This week's Top Ten from The Broke and the Bookish asks for our Top Ten Favorite Beginnings/Endings In Books. Obviously there will be spoilers because we’re talking about endings!
Favorite Beginnings
1) Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier: “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.” That perfect opening line set the eerie mood for the whole book.
2) David Copperfield by Charles Dickens: “Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show.” My favorite Dickens novel opens with lines that hold
3) The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams: Arthur Dent is an ordinary man is every way, but his whole life (and planet) is blown to hell in the first few pages of Adam’s famous book.
4) Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy: “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” That famous line sets the tone for one of the most tragic stories in literature.
5) Room by Emma Donoghue: "Today I'm five." The horrific events that unfold throughout the book are only bearable because of the innocence of our young narrator.
Favorite Endings
6) Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell: “I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow." Clocking in at more than 1,000 pages, this epic novel ends on a note that reminds us Scarlett is a survivor. She’ll manage somehow, even when life seems impossible.
7) The Harry Potter Series: After seven books of turmoil the final line, “All was well” was such a beautiful picture of closure. I loved it.
8) The Woman in Black by Susan Hill: This book scared me silly. And just when you think the terrifying twists are over, Hill throws one more major one your way.
9) Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins: I read Hunger Games and this one back-to-back before having to wait a year for the third and final book in the series to be released. It was agony not knowing what happened to everyone after the cliff hanger.
10) The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas: It’s a big book and a lot of chapters to get though. But if you still with it for 1,400 pages the payoff is better than any other book I’ve read. This tale of revenge is so perfectly planned out that it will leave you breathless.
11 comments:
Great choices! I wish I had thought of Harry Potter; it is the perfect ending.
I had to include the ending to HP as well. How could you not, right??
TTT @ Krista's Dust Jacket
I love that so many of y'all have chosen Gone With the Wind! And HP is a perfect choice.
So many great ones here! Goosebumps :)
Harry Potter is a great choice! I have Room on my list too!
Catching Fire: Agreed
Catching fire made my list. And I have read the abridged version of the count and loved it, I have yet to read the entire 1400 page one though. But even the abridged version was one of my favorites in high school, so maybe it's time to read the adult size! Great list!
Gah! You picked such good ones. I want to read and re-read all the book!
Heather - I'm rereading all of the books right now and so it's fresh in my mind.
Krista Davis - Some people hated the epilogue, but it worked for me.
Brooke - I just reread GWTW and loved the ending.
Jennifer - It was a fun topic!
chrissireads - Room was intense.
Chikadee - Right!
Jen Em - It's such a great story in any format!
Andi - That's how I felt looking at everyone else's lists!
Will have to agree to disagree on Woman in Black sorry. I loved the play, thought the film just ok but really didn't think the book was well written
Kheenand - No worries! I agree the film was just ok, but the play is incredible!
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