Copyright 2019
“Memorable Last Lines” by Joan Y. Edwards
As writers you’ve heard many times, “Have a good hook. Have an opening that hooks the reader into staying for the whole show. In other words, have an opener that gets readers to keep reading your book until the very end.
Today I’d like to focus on the last words of your book, the message you want to resonate in the hearts of your readers for a really long time. The one you want them to keep hearing over and over. I’ve put the spotlight on the last lines of books and a few movies. Film makers choose many books to make into movies.
You want your readers to define the closing a good one…a satisfactory conclusion. And even more than that, you want the last words of your book to resonate in the ears and hearts of your readers for their lifetime. You want them to be memorable. They will be memorable if they are meaningful to your readers.
I found many links online to what others believe are the most memorable last lines of books and movies. I shared them in the resources section below.
It seems difficult to fathom anyone being able to read every book or to see all movies. However, if you’re like me, you love to read and you love to watch good movies. You read the books or watch the movies that meet a need of yours. You have your opinions about the books you’ve read or movies you’ve seen.
I believe that like the beginning of books, the closing of books can also hook readers. I listed stories I’ve read or would like to read because of the impact, the closing had on me. Some are serious and others are humorous, but all are meaningful to me. These closing lines hooked me.
Please share your favorite last lines of books or movies with me.
30 Memorable Last Lines
- “The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.” –George Orwell, Animal Farm (1945)
- “It was a fine cry—loud and long—but it had no bottom and it had no top, just circles and circles of sorrow.” –Toni Morrison, Sula (1973)
- “But I reckon I got to light out for the Territory ahead of the rest, because Aunt Sally she’s going to adopt me and civilize me and I can’t stand it. I been there before.” –Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885)
- “Maybe I will go to Paris. Who knows? But I’ll sure as hell never go back to Texas again.” –James Crumley, The Final Country (2001)
- “Lastly, she pictured to herself how this same little sister of hers would, in the after-time, be herself a grown woman; and how she would keep, through all her riper years, the simple and loving heart of her childhood; and how she would gather about her other little children, and make their eyes bright and eager with many a strange tale, perhaps even with the dream of Wonderland of long ago; and how she would feel with all their simple sorrows, and find a pleasure in all their simple joys, remembering her own child-life, and the happy summer days. –Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865)
- “P.S. Sorry I forgot to give you the mayonnaise.”
–Richard Brautigan, Trout Fishing in America (1967) - “Columbus too thought he was a flop, probably, when they sent him back in chains. Which didn’t prove there was no America.” –Saul Bellow, The Adventures of Augie March (1953)
- “We shall never be again as we were!” –Henry James, The Wings of the Dove (1902)
- “Tell me how free I am.” –Richard Powers, Prisoner’s Dilemma (1988)
- “But wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on the top of the Forest, a little boy and his Bear will always be playing.” – A. A. Milne, The House at Pooh Corner (1928)
- “Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.” – J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye (1951)
- I taker her hand, squeezing it tightly, and we walk on. -Monika Schröder My Brothers Shadow (2011)
- “But I knew that Catherine had kissed me because she trusted me, and that made me happy then but now I am sad because by the time my eyes close each night I suspect that as usual I have been fooling myself, that she, too, is in her grave.” –William T. Vollmann, You Bright and Risen Angels (1987)
- “Vaya con Dios, my darklin’, and remember: vote early and vote often, don’t take any wooden nickels, and”—by now I was rolling about helplessly on the spare room floor, scrunched up around my throbbing pain and bawling like a baby— “always leave ’em laughin’ as you say good-bye!” –Robert Coover, The Public Burning (1977)
- “I never saw any of them again—except the cops. No way has yet been invented to say goodbye to them. –Raymond Chandler, The Long Goodbye (1953)
- “He heard the ring of steel against steel as a far door clanged shut. –Richard Wright, Native Son (1940)
- “I ran with the wind blowing in my face, and a smile as wide as the valley of Panjsher on my lips. I ran.” – Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner (2003)
- Jerry: “But don’t you understand, Osgood? Oh… I’m a man!”
Osgood Fielding: “Well, nobody’s perfect.” – Some Like It Hot Film adapted by director Billy Wilder and comedy writer, I.A.L. Diamond from Fanfare of Love, a story by Michael Logan. - “I’m so glad to be at home again” – L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)
- Jim: “Where you headed, cowboy?”
