Imagine this: you’ve read 481,103 words across three books that many people do not dare to even open. You’ve traveled thousands of miles over 5 kingdoms, with a very limited lunch and a questionable companion. You’ve laughed and cried and thrown the book across the room (a true story, but one for another time). You’ve finally reached the end of this epic venture, only to see the main character you’ve traveled so far with…sail away into the unknown.
You don’t even know if Frodo gets a Happily Ever After.
Which is why the book I would change the ending of is the Return of the King by JRR Tolkien.
It’s too inconclusive, ok.
And I know you guys are going to say “but Joanna! You just published a post saying authors should keep people guessing. Make up your mind!”.
All I can say is that this is too passionate a subject of much rating on my part for me to let the sensible, reviewer part of my brain take control.
It’s too inconclusive.
It’s not good mysterious. It’s are-you-telling-me-that-there’s-ambiguity-about-how-the-main-character’s-story-ends-what-were-you-thinking-WHY-DOESN’T-HE-GET-A-HAPPILY-EVER-AFTER kind of mysterious.
If you were to tell me that Frodo sailed away because it was too painful to stay in Middle Earth any more, well…
actually there’s nothing I can say to that. Its a valid point.
BUT STILL
it’s too inconclusive. I have too many questions.
Like:
- Did they get there?
- What did they do there?
- Where is ‘there’ anyway?
- How is Frodo ok with leaving almost everyone he’s ever loved and anyone he might love in the future?
- How is he ok with leaving his REALLY NICE HOUSE?
- Does going to the Undying Lands mean they’re immortal?
- Or do they die in peace surrounded by trees and elves and stuff?
- Do they have potatoes in the Undying Lands?
- Why the boat?
- Why anything?
- WHY DOESN’T SAM GO WITH THEM?
It’s too inconclusive.
I have too many questions.
That’s not how it should have ended…
not much I can do about it though…
but still…
ellipsis…
Once Upon a Bibliophile 
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