What did you think of the last chapter?

Somebody writing in the "overall, what did you think" topic wrote that they wished the book had ended before the final chapter. Initially, I was surprised by the ending because I'd hoped that Hubert would have many more happy years ahead of him. But as I thought about it, I came away feeling that the ending was very powerful because it showed that you can make a difference to your own life and those of others at any time of your life, even if there isn't much of that life left.

What do you think?

I thought the ending was perfect. Hubert ended his life as best as he could under the circumstances, and the other characters were able to move on with their own lives.

I was a little sad that there wasn't a "happily ever after" ending, but I also thought it was pretty satisfying and realistic.

I thought the last chapter was fitting. It was a fond farewell and made me like the characters even more.

I too thought the ending fit the story. Hubert had provided a special dinner for his friends after he was gone, which showed how much they had enriched his life. Also, the others seemed to have a good bond that would keep them together. In one of Hubert's conversations with Rose, she told him that she wanted to treat Dotty, Dennis, and Harvey for tea at the Ritz, so he must have thought that this was the ideal treat.

Refreshing! I liked the fact that the author dealt with the reality of life and death with Hubert's funeral. I think it gave the reader a sweet closure to the life of a lovely man and an interesting novel.

I was disappointed that the author felt he had to tack on the last two chapters. On page 359 the chapter ends with one of the best sentences in the book. Why not leave the rest of the story to the reader's vivid imagination?

"And that's the funny thing about life. Extraordinary things can happen to ordinary people like you and me, but only if we open ourselves up enough to let them."

The last chapter was exactly what the story needed. Not what I wanted (more years for all the characters), but what the story needed.