Blog Response #4
The endings of Chinese Handcuffs, Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, Running Loose, and Stotan! leave the reader with some unanswered questions. Chris Crutcher assumes the reader knows the ending, but he doesn't come out and say it. You take control and write the overview of one more chapter to these books. If there was one last chapter, what would it be about. How would you tie up loose ends, if you were the author?
In my book Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, Chris Crutcher does a good job answering all my questions during the epilogue. If the epilogue was not present I would be super confused and have lots of questions about what happens to the characters. The ending left me feeling happy and content. If I was able to write another chapter I would write 5 or so years ahead. This way I would know if everyone stays close or not. I would want the characters to get together in the same town. So then it would let readers know if Sarah and Eric stay friends and if Eric and Jody stay together. I would want to see what everyone is doing for a career also. I personally think Sarah would go to that group home in Kansas and love that idea. I think she would want to start one of her own. This chapter would give readers even more closure than the epilogue.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree! I was left with many questions but then I read the epilogue, and it made a lot more sense. That is also a good idea writing 5 years ahead to know what happen with everyone and if they stayed friends or never talked again.
DeleteThat is cool that Chris Crutcher leaves your book with a epilogue to give you unanswered questions to your books ending and where all the characters ended up. My book does not have a epilogue and leaves you will many unanswered questions as the book ends before the main character even finishes highschool. A epilogue for Running Loose would of be helpful to see where the main characters end up, and how there highschool ends and if they go to college.
DeleteThis is exactly what I was thinking would be a better ending.
DeleteI agree that the epilogue helped end the story, but I think that it left more questions for me about what was going to happen next. I think Chris Crutcher's goal in writing his endings are that the reader gets to write their own ending to the story. In my response I wrote about how I envision the ending to be in a lighthearted sense like you would see at the end of a movie. I also wanted to see Sarah and Eric still being friends.
DeleteI totally agree with if there was no epilogue we would all want to know if Eric got into school or what happened to Sarah and honestly he should write another book but in Sarah's eyes
DeleteIm glad you wouldve went 5 years in the future because I also wouldve felt confiused without the epoilouge. I wouldve had Sarah and dale get together in your chapter because I wanted to see more from Dale and I think they wouldve been a good couple. buut Im glad you liked the ending because I did not
Deletei agree as well if anything the future is the most interesting. In my opinion the ending felt rushed, and we don't get much closer of all that just happened and how things are now better. If they still get along, and are friends what are there lives like now.
DeleteI agree! A chapter in 5 years or so in future would be very interesting to read and I think it would be beneficial. I am glad you liked the ending, in my opinion it was very rushed!
DeleteI agree, I am very interested in how Eric and Jody are doing after a couple years.
DeleteIn the book Chinse Handcuffs, Chris Crutcher gives us just enough information to call the end of the book an ending. If I were Chris I would've gone into way greater detail on what the future holds for Dillon and Jennifer, along with what happened to Stacy and her kid Ryan. Chris does tell us what happened to T.B which was one of my greatest concerns reaching the end of the book, but we never find out what ever happens to Jennifer's mother or the unborn child. It also would have been nice to hear a little more about the triathlon Dillon took part in at the beginning of the book, because at the end of the book Chris implements another triathlon with very little to almost nothing leading into it.
ReplyDeletei like how this is put, and i would love to see more of the triathlon as it was one of the main reasons why i chose this book. If they added a whole chapter dedicated to that even at the end I think this would be a amazing novel.
DeleteI agree that we did not get enough information for the end of the book. I wish we could have found out what happens to the unborn child and see what Jen's sister grew up like.
DeleteJen made he mother abort/get ride of the baby since she failed to see her daughters in trouble let along the baby. and yeah it would have been nice to hear about the triathlon.
DeleteI agree I wish Chris Crutcher would put more detail in Dillion's triathlon because after it didn't say much about it and it would be awesome to hear if he won his division again.
DeleteI did not read this book but now that I have read your questions, I am intrigued. Was the triathlon a big part of what was going on? Also is that all the book talks about is dillion and Stacy?
ReplyDeleteI had many questions while reading this and could not believe the book was over. The epilogue did a very good job answering most of my questions on what happens after they move away and graduate high school. I am still wondering if a couple years ahead Sarah's mom feels bad and reaches out now that Virgil is out of the picture. I would also want to write more about Carver he is the hero to this whole book with his unexpected twist at the end, and how he went on with life after being everyone's hero basically. My extra chapter would just be more closure for the reader on the events that had happened towards the end.
