Fiction_L Archives SUPRISE ENDINGS!! Dates: 11/16/99,5:08 PM  through  11/22/99,7:45 PM  (30 postings) Search for: Select one or more indexes to search: 2011-current     2009-2010     2004-2008    1995-2003    (Matches from each index will be displayed separately in the results page.) Return to November 1999 thread menu   |   Fiction_L Archives Menu

FROM: "Mary Philbin" <[removed]@hotmail.com>
REC'D: 11/16/99, 5:08 PM

Hi Everyone!
I am looking for good books (or even movies) that have great suprise
endings. I have no idea if there are any lists available. I would be just as
happy with personal opinions! I am interested in any kind of book (genre
doesn't matter).
Thank You!
Mary Philbin
[removed]@hotmail.com
Great Neck Public Library
Great Neck, N.Y. 11023

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>

FROM: "Jeffrey, Denise" <[removed]@Central.tased.edu.au>
REC'D: 11/16/99, 5:53 PM

I think that Robert Goddard's books have a real twist at the end, especially
his more recent thriller titles. I'm not sure whether his earlier Edwardian
novels have the same surprise element.

Also, for clever whodunnits I would recommend 2 new titles,

River of darkness by Rennie Airth; and

A Place of execurion by Val McDermid
Denise

Denise Jeffrey,
Selection Librarian,
State Library of Tasmania,
91 Murray St.,
Hobart 7000

Phone 61 3 6233 7049
Fax 61 3 62337506
Email [removed]@central.tased.edu.au
<A HREF="http://www.tased.edu.au/library/readalik/index.htm">http://www.tased.edu.au/library/readalik/index.htm</A>

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Karen Traynor [[removed]@midyork.lib.ny.us]
> Sent: Tuesday, 16 November 1999 22:43
> [removed]@maillist.nslsilus.org
> Subject: Re: SUPRISE ENDINGS!!
>
> This is a juvenile book, but "Walk Two Moons" by Sharon Creech has a VERY
> suprise ending.
>
> For adults, "The Sabbathday River" by Jean Hanff Korelitz has a surprise
> ending in terms of "who-dun-it"
>
> Karen Traynor
> Sullivan Free Library
> 519 McDonnell Street
> Chittenango, NY 13037
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mary Philbin <[removed]@hotmail.com>
> To: [removed]@maillist.nslsilus.org <[removed]@maillist.nslsilus.org>
> Date: Tuesday, November 16, 1999 6:11 PM
> Subject: SUPRISE ENDINGS!!
>
>
> >Hi Everyone!
> > I am looking for good books (or even movies) that have great suprise
> >endings. I have no idea if there are any lists available. I would be just
> as
> >happy with personal opinions! I am interested in any kind of book (genre
> >doesn't matter).
> > Thank You!
> > Mary Philbin
> > [removed]@hotmail.com
> > Great Neck Public Library
> > Great Neck, N.Y. 11023
> >
> >______________________________________________________
> >Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>

FROM: "Michalik" <[removed]@lynchburg.net>
REC'D: 11/16/99, 6:09 PM

There was, for me, quite a shock at the end of Ruth Rendell's "Sight for
Sore Eyes."

Candice Michalik
Lynchburg Public Library
Lynchburg, VA
[removed]@lynchburg.net

----- Original Message -----
From: Mary Philbin <[removed]@hotmail.com>
To: <[removed]@maillist.nslsilus.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 1999 6:11 PM
Subject: SUPRISE ENDINGS!!


> Hi Everyone!
> I am looking for good books (or even movies) that have great suprise
> endings. I have no idea if there are any lists available. I would be just
as
> happy with personal opinions! I am interested in any kind of book (genre
> doesn't matter).
> Thank You!
> Mary Philbin
> [removed]@hotmail.com
> Great Neck Public Library
> Great Neck, N.Y. 11023
>
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>
>

FROM: <[removed]@aol.com>
REC'D: 11/16/99, 6:42 PM

Hi Mary! It's Karen from your Reader's Advisory class.

