“A novel is like a symphony in that its closing movement echoes and resounds with all that has gone before. Toward the close of a novel, the writer brings back — directly or in the form of his characters recollections — images, characters, events, and intellectual motifs encountered earlier. Unexpected connections begin to surface; hidden causes become plain; life becomes, however briefly and unstably, organized; the universe reveals itself, if only for the moment, as inexorably moral; the outcome of the various characters’ actions is at least manifest; and we see the responsibility of free will.” – John Gardner (From The Art Of Fiction).
John Gardner was an American novelist, essayist, literary critic and university professor. He is perhaps most noted for his Grendel novel , a retelling of the Beowulf myth from the monster’s point of view. Other notable novels include The Sunlight Diaries, October Light, and his craft book The Art of Fiction.
I love the quote and the ideas he expresses. I think he’s absolutely right. Endings are hard to do. It takes patience and planning to bring off a powerful finale.
Thanks for the quote, Ingrid. It’s nice to have you back!
wow. How beautifully he captures the notion of the ending being so much more than it seems.
Ingrid, thank you for offering this quote. Gardner’s The Art of Fiction is a perennial favorite with both colleagues and students of the craft, and I’m pleased to see that his work’s still appreciated out there in the commercial publishing world. And I applaud your questioning & questing spirit (even if the Hero’s Journey is a paternalistic relic, it still works…), apparent in your recent posts.
Finally, I’m curious about your current “I’m Reading” books: How did you happen upon them? Will you be offering reviews soon?
L
Hi Laurie,
My list of books “I’m Reading” comes from a lot of sources. Most from suggestions by friends and fellow writers, some I hear about at conferences from agents and editors, or from following lots of kidlit peeps on twitter. I also live right near a great independent book store and if I ask the lovely ladies in the children’s book section about a particular theme or topic I’m interested in, then they can point me in the right direction. I’m also developing a list of craft books to share with everyone here on the blog. Look for that soon! Thanks for checking out my blog!