ReplyDeleteSounds like there was a lot of question's that were never answered. That always the worst part about the end of a book. But I hope you enjoyed the book and had a amazing time reading it.
DeleteI would like that ending too. I want her to regret leaving and build a relationship with Sarah. That would make me super happy because reading that Sarah's mom didn't want to come back broke my heart for her. I think this would make a lot of readers happy so it would be great to include. I didn't even think about her coming back so I love that you thought about it Gabbi.
DeleteI think a neat ending would be if Sarah's mom came back to be apart of Sarah's life and Sarah pushed her away. Giving her mom a taste of her own medicine.
DeleteI would hope that Sarahs mom woulld reach out because I wanted more closure with her. We barely got any information about that part of the story and that left me unsettled wanting more. I also wish there was more about Carver because his herioc part was short lived.
DeleteI did not expect the ending that happened, it happened fast and unexpected. I thought It was going to be Dale or her mom that was going to stop Virgil not carver and when reading you fell like he just made up his reasoning so quickly and then its over. it's a plot twist for shure.
DeleteTrue I never thought about it, but I would be very interested in how Sarah's mom feels about how Sarah got adopted.
DeleteI have many questions I want answered after the ending of running loose. But if I could have one more chapter added I would want it to be about how Louie, Boomer, and Carter life is about after high school. Like does carter end up going to college to play football like he always dreamed off. Does boomer stay working for his old man or does maybe boomer change and become a whole new person. Does Louie ever get actually caught for stealing Becky's plaque. That's would I add in if there could be one more chapter
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way Jude. I feel like Chris Crutcher really should've went in depth with the three main football characters at the end because he talked about them so much at the start of the story. It would be nice to see how they do after graduation.
DeleteJude I would also like to know how there life is after high school. I don't think cater would go to college but he is good at football so its definitely a possibility.
DeleteIf i had to add more to the end of the book Stotan I would like to include what ends up happening to Jeff. Crutcher leaves the reader on a cliff hangar with Jeff still in the hospital so i would like to know how he ends up. I also want to know if Walker finally broke up with Devnee since he"s been talking about it the whole book and the final sentence in the book was about how he was gonna break it off.
ReplyDeleteDude cliffhangers at the end of the book are the worst. Sounds like your book left you with a lot of unanswered question's. But sounds like you got a pretty good idea of stuff you would like to see happen if they could add another chapter
DeleteThat is unfortunate your book leaves off that way.I can't believe Crutcher left your book that way. I felt like maybe my book had one of the best endings closure wise. I had a couple of wonders about what would happen to the characters, but not as much as you. My epilogue gave me the much needed information about what is going to happen and all of the characters future plans.
DeleteSorry to hear your book left you with unanswered questions. I hate it when a good book ends off like that and I'm still confused on why authors have leave you hanging. maybe the internet will guide you to your answer.
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DeleteAt the end of Running Loose we see Louie what to go back to Becky's memorial and try to break it again. If I could add one more chapter I would tell the readers about what the peoples plan are for after high school like if Carter and Boomer are playing football anywhere and if Louie still decided to go to college now that Becky died.
ReplyDeleteI agree about Becky's memorial about his trying to break it again and see the principal's reaction now that this has happened a second time, and wonder if Louie would just come forward and say he did it this time just to have Jasper even more mad at him, and wouldn't care anyway as he is about to graduate. I also wonder where Louie will decide to go to college and if he would play with Boomer, because maybe they could begin to become friends after everything that has happened.
DeleteI think it would be cool to see what way his life was heading after high school. Like did he finally get out of town or is he staying with his family and working till he can afford a house. I also like the idea of seeing where carter and boomer go.
Deleteyeah because one death changes a lot its not good to end like that. it would be nice to see if he go to collage of if he just gives up
DeleteIn the book Running Loose we don't really get a ending but we get to see the majority of the end of Louie's senior year. Louie spends the end of his senior year running track; his race is the two mile and he is very fast. Though Louie can not practice with the team, or ride to the meets with the team Louie still makes the most of his track season and ends up beating Washington in the end, in the 2 mile. If I could create the end of Running Loose I would show what the principal does again when Louie takes Becky's tombstone's from the school again as the principal would be furious again, and learn about where Louie is going to go to college and if he will continue to play football or not and hopefully for a better coach then the one he had.