Off the top of my head, I can think of The Club Dumas (the "illustrated"
mystery book I talked about in the beginning of the semester, about the rare
book hunter searching for the book on satanic lore); the movie Sixth Sense
and Fight Club; the excellent Agatha Christie mysteries The Murder of Roger
Ackroyd and Murder on the Orient Express; Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier; The
Westing Game; Twelve Monkeys (movie)....

and for a book that is just plain surprising, I'd try The Martian Chronicles
by Ray Bradbury. It's a series of interrelated stories about earth men going
to and settling on Mars for the first time in history--much less science
fictiony than it sounds, really more sociological/psychological. It's a
fabulous book, a fast read. Just my opinion, of course, I don't think it's
really what you're asking for.

If you're compiling a list, I'd love to see it.

Karen Kramer
[removed]@aol.com

In a message dated 11/16/99 3:19:35 PM Pacific Standard Time,
[removed]@hotmail.com writes:

> I am looking for good books (or even movies) that have great suprise
> endings. I have no idea if there are any lists available. I would be just
as
>
> happy with personal opinions! I am interested in any kind of book (genre
> doesn't matter).

FROM: "The Singletarys" <[removed]@lcc.net>
REC'D: 11/16/99, 9:14 PM

Sandra Brown's Exclusive has a surprise and then another surprise.

Virginia Singletary
Stella Hill Memorial Library
Alto Tx

At 03:11 PM 11/16/1999 PST, you wrote:
>Hi Everyone!
> I am looking for good books (or even movies) that have great suprise
>endings. I have no idea if there are any lists available. I would be just as
>happy with personal opinions! I am interested in any kind of book (genre
>doesn't matter).
> Thank You!
> Mary Philbin
> [removed]@hotmail.com
> Great Neck Public Library
> Great Neck, N.Y. 11023
>
>______________________________________________________
>Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>
>
>

FROM: "Madeline Guzman" <[removed]@capaccess.org>
REC'D: 11/16/99, 10:10 PM

The ending of a book that surprised me the most was that of
...

The Woman and the Ape by Peter Hoeg

Madeline

Madeline T. [removed]@hotmail.com
Rockville, [removed]@capaccess.org
<A HREF="http://www.strictlyconcrete.com">http://www.strictlyconcrete.com<[removed]@erols.com

FROM: <[removed]@aol.com>
REC'D: 11/17/99, 6:29 AM

Well, the ending of Hannibal certainly surprised me!!

FROM: "Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center" <[removed]@darkstar.rsa.lib.il.us>
REC'D: 11/17/99, 8:43 AM

The Snake by John Godey

LaRae Muselman, Outreach Librarian
Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center
845 Brenkman Drive
Pekin, IL 61554
[removed]@darkstar.rsa.lib.il.us
<A HREF="http://www.rsa.lib.il.us/~mitbc/heart.htm">http://www.rsa.lib.il.us/~mitbc/heart.htm</A>

FROM: "Kelly Joyce" <[removed]@japl.lib.in.us>
REC'D: 11/17/99, 10:06 AM

MOVIES WITH GREAT SURPRISE ENDINGS:

Birdy
Usual Suspects
Seven

At 03:11 PM 11/16/99 PST, you wrote:
>Hi Everyone!
> I am looking for good books (or even movies) that have great suprise
>endings. I have no idea if there are any lists available. I would be just as
>happy with personal opinions! I am interested in any kind of book (genre
>doesn't matter).
> Thank You!
> Mary Philbin
> [removed]@hotmail.com
> Great Neck Public Library
> Great Neck, N.Y. 11023
>
>______________________________________________________
>Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>
>

FROM: "Nancy Eggert" <[removed]@chipublib.org>
REC'D: 11/17/99, 10:43 AM

A lot of Ruth Rendell's books have surprise endings (not all of them
pleasant, either).

Nancy Eggert
Northtown Branch
Chicago Public Library

FROM: <[removed]@infoave.net>
REC'D: 11/17/99, 11:16 AM

I vote for the new Thomas Harris, Hannibal. Yikes.

Debbie Spear
Greenville (SC) County Library

FROM: "Joanna Hazelden" <[removed]@chipublib.org>
REC'D: 11/17/99, 11:29 AM

I always thought that "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" by Agatha Christie
had a surprise ending.

I also thought that the movies "Sixth Sense" and "Fight Club" had a
very different ending from what I expected.

