The end is nigh . . .
. . . I hope. The end of my novel that is. Another couple of weeks should do it. I have yet to decide on that very last sentence and it has set me thinking about how to end a novel. It’s almost as hard as starting one, even though the crime writer has the edge over other writers in that certain things are more or less a given. The mystery will be solved and the wicked brought to book (unless you are Patricia Highsmith). Even so, it is easy to paint yourself into a corner. I read somewhere that William Golding had no idea how to end LORD OF THE FLIES. He mentioned that to his wife. She was sick of him retreating to his study every night and said ‘Oh, why don’t you set fire to the bloody thing?’ So he did – the island, that is, not the novel. Can this really be true? I’d like to think so.
But even when you know just what is going to happen it’s by no means easy to end on exactly the right note, so that the reader closes the book with a sigh of satisfaction. Apparently Truffaut, however gloomy the content of the movie, liked to end on an up note. I’m not sure that he always pulled that off, but I think it is a good idea.
Suggestions of great last words would be very welcome. I’ll try to come up with some for next time.
2 Comments
Anonymous
April 30, 2009Christine,
I am delighted you found the O’Connor letters to your liking. And good luck with your “ending” whatever it may be. I am trying to track down your books via a lovely Auckland bookshop called Unity Books that is a whizz at ordering stuff from overseas. So your work may yet get to the Bay of Plenty.
With reference to you blog on One Hit Wonders, the book dearest to my heart in that category is an American novel called Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns. It is still considered an American “classic”, but Burns only got halfway through the follow-up, called Leaving Cold Sassy, and then fizzled out, due to her own illness. Cold Sassy Tree, however, stands solidly alone, and it is a book to be cherished.
Best wishes finishing your book.
Deborah M.
Christine
May 8, 2009Thanks, Deborah, lovely to hear from you. I am working my way slowly through the Flannery O’Connor letters. They are rich fare and I can’t read too many at once. She has some very good advice on writing.
I’ll get hold of COLD SASSY TREE. So many books, so little time . . .