ReplyDeleteI also would like to see principal Jasper's face after Louie takes the memorial again he would defiantly be so mad. I would also like to see if Louie goes to college because he doesn't like school and I think Becky was a driving force for him to go to school.
DeleteBecky was definitely a driving force for Louie to go to college, and now with her dead, it would be nice to know what he decides to do. I hope he does do anything to the memorial, just leave it alone and let it be a way to remember her instead of continuously acting up.
DeleteAt the end of Running Loose Louie goes to break the memorial plaque for Becky again. If I was to add another chapter to this book I would have it so he decided to not break it. It's better than nothing even though he feels angry and wronged by Jasper. It would also be cool to see him go to college and walk onto the football team Carter and Boomer attend and kind of keep things going as kind of friends. I could see this happening because Boomer was being pretty cool to Louie at the end. Also, I could see Carter convincing Louie to continue playing with him.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your ending, I hate how Louie goes back to break the plaque as I feel he takes a step beck from the person he turned into. I would also love to see Louie walk onto a football team , or even a track team would really cool for him!
DeleteI like how Louie breaks the plaque because the plaque did not stand for what Becky believed in it was what jasper believed in. He stuck up for Becky even though it seemed wrong.
DeleteIn Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes the author does a decent job of wrapping it up. The epilogue helps at the end because it gives the reader a little bit of closure. If it was up to me I would finish the book with a Sandlot type of ending showing where everyone ended up in life given that this tragedy they went through was basically at the beginning of most of their lives.
ReplyDeleteI agree i think that the end of the book ends things well and the only other reason for another chapter would be a follow up in the future
DeleteI do think ending it like how sandlot ended it would be a great way to finish it. I am interested in if Sarah ever goes to the home, or if Eric and Jody stay together, or what happens to Carver.
DeleteI agree with you. I think that the end of the book should have been more like a movie or the sandlot where the reader gets to see the characters in the future and look at where they are at. However, I think that is kind of what Chris Crutcher wants the reader to do. I think that he wants them to write their own ending.
DeleteI totally agree and see why because there could be so more in the ending but Chris Crutcher pretty much wraps it up for us and i can tell some people would like some more closure in the story with all these people like what did Sarah end up doing and did Eric go into anything for English because he liked CAT so much? Then again I agree with Bree because Crutcher probably did want us the reader to make it up ourselves.
DeleteI agree with epilogue it helped me understand a lot more and gave me a lot of closure. I also think a Sandlot type of ending would've been cool!
DeleteAt the end of Chinese handcuffs Dillion says he is finally done worrying about Preston's death and indicates that he wants to move on with his life focus. If I were to write another chapter for the end of the book I would have it go into the future a few years, maybe Dillion and Jen went to college and Stacey still stayed in touch with Dillion and Jen. TB would end up in jail and he would be left to rot there, Jen's mom would have her baby and her younger sister was around to help out, they would live in a nice home but this time I think her mom would stay single. I think Jen and Dillion would still only be friends and just keep in touch maybe even live together. Coach would reach out and I think they would both help the basketball team. Overall, they would eventually have the peaceful lives they deserved and finally be happy.
ReplyDeleteAt the end off the book the police do show up to T.B's new office so, there is a very high possibility he goes away for quit sometime. I do believe Dillon is going to stay in touch with Stacy because Ryan is the only thing he has left of his brother Preston.
DeleteI agree with T.B. in jail and there for a life sentence. Also, her mom staying single but do give up the baby for adoption just because it messed with Jennifier a lot. I do like the fact of them being in college and Stacey still in Dillion's life to see Ryan because of it being Preston's child. Overall, a nice chapter.
DeleteIn one last chapter of Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes I think we would get a dramatic closing from each character. I imagine Sarah would grow up and run a nonprofit with Dale for children who experience child abuse. I think Eric and Jody would get married and live happily ever after. Mark would learn that it ok to be himself and end up being gay. Ms. Lemry would become the vice principal of the school after Mautz got fired and shunned from his church. Virgil would be miserable in prison and end up dying sue to gang related activity. Ellerby would start a car detailing business and by highly successful. Carver would move with Eric's mom to the Bahamas where they would live out the rest of their lives and his mom would write books. Eric and Jody would obviously visit all the time. And that would be the end of the book. The End!
