Minds out of the gutter perverts and pervettes. I am talking about in books and movies.
Closing a book where your hero achieved his goal makes you feel good. And don’t you love leaving the movie theater with a smile on your face?
But it is the shocking ending or tragic ending that is memorable.
For Whom The Bell Tolls, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Of Mice and Men, Romeo and Juliet, Gone With The Wind, The Boy In The Striped Pajamas, all classic examples of tragic (memorable) endings in literature.
At the theater who can forget these endings? American Beauty, Titanic, Schindler’s List, The Sixth Sense, Philadelphia, The Green Mile, and the list goes on and on.
Even science fiction has had its share of sad endings. 1984 and the original Planet of the Apes are two examples.
Want to write something unforgettable – you guessed it. Tragic ending.
So, which do you prefer?
Do you like happy endings?
A happy ending is an escape, a tragic ending is a lesson. Isn’t it a secret of documentaries’ success?
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Yes it is. We remember the great movies with the tragic endings much longer than the feel good movies. Thanks for stopping by. Have a good day.
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A predictably happy ending makes me bitter.
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Not the answer I expected. Why? Because life never ends that way?
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Tubularsock would say, even though Tubularsock really can’t speak for MB, that predictable happy endings are manipulated bull shit!
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I agree with you. Thanks for stopping by.
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Yes, it just seems unrealistic. I don’t mind a happy ending but I just hate when it’s predictable. I don’t know why, but the movie Juno comes to mind. I actually was kind of liking the movie for it’s character portrayal and then, probably as I was watching the last half hour, I just got this sickly feeling that it would all tie up into this neat little bow of boy gets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back again….and it did! Just killed the whole movie for me!
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I understand what you mean. I hate it when I can figure everything out before it happens. Predictable endings are the worse..
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right?
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Yeah
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Yes! Amazing how the ‘painful/tragic/negative’ tends to linger longer. 😉
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They do. Happy endings last as long as your smile. The tragic ones stay with us for a long time. Thanks for stopping by. Have a good one.
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100% AGREE
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Thanks for stopping by to read. Have a great day.
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Happy ending in movies are the way to make people believe and have hope that they’ll also gonna have a happy ending, I’m actually one of those 🙂 but tragic ending in films are the best, yes it makes the movie unforgettable 🙂 loved sixth sense.
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We agree. When we realize along with Bruce Willis that he is dead, oh the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Tragic endings are unforgettable. Love Story is another one. There are more tragic Oscar winners than happy endings one.
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Haha yes those endings are the ones where you unconsciously scratch your head because of confusion and amazement. Happy endings are just too mainstream now I guess.
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Sometimes, I like to watch the happy endings. Mostly when I want to be entertained. But the tragoc endings stay with us for a long time. Don’t they? Thanks for stopping by. I hope your day is wonderful.
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Both. I prefer both. I don’t believe that we have to choose one or the other. We need the variety. Happy endings give us hope and tragic endings give us caution. Both are needed to survive this Topsy-Turvy life. Not to mention that I am greedy and I always want it ALL. 😉
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You are greedy, aren’t you? lol Oh, we need both. I am just stating that tragic endings stay with us longer.
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I agree, on both points, taragic endings stay with us longer AND I’m greedy. 🙂
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LOL I got it. You are greedy. LOL
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Yes. But ALWAYS generous too. 🙂
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Hmmm. That sounds like a read between thye lines comment. lol
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Good point. Tragic endings are more memorable than the happy ones.
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Yes, they are. Thanks for stopping by to read. Have a wonderful day.
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Reblogged this on Livedinitaly's Blog.
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Thank you so much for the reblog. I really appreciate it. Have a great day.
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The ending I prefer is the one that fits, be it happy or sad. I get fed up of reading stories that have been so twisted around by the author just so the heroine can have her hero (or vice versa). Or, as has happened too often, Hollywood changing the endings of films because the preview audience didn’t like the ending. Real life doesn’t always end happily and maybe sometimes getting the guy (or gal) could actually be the worst thing possible for the MC.
The right ending for the story is all I ask, one example – The Dark Tower series by Stephen King (this isn’t a spoiler) – when I finished I was kind of annoyed, but it was the right ending.
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Understood. I also hate the open ended finales. Where you’re left scratching your head trying to figure out what just happened. Thanks for stopping by to read and comment. Have a great day.
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I forgot about those ones! 🙂
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Happy to remind you. Thanks for stopping by to read. Have a great day, with a happy ending. 🙂
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Thanks! You too 🙂
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Thanks
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I like ambiguous endings, actually. They leave you thinking about the movie or book much longer afterwards. Like the ending to the movie, Lost In Translation, (can’t italicize) where you don’t know what he whispers to her at the end (if you’ve seen it).
