A few days ago, I posted a list of my all-time favorite literary first lines. First lines have always been the ones I know by heart and can associate with some of my favorite books. But, there have been some really incredible last lines, as well. Here are a few of my favorites. (Most of them are relatively spoiler-free, but, obviously, they are last lines, so there are some spoilers.)
So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.
F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
George Orwell, Animal Farm
He loved Big Brother.
George Orwell, 1984
He was soon borne away by the waves and lost in darkness and distance.
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Frankenstein
All was well.
J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Ever drifting down the stream–Lingering in the golden gleam–Life, what is it but a dream?
Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass
Max stepped into his private boat and waved goodbye and sailed back over a year and in and out of weeks and through a day and into the night of his very own room where he found his supper waiting for him—and it was still hot.
Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are
A LAST NOTE FROM YOUR NARRATOR. I am haunted by humans.
Markus Zusak, The Book Thief
Well, I’m back.
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
I will walk without noise, and I will open the door in darkness, and I will
Jonathan Safran Foer, Everything is Illuminated
What’s your favorite last line?
Ugh the 1984 line gives me all the chills…
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What does the rest of ‘Everything is Illuminated’ says or does the book really end this way? Intriguing.
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It does actually end that way. I kind of like how it’s open-ended. Very fitting for the story.
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Now that is an ending to make you think, after you put down the book. hmm
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