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bleedingheartlibertarian 1
I see the first one on the list is Eugenides' The Marriage Plot. I haven't read that one, but the ending to Middlesex is also terrible.
Posted by bleedingheartlibertarian on February 29, 2012 at 1:25 PM
2
Cryptnomico_
Posted by dirge on February 29, 2012 at 1:30 PM
3
I just finished reading "Foundation" by Asimov. (Spoilers for a 61 year old book!) The last chapter has two characters talking about the military strategy for a coming war, ultimately deciding to do nothing and just wait it out. Then there's a footnote saying they did, in fact, do nothing. The end.
Posted by jath on February 29, 2012 at 1:30 PM
quix 4
I'm torn between being stunned by the lack of Margaret Atwood on the list and wanting to give them slack in the face of the herculean task of narrowing Atwood novels with disappointing endings to just one.
Posted by quix on February 29, 2012 at 1:33 PM
5
Reading Ethan Frome made me want to ride a sled right into a tree.
Posted by yourmomma123456789 on February 29, 2012 at 1:34 PM
6
Meh. Putting Infinite Jest on the list because it was really long and didn't end with a car-chase or explosion or life-affirming revelation or some such nonsense was bullshit. How are you supposed to wrap up a novel like that, fercrissakes?
Posted by Mr. Happy Sunshine on February 29, 2012 at 1:41 PM
Andy 7
This list is not very well put together. The writer is just complaining about books not wrapping up nicely in a tight little bow. I'm sorry these books weren't written by Dan Brown. Also, how did she want Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to end?
Posted by Andy on February 29, 2012 at 2:11 PM
thatsnotright 8
To be fair, the sled trope was pretty original. For what it's worth, sledding can be very dangerous. According to the Journal of Trauma Research, 45,000 accidents severe enough to require admission to and emergency room occur each year. Hundreds actually die.
Posted by thatsnotright on February 29, 2012 at 2:16 PM
Unregistered User 9
3/4 of the books I've read by Tom Robbins. It's like he just gets tired of writing them by the last few chapters, throws his hands up in the air and says "eh, whatever".
Posted by Unregistered User on February 29, 2012 at 2:29 PM
Geni 10
Lonesome Dove. Love the book, hate the last few chapters. The book just keels over and dies with Gus. I've always wondered if something really bad happened to McMurtry while he was finishing the book; it gets so depressing and pointless.
Posted by Geni on February 29, 2012 at 2:31 PM
11
I have heard these described as "Tantric novels." Things build and build, and when you get to where there should be a climax... nothing happens.
Posted by TechBear on February 29, 2012 at 2:39 PM
disintegrator 12
@2, ditto for all of Stephenson's books. I love them, but motherfucker just can't write an ending.
Posted by disintegrator http://bottlevariation.blogspot.com on February 29, 2012 at 2:42 PM
13
The inclusion of Everything is Illuminated seems weird. I haven't read the book, but the identified flaw seems as though it takes place relatively early in the book - or at least, not at the end.
Posted by minderbender on February 29, 2012 at 2:43 PM
14
1Q84.
Posted by j.lee on February 29, 2012 at 2:43 PM
More, I Say! 15
Ethan Frome was an assigned summer reading novel when I was in 8th grade. What a depressing way to read away the summer! Of all the books they could've chosen! I always hated Ethan Frome.
Posted by More, I Say! on February 29, 2012 at 2:53 PM
sikandro 16
Just about any Dickens novel. Or just about any Victorian novel, for that matter. Finished reading Pickwick Papers the other night, loved it, could barely get through the last 50 pages.
Posted by sikandro on February 29, 2012 at 3:01 PM
OuterCow 17
@3 You clearly understood none of what the great Hari Seldon had to teach us about humanity.
Posted by OuterCow on February 29, 2012 at 3:12 PM
18
richard russo's empire falls has one of the shittiest endings i've ever read

it's such a shame because the writing is so enjoyable
Posted by Swearengen on February 29, 2012 at 3:38 PM
19
@2 i would amend that to be any novel by Neal Stephenson.
Posted by rudedog on February 29, 2012 at 4:12 PM
slaggy 20
@ #17 - Thank you.

Also, THE MILL ON THE FLOSS has the worst ending in the history of endings.
Posted by slaggy http://www.videowatchdog.com on February 29, 2012 at 5:00 PM

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