Guess it depends on the genre as well, as far as what works, but happy, kind of sappy, endings to romances are the worst, imho! Would rather see a tragic twist in those! lol
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Yeah, I have seen it. Good movie. Usually, I am not too keen on the ambigous endings. Sometimes Hollywood gets it wrong. I agree with you on the romances with sappy endings. Although, last night I saw How To Lose a Man In Ten Days and I enjoyed it. Yeah, tragic twists are the best. Thanks for stopping by.
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You’re welcome! Thanks for the movie suggestion – tis the season! 🙂
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One happy ending I love and it’s perfect for the season as well, It’s A Wonderful Life. Never get tired of seeing this movie.
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You’re not alone with that one!
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I think you are right about tragic endings being more memorable. But every once in a while, an ending with an unexpected but happy twist will stick with you! Examples: Water For Elephants! It’s a Wonderful Life (not unexpected, but I’m a sucker for Jimmy Stewart and this movie!) The Shawshank Redemption, to name a few. What do you think? Memorable?
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Shawshank is one of my favorites. Love it. Considered by many to be the best screenplay ever written. I love the other movies you mentioned as well. Meg, I am writing a list of movies that inspire me and two are on the list. Yeah, those movies are memorable. Great point.
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awwww the movie starts with a great scene ,,, Shawshank 🙂
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Yeah, it does. “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best thing, and no good thing ever dies.” Love the quote from the movie. Thanks for stopping by to read. Have a good week.
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I love both endings hehe but I like sad endings more because it’s more memorable, more emotinal and it’s a ground for learning from mistakes. 🙂
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You are so right. We do learn from tragedy. I think those endings stay with us for a long time. Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day.
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This is an interesting question and I think it depends. I think that if a “happy ending” doesn’t make sense or that it’s just there to leave the reader happy, then it’s not the best ending possible (if that makes sense). On the other hand, I think that a tragic ending can ruin the point of the story or can be rather disappointing. For example, if the last book I read ended on a purely negative note, I would have been disappointed, but it ended in a both a good and bad way (in my opinion) so the ending was satisfying. This is similar to the ending of the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. I think in a way the ending was tragic, but it was also happy (if you know what I’m referring to). I think the ending though (even though slightly tragic) proved the point of the movie.
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Yes, I understand. The positive message was Chief Bromden’s gathers his immense strength and courage to escape, but not before ending McMurphy’s life with dignity. Great movie. Thanks for adding your insightful comments to this post. I appreciate it. Have a great week, full of happy endings.
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You too! 🙂 Thanks for giving me something to think about.
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Thanks for saying that. Take care.
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I think people love happy endings because tragic endings happens day by day. Look to Paris, US attacks etc.
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You are right Monica. Happy endings entertain us and provide hope in a world so cold and cruel. Thanks for stopping by to comment. I hope you’re week is full of happy endings. 🙂
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Is full of exams. Need to be happy endings. I learn for that 🙂
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Good luck. Study hard. You are a smart young lady. I am sure you will do well.
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Thank you for you kind words and for the encouragement 🙂
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I’m ALL about the tragic ending. Which, you know, makes sense. My favorite novels are the ones that make you want to die.
On occasion I can really go for an UPLIFTING ending. It’s not quite a happy ending but it’s an ending that gives you the slightest bit of hope.
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Me too. I agree 100%. Uplifting endings are rewarding, too. Thanks for stopping by to read and comment. I appreciate it.
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A good comedy is much harder to write than a good tragedy but even a mediocre tragedy can touch you where as the bar is considerably higher for comedies .
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That is so true. The bar is different depending on the movies. Hey, thanks for stopping by to read and comment. I appreciate it. Have a week full of happy endings.
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ROFL , BTW a happy ending can be construed to be something totally different
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Do you have an example?
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Happy endings is a double entendre 🙂 . I dont think I should specify an example!!
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Hahaha. You got me.
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nothing ENDS until death
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True. So, our endings are sad?
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Am not yet dead
lol
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LOL I know.
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I love a happy ending, I love to leave a book or a theatre with a good sigh.
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With the realities of life, we need happy endings, too. Don’t think I don’t love them. Sometimes, I need to escape from my problems. Thanks for stopping by to read and comment. I appreciate it.
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I prefer happy endings, but for some movies and books, the only ending that makes sense is a tragic one. I’d rather see that than a happy ending be forced. (Really hard to keep the double entendres out of these statements.)
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Haha. You are too much. Happy endings give us hope and help us escape the realities of life. We need them in our lives. Thanks for stopping by.
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I love an ending that leaves me speechless that I didn’t see it coming – happy or otherwise.
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That is true. If it’s not predictable, a happy ending can be great. Shawshank Redempetion for example. Hey, thanks for stopping by.
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Shawshank is a great example!
