Nurse Ratched has Randle McMurphy lobotomized after he attacks her, and Chief Bromden smothers him with a pillow to free him.

After being tortured in the Ministry of Love, Winston Smith betrays Julia and gives up every belief he once held.

The last human survivors have been tortured for over a century by a supercomputer called AM, and Ted, the narrator, kills the other four to spare them further pain.

Paul Bäumer, the narrator, is killed in October 1918 on a day when the army report says “all quiet on the Western Front.” The book’s last lines are told by an unnamed narrator, who describes his calm face as if he were glad the end had come.

Good book club questions for The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek focus on books, prejudice and resilience.

Good book club questions for Geek Love focus on family, freakery and ambition.

Good book club questions for The Winter Garden focus on family secrets, mothers and daughters and survival.

Good book club questions for Player Piano focus on technology and work, class and purpose.

Good book club questions for Shanghai Girls focus on sisters, immigration and family.

Good book club questions for Jitterbug Perfume focus on immortality, scent and love.