Books Quote by Emily Barton
“I feel that there is an alternate ending that leaps off too far into fantasy and there is an alternate ending that leaps off too far into pessimism, but that, in fact, the novel as it has developed should, if it's functioning correctly, have equipped you as the reader to make your own decision about where you want to go with that, about where you're going to fall on that continuum. So, the novel is taking you directly up to the point that you have to choose, and it's letting you do that.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Dreamers by Emily Barton, 2010
The novel presents two extreme possible endings, urging readers to decide their own path rather than being forced into a single conclusion.
In simple terms: Readers must choose their own ending instead of being given a fixed one.
Key Takeaway
Embrace agency in interpreting stories.
Themes
choice
interpretation
agency
narrative
reader responsibility
Mood
thoughtful
curious
reflective
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- Literary analysis
- creative writing workshops
- book clubs
- personal decision making
- storytelling education
Key Concepts
Reader agency
open-ended narrative
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How does having multiple possible endings affect your engagement with a story?
- Do you prefer narratives that guide you or ones that leave the outcome to you?
A Different Perspective
Some readers may feel unsettled without a definitive ending, which can reduce satisfaction.
![“We [me and husband ] had been learning about the Khazars, and I had read Michael Chabon's novel [Gentlemen of the Road] the year before, so all these things are kind of roiling around in my brain, and then I slipped on the ice and I broke my wrist, and it had to be surgically repaired.” quote by Emily Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e93/emily-barton-18422_books_we-me-and-husband-had-been-learning-abou_182880.jpg)
![“[Michael] Chabon is arguing in favor of what is at the same time an old-fashioned and very forward-thinking opening up - of taking off the class associations with those labels, because we grew up, or I certainly grew up, feeling that, "Oh, there's literary fiction, and beneath that, there's these…” quote by Emily Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/049/emily-barton-18422_arguing_michael-chabon-is-arguing-in-favor-of-wh_447279.jpg)
![“I'm not for it [Brookland and The Testament of Yves Gundron ], I'm not against it, I'm just interested in it and how it functions, but I think that, in some senses, in those two novels, that was difficult for people to see.” quote by Emily Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e7b/emily-barton-18422_books_i-m-not-for-it-brookland-and-the-testame_613821.jpg)