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Yeah, and its unpredictability made it a sensational movie with a happy ending.
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One of my top five, for sure.
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Definitely in my top five.
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I am hopeless. Either happy or profoundly thoughtful but with no tragedy (Unless it’s Shakespeare – or Marlow)
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That’s okay. Everyone is different. We need happy endings to give us hope and to escape from the realities of life. Thanks for stopping by.
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tragic
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Me too. I could have guessed that from your writing.
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ha ha, but I had to change my ending to HEA ending. that killed me a bit but that’s how publishing works and sometimes you buckle to finally get your book published. long story short: I’m Greek so Tragedy wins every time. Those ending are the best, never forget them but romantic stories…I like happy ending too, like Serendipity 🙂
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We need happy endings to entertain and give us hope. I prefer the tragic endings. Shame the publishing world made you change your ending. Is it a dramatic change? Last night I watched How To Lose Guy In Ten Days. I needed that ending.
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🙂 not that dramatic, I added my own Greek tragedy twist. lol I’m referring to my book that is already published
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Oh, where can I find your book. What genre?
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amazon and every on-line bookstore. paranormal romance I will send you link on Twitter
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Thanks. You are an amazing writer. Need to read your stuff.
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humbled!
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Maybe people that see the glass half empty like tragic endings, whereas the ones that see it half full like happy endings. I like to think that I am drawn to find similarities more than find differences.
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Interesting. You mean similarities in your own life or the life of others?
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Similarities between my life, and my character, to the work of others… doe sit make sense?
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Yes, it makes perfect sense.
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Whew.. 😀 lol
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I’ve thought about this a lot because I seem to be incapable of an unhappy ending when it comes to my writing. Even though, I know life doesn’t have happy endings a great deal of the time. I am a hopeful person and leaving on a down note makes me feel that I’m leaving out the most important part, the part in me that keeps me moving even when things usually, don’t turn out the way I want them. That important part is hope. I’ve also, seen people choose positivity to the point of denial of grim reality and things written from that perspective are pleasant but not very useful. I think of myself as a realistic optimist, a joyful mourning dove. Life with no hope is cynicism and a life that denies the negative is a fairy tale. So…for myself writing a happy ending to a terrible problem is being true to who I am.
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Thank you for adding this profound comment to this post. I consider myself one of the greatest optimists. I try to always convey positivity in my posts, conversations, and my life. But my two novels? Tragic endings. I don’t know why, that is the only way I can end my writing. Odd isn’t it? “Life with no hope is cynicism and a life that denies the negative is a fairy tale.” Damn, I love that phrase. It is so real.
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Thanks for re-enforcing the fact that our words usually, lead to the truth about ourselves no matter how hard we try to shape them to the conclusion we desire. I’m just an old lady whose had a long time to wrestle with these thoughts and with the negatives vs. the positives of life. When it comes to writing, the importance of it is in its authenticity. Then others decide what use it has for them. For the artist, it is the process that is most important.
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God I love my conversations with you. The process is important. Here I am trying to find an agent for my writing, well, I make sure to enjoy this process as well. Regarding authenticity: Twain said, “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t.”
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And reality as we perceive it is usually, a combination of both. We humans are limited in our ‘knowing’ but we’re great at filling in the gaps with our imagination. lol! I very much enjoy conversing with you too. We creative types are poorly understood.:0)
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So true. Thanks for stopping by to entertain me.
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Happy Endings Belong In Fairy Tales😣
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Unfortunately, so true. Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week.
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I would prefer happy endings, both fictional and real, but then all the story has to change, and it is not possible.
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Yeah. that’s true. I would like to see more happy endings in life as well. Thanks for stopping by to contribute to this post. I appreciate it. Have a wonderful week full of happy endings.
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Thank you, and have a happy week you too!
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Thanks
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I was just talking to my friend about The Boy In The Striped Pajamas. I was torn between being incredibly sad and ring glad that the Nazi had lost his son. He didn’t have a problem killing somebody else’s child.
Happy endings for me….unbelievable. Sad endings….something I understand.
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Many people are talking about the sad endings eing realistic. That was a sad movie. Glad to hear from you.
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Happy endings all tied up in a bow.
I am a sad old git 🙂
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LOL Thanks for stopping by my friend. I hope you have a wonderful week full of happy endings.
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Me too. ONE might be nice for a start…..!
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What would you call the ending of “the call of the wild”? Happy or sad?? I have mixed feelings about it.
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Never seen it. It’s proably both. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is both. Sad because Jack Nicholson dies, but the chief does escape the asylum. Thanks for stopping by.
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Hmm. Tragic or happy? That’s a hard one. I’m a sucker for tragic endings (like your Romeo and Juliet example), but, I must admit that there’s something great in having a perfect happy ending in a book or a movie since it rarely happens in real life. That perfect happy ending can be such a helpful escape sometimes.
