(no) happy ending

Some people don't read books without happy endings, and I understand. Real life is already full of sad stories, so why make yourself miserable on purpose?

Only a bad friend would recommend "The Fault in Our Stars." Yet it's a major bestseller.

Most people, even when they know a piece of art will hurt them and make them experience great pain, still willingly go into the situation and consume the content.

Humans often endure pain for the greater good. People go to the gym even when they know their muscles will ache tomorrow. They agree to a painful shot to get better. They jump from a burning building to save themselves. But sad books don’t exist for a noble cause.

Sad books are a little like having a child. The baby makes you happy, at times, but even when you conceive it, you know how much pain it will bring. This new person will get sick, get into fights, break their bones, experience heartache, lose their loved ones, get depressed, and, eventually, die.

Everyone knows their story has no happy ending either. But we stay for the beauty of it.