Joanna Hazelden

FROM: "Paula Davino" <[removed]@kentnet.dtcc.edu>
REC'D: 11/17/99, 1:23 PM

Many years ago I read Sidney Sheldon's The Other Side of Midnight. I
remember being quite shocked by it's graphic nature (I was young then) but
I was even more shocked by the ending. I would never have guessed it.
This started me reading Sidney Sheldon because I knew I could count on
being surprised. Over the years he has become more tame. Unless I'm just
not so easily shocked anymore. ;-)

Paula Davino
Assistant Director
Dover Public Library
Dover, Delaware
[removed]@kentnet.dtcc.edu


On Tue, 16 Nov 1999, Mary Philbin wrote:

> Hi Everyone!
> I am looking for good books (or even movies) that have great suprise
> endings. I have no idea if there are any lists available. I would be just as
> happy with personal opinions! I am interested in any kind of book (genre
> doesn't matter).
> Thank You!
> Mary Philbin
> [removed]@hotmail.com
> Great Neck Public Library
> Great Neck, N.Y. 11023
>
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>
>

FROM: "Kathy Loucks" <[removed]@cml.lib.oh.us>
REC'D: 11/17/99, 1:39 PM

O. Henry was particularly noted for his short stories with surprise endings. Agatha Christie's MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD is infamous for its surprise ending that broke the conventions of mystery writing, and her TEN LITTLE INDIANS (AND THEN THERE WERE NONE) also has a surprise ending.

FROM: "Lisa Price" <[removed]@MtLaurel.Lib.NJ.US>
REC'D: 11/17/99, 1:58 PM

These are admittedly vague, but the details escape me at the moment. Sorry I
couldn't come up with the rest, but perhaps these will jog your (or someone's)
memory.
1) The Other -- book and movie, but I can't remember the author
2) the movie with Kevin Costner and Susan Sarandon, set in DC, and it's believed
there is a Russian spy lurking about.
Lisa Price
Mount Laurel (NJ) Library
All opinions are entirely my own.

Mary Philbin wrote:

> Hi Everyone!
> I am looking for good books (or even movies) that have great suprise
> endings. I have no idea if there are any lists available. I would be just as
> happy with personal opinions! I am interested in any kind of book (genre
> doesn't matter).
> Thank You!
> Mary Philbin
> [removed]@hotmail.com
> Great Neck Public Library
> Great Neck, N.Y. 11023
>
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>

FROM: <[removed]@lib.cnib.ca>
REC'D: 11/17/99, 3:41 PM

The movie with Costner was called No way out and it wasn't Susan Sarandon, it was Sean Young.

Nicole Patterson
CNIB Library
Toronto, ON

>>> [removed]@MtLaurel.Lib.NJ.US" 17/11/1999 4:24:09 pm >>>
These are admittedly vague, but the details escape me at the moment. Sorry I
couldn't come up with the rest, but perhaps these will jog your (or someone's)
memory.
1) The Other -- book and movie, but I can't remember the author
2) the movie with Kevin Costner and Susan Sarandon, set in DC, and it's
believed
there is a Russian spy lurking about.
Lisa Price
Mount Laurel (NJ) Library
All opinions are entirely my own.

Mary Philbin wrote:

> Hi Everyone!
> I am looking for good books (or even movies) that have great suprise
> endings. I have no idea if there are any lists available. I would be just as
> happy with personal opinions! I am interested in any kind of book (genre
> doesn't matter).
> Thank You!
> Mary Philbin
> [removed]@hotmail.com
> Great Neck Public Library
> Great Neck, N.Y. 11023
>
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>

FROM: "Pam Koehler" <[removed]@wcic.org>
REC'D: 11/17/99, 5:54 PM

The book that surprised me the most was Primal Fear, but then maybe I was too
naive.
Pam
[removed]@wcic.org

FROM: "Margaret Elwood" <[removed]@yahoo.com>
REC'D: 11/17/99, 6:36 PM

Several of Thomas H. Cook's including The Chatham
School Affair, Breakheart Hill and Evidence of Blood
have endings that surprised me.