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As long as its not predictable a happy ending like Shawshank Redemption can be memorable. We need happy endings to give us hope and an escape from reality. ut I am with you I am a syucker for those tragic endings. Both of my novels end that way.
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Cool. I would be interested in reading your novels sometime. Do you have them available somewhere?
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Not published anywhere.
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OK. Well, I will just have to wait for when they are. 🙂
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When you decide to do the marketing of your stories let me know. Selling short stories will pave the way for you. I need to start doing them.
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I will definitely let you know. 🙂
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Oh it’s really all Looney Tunes
I love them both
It’s always the sometimes happy, sad man
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Hey, Sheldon. I understand you. We need the happy endings to inspire hope and to escape from reality. The tragic/sad endings teach us something. Thanks for stopping by. Hope you are well.
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My career choice has seen so many unhappy endings that I seek happy endings whenever realistically possible. It is a balancing force in my life.
I have to admit, though, I do enjoy when Lucy picks that football up off the ground just prior to Charlie Brown kicking it. 😀
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LOL Yeah, I can see how you witness many unhappy endings with your chice of career. Now, with your inspiring words and blog you can turn lives around and get them back on a healthy track. And poor Charlie kept falling for it. Hahaha
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Reblogged this on KCJones.
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Thanks so much. I appreciate it. Have a good one.
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Happy Endings Please! Too many bad, unhappy and tragic endings in the real world today! Good post, thanks for sharing. 🙂
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That is so true. Happy endings are necessary to escape the real world problems. Thank you for stopping by to read. Have a great day with a happy ending.
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Thank you!
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The boy in the striped pajama makes me cry every time i watch the movie. I know it is based on a book but I have never read the book, another movie based on the holocaust, the reader is another movie that makes me sad.
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The book made me cry. Never saw the Reader, Another one for my list, Thanks
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you are welcome 🙂
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Really great can post them in full now here Andrew Do you like Happy Endings? | ‘ Ace Friends News ‘
https://acefriendsnews.wordpress.com/2015/12/09/do-you-like-happy-endings/
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Yes, I do. We all need happy endings in our life to temporarily forget the harsh realities. Thanks for the reblog. I appreciate it.
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I agree with your point. Tragic endings somehow elevate good movies to great, probably because they don’t provide us viewers with the sense of closure and fulfillment that we so crave. Lest we forget, cinema is escapism in itself and we all want to escape our sad and supposedly unhappy lives by having our heroes succeed. And that’s probably where tragic endings score, leaving indelible marks on the heart.
Case in point, Chinatown. Would it be so celebrated had the ending not been what it was?
Great post again. Thanks.
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Welll said. Love your thoughts. So many movies would drop down to the status of ordinary if they didn’t have their tragic ending.
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Yeah, exactly.
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I like endings that make me turn back to the first page to re-read the book.
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Yeah, I love those too.
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I like happy endings but the harder work and effort characters need to put in to have happy ending the better, the more complicated plot the better. so happy ending yes but not predictable.
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Oh you are so write. I think Stephen KIng said we love our characters. We create them and put them through so much torture. That is what good writing is all about.
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Exactly. I think we do it because we want to tell something to reader, to learn them something, show them our own lessons we needed to go through, our own hard road to happiness, our own mistakes… our own or those we heard about those we subconsciously think we should experience… because I think that someone can more appreciate happiness of they need to work on it, try for it, put effort to achieve it, some goal we dream about. So let me quote fragment of doing I love which I think it’s so accurate.. “The narrowest path is always the holiest… so walk on bare foot for me, suffer some misery of you want my love” ~ “Judas” #DepecheMode
hugs my friend. 😊🌹
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sorry it supposed to be fragment of song… not doing… I hate typos. lol
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LOL Cool
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Wow, I said you are so “write.” I am loising my mind today. Love that. Inspired by a comment. That is cool.
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it was such pleasure to chat with you today. I will look forward to read more of your work. have a lovely night… 😊🌹
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The pleasure has been mine. As I will do with your writing. Have a lovely evening.
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I prefer the happy ending.
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Oh man…it’s true that it seems nigh impossible for epics to NOT have some degree of tragedy to their endings. Just look at LOTR–the only primary death we had to feel came at the end of the FIRST movie, when they were only facing some baddies, not, you know, an entire country’s worth. I’m coming to terms that I’ll have to do some injury to my heroes, and I don’t like it. Not one bit! But it fits the story. Sigh.
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Memorable literature and cinema usually end with some type of tragedy. Funny thing about writing; we create our characters that we love then spend the rest of the novel trying to make them miserable. Best of luck with your writing. Thank you for reading. It is appreciated.
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Thanks! I’m glad you’re sticking around. 🙂
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Thank you for saying that. So am I.
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