And I agree, the author should be able to determine the ending to their story since they were the one who wrote the story.

GOTTA have an HEA!! Those are the best.

Oh man...all those movies made me cry, Diana! But you're right, nearly all of them give you hope.

Oh, Denise, you are so right! I will never forget one night my wife & I were sitting up late, reading, and all at once she said something like "Arrgg!" and threw the book across the room. When I said, "Uh, Honey, is something wrong?" she replied, "At the end a bomb went off and they were all killed."
Thanks very much! Good point.

Diana, what a terrific list of books with bittersweet endings but all of them satisfying in one way or another. “Frankly I don’t give a damn.” Yes!
Grendel’s mother! Wow, great idea, great title. Takes me back to my Beowulf seminar.
Thank you, you have definitely added to the essay.

Hi, Ellen. I think you'll enjoy Podkayne of Mars. I suggest reading the story and then looking at the comments on the web. It's interesting. Also, as a writer you'll find his use of first-person interesting. I won't give anything away -- I've already done some of that -- but it's unique.
I'm glad you liked the post. Thanks, and thanks for commenting.

I enjoy Heinlein's work but haven't read Podkayne of Mars yet. I'll get to it.

I prefer a happy ending, especially in dystopian times.

Wonderful post, thank you!

My first indie publication was Grendel's Mother--most definitely a bittersweet ending.

A most thoughtful writing. Thanks for sharing!