Also, Judas Child by Carol O'Connell

Margaret
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Bid and sell for free at <A HREF="http://auctions.yahoo.com">http://auctions.yahoo.com</A>

FROM: "Lisa Price" <[removed]@MtLaurel.Lib.NJ.US>
REC'D: 11/17/99, 7:48 PM

My apologies, it was Sean Young. But in checking that I also discovered that it was based on a
1948 novel called "The Big Clock."
Lisa

[removed]@lib.cnib.ca wrote:

> The movie with Costner was called No way out and it wasn't Susan Sarandon, it was Sean Young.
>
> Nicole Patterson
> CNIB Library
> Toronto, ON
>
> >>> [removed]@MtLaurel.Lib.NJ.US" 17/11/1999 4:24:09 pm >>>
> These are admittedly vague, but the details escape me at the moment. Sorry I
> couldn't come up with the rest, but perhaps these will jog your (or someone's)
> memory.
> 1) The Other -- book and movie, but I can't remember the author
> 2) the movie with Kevin Costner and Susan Sarandon, set in DC, and it's
> believed
> there is a Russian spy lurking about.
> Lisa Price
> Mount Laurel (NJ) Library
> All opinions are entirely my own.
>
> Mary Philbin wrote:
>
> > Hi Everyone!
> > I am looking for good books (or even movies) that have great suprise
> > endings. I have no idea if there are any lists available. I would be just as
> > happy with personal opinions! I am interested in any kind of book (genre
> > doesn't matter).
> > Thank You!
> > Mary Philbin
> > [removed]@hotmail.com
> > Great Neck Public Library
> > Great Neck, N.Y. 11023
> >
> > ______________________________________________________
> > Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>
>

FROM: "Anne Kabel" <[removed]@metronet.lib.mi.us>
REC'D: 11/18/99, 8:45 AM

I was surprised at the ending of Judas Goat by Carol O'Connell.

Anne Kabel
Adult Reading Librarian
Baldwin Public Library
300 W. Merrill
P.O. Box 3002
Birmingham MI 48012-3002
248- 647-1700

FROM: "Anne Baker Jones" <[removed]@nslsilus.ORG>
REC'D: 11/18/99, 10:16 AM

These books have surprises at the end --atleast I didn't see them coming:
The Coffin Dancer by Jeffrey Deaver
The Last Day by Glenn Kleier
High Crimes by Joseph Finder
Kolymsky Heights by Lionel Davidson
The List of 7 by Mark Frost


Anne Baker Jones
Vernon Area Public Library
Lincolnshire, IL 60069

-----Original Message-----
From: Mary Philbin <[removed]@hotmail.com>
To: [removed]@maillist.nslsilus.org <[removed]@maillist.nslsilus.org>
Date: Tuesday, November 16, 1999 5:05 PM
Subject: SUPRISE ENDINGS!!


>Hi Everyone!
> I am looking for good books (or even movies) that have great suprise
>endings. I have no idea if there are any lists available. I would be just
as
>happy with personal opinions! I am interested in any kind of book (genre
>doesn't matter).
> Thank You!
> Mary Philbin
> [removed]@hotmail.com
> Great Neck Public Library
> Great Neck, N.Y. 11023
>
>______________________________________________________
>Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>

FROM: "Pamela M Weinberg" <[removed]@chipublib.org>
REC'D: 11/18/99, 2:24 PM

The Giant's House by Elizabeth McCracken surprised me, and was rather a
hurried-up ending - but the book was great!

xx
x~x
`

FROM: "Gretchen Bridges" <[removed]@rand.lcl.lib.ne.us>
REC'D: 11/18/99, 5:47 PM

On Tue, 16 Nov 1999, Mary Philbin wrote:

Hi Mary - One of my all time favorite adventure/suspense books with a
real punch of an ending is "The Day After Tomorrow" by Alan Folsom.
Customers/friends have told me later they really liked it. BTW - It
starts off on a zinger note as well. A man sitting in a cafe in France
(?) looks across the table and sees the man he thinks murdered his father.

Gretchen Bridges
Adult Services
Gere Library
Lincoln, NE
"Late, great and worth the wait!"

> Hi Everyone!
> I am looking for good books (or even movies) that have great suprise
> endings. I have no idea if there are any lists available. I would be just as
> happy with personal opinions! I am interested in any kind of book (genre
> doesn't matter).
> Thank You!
> Mary Philbin
> [removed]@hotmail.com
> Great Neck Public Library
> Great Neck, N.Y. 11023
>
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>
>

FROM: "Carrie FARROW" <[removed]@rochester.lib.mn.us>
REC'D: 11/18/99, 6:05 PM

I would recommend the book Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton.


