A friend snapped me recently for saying that I like books with beautiful endings but not those with sad, tragic endings.
In fact, I only want to read books I know ending happily, which is the reason why I mostly read children's books; while being rather reluctant to read those ending tragically.
That friend of mine, who is a graduate from a school of English literature in Yogyakarta, adores the latter, ones that she regards as masterpieces of literature.
She's not alone of course. In fact, those 'psycho' writers (I'm sorry, indeed, if anyone feels offended) producing tragic, horrible endings have received a lot more recognitions than those writing happy stories. Well, at least it seems so.
My friend's favorite authors, like George Elliot, Edgar Allan Poe, etc...or local famous writers like Gunawan Muhammad, Ayu Utami and Pramoedya Anantha Toer...are those regarded as the best in the literature world.
When I said I couldn't stand reading their works and prefered happy children's or Jane Austen's stories, my friend accused me, at least through disapproving look on her countenance, of not being able to face the reality.
She said those happy-ending books were addiction, drawing people far from reality.
I realize that lives are not as beautiful as those beautifully-ending stories; that what really do happen are often as tragic as what the most tragic novels can tell.
My life alone at least until now -thank God- is not a tragic one. But, I can say that I have gone through so many difficult times; have tasted so many bitter and painful experiences.
So, why on earth would I ever add the pains and burdens with unnecessary, tragic stories of other people? Why would I have to make my dark days become even darker with eerie, horrible realities that the characters in the books are undergoing?
Running away from reality won't settle problems. But, a lot of times, when things become more and more unbearable, that's the best thing you can do.
Forget your problems for a while, and then come back to tackle with them after collecting enough energy from a ‘rest’ and renewing your optimism.
This is what happy-ending books can do me; this is the reason why I continue reading them and neglect some people's ill-judges to my taste.
So, I say that happy-ending books are the best, though I don’t deny that I like those with stories of life struggles better than those completely flat.
The only problem remains is that I sort of knowing no more other children's books thick enough to fulfill that particular reading taste of mine.
Examples of these kind of books are The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter…
Anyone knows others...?
P.S.: I’m currently more interested in less-fantasy books like Huck.