ReplyDeleteEven though I haven't read this book from what I have read about it and heard, this seems like a very suitable ending, and I feel that everyone would end up getting what they deserved.
DeleteYes!! Mark would definitely turn out gay. I honestly could see a lot of this stuff happen which I think is pretty funny. I like your ending much better than what actually happened. Thanks for writing out what you thought would happen.
DeleteThe ending of Sarah Byrnes wraps things up well and there is not a lot left to wonder about. If i were to write another chapter to Staying fat for sarah byrnes it would be in the future when Carver gets out of prison and makes his way back to Erics family. Eric would accept him as his dad and the end of the book would be his moms wedding. At the wedding you would see all of erics friends including Dale and how they end up after a couple years. I feel like another chapter would take away from the ending and drag the story on.
ReplyDeleteI agree, another chapter is really not needed, Chris Crutcher ended it off good and I can't complain. I do however feel like a cliffhanger would have been good because it would have got more readers wondering about the book and if Chris will ever publish a sequel.
DeleteI agree that the book didn't need an extra chapter as it ended of pretty well. though seeing the future of Eric and all the other characters of the story would have also been a good way to end the book.
DeleteChris Crutcher didn't leave me with any unanswered questions. I thought he tied the book up just fine. But if I had to write another chapter to the book, I would write it about Virgil Byrnes and how he grew up to be the crude father that he is today. I'd have to imagine that Virgil grew up with a tough and mean father, coming from the fact that he was. This last chapter would summarize Virgil's life and his hardships.
ReplyDeleteI think that would be very interesting to have a chapter about Sarah's life when she was younger and about Virgil or the Byrnes family
DeleteI never thought about it but having a flashback to Virgil's life or Sarah's life would be interesting.
DeleteI truly think that is a great way to end the book because you are giving the reader a true background behind this evil man and maybe help the reader understand that he really wasn't a bad guy, just grew up in a harsh family.
DeleteIf I was the writer of staying fat for Sarah Byrnes i would Definity would not add a chapter but if i have to, i would add to the end telling us everything in the future and how things turn out, In the end with Eric, Dale, Sarha, Mark. state swim? Sarah's job? but Truthfully there fake lives, as charters in a book who cares how their lives end so what.
ReplyDeleteMax why would you not want add a ending chapter to the book? I believe if the book doesn't end with a good ending for the reader to be satisfied I do not think the author is doing their job in writing.
DeleteI understand what your saying Max but if the book ended poorly you wouldnt have enjoyed it as much as you did
DeleteI understand what you are saying but I think that you need to have more of an open mind towards the book and what could happen.
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ReplyDeletei agree i think the ending was satisfying and would have felt dragged on if Crutcher kept the book going.
DeleteI feel this would be a great way to end your book. It can give closer to anyone who wanted more from the ending. I really want to know what the ending is and how good it is for you to feel like it doesn't need more.
DeleteYa I liked the ending too it was actually pretty good I don't think that they needed to add much more. We all pretty much knew what will end up happening.
DeleteWhen I finished Staying Fat I was not confused and had no questions. That was mainly because I didn't realize I was done. With all the extra stuff at the end and me not paying attention I just kept on reading. After I finished the epilogue which wrapped everything up very nicely. I don't think it needs an extra chapter, but a second little epilogue where Sarah goes to the home in Kansas I think would be a good ending.
ReplyDeleteI think I would rather have a book with no questions at the end because then you are not constantly wondering what happens. Lets say another book dose not come out then your questions may never get answers.
DeleteIn the story staying fat for Sarah Byrnes, Sarah stays with Mrs. Lemry and gets her high school diploma and still feels the need to get away from this town and away from her father. Sarah will be making her way to south to start fresh with a high school degree. While Eric, Elderby and Jodie will be attending the same college in the fall, Eric will being going for journalism, Elderby wants to get into politics and Jodie wants to take part in the medical field. Eric's stepdad is finally free from jail, erics mother and carver are planning to get married in the next year and Eric cant be more excited.