Bart: “Nowhere special.”
Jim: “Nowhere special? I always wanted to go there.”
Bart: “Come on.” -Mel Brooks, Andrew Bergman, Richard Pryor, Norman Steinberg, and Al Uger, and was based on Andrew Bergman’s story and draft, Blazing Saddles. - “But the miracle of it all is, when push comes to shove, we can be just as tough as hickory. It mostly burns at first. After a while it starts to feel better.” -Joyce Moyer Hostetter, Blue
- E.T.: “I’ll be right here.” – Steven Spielberg, E.T. the Extraterrestrial
- Louis: “Looking good, Billy Ray!”
Billy Ray: “Feeling good, Louis!” – Timothy Harris, Herschel Weingrod, Trading Places - “But the sky was bright, and he somehow felt he was headed in the right direction.” – E.B. White, Stuart Little (1934)
- “Tomorrow, I’ll think of some way to get him back. After all, tomorrow is another day.” – Margaret Mitchell, Gone With The Wind (1936)
- “And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!” – Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol (1843)
- “A LAST NOTE FROM YOUR NARRATOR. I am haunted by humans.”- Markus Zusak, The Book Thief (2006)
- “The scar had not pained Harry for nineteen years. All was well.” – J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
- “But that is the beginning of a new story—the story of the gradual renewal of a man, the story of his gradual regeneration, of his passing from one world into another, of his initiation into a new unknown life. That might be the subject of a new story, but our present story is ended.” –Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment (1866; trans. Constance Garnett)
- “From here on in I rag nobody.” –Mark Harris, Bang the Drum Slowly (1956)
Resources
- American Book Review. “100 Best Last Lines from Novels:”
http://americanbookreview.org/PDF/100_Best_Last_Lines_from_Novels.pdf - Crazy Cat. “QUIZ: Can you name the children’s books by last line?”
https://www.sporcle.com/games/CrazyCat/Children_Last_Line - Emily Temple. “Famous Last Words: Our 20 Favorite Final Lines in Literature:”
http://flavorwire.com/167171/famous-last-words-our-20-favorite-final-lines-in-literature - Filmsite.com. “Great Last Lines (links to different decades):” http://www.filmsite.org/greatlastlines9.html
- Hollywood.com. “Best Last Lines in Movies:” http://www.hollywood.com/movies/best-last-lines-in-movies-60223212/#/
- Huffington Post. “Amazing Last Lines from Literature That Will Make You Want to Read the Whole book:” https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/07/last-line-book_n_4733190.html
- Jessica Soffer. Publishers Weekly. “The 10 Best Book Endings:” https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/tip-sheet/article/56760-the-10-best-book-endings.html
- Jonathan Russell Clark. “The Art of the Final Sentence:” https://themillions.com/2015/02/the-art-of-the-final-sentence.html
- Lauren Passell. Barnes and Noble.com. “The Best Last Lines in Literature:” https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/the-best-last-lines-in-literature/
- Martin Chilton. “The 30 Best Closing Lines in Films:” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2016/04/28/the-best-closing-lines-in-films/
- Pajiba.com. The 70 Greatest Last Film Lines of the Modern Era:” http://www.pajiba.com/guides/the-70-greatest-last-film-lines-of-the-modern-era.php
- Robert McCrum. “10 Best Closing Lines in Books” https://www.theguardian.com/culture/gallery/2012/jul/29/10-best-closing-lines-books
- Shortlist.com. “50 Best Final Lines in Movies:”
https://www.shortlist.com/entertainment/films/50-best-final-lines-in-movies/82044 - Stylist.co.uk.”The Best 100 Closing Lines from Books:” https://www.stylist.co.uk/books/the-best-100-closing-lines-from-books/123681
Posts I did on First Lines
- Joan Y. Edwards. “First Lines from Non-Fiction Best Sellers” https://www.joanyedwards.com/first-lines-from-non-fiction-best-sellers/
- Joan Y. Edwards. “Memorable First Lines” https://www.joanyedwards.com/memorable-first-lines/
Giveaway Completed
I rejoice and am thankful for all of you who read my blog.
Do something fun today.
What? You’re not subscribed to my blog? Receive free gifts. Subscribe now. Join 700,000 visitors. You’ll be sent an email to confirm your subscription. Thank you.
Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards, Author
Copyright © 2018 Joan Y. Edwards
Flip Flap Floodle Will this little duck’s song save him from Mr. Fox?
Joan’s Elder Care Guide A guide to help caregivers and elders find solutions.
Yes, ending lines are very important. Thanks for all the great examples and the reminder.
Dear Linda,
Thank you for writing. You’re welcome. I’m glad you believe these are great examples of good endings!
Never Give Up
Joan
Just wanted to say that you picked a great topic there on Last Lines.
I thought it was very shareable and read every one of them.
Kudos!
Stephanie
Dear Stephanie,
Thank you very much for writing. I’m glad that you believe I picked a great topic. I’m honored that you read each one. I hope you do share with others. What are your favorite ending lines?
Never Give Up
Joan
I wrote a last line the other day (not that Half Truths is finished, mind you!) and I can’t tell if it’s too sappy or not. It is the theme of my book though…I’l have to send it by my CP’s and see what they say! Thanks for the post. Always good ideas here.
Dear Carol,
Thank you for writing. I’m glad your final lines hint to the theme of your book. That’s a good sign, I think. It will be good to hear what you CPs say about your closing. Thank you for saying, “Always good ideas here.” That’s a great closing line!
Never Give Up
Joan
Joan, how do you like the closing of “Guardian Angel”?
The baby gazed at him with eyes the same brown as his, but the slight fuzz on the top of her head was golden, like her mother’s. He comfortably held her on the palm of his right hand, and lifted her to his lips, to kiss the soft little face. “Welcome, darling Florence,” he whispered.
Dear Dr. Bob,
Thank you for writing. Thanks for sharing the closing lines of “Guardian Angel.” I think the lines are heartwarming and fitting for your story. Will it hook people who haven’t read your story? Most people love to hold babies…both men and women…especially Mothers and Fathers. So I would think these last lines would hook many people. I’d like to know “Welcome – where?” But That’s a good thing. When people have unanswered questions, they may want to read the story to find out the answers. Good job.
Never Give Up
Joan
Hi, Joany,
Enjoyed your memorable last lines, some of these are my favorites as well. In my book, ‘Blacklisted in America’ I said, “amazedly he always seemed to pull out, promising that this will never happen again, until the third of March 2005 when Jake was no longer in pain”. Now, I’m going to read your memorable first lines. As always, thanks!
Violette
Dear Violette,
Thank you for writing. I am glad that you liked my memorable last lines. That made me smile. Thanks for sharing the last lines of your book, “Blacklisted in America.” I believe they will hook readers.
Never Give Up
Joan
I think I work harder on the closing line of my books than I do the first line! I want to do just as you said–make an impact on the reader and have a satisfying conclusion. Thanks for these lines. I’m going to go back and select a book to read just because of the ending!!
JQ Rose
Dear J. Q. Rose,
It is so good to hear from you. I’m sure the fact that you work hard on your last lines to make an impact on the reader and provide a satisfying conclusion that it pays off big time for your readers. You’re welcome for the lines. I’m glad that you’re planning to read a book because of its closing lines.
Do something fun
Never Give Up
Joan
I rejoice and am thankful for all of you who read my blog.
A special thanks to the following wonderful six people who left comments between February 2, 2018 and midnight, Thursday, February 8, 2018:
Linda Andersen
Stephanie Barko
Carol Federlin Baldwin
Dr. Bob Rich
Violette Early
J.Q. Rose
Random.org chose number 3, therefore Carol Federlin Baldwin, you won the hardback copy of Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell. Congratulations, Carol. I will send it in U.S. mail.
Never Give Up
Joan
Don’t know if this was the last line, but I love Scarlet’# “tomorrow is another day,” (paraphrasing here) from “Gone with the Wind.” I work uber-hard on my opener, so by the time I get to the end, it feels easier to create LOL.
Dear Cat,
Thank you very much for stopping by and leaving a comment. Scarlett’s last line from Gone with the Wind is a great one. I like how writing your closing is easier because you’ve worked so hard on your opening line. Good luck with your writing.
Never Give Up
Joan