It's a true nerve-shredder that keeps its My hold for this book just came in yesterday! Bestsellers rank 30,480. Well I found it difficult to read because ultimately its about child abuse and neglect, and I found that difficult to stomach. Press J to jump to the feed. Lulu was never found, nor was her body, so to this day her disappearance remains a mystery. This was my first book of the year but I sadly set it aside because I could tell my brain wasnt in the right mindset for it, but I am so glad you reviewed this book so well and I am excited to pick it up when the mood is right! Thats where youre wrong. This is a book thats oppressive and disturbing, sometimes nearly overwhelming in its sadness, but one that comes from a place of real humanity and caring. Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy. And, read at a superficial level, this novel brings us to the brink of despair and back to the promise of hope quite effectively. Author Bio, First Published: Think Ill pass I much prefer nasty ghosts to nasty people , I prefer nasty ghouls to nasty people any day! Olivia is in love with an outdoor cat that strolls by the window peephole, and she has an odd relationship with another cat named Night-time. The other device the author uses is that she shows the same events from two different perspectives. These little bits of information eventually reveal what actually happenedor do they? Spam Free: Your email is never shared with anyone; opt out any time. Search String: Summary| I mean wow, what a book! A stolen child. He seems to be obsessed with his dead mother, who he refers to as Mommy. Even more unsettling is his relationship with his daughter, Lauren. Winston also sings a few verses from "I'll Fly Away" to Ellie on the first night they meet in the tree house on page 277. This is a psychological horror story that leads you to believe certain things, but then pulls the rug out from under you late in the story. BOOM! This is one of the books Ive most been looking forward to and your fabulous review has me even more excited! Language English. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. To know too much going in would have ruined the reading experience for me. It doesnt help that Ward has a tendency to be very ham-fisted with her symbolism. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. I found the sister story confusing and unnecessary and, like you, felt it was contrived having that whole set-up be a lie to begin with. Ellie frequently leads her fellow SCOPE volunteers and supporters in song during protests. There are a few elements of the plot that build suspense; not knowing what happened that day that Lulu disappeared, how much of Teds ramblings we can truly believe, Dees vigilante efforts, and the remarkably creepy yet vague memories of Teds life with his parents. Excerpt| Ted lives alone in his childhood home with his cat, Olivia. Click here to receive notifications of An Average Life new posts by email. I honestly didnt even catch the plot point about the sister because I stopped paying attention during the final act. 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?! Prepare to be scared, angry and heart-broken, all in one book. And an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. ** This title earned me the Animal Companion badge in the Spells & Spaceships SFF collection! An Author 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. 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. 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. 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. The main story takes place eleven years after a six-year old girl named Lulu went missing down by the lake. The cover definitely screams haunted house and supernatural happenings so Id have been shocked to find out it was about human evil too. Thanks Sarah! A teenage girl who isnt allowed outside, not after last time. WebI am 66% into The Last House on Needless Street by @Catrionaward & I can honestly say its mind-blowing. Cant-Wait Wednesday: A Small Hotel by Suanne Laqueur, Does Having a Positive Message Automatically Make a Book Good? Lulu was never found, nor was her body, so to this day her disappearance remains a mystery. Death. Article I had no idea what would transpire at the end and when it did WOW! 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 is probably a story best suited in physical form so you can revisit sections as the mystery unfolds. The reader isnt in the story. Also yes, I tasted one and they are delicious, This book was simply exquisite. Stephanie @ Bookfever recently postedCant-Wait Wednesday: A Small Hotel by Suanne Laqueur, I really thought the whole pull the rug out from under you was well done. What significance does the Hockley house have in the town of Round Hill? When we then switch into kitten Olivias viewpoint its a jarring change. Plot Summary. by Catriona Ward. 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. If this was a movie, Id watch it again for clues, but Im not that interested in doing it here. Murder. Although I know the book has been out for awhile, you might want to put spoiler tags on your comment. WebSummaries. View all posts by Roxanne Michelle. A stolen child. You'll have to update us on if Sundial is as good! This is a place to discuss horror literature. --Sarah Pinborough, New York Times bestselling author of Behind Her Eyes The buzzis real. This is the story of a serial killer. In the dark of the forest, among the white birch trees, something lies buried. This is her first novel with Serpents Tail imprint, Viper Books. It was a genuine surprise and just made me love this novel even more, even though I wanted more with the ending, still thought it was an excellent reading adventure. An ordinary house on an ordinary street becomes a pit of unimaginable darkness in this truly nerve-shattering psychological thriller from the author of Little Eve. Don't miss a beat! When she returned to London she worked on her first novel while writing for a human rights foundation until she left to take an MA in creative writing from the University of East Anglia. A Book Blog for Speculative Fiction, Graphic Novels and more! Since finishing it, Ive thought about it every single day. WebDescription This is the story of a murderer. By the end of the book youll have most of the answers, but not all, which I was OK with. I have been lied to in the best possible way and I enjoyed every single moment. There are so many questions raised throughout the novel that it borders on the confusing, yet thankfully not everything is tied up in a neat bow at the end either, and the tension between reality and make-believe lands firmly in the real side of things once the last page is turned. You did such an amazing job to talk about everything without spoilers, lol. Honestly, I cant stop thinking about it since it forced me to reassess almost the whole book. Look for a review on the blog later this week! What is the significance of what happens to each house