I mean, don't we all? It's why we like different book. Uniformity is boring. Let's embrace that. But if we could change the ending...given half the chance...well, that's what Linda Grimes, author of All Fixed Up, is going to explore this lovely Friday Morning.
(P.S: I GRADUATE TODAY, BABES!)
Goodreads || Amazon
LINDA GRIMES is a former English teacher and ex-actress now channeling her love of words and drama into writing. She grew up in Texas and currently resides in northern Virginia with her husband.
Her series, CIEL HALLIGAN, is in stores now.
Book Endings I'd (Presumptuously) Rewrite If Given Half a Chance
Author's Note: SPOILER ALERT: Actual book endings may be revealed in the course of this shameful confession. Read at your own risk.
1. Gone With The Wind. I first read GWTW when I was about eleven or twelve, on the recommendation of one of my fellow book-nerd friends. I must have read it ten times before I was sixteen, always secretly hoping Scarlett would somehow get a happily ever after with Rhett. In my version, Rhett does give a damn, and actually says, "Thank God you finally came to your senses, Scarlett!"
2. Old Yeller. Why does the dog always die in children's books?! Gaah. Couldn't it, just once, come close to death but narrowly avoid it and miraculously rally? Is that really asking too much? In my version, the dog saves everyone and lives to wag its tail to a ripe old age.
3. Little Women. Jo should have wound up with Laurie. End of story. Because, seriously, Professor Bhaer? Can we say daddy issues? Also, bor-ing. Ho-hum city. The Big Yawn. Jo and Laurie were the best of friends, and I firmly believe a solid friendship is the basis of a good marriage. They were obviously meant for each other, and in my version that's exactly how they wind up. Oh, yeah, and Beth doesn't die. She gets really sick, but miraculously recovers. Kind of like Old Yeller (see above).
4. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Really? It was all just a dream? Come. On. You lead me through all those wild and whimsical happenings, introducing me to magnificently imaginative characters, and then tell me none of it was real? Please. In my version every last part of it actually happens. That would be surprising. Perhaps a bit frightening, yes, but at least you wouldn't get a cold splash of "real life" thrown in your face before you even close the book.
5. Gone Girl. Okay, this may exhibit more of my vindictive nature than I generally like to, but frankly these characters don't deserve to live. Sure, the book is a gripping read, but frankly I wanted to throw it against a wall when I found out that last "surprise." In my version, the baby is born, after which its parents die tragically in a car wreck. Then the baby is raised by a nice, normal, loving couple and lives happily ever after. The End.
Now, I'm not saying my versions would make any of these books better. In fact, I'd venture to say they'd probably ruin the books entirely. I fully admit that. I'm just being honest about how the books, as written, made me feel while reading them. So please take it with the proverbial grain of salt.
How about you? Are there any books you, in you heart of hearts, would like to change the ending to? Do share! Even if they happen to be mine. Well, except this latest one (All Fixed Up), because I agonized over that ending, and I'm rather fond of it.
All Fixed Up by Linda Grimes
(Ciel Halligan #4)
Published May 24, 2016 || Tor Books
The hilarious adventures of human chameleon Ciel Halligan continue in the fourth installment of this original urban fantasy series from Linda Grimes, All Fixed Up.
Ciel Halligan, aura adaptor extraordinaire, has a lot of experience filling in for her clients--as them. A rare genetic quirk gives her the ability to absorb human energy and project it back out in a flawless imitation. She's hard at work, posing as a well-known and celebrated astronaut, about to make a stunning announcement on behalf of the space program...when the photographer documenting the job sees right through her aura. Worse, it soon becomes apparent that he not only knows Ciel’s not who she's supposed to be, but means her harm.
When Ciel's elderly Aunt Helen—also an aura adaptor—is murdered in Central Park, and the same photographer shows up at the funeral, Ciel starts to feel even more exposed. Then more adaptors are killed in the same way, and she becomes terrified her friends and family are being systematically exterminated ... and it's starting to look like she's the ultimate target. She turns to Billy Doyle, her best-friend-turned-boyfriend, for help, but when an unexpected crisis causes him to take off without a word, she's left to rely on her not-so-former crush, CIA agent Mark Fielding.
Staying alive, keeping control of her romantic life, and unraveling the mystery of why adaptors are being pursued becomes a harder balancing act than ever in this new Ciel Halligan adventure from Linda Grimes.
Huh, I've always liked Jo and Professor Bhaer. I think I'm the only one in the world who didn't think she should marry Laurie. Otherwise I fully support all those changes. :) What a fun post. When I was a teenager I used to lie awake at night rewriting endings that had disappointed me.
ReplyDeleteYou sound like me regarding the lying awake at night rewriting disappointing endings. I think I became a writer just so I could finally exert some control. *grin*
DeleteI'm am SO with you when it comes to Gone Girl. I hated every one of those characters and for the life of me cannot understand how it became the success it is. There has to be at least one character that I feel somewhat sympathetic towards, but there were none to be found in Gone Girl.
ReplyDeleteExactly! I hear the same thing from so many people who've read the book. Only thing I can figure is, a large faction of readers must love to hate characters; otherwise, how do you explain the enormous popularity of the book?
DeleteI have no idea. Even less as to why anyone who had read the book would bother to watch the movie. I mean, the only thing that kept me from throwing the thing against the wall (apart from it being my Kindle, not just a paperback) was curiosity as to how the insanity would end (which apparently, it never did). Once you know the ending though, what's the point?
ReplyDelete