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Okay, so I suggested we read a book with a really ambiguous ending for my club in Portland
It caused a 45-minute argument where two people almost left, and now I know to always check the Goodreads reviews for 'unsatisfying ending' first. Has your group ever completely fractured over an author's choice?
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ryanf662h agoTop Commenter
Oh man, nothing brings out people's inner literary critic like a vague ending and some cheap wine. We had a group almost dissolve because half of us thought the author was being profound and the other half just wanted to know what happened to the cat. So now I just stick to thrillers with neat little bows on the end and save the "art" for my solo reading.
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the_dylan12d ago
Man, book clubs are a minefield sometimes! My group nearly split over a character's sudden death that felt totally unearned. We saved it by agreeing to pick books with clearer genre expectations next time, like sticking to mysteries that promise a solution. It helped to have a quick vote on the vibe we wanted before choosing. Now we avoid those "love it or hate it" endings unless everyone is up for a fight.
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angelafisher12d ago
Our group had a huge fight last year over a book with a weird, open ending. We spent twenty minutes just yelling about whether it was deep or lazy, lol. Your idea to vote on the vibe first is smart, @the_dylan. We started using a simple rule now: if a book summary says "thought-provoking" or "ambiguous," we put it to a full group vote and need everyone to agree. It saves so much drama and keeps the club fun instead of feeling like homework.
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