ReplyDeleteIn Chinese Handcuffs it does a pretty good job answering questions that have been brought up by the book. But there is one question i have and that is what happens to jen, if i was writing the book i would have chapter at the end for jen and i think i would say that she ran away, maybe to a different town and would start a new life. Trying to get away for her past i think this would be good for jen if she started over and try to leave her past problems in this town i know it would be hard for her but i think that she could over come those problems.
ReplyDeleteRealistically if Jen were to run away, Dillon is coming with because towards the end of the book, the connection between the two was getting very strong and Dillon Knows way too much to let her just disappear. I do support the idea of them running away because Dillon already suggested they run away to Canada.
DeleteThat would be interesting to see you right a new life about this chapter. sounds like her passed is something she cant get rid of.
DeleteI think that getting away from her past would be good for Jen but I think that Dillion should be in her life because they had such a good friendship and I think they rely on each other.
Deleteouuuu i have not read this book but after this it seems really intriguing to read even if they added this chapter to the end or not.
DeleteI feel that Jen would not run away. In the epilogue we learn that Jen gets a little better and becomes really good friends with Stacy
Deletei think it would be cool if he would have either made a second book on there lives after word or even if he would have just explained there lives after everything ended.
DeleteIf I had one more chapter that I could right myself It would talk place following Louie joining the track team. I would have Louie running in a track meet with the first meet of the year running against Washington and Bommer plus some other random kid but the gun fires and they all talk off with Louie int the 1 lane Washington in the 2 and boomer in the 3 and right before the end boomer trips Washington to win the race. After the race Louie gets into a fight with boomer and Louie knocks boomer out and lets out all his anger putting boomer in the hospital. And thats how I would tie up loose ends.
ReplyDeleteI think Louie acting that way would ruin his character Brayden. Louie is a mature kid, who stands up for the right thing and I feel if he knocked boomer out to get back at him, then his character would be ruined. This would create a very dramatic ending though!
DeleteI can never see Louie acting like this, but it very well could happen if boomer said something to Louie about Becky.
DeleteIn Chinese Handcuffs, Chris Crutcher does a decent job at answering any lasting questions. Though there are still a few questions that I wish he had answered. I wish he had given us a peek into the future to see what happens to Jen and Dillon. I especially want to know how she does recovering from her trauma and if she forgives Dillon. Also do him and Stacy stay close. If I were to write one last chapter, I would have it be about mainly Jen and Dillon and how they grew from their experiences and how they overcame their challenges.
ReplyDeleteI also had many questions at the end of my book. I also wanted to know about what happened to the main characters as well. So, it sounds like Chris Crutcher did this more than once. Which is annoying.
DeleteI agree, I wish there was more detail into what happened to Jen
DeleteIn Staying Fat For Sarah Brynes, I wouldve redone most of the ending. I wouldve had Sarahs mom come back with her from Reno and go through with the court to put Virgil away. That wouldve been such a powerful ending to this book. I wouldve also had Sarah and Dale start dating because I think they couldve connected in ways that they couldnt with other. Because of their truma and experineces in life with their dads. I also wouldve talked more about Jody and Erics relationship because we didnt get much of that at the end. I wanted to know so much more!
ReplyDeleteI agree that it would have been nice to expand on Jody and Eric's relationship as it seems to only be barley mentioned towards the end. Also Virgil being put away by Sarah's mom testifying would have been a great ending for the story.
DeleteIn the book Stotan if I had to add one more chapter to the book. I would have Walker breaking up with his girlfriend and he starts dating Elaine. Because deep down he really likes her. I would also include what ends up happing to Jeff. It leaves us on such a cliffhanger I wish I could know what ends up happing to him. My last chapter would add a lot more closure for the reader so it ends good.
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Deleteyes indeed i think they would be great together they have a nice bond and they both have great humor.
DeleteYeah, I agree that Walker ending things with Devnee and going out with Elaine would be a great ending to this book.
DeleteIt would be nice to have some closure at the end of this book because it does just kind of leave you with no idea what is going to happen with Jeff or what is going to happen with Walker and Devnee.
Deletei think walker should finally make up his mind for one girl. also knowing what happens to jeff would end this book perfectly.
DeleteIf I had to add another chapter to the end of my book I would add a chapter about all of the boys after their first year away from each other at college. They said that they have been inseparable since they have all been in swim together and they don't know what's gonna happen when their last year of swim is over so it would be interesting to see what theirs lives would be like without each other.
