I dont normally read horror but this is pretty irresistible, especially getting Olivias POV. The StoryGraph is an affiliate of the featured links. Publication City/Country United Kingdom. Why I Read It: #Bookstagram made me do it. What is the importance of society and "fitting in" for the characters in the 1965 timeline? Hi, I'm Cara and welcome to my bookish world. I liked this novel quite a bit, but theres something that feels a little dirty in how it all came together. 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. Buy This Book. Recommended for spooky season, but reader beware! Copyright 2020 I've Read This. It's all just so preposterous. Learn how your comment data is processed. What are the expectations of family, and where do the lines blur between blood relatives and people who simply fulfill familial roles? Ted is of course an unreliable narrator, as is the bible-reading Olivia, so its difficult to believe much of anything being described. This has been in my list for a while.I just might get it now thanks! Its definitely more psychological horror, if thats something you enjoy. reviewing fantasy, sci-fi, and romance novels. I dont know if I wish I had DNFd it per se, but the destination definitely was not worth the trip. All these things are true. haha. Dramatic, curly-haired wannabe writer from a nowhere town in Somerset. Overall, this was an excellent story, masterfully constructed and executed, and creepy as hell. I just dont think that such emotional impact requires abandoning good storytelling logic and realistic characters. What I can say is that The Last House on Needless Street is an incredible character-driven novel. So, sure enough, we learn that Dee has shall we say some sordid history of her own. 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. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. He lives in the last house on Needless Street, right next to the woods. About a decade before the story opens, Ted was a person of interest in the disappearance of a four-year-old girl named Lulu, who was visiting the nearby lake with her parents and big sister Dee. What do you think is the meaning behind this statement? Im probably like you in that I would also start to think about how such things really do occur/are occurring in the world and that makes this type of book one Im far less likely to want to read. But was it really necessary for this totally outside character (who was not another Ted personality) to ALSO bullshit the reader? Im intrigued by your description of her as Bible-reading! 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. A teenage girl who isnt allowed outside, not after last time. To say she has mad skills is a massive underestimation here. All storytellers are liars, but Catriona Ward is a particularly good one. Also yes, I tasted one and they are delicious, This book was simply exquisite. SYNOPSIS Dee has never been the same since her sister went missing on a family holiday. Edition Statement Main. Article Was there one perspective that you connected with more than the other? In what ways does it not impact them? haha sorry Im being so vague. Although I know the book has been out for awhile, you might want to put spoiler tags on your comment. The final act theres a bait and switch that felt organic and not for shock value. Ask yourself: if you, as a young woman all alone, were convinced that a specific man was responsible for the abduction and murder of your sibling, would you move into the house next door to him? Zeen is a next generation WordPress theme. Genres & Themes| A man who drinks alone in front of his TV, trying to ignore the gaps in his memory. For Ellie, her house is a reminder of her tragic loss and familial betrayal. In the dark of the forest, among the white birch trees, something lies buried. Hugs to @tordotcompub for the review copy . If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Is it a thriller mystery along the likes of Blake Crouch, or is that wishful thinking on my part??? Kayla and Ellie both suffer the loss of the man they love. Shes there to make his life better, to make him smile when hes sad and calm him when hes stressed. Thats okay. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward will undoubtedly be on my top 10 book list of 2021. What significance does Kayla's house and all of the Shadow Ridge development mean to the town of Round Hill? Although this book is fiction, the terrible things it describes most certainly do go on in the world, are probably happening as I type this, and that level of awareness began to overwhelm me as I considered the extent of human suffering that others endure. You think you know whats inside the last house on Needless Street. It sounds so good!!!! Presenting your readers with straight-up false information, only to do a big flip-flop later in the book, saying Haha, fooled you, none of that stuff ever actually happened, heres what really happened! feels less like good storytelling and more like story-trolling. And an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. You know from the outset theres a lot more to this than the characters are showing you, but its so carefully written you cant quite figure out what theyre hiding. If this was a movie, Id watch it again for clues, but Im not that interested in doing it here. A stolen child. It felt long at times there are some vague situations at the beginning and none of the characters come across as likable except Olivia, the Bible loving queer cat which made me wonder if the ride was worth it. The house itself, although not haunted like I first expected, also acts as another character, releasing shuddering movements at particular times that only the cat can recognize. He loses time and makes frequent, nighttime trips to the nearby woods. I love/hate it when authors pulls the rug out from under you and leaving you shocked. In what ways does the society that the characters were born into impact who they become? 1965 Greg recently postedSunday Post 411, Wow, sounds great. Since this is one I will obviously not be reading, LOL, can you tell me does that poor cat get a Happy Ending? I had no idea what would transpire at the end and when it did WOW! A gut-punch of a novel about a Cherokee child removed from her family and sent to a Christian boarding school in the 1950s. Now stop reading this and go buy it, I promise you wont regret it. Another fabulous review, Tammy! Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Its a difficult book to review however, as the less you know about the plot going in, the better (though the title reminds me of the house on Neibolt street from IT, its not a spoiler for me to say that there arent any clowns hanging around in storm drains), but Ill do my best. Now Im more excited than EVER to read this!!! With the recent Black Lives Matter protests and other similar movements in the news in the United States, how does this book contribute to the conversation about racial injustice? He doesnt work and it isnt clear what he does for money, though its mentioned that he has pawned off a lot of old family possessions. And an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Its another way to show how unreliable all of the characters are, since they never seem to agree on what they see or experience. Spam Free: Your email is never shared with anyone; opt out any time. This helped slowly build the mystery and allow the reader to revisit key points in near real-time. This is a fabulous review! This House may look good on the outside, but inside, its a real fixer-upper. And yet they are all lies. A Book Blog for Speculative Fiction, Graphic Novels and more! Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers! Death. See below for more (spoiler filled) details on that. Its another way to show how unreliable. 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. I really cant say a lot more without giving away major plot secrets, youve got to just enjoy the ride for The Last House On Needless Street, the intrigue is blinding in this one and the ending is nothing short of incredible. The story is told from multiple points of view: Ted, Olivia (yes you heard that right, the cat), DeeTeds new neighbour, and Lauren. I get why people like it, but I'm certainly not in a rush to pick up any of the author's other work. Think Ill pass I much prefer nasty ghosts to nasty people , I prefer nasty ghouls to nasty people any day! Narrated by Matthias Hofer. And speaking of Olivia, what a unique character! Theres something weird going on in this book. Then there is Dee, who is also shrouded in mystery. 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. Thats where youre wrong. 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. This was the first novel Ive ever read by Ward and her style of writing is absolutely fantastic. 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. First, were led to believe Ted is the villain throughout the novel abusing animals, keeping his daughter locked up, drinking uncontrollably, living slovenly and (maybe) killing people only to realize in the end that he is the victim and maybe everything weve been told prior isnt exactly true. Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy. 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. , Oh Im so used to just ignoring blurbs most of the time, especially Stephen King, he blurbs everything these days! What is the role of music for the civil rights activists? Ted frequently loses time, and what appear to be occasional inconsistencies and contradictions between the different narrators may frustrate at first, but gradually the clues begin to emerge and the puzzle pieces fall into place, revealing a chilling picture. All these things are true. 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. // Lets Talk Bookish, Great review Im really looking forward to this one, and so far Ive managed to avoid any spoilers. How do you imagine Ellie felt? I'll probably re-read this come October or something. So basically, in the first fifty pages or so. Wink the Astrokitty drawn by Matt Olson. I give The Last House on Needless Street a 4/5 as it is an excellent psychological horror involving murder, serial killers, and survival to the highest degree in a cruel world. "Loneliness felt like a disease with no cure," Ellie says in chapter 40. Its powerful, beautifully designed and comes with everything you need to engage your visitors and increase conversions. If The Last House succeeds at anything, its in Wards deep empathy for her subject. Yet, she continued to find others to blame, and in her targeting of Ted, did horrendous things to make him suffer, all to atone for her sins. In the middle of this now, and Im enjoying myself! Dee moves into the vacant house next door to Ted and begins to spy on him, convinced that not only was Ted responsible for abducting Lulu, but that Lulu is still alive and being held inside Teds house. How does the idea of marriage play into Ellie's idea to wait until marriage to "be intimate" with a man? Multi-tasking: Good to go, but since it feels like we toggle between fantasy and real-life, its better to stick to activities that will allow you to concentrate on the mystery. Oct 12, 2021 | Book Reviews, Horror, mystery, Thriller | 12 comments. He has only his cat Olivia for company, and he rarely leaves the house. What is the house haunted by, if not supernatural beings? The years passed and so did her parents, but she never gave up the hunt to find the person that took her sister. Lulu was never found, nor was her body, so to this day her disappearance remains a mystery. This is one of my favorite story devices and it works so well here. The must-read gothic thriller of 2021 from the Shirley Jackson and August Derleth award-winning author of Little Eve and Rawblood. This is the story of a serial killer. 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. Imagine my surprise, then, when I finished Catriona Wards twisty and twisted novel and became a believer. So glad you finished it and enjoyed this as well! And, read at a superficial level, this novel brings us to the brink of despair and back to the promise of hope quite effectively. Press J to jump to the feed. What role does guilt play in the narrative? 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 thrillers. A stolen child. I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Prepare to be scared, angry and heart-broken, all in one book. You think you know whats inside the last house on Needless Street. And yet some of them ar Read more Community Reviews Summary of 7,367 reviews Moods dark 95% mysterious 81% An exquisitely rendered portrait of a unique father-daughter relationship and a moving memoir of family and identity. It also made me cry, and I can't say that about too many horror novels. I absolutely loved it, but I guess it could be in part that, as the spouse of a system (person with DID), I really appreciate her final notes on DID. Additionally, two characterizations didn't sit right with me. I wish I could wax lyrical about what twists I liked best and the clues I missed, but I have no intention of explaining the ending. Death. All rights reserved.Information at BookBrowse.com is published with the permission of the copyright holder or their agent. Looks like I have lots more to look forward to! This is the story of a serial killer. It all just struck me as so much unnecessary red herring. I strongly agree that the sister should have been a reliable narrator. Yes: 65% | It's complicated: 30% | No: 3%, It's complicated: 59% | No: 25% | Yes: 13%, No: 35% | It's complicated: 32% | Yes: 28% | N/A: 4%, Yes: 82% | It's complicated: 14% | No: 1%. He drinks too much, and because Olivia is a god-fearing cat who loves Ted despite her disgust with his bad habits, she stays permanently indoors, only having a few glimpses of a neighborhood cat to look forward to each day. I have been lied to in the best possible way and I enjoyed every single moment. 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. For awhile, you might want to put spoiler tags on your comment basically! Just might get it now thanks dirty in how it all came.... Characterizations did n't sit right with me good storytelling and more have been lied to in the of! The woods really looking forward to this day her disappearance remains a mystery August Derleth award-winning author of Eve. Another ted personality ) to also bullshit the reader the end and when it did!... Loneliness felt like a disease with no cure, '' Ellie says in chapter 40 this! And Ellie both suffer the loss of the featured links finished Catriona Wards twisty twisted... A bait and switch that felt organic and not for shock value how does the society that the characters the. Whats inside the last house on Needless Street by Catriona Ward will be... 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