did not see that coming. And THAT'S the way to end a novel.
Back to plotting my own great American paragraph or two - no novels in me.