ReplyDeleteI read Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes and I would have the last chapter be a glimpse into the future. Saying what happened to everyone and where everyone went and if people got married or if they moved or died or something like that. A lot of the characters mentioned through out the story were not mentioned at the end and that kind of upset me. So I would just like to hear what happened to everyone.
ReplyDeleteI read Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes and I would have made the final chapter a reunion after 5 years. It would give us the future jobs and relationships of the cast along with giving closure on any possible loose ends. Many character who were mentioned in the story seemed to vanish towards the end of the book so I would want to see what becomes of them.
ReplyDeleteI like that ending just because it fit in with the story.
Deleteif i were to write a new final chapter i would just keep it simple and explain how Jen and dillion finished high school together and what happened to the friend group and what happened with dawn. did Jen go back to her mother even with the abortion. or did she just take dawn away and live with dillion and his family. and did dillion get his family back together sort off with his sister.
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DeleteI agree I think it would be interesting to see what happens with Jennifer and Dillion, and if they stayed friends or something more. I was also wondering if TB would come back since he is the father of Jennifers mom's baby.
i was reading STOTAN and if i was an author, i would add another chapter about. focusing on a kind of epilogue that shows where the characters end up years down the road id love to see how their stotan experiences shaped their lives, their successes, and challenges they overcame. it would be cool to see the bonds they formed during their intense training carry into their adult lives, maybe even bringing them back together for a reunion to reflect on the impact of their highschool days.
ReplyDeleteI agree that adding an epilogue describing each of the characters in the future would be interesting to read about.
DeleteI think that would be pretty interesting to learn where all the characters end up in their futures.
DeleteI would also like to see if there friendship is still close if they go to collage or if they grow apart from each other
DeleteIn the book Chinese Handcuffs I would make the finale chapter about Dillion and Jen becoming a couple and Jennifier going to therapy to talk to Dr. Newcomb. After a while Jennifier goes to T.B.'s court with her mom and he gets a sentenced for life. Jennifier and her mom become closer and soon her mom goes to therapy with her. Dillon's ankle heals and is now on his feet again and still does the triathlons were Jennifier plays basketball and Dillion is there to help her and the team.
ReplyDeletei agree i wish the chris would have added more about what happened to them rather than just leaving us hanging where he did.
DeleteA common theme is that Crutcher seems to like cliffhangers and i 1000% agree with the fact of Dillon and his triathlon but i do not know if seeing Dillon and Jen becoming a couple would be the best if there was a lot more extra chapters or even a second book that would be better because i would rather see Jen grow into her best self to where she would be comfortable with that.
DeleteI really did want to see if Jenn and Dillon became a couple and to see what happened, or if they decided to move somewhere with Dawn. It would be nice to know if they got together, but also seeing Jenn become comfortable with being in a relationship after everything that has happened to her
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ReplyDeleteAt the end of the book Stotan Chris Crutcher never explains what happened to Jeff. I was really curious as to whether Jeff was going to be ok or not. If I was to add to the ending, I would write about what happened to Jeff. I would write about whether he survived or not and if he was ever able to meet back up with his friends. Another thing I would write to add to the end is another chapter about what each of the characters is doing in the future as the ending right now has a lot of loose ends.
ReplyDeletei think that he should have said if jeff survived or not because i hate being left wondering if someone dies.
Deleteif I had to add another chapter to Stotan I would talk about what happens to jeff because there is so much about him that is unanswered. I would also talk about what happens with walker and Devnee because walker finally decided to stay with Devnee. the last thing I would add would be a little bit about each of the characters about 6 months in the future to show what happened with everyone.
ReplyDeleteI also want to see if Jeff gets better but I don't think he will
Deletei hope jeff pulls through and get better and i also thought there was some unanswered questions.
DeleteI read Stotan and at the end of the book was bad and if I could change anything I would add the little date Walker had with his girlfriend to see how Walker makes things better between the two and also want to see where everyone goes to collage and see if there friendship is still close when they go to collage. I also want to know if Jeff would make it past his illness even though I don't think he will but it would still be nice to add to the book.
ReplyDeleteThe ending of the book of Staying Fat for Sarah should be fully a happy ending in my opinion. My reasoning for that is because Both main characters Sarah and Eric got a decent ending but not Carver. He is in jail for not killing Vigil Byrnes but defending himself against him. All he wanted to do was just turn him in but he didn't have the option to so he had to defend himself. I respect him a lot due to his wisdom and advice he gives to Eric throughout the story and (not to many people) his heroism at the end. In the last chapter he would not go to jail and fighting the court case. Not only because his character in the book is amazing and mysterious to the readers but also because Chris Crutcher, the author, hints it by making Eric give his respect for Carver and happy to use his college money for a lawyer just so he doesn't go to jail.
ReplyDeleteTowards the end of running loose we get to see Louie go back to visit Becky's memorial and furiously try to break it again. Louie is also a part of the school track team, and he participates in the 2-mile race! If I could add another chapter to the book, I would go into detail about what each character's plans are after high school, like whether carter, boomer, and Louie go on the play in college. Or possibly if Louie meets another girl and gets into a relationship again, which hopefully he would be more confident and experienced!
ReplyDeleteIf I'm being honest. The epilogue that's already in the book serves as a great final chapter. It allows Dillon to begin coming to terms with his relationship with Jen, knowing that even if he does wind up dating her in the future, he's going to be alone for a while. Then he goes and apologizes for killing Charlie, the three-legged cat, with an off-handed thought about it making him a little like TB. Ultimately it ends with TB being served a warrant and Dillon placing 1st in his age group at a triathlon. I feel like simply naming the epilogue "Chapter 17" does no disservice to the book and honestly closes it out better than the final letter to Preston.
ReplyDeleteI agree with that 100% it's hard to understand the ending of the book when the epilogue/ chapter 17 truly does not wrap up the book and give it a proper ending. I think if all these questions were answered it would make a full story for this book instead of having to assume the ending.
DeleteAt the end of Chinese handcuffs, Chris Crutcher gives us an epilogue to help answer potential questions and explain more about Dillon. Dillon explains to us how he is finally able to move on from mourning his brother and finally start living his life. If there was one more chapter on Chinese Handcuffs, I would want to know what happened to TB, what he was charged with, and if he lost his attorney license, and if Jennifers' mom will file for custody of the new baby. I would also want to know what happens to Jennifers' mom during her pregnancy and what she thinks of TB after the whole situation. Another thing I would want to know is if Jen and Dillion get together in the end or just stay friends. To tie up loose ends I would either rewrite the epilogue to make if 5 years in the future to explain where everyone is in life and their experiences, or I would write a second book but make Jennifer the 1st person view.
ReplyDeletein the book chinese handcuffs by chris crutcher give you just enough information to consider itself an ending. something that i wish that chris would have done is went in to more detail about what happened to the characters like dillon and Jennifer and where they end up and how they may be doing. something else is he could have ended up give us more info on T.B and Jennifer's mother and ever the unborn child.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of Chinese handcuffs, There is a lot of unanswered questions. In the epilogue of the book we learn that T.B gets arrested, and that Jen and Stacy become good friends, Crutcher leaves out what happens to Dillon and Jen. However in the epilogue Dillon goes to visit his old neighbor from the beginning of the book. Dillon goes to apologize for killing her cat, surprisingly the old lady thanks Dillon for apologizing. This event rounds off Dillon's character, it proves that Dillon changed since the beginning of the book
ReplyDeleteyes, I think that Dillon's character came a long way from what it was before and him apologizing for such a tragic event shows how much his character has grown.
DeleteAt the end of the book, I had many questions. Crutcher left us with a cliff hanger, and I think I knew what happened to jeff, but I wish he would have just told us. If I could make one more chapter, it would be about jeff and more than anything I think he dies so I would have the chapter about his death and they had his funeral services. kind of make it a sad ending.
ReplyDeleteI agree I don't really like cliff hangers in books that much but i guess it leaves us with being able to imagine the ending on how we want it to be or believe it should be.
DeleteI aslo agree with you, it was stupid, i wish he ended like where Louie ended up at, and same with boomer. Was boomer still the dick head? or was he nice and calmed down with a wife over the years. I really wanted to know where ledneky went i think he faded away in the book a little bit.
DeleteI must say I rather found the ending of Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes rather satisficing, but If I was to make another chapter to the book, I would go into more detail about events in the future, like what is Dale up to, how Mark therapy is going, any significant events with Eric and Jody. I would tie up events by generally giving it a good vibe and saying that things are going well, since that is kind of feeling Chris gave at the end of the book.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of Staying Fat for Sarah Brynes I felt unfulfilled. The epilogue gave me some closure, but I am still left with so many questions. If I could write one more chapter, I would do a one written 5 years or so in the future. I want to see how they are all doing. I want to know what happens with Jody and Eric. Do they stay together? I felt there were just little details, and key pieces that I have been missing. Overall, I thought it was a great book!
ReplyDeleteI had the same idea for my book i think it will help us readers that are wondering. It would be very interesting with Chris would write about for the characters 5 years down the road.
DeleteAt the end of Stotan we were left with quite a few cliffhangers. If I could add another chapter to the book I would add a chapter explaining how Walker sets things straight with Devnee and what happens with Walker and Elaine. I would also add in the chapter what happens to Jeff because I feel that knowing if he lives or not is something that the reader should know.
ReplyDeleteI think the things with walker will get interesting and I don't like how we don't know what happened to jeff.
DeleteNot much i can honestly say for the ending of Chinese handcuffs, Chris Crutcher wrapped it up pretty damn good, all i can really say is i wish i know how his triathlon went and that is all i can honestly say for the end of the book the ending was the best it could be
ReplyDeleteIt is true Chris Crutcher did wrap it up pretty good, it just would have been a lot more entertaining or nice to see what happened to Jenn and Dillon and what their lives have become and of course where they are now in their lives, it would have been nice to know if TB stayed in jail or if he got out
DeleteDid you think that Chris Crutcher could have told us about how they are in the future?
DeleteIn the book Chinese Handcuffs, Chris Crutcher gives us just enough information to end the book. If I were Chris Crutcher I would've gone into way more detail on what happened to Dillon and Jennifer and what their relationship becomes. Chris gives us the satisfaction and does tell us what happened to T.B which I was nervous about, but we were never told if anything happens to Jennifer's mother or the baby she had. I would definitely add more to the epilogue giving more information about Jenn and Dillon
ReplyDeleteI have to agree fully with the fact on seeing what happened to T.B. i was hoping he died but i do not think that chris crutcher would just randomly end a book with such a violent ending it would be really cool but he would never do that for the way he writes. But seeing more about what happened to Jen and Dillon i agree with maybe just seeing like how they ended the school year together.
DeleteI read Chinese Handcuffs and my last chapter of the book would be Dillion, Jennifer, and Stacy lives a few years down that road and how they are doing. This would tell us if Dillon and Jennifer ever end up together and how Jennifer's healing process was or is going. Also we will learn if Ryan knows anything about his dad Preston. Practically it would tie up some of the readers last questions.
ReplyDeleteThis is how i would want the last chapter be. As Louie crossed the finish line of the state championship race, the roar of the crowd faded into the background. His legs burned, his lungs gasped for air, but his heart was light for the first time in months. As Louie caught his breath and accepted congratulations from his teammates, he realized that while Carla's death had left a void in his life, it had also taught him invaluable lessons about love, loss, and resilience. He would never forget her, but he also knew that life was for the living, and he had to embrace it fully.
ReplyDeleteIn the end of Chinese handcuff it ends with Dillon ending with writing his brother Preston letters. if i where to write one last chapter it would be when Dillon has a family later on in the future and takes his point t of view as a father and tell Preston on his way of parenting his kids so they wont follow into his brother Preston's footsteps and write update Preston about Ryan's accomplishments. And hopefully we see Ryan start writing to his father also.
ReplyDeleteIn Running loose, the ending was not what I expected I was hoping Louie would go to state and put on a performance there. This would have made the ending better because if Louie performed well, I could see boomer finally respecting Louie and Coach lednecky and Jasper would be proven wrong that he was a cancer to the team. I would like to see if Louie ever leaves Trout and goes and explores new horizons.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you enjoyed the book, but I'm sorry the book was not the best way you wanted it to be. i read the same book and i did not like it either.
Deletehave many questions I want answered after the ending of running loose. But if I could have one more chapter added I would want it to be about how Louie, Boomer, and Carter life is about after high school. Like does carter end up going to college to play football like he always dreamed off. Does boomer stay working for his old man or does maybe boomer change and become a whole new person. Does Louie ever get actually caught for stealing Becky's plaque. That's would I add in if there could be one more chapter I would also like to know if Louie started to become like boomer, because he was finally not letting stuff slide by.
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