When I was in middle school (I think it was middle school, it may even have been late elementary school) I discovered a set of books where you could choose what happened. They were so cool...you read a set number of pages and at the end if you wanted A to happen you turned to page such and such, but if you wanted B to happen, you turned to a different set of pages. I remember reading the books first the way I wanted them to turn out, and then going back and reading it the other way. (Mathematically speaking, there were clearly more than two potential stories, but you get the idea). The reason I thought back to these books is because I wish there had been a choose your own ending version of Forever. Much like the final book of The Hunger Games, I was disappointed in Forever. Much like final book of The Hunger Games, I felt compelled to read the last book to see how the trilogy turned out. So, I read it. But it wasn't my favorite of the three (just like The Hunger Games)
I don't want to ruin this series for anyone, especially my neighbor who reserved the first two books at the library after reading my posts about the first two, so I am not going to even hit the highlights of the plot of Forever. I will say this, though...Forever is the most action packed of the three books. It was truly a page turner. Just when you thought the conflist was resolved, someone came along and changed everything. For that reason, I liked the book. I liked it for other reasons, too. Sam and Grace and Isabel and Cole...well, they just warm your heart. I loved seeing Cole's character develop even further--I really liked him by the end of the book. And, reading Forever truly was necessary. You can't just stop reading a trilogy after book two. You are compelled to read to completion. Or, atleast I was.
So, here it is...what I didn't like was how abruptly Forever ended. There are so many questions that I have that were left unanswered. An epilogue would've been nice, just so I knew what had really happened, but I guess maybe even Maggie doesn't know how it all turned out. Maybe it was intentional so that we could imagine in our own minds how the story ended, or perhaps continued, if you want to look at it in a more positive light. Regardless, I need to know more and feel a bit deflated by the ending. The sad part is that I can't even tell you want I think happened because it would ruin the book for my friends who have yet to read it. UGH!!!
I guess the bottom line is this: when you begin a trilogy, you need to be in it to finish it. I read the entire series because the book propels you in that direction. I would've been more frustrated had I not read it at all. I would've always wondered how things had turned out. While I know more now than if I hadn't read Forever, I certainly don't know enough to satisfy my curiosity. But, I guess that's the beauty of a book that is ambiguous at the end...you can make it what you want. So for any of you out there who are going to read this series, when you finish Forever, call me. I want to know what you think happened.
Happy Reading!
:) Dodie
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