Hi Everyone!
> I am looking for good books (or even movies) that have great suprise
> endings. I have no idea if there are any lists available. I would be just as
> happy with personal opinions! I am interested in any kind of book (genre
> doesn't matter).
> Thank You!
> Mary Philbin
> [removed]@hotmail.com
> Great Neck Public Library
> Great Neck, N.Y. 11023
>

FROM: "Karla Bowman" <[removed]@hotmail.com>
REC'D: 11/18/99, 7:44 PM

I was shocked by the ending to Almost Paradise by Susan Isaacs. A real
tearjerker.

Karla Bowman
Euclid Public Library
Euclid OH

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>

FROM: "Cindy Lunghofer" <[removed]@yahoo.com>
REC'D: 11/19/99, 8:17 AM

My book discussion group had a kick with _Bootlegger's
Daughter_ by Margaret Maron. Those who didn't read
the last 30 pages were really red faced when everyone
started talking about the REAL killer!

=====
Cindy Lunghofer
Adult Services Librarian
East Providence Public Library
East Providence, RI

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Bid and sell for free at <A HREF="http://auctions.yahoo.com">http://auctions.yahoo.com</A>

FROM: "Mary Philbin" <[removed]@hotmail.com>
REC'D: 11/19/99, 9:25 AM

I just wanted to thank everyone VERY MUCH for the contributions in my
search for suprise endings! All of the responses were great! I got over 30
responses and now I am going to compile a list. If anyone thinks of more,
please feel free to respond!
Thanks again and have a great holiday.
Mary Philbin


______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>

FROM: "Thelma Stone" <[removed]@pub-lib.ci.fort-worth.tx.us>
REC'D: 11/19/99, 9:26 AM

Anne Perry. A Breach of Promise.

FROM: "Mary Philbin" <[removed]@hotmail.com>
REC'D: 11/22/99, 10:53 AM

Hi Everyone!
I just wanted to post the results of my request for surprise endings of
books and movies. Here they are (in no particular order):
SPECIFIC BOOKS
1. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
2. The Sabbath Day River by Jean Hanff Korelitz
3. River of Darkness by Renee Airth
4. A Place of Execurion by Val McDermid
5. Club Dumas- Arturo Perez-Reverte
6. Rebecca-Daphne DuMaurier
7. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
8. Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
9. Exclusive by Sandra Brown
10. The Woman and the Ape by Peter Hoeg
11. Hannibal by Thomas Harris
11. The Snake by John Godey
12. Presumed Innocent by Scott
13. Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less by Jeffrey Archer
14. O. Henry
15. Other Side of Midnight by Sidney Sheldon
16. The Other by Thomas Tryon
17. Primal Fear by William Diehl
18. Judas Child by Carol O'Connell
19. Judas Goat by by Carol O'Connell
20. If Ever I return Pretty Peggy-Go by Sharyn McCrumb
21. The Hangmans Beautiful Daughter by Sharyn McCrumb
22. The Coffin Dancer by Jeffrey Deaver
23. The Last Day by Glen Kleier
24. High Crimes by Joseph Finder
25. Kolymsky Heights by Lionel Davidson
26. The List of 7 by Mark Frost
27. The Giants House by Elizabeth McCracken
28. The Day after Tomorrow by Alan Folsom
29. Almost Paradise by Susan Isaacs
30. The Bootlegger's Daughter by Margaret Maron
31. A Breach of Promise by Anne Perry

GENERAL AUTHORS
1. Robert Goddard
2. Agatha Christie
3. Ruth Rendell
4. Thomas H. Cook

A FEW MOVIES
1. The sixth Sense
2. Fight Club
3. Twelve Monkeys
4. Birdy
5. The Usual Suspects
6. Seven
7. No Way Out
8. Primal fear

Thanks again to everyone who contributed! Happy Holidays!

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>

FROM: "Carol Corsetti" <[removed]@sympatico.ca>
REC'D: 11/22/99, 7:45 PM

M. Richlier....Barney's Version ...Again some people in our book group got
caught when they didn't read the whole thing.

Mary Philbin wrote:

> I just wanted to thank everyone VERY MUCH for the contributions in my
> search for suprise endings! All of the responses were great! I got over 30
> responses and now I am going to compile a list. If anyone thinks of more,
> please feel free to respond!
> Thanks again and have a great holiday.
> Mary Philbin
>
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at <A HREF="http://www.hotmail.com">http://www.hotmail.com</A>

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