Chat Between Chapters: Epilogues!

Posted May 25, 2014 by Rose C. in Chat Between Chapters, Featured Posts / 15 Comments

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 What is your take on epilogues?

Julie Review Avatar Julie:

I think epilogues are a strange idea. I mean, if the last chapter of the book appropriately wraps up the plot and character arcs, then why does a book need an epilogue? It really is like another chapter anyway. I have seen some epilogues where the book is from the girl’s POV but the epilogue is a quick chapter from the boy’s POV. Those are cool and I can see how they serve a purpose. But please dear authors don’t end a book (especially if it is not part of a series) on an open-ended note and then include an epilogue to make us feel better. It doesn’t work.

Rose review avatar Rose:

I don’t understand how epilogues exist in books that are a part of a series. I mean, I always thought that epilogues were conclusions at the end of a book that basically tied everything up and sometimes even provided a little commentary from the main character.  I could see the LAST book in series having an epilogue, although seriously, if you couldn’t come to a complete conclusion after several installments, shame on you author. I really dislike super long epilogues. I dislike epilogues that are just a quick pitch by the author so sum everything up. I really didn’t like the epilogue from Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. I think the epilogue was used properly, but I just didn’t like it. The Hunger Games Trilogy was a YA series and I did not really like how it went into letting the reader know what happened in the future for the main characters. It felt awkward.  I think epilogues work well for stand-alone and mystery novels, but otherwise, why not just finish writing the book? 



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Posted May 25, 2014 by Rose C. in Chat Between Chapters, Featured Posts / 15 Comments

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15 responses to “Chat Between Chapters: Epilogues!

  1. I think I’m ambivalent on epilogues. I like my books to fully resolve – I’m actually not a big fan of open ended books – so as long as I feel complete or close-to complete resolution at the end, I’m pretty happy whether it’s in a epilogue or not. Thanks for sharing this at Booknificent Thursday! Looking forward to seeing you again this week!
    Tina
    Tina at Mommynificent recently posted…One Bookworm Leads to Another – Booknificent Thursday Link Up Party #48

    • Rose

      While I do not mind Open ending books, I totally get some people’s desire for a complete resolution at the end of a book. Epilogues usually can provide that.

  2. I totally agree about the Mockingjay epilogue. I was already kinda eh about the book, but the epilogue was just so awkward. I liked having closure, but it shouldn’t have been that….unsettling.

    • Rose

      I strongly dislike any epilogue that makes things even more confusing. YUCK. and NO.

    • Rose

      April! I couldn’t agree more! I am usually a big fan of open ended ending. 🙂

  3. I think a lot of authors deliberately leave questions unanswered so that they can have an epilogue, and I’m sorry, but I think that’s just silly. Like Julie said, it’s really just giving the last chapter a different name. I agree that POV swaps can be interesting, but is that really an epilogue? B/c most of the time it’s just covering information that we already have from a different perspective . . .

    Basically . . . I don’t see the point.
    Jessica @ Rabid Reads recently posted…Review: The Good, the Bad, and the Undead