How do you like books to end? Presuming there is never to be a sequel, after reading a good book and getting to the last pages, do you prefer everything with the characters to be neatly buttoned up or do you prefer to think and discuss about what could happen next?
My own preference is that a book end with what happens next up to my and other readers' imaginations. I don't need the author to do my thinking for me, nor do I want him/her to. I like a bit of mystery and intrigue to keep the book with me after I have closed it for the last time. Along with that, I have no problem with characters showing up briefly or casually in a book and then there is no mention of them again. I don't need nor do I want every character to be developed in appearance, motivation, and ambition. Like people we meet in life, some are minor characters, others dominant ones. I certainly follow these rules in my own writing and welcome discussion with readers on how the main characters would go on after the final page as well as why some characters are more developed in the book than others.
There are authors and readers who feel details can bog down a book, others who can't get enough. Somewhat along these same lines, I read an author's remark that nothing other than the verb "said" should be used when a character is quoted. I think that is a bit extreme since it fails to express a character's emotion when speaking. I like to think of it in terms of when my mom would beckon me to her when I was behaving. I wouldn't write, "Come over here right now,," my mother said. I think "demanded, ordered, shouted, whispered, etc." do a much better job of showing her state of mind.
As always, I do not impose my own writing style on others. That's the beauty of books, both for writers and readers. We're not right or wrong, just different.
Stay well, everyone, and happy writing and reading!
