This is the story of a murderer. The cover definitely screams haunted house and supernatural happenings so Id have been shocked to find out it was about human evil too. Ted is a middle-aged, jobless man who lives by himself in the house he grew up in as a child. He does go out, though these excursions usually result in awkward and unpleasant encounters, to put it mildly. Spam Free: Your email is never shared with anyone; opt out any time. 100-Word (or Less) Synopsis: All is not what it seems on Needless Street. All these things are true. Most reviews of The Last House on Needless Street mention that you cant talk about the plot without giving away its secrets. Being able to read the same situations play out from the perspective of other characters and even cats (yes, cats!) Narrated by Matthias Hofer. I certainly didnt, which I guess makes me the perfect reader! It is central to the appeal of a mystery, being led down blind alleys in the hope that youre a clever enough detective to piece together the puzzle. But the way you know misdirection and especially plot twists have been done correctly is if you as the reader can reverse-engineer the story, looking back at earlier sections to discover, yes, there were the clues along, there was always enough information in the narrative for me to have solved this if I had been observant enough. Revenge. For example, both Brenda and Ellie were raised in the same society, but had very different values and, consequently, led very different lives. However, none of the characters are quite what they appear. Yeah, I thought it was awful, I guessed the big twist about 50 pages in. haha sorry Im being so vague. And that is the beauty of this storygetting to the truth is a circuitous and uneven path, one I never grew tired of. Like putting a hat on a hat. All Rights Reserved. Now on the anniversary of her disappearance, Dee has tracked down a new lead, and that lead just happens to be Ted. To know too much going in would have ruined the reading experience for me. Lulu was never found, nor was her body, so to this day her disappearance remains a mystery. Ward dips back into the past at times and we learn more about Teds childhood, as well as the events at the lake the day Lulu disappeared. Known to most as Little Girl with Popsicle, her sister Lulu disappeared and was never seen again. And its here that Ward just stops playing fair with her readers. An This is the story of Ted, who lives with his daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia in an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. He has only his cat Olivia for company, and he rarely leaves the house. If this was a movie, Id watch it again for clues, but Im not that interested in doing it here. How do you imagine Ellie felt? An unspeakable secret binds them together, and when a new neighbor moves in next door, what is buried out Recommended for spooky season, but reader beware! Known to most as Little Girl with Popsicle, her sister Lulu disappeared and was never seen again. What is the significance of that decision? The must-read gothic thriller of 2021 from the Shirley Jackson and August Derleth award-winning author of Little Eve and Rawblood. Death. And, read at a superficial level, this novel brings us to the brink of despair and back to the promise of hope quite effectively. Book cover artwork is copyrighted by its respective artist and/or publisher. Book Review: The Last House on the Street. Thanks Sarah! For both characters, their house represents their grief. Wink the Astrokitty drawn by Matt Olson. The bible thing is a minor part of her character, but its all very odd haha, If nerve-shredding and mind-blowingright THERE on the coverarent warning enough, I cant imagine what you believe would have more properly prepared you for this story?! (LogOut/ I have been meaning to get this book for ages. In the last house on Needless Street lives Ted, his daughter Lauren and cat Olivia. There were moments when I thought continuity mistakes had been made (I have a proof copy so it can happen) but trust me when I say that nothing in this book is a mistake. Lets discuss your favorite reads or listens. In chapter 21, Kayla finds a letter that her father, Reed, wrote to Jackson, describing their new house as "haunted." WebDescription. Ward initially worked as an actor based in New York. The Last House on Needless Street, by Catriona Ward, is the best written book I wish Id never read. Its definitely not for everyone because it may steer some readers into painful childhood memories that may be best left unexamined, but its an excellent example of the power of red herrings when directing attention to all the wrong places. Sadly I am not a fan of this kind of book, horror is not for me, amd psychological horror is definitely not for me, but your review was captivating! While theres satisfaction in seeing a bully get comeuppance, does it really need to be at the expense of one mentally ill person targeting another? It doesn't matter if you're into Stephen King, Octavia Butler, Jack Ketchum or Shirley Jackson, this is the place to share that love and discuss to your heart's content. I spent the rest of the story waiting for what seemed to be obvious to be revealed. Shes the only author to have won the August Derleth Prize for Best Horror Novel at the British Fantasy Awards twiceonce in 2016 for her debut, Rawblood, and again in 2019 for her second, Little Eveand has also been shortlisted for the Authors Club Best First Novel Award, a WHSmith Fresh Talent title, and won the 2019 Shirley Jackson Award. Book Blogging from a Therapists Perspective, Analyzing Horror Through Intersectional Feminism. I'll probably re-read this come October or something. This article about an American writer is a stub. Even when the detective in charge of the case started to give up, Dee kept hunting. Search String: Summary| (LogOut/ Switching between POVs, Needless Street is the tale of Ted- a reclusive drunk, his cat Olivia, daughter Lauren and Dee- a woman in search of her missing sister Lulu. Kayla and Ellie both suffer the loss of the man they love. Revenge. You may think youve read this story before, but its not what you think. [1] Ward won the August Derleth Award for Best Horror Novel in 2016 at the British Fantasy Awards for Rawblood and again in 2018 for Little Eve, making her the first woman to win the prize twice. A man who drinks alone in front of his TV, trying to ignore the gaps in his memory. How would the story be different if they were just friends? I have to admit I was confused for quite a long time, but Ward does bury clues within her tale, and astute readersor even readers who are well versed in thrillersmay be able to figure things out. The cat is one of the narrators yes. WebThe Last House on the Street touches upon several national current events in each timeline, for example: LBJ passing the Voting Rights Act in the 1965 timeline and the Just the idea of the cat POV has me super curious!!! Death. How do the idea and perception of protest differ in 1965 to the present day? Im not generally someone who reads horror, as I tend to suffer from nightmares, but this review sounds really tempting. Excerpt| I just dont think that such emotional impact requires abandoning good storytelling logic and realistic characters. Was there one perspective that you connected with more than the other? We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Thats where youre wrong. Does anyone else find themselves spiraling into these pits of despair when faced with a book that simply reminds us of how terrible some humans are? // Lets Talk Bookish. Author Bio, First Published: To avoid spoilers, Im only giving you the basic set up and will avoid talking about the plot too much. Theres something weird going on in this book. Get in touch with me at thetattooedbook@yahoo.co.uk. I got about halfway through The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward and debated closing the book for good I just wasnt sure I could handle it anymore. You did such an amazing job to talk about everything without spoilers, lol. I dont know if I wish I had DNFd it per se, but the destination definitely was not worth the trip. Having never been asked to voice a queer cat, I cant tell you that what he did was wrong, but it also felt like maybe he had never met a cat before. Maybe I read too much r/fakedisordercringe but I figured out the twist the minute Ted said the cat had to go away when the daughter came over. Hi, I'm Tammy, avid reader, book collector & reviewer of quality fantasy, horror & science fiction. It doesnt just get under your skin; it embeds itself there like your first blurry green/black tattoo you had a fifteen (just me?). This is achieved not through making the language overly simplistic but by highlighting his naivete and inability to express himself or his understanding in a complex way, as youd expect an adult to be able to do, naming people by their physical characteristics, literal and figurative, or by associationsMan with Orange Juice Hair, Chihuahua Lady, Bug-Manfor example. The nitty-gritty: A creepy, disturbing tale perfect for fans of twisty, psychological horror. I know Im not alone in judging a book by its cover, and based on this one, I thought a haunted house and black cat guaranteed a supernatural, Halloween-ish read. Even as someone that loves cats, I struggled with this fantasy element. Your review has just cemented my wish to get it sooner. A Blog about science fiction, fantasy and more! The main story takes place eleven years after a six-year old girl named Lulu went missing down by the lake. Subscribe to receive some of our best reviews, "beyond the book" articles, book club info and giveaways by email. The story revolves around a handful of characters: Ted Bannerman is a single man who lives in a creepy, boarded up house on Needless Street. In her authors note (which, again, dont read before you finish the book as it gives away the major twist) Ward describes it as a story about survival, disguised as a book about horror. This is a pretty good thumbnail description. I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Title Glad you loved it as much as I did :-). It appears Dee had some responsibility for the death and disappearance of her sister and the subsequent destruction of her family. I just finished reading this and loved it!! You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. But its not what you think. [2] Little Eve also went on to win the prestigious Shirley Jackson Award for best novel. You think youve read this story before. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward is one of those rare novels I read that kept me on the edge of my seat from the moment I started. What follows is a mind-bending mystery where nothing is quite as it seems. Dates read: January 27 February 2, 2022. From the ramshackle houses to the disappearing children, theres something nefarious at In chapter 2, Ellie says "There are moments in life when you suddenly see your future and it's not at all what you expected." As I delved deeper into the subconscious of these characters, I found myself horrified by what I found, which is what prompted me to consider abandoning it. Discuss what that means in the context of this story. See below for more (spoiler filled) details on that. Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers! Death. Sign up to get the download as well as an email sent once a month with links to my latest reviews, information on my online book club, and other bookish announcements. If The Last House succeeds at anything, its in Wards deep empathy for her subject. Ted also has a daughter, a little girl named Lauren, who shows up at odd times for a visit before she has to go away. Are you starting to get the picture yet? Nicely put, I reallllyyyy disliked this novel. He knows this, because he buried them there himself. If youve read the novel, you understand that mental illness is the central plot. Readalikes| But its not what you think. When Olivia talks about how much she hates the creepy Russian nesting dolls that sit on the mantlepiece, its almost like a Symbolism Siren goes off. In the dark of the forest, among the white birch trees, something lies buried. BOOM! If good intentions made for great novels, Id be only too happy to join the chorus of praise. (LogOut/ I pushed through because I suspected (based on the cover blurbs) that I was purposely being misled, and the twist of all twists eventually changed my mind, but I do feel as though this book should come with some sort of trigger warning because it delves quite deeply into child abuse and neglect. You may think youve read this story before, but its not what you think Catriona Ward is no stranger to gothic fiction. Mothers, either of the abusive or excessively smothering variety, who have left their adult children with a boatload of devastating mental health problems have become one of horror fictions most recycled tropes. What are the expectations of family, and where do the lines blur between blood relatives and people who simply fulfill familial roles? Instead in many ways it perpetuated stereotypes of those with mental illnesses as untrustworthy, incapable of taking care of themselves or unable to contribute to society in meaningful ways. , Ha ha you will probably be as surprised as I was if you read it:-). Ted was abused by his psychopathic and murderous mother for years, which led him to develop dissociative identity disorder. Stop-starter of all projects great and small. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. And a house cat who loves napping and reading the Bible. Discuss the definition of "family" in the novel. But remember, everything in this book is setup for a shocking twist. Additionally, two characterizations didn't sit right with me. From Teds first person narrative, we get the impression that hes dealing with quite a few issues, although its not clear exactly what those issues are. In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. That part was WAY too much. Olivia is Teds cat. A fantastic readathon running this year, check it out here:The 2021 SFF Badge Collection, Dramatic, curly-haired wannabe writer from a nowhere town in Somerset. Yay! Thats a journey you need to take yourself. You might have a chapter from Olivias point of view and what shes observing from inside the house, and the next chapter might shift to Dee, who is in the house next door, watching the same event unfold. Ultimately, it was. So glad you finished it and enjoyed this as well! Unfortunately I can't read Sundial because I've heard that the plot surrounds animal/dog abuse and I just can't even begin to go there. While Ward toed that line delicately, a few things still didnt sit right with me. Can you describe a situation where this statement resonated with you? The years passed and so did her parents, but she never gave up the hunt to find the person that took her sister. reviewing fantasy, sci-fi, and romance novels. We occasionally get a few chapters told from the perspective of Dee, a woman whose younger sister Lulu disappeared when they were little, and Dee suspects Ted was the kidnapper so she moves in next to him in an attempt to revive the cold case. Language English. Lynn . But Im sorry to say that as a story, The Last House didnt work for me more than it did. Article WebThe Chihuahua lady and the mom seemed to be close, and the mom told her later on that she would be going out of town as a way to lead false tracks away from her if Is the cat one of the narrators? What do you think? Would you look for excuses to extend your solitary visit with this possible pervert child murderer in his own house by asking things like Can I use the bathroom? and Could I have a drink of water? Would you spy on his movements and follow him, all by yourself, when you see him walking into the forest at night with a shovel? How does this influence the relationship they're able to create? Recommended For: Fans of Paul Tremblays A Head Full of Ghosts or similar all-is-not-what-it-seems stories. The Last House on Needless Street follows Ted, who lives with his daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia in an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. Prepare to be scared, angry and heart-broken, all in one book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. When a woman named Dee moves into the abandoned house next door while on her quest to find her sister, who was kidnapped years ago, Ted's life begins to spiral into chaos. Dees journey was surprisingly nightmarishwe learn she is afraid of snakes for exampleand I thought her character added a nice dimension to the story. And an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. Posted July 22, 2021 by Tammy in 5 stars, Reviews / 33 Comments, Ive gotta say Im SUPER intrigued by this book after reading your review. Publication City/Country United Kingdom. Growing up in the well-to-do town of Round Hill, North Carolina, Ellie Hockley was raised to be a proper Southern lady. And speaking of Olivia, what a unique character! She built up the setting well, characters that are relatable, and makes it so once this ride was over, youll be completely blown away once you start to put all the pieces together. I was listening to it on Audible and was struggling hard with it. // Lets Talk Bookish, Great review Im really looking forward to this one, and so far Ive managed to avoid any spoilers. BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfictionbooks that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. 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