Do you enjoy reading books even with "tragic" endings?

[Stewie007]

So if you read a book, say an Action Suspense novel or something of the likes, do you like tragic or otherwise unfortunate endings? Basically, sad endings where the protagonist survives, but is unable to make the heroic save.

Please be honest. I'm not interested in wise cracks. Although I know some surely may end up here, hehe. I can entertain that notion....

[vohu manah]

Lol I don't judge a whole story by how it ends, so I guess I'll have to say yes here :P
...although because I like to read stories, watch movies or television series while I eat, I tend to avoid stories about survival and disaster lol when I don't eat, I don't care ..so if a story catches me I will read it ^^ and I will cry till my eyes create double rainbows <3

[Stewie007]

Thanks for the input.

And guys... if you're going to vote, at least maybe tell me why you voted that way. Its an info gathering poll.

[little_scrapper]

I voted yes because I always root for the bad guys. Good guys win, everyone lives happily ever after... phht. Thats as cliche as the starbucks across the street from the starbucks thats right next to the other starbucks.

[G.Foyle]

I voted yes, because I enjoy reading the book, I just don't enjoy the ending if it's tragic. I like when the ending gives hope that further good things will happen. Often the main story arc ends well, but further events are pictured and they are sadder than the culminating event. One example would be True Grit by Charles Portis. Even though the good guys win in the end, it comes at a great cost, and it's a very bitter success.

[[XC] Oj101]

I voted yes. Things don't always work out as planned in the real world either.

[Stewie007]

I voted yes, because I enjoy reading the book, I just don't enjoy the ending if it's tragic. I like when the ending gives hope that further good things will happen. Often the main story arc ends well, but further events are pictured and they are sadder than the culminating event. One example would be True Grit by Charles Portis. Even though the good guys win in the end, it comes at a great cost, and it's a very bitter success.

I can understand what you mean. Tragic ends with at least some sort of light at the end of the tunnel. Although, I gather that the sad ending would have the desired result. Although I wouldn't want to make folks angry at me.... just angry at the good guys for losing or something of the likes. hehe.

[STEvil]

I cant recall a book that i've read that had an ending where the subject didnt complete their objective. A tragic ending is one thing, but not completing the intended objective kind of seems to miss the point of the end of a story..


That said I cant vote yes or no given that I haven't (that I can recall) read a book (more technically a series maybe) that didnt end the book/series... However, I lean towards saying no if I knew beforehand that the "hero" useless.

[Stewie007]

Most plot lines have multiple objectives and sub-plots. I will make no mention of point of view, protagonist, or antagonist. Sometimes the Protagonist, for example, is the anti-hero.

[STEvil]

Of course, but if the story is not resolved by the end of the book (or series) .. well, its kind of pointless isnt it?

[NEOAethyr]

I don't read books anymore, haven't since I was little.
Last books I read were the hobbit and the 1st lord of the rings book I think, not actually sure.
Now I just read manga, which doesn't really even count as reading 'cause it's on the dr seuss lv.

[Stewie007]

Of course, but if the story is not resolved by the end of the book (or series) .. well, its kind of pointless isnt it?

Oh, I understand what you mean now. Resolution and ending are two different things to me. Catastrophic consequences aside, I understand the mechanics. I am being vague on purpose, but I don't plan on leaving loose ends. I hate novels like that. I'm really just looking for whether or not tragic/catastrophic endings turn people off. hehe

[3lfk1ng]

I wouldn't mind a story where the Zombies win. I'll vote yes.

[Flanman]

Thats as cliche as the starbucks across the street from the starbucks thats right next to the other starbucks.

lol one of the best thing's i've read in a while

Oh, I understand what you mean now. Resolution and ending are two different things to me. Catastrophic consequences aside, I understand the mechanics. I am being vague on purpose, but I don't plan on leaving loose ends. I hate novels like that. I'm really just looking for whether or not tragic/catastrophic endings turn people off. hehe

kind of like how bruce willis off's himself at the end of sin city?

[Stewie007]

kind of like how bruce willis off's himself at the end of sin city?

Never saw Sin City.... hehehe

However, I guess you could say that.... just "a bit" more severe than that... ehehe

[G.Foyle]

kind of like how bruce willis off's himself at the end of sin city?

Methinks that's a good ending; young woman lives, old man dies - fair trade.
Maybe if you consider that Roark goes unpunished - but the reader/viewer knows from other sources that he doesn't really. Bishop Roark dies, yellow bastard dies, and senator Roark is left without a son or grandchildren.

[thebanik]

A great book with tragic ending works infact better for me (ofcourse it depends on the book as well), normal novels with happy ending you read and forget about them, but a Novel with a tragic ending makes you keep thinking even after it ends.

[masterg]

i read marion zimmer bradley books and some do end very tragically, i like them because the emotion that she portrays feels very real when she does it. more so then happily ever after

[Stewie007]

I don't mind "happily ever after" endings, but I think that a good sense of realism is an order too. There are some positive conclusions to the sub-plot, or at least will be positive as I further develop them. Its like an earthquake that collapses the building that you are inside. There isn't anything that you can do about it, and I wanted to visit upon readers a feeling of ultimate helplessness and sadness. I don't generally let anybody read any excerpt but the select few test subjects seemed to like my idea surrounding the conclusion.

Since 11 people said Yes, I am getting the impression that so long as the story lines tie up appropriately, catastrophic conclusions are acceptable to most readers.

I just remember the first time I heard Adagio for Strings..... It was a choral version that Homeworld actually used (which I heard previous to that). It represents the Agnus Dei which is basically the final part of mass in the Catholic Church. I actually listened to it while writing part of the end.

You can look it up if you haven't heard the choral version. Its Agnus Dei by Samuel Barber, which was a rearrangement of Adagio for Strings done in 1967.