“Beginnings and Ends”
“Once upon a time…” -unknown
Every good story has a good beginning. Something to get you hooked, something to get you excited, something to make you want to pack your bag and go off to find your own adventure. Why do beginnings draw us in?
“Blue Sargent had forgotten how many times she’d been told that she would kill her true love.” -Maggie Stiefvater, The Raven Boys
A good beginning should make us hopeful, make us want to try new things or travel some place we’ve never been. Anything is possible because we haven’t had any encounters with the bad
“In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit.” -J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
Hobbits are a great example of beginnings. They remind me of the Fool, the first card in any traditional tarot deck. I don’t mean they’re stupid, I just mean they are all innocence and fresh-faced, not knowing or caring about the dangers lurking ahead. That’s how we all want to feel starting a journey, hopeful, carefree and maybe a little foolish. I know most people will think of Bilbo running out of his home in The Hobbit, late for his adventure, but I think of chapter 5 of The Fellowship of the Ring, A Conspiracy Unmasked where Frodo and the others are preparing for their journey. Merry and Pippin sing a song (‘Farewell Song of Merry and Pippin’ on Spotify) that speaks of the dangers lurking ahead, but yet is still upbeat, excited and hopeful.
“Rain fell that night, a fine, whispering rain.” -Cornelia Funke, Inkheart
Beginnings teach us to hope, to go at new things with excitement rather than fear. We love beginnings and the joy and possibilities they hold.
“Then he closed his eyes and he began to dream.” -Maggie Stiefvater, The Raven King
Though beginnings are wonderful, I honestly prefer endings. I like sunsets better than sunrises. Beginnings are almost always good, but if you have a good ending, it is both satisfying and a little sad at the same time.
“Kale ran across the little hillside and jumped onto Celisse’s saddle. “Let’s go!”” -Donita K. Paul, Dragonspell
Beginning things can be stressful, but finishing something gives you this feeling of completion and relief. Most people don’t like endings because they can be sad. I’m a sucker for nostalgia. I love the feeling of being so happy it is edged with sadness. To me, that feeling means it was worth it, whatever it was.
“Mind you, since in that split second we were, to all intents and purposes, one and the same, I rather think he knew anyway.” -Jonathan Stroud, Ptolemy’s Gate
The quote above is from the Bartimaeus trilogy which is probably my favorite ending to a series ever. Which is strange because is isn’t a completely happy ending. Not everyone lives happily ever after which is a reason I dislike that quote because in life, it is never true. An ending might be happy, but it is always bittersweet. And that’s what makes it beautiful to me.
“Go on, then,” he says. “Carry on, Simon.”” -Rainbow Rowell, Carry On
Whether you love sunrises or sunsets more, there is beauty in both beginnings and ends. I hope this post made you see that or at least think about it. The quotes I shared are some of my favorite beginnings and ends of books that I hope you will check out.
“The End.”