I’ve always been a sucker for a happy ending. I want the guy to get the girl. I root for the underdog. I long for the rags to become riches.
Lately though I’ve become bored by stories that neatly tie up every loose end. It feels like lazy writing. It smacks of cliché. Worst of all, it’s predictable. I blame it on turning 40. My body is falling apart, so why shouldn’t my literary preferences come crumbling down too, right?
The problem with “happily ever after” is that life doesn’t always work out that way. Many people, including me, read to escape reality so there’s a very strong argument to be made in favour of the entertainment value of the Cinderella ending. But is a happy ending a requirement for a great book? Could an unhappy ending – one in which the guy doesn’t get the girl – be just as satisfying?
What do you think? Vote for your preference below – and feel free to leave a note in the comments section! I’ll post the results of the poll next week.
[polldaddy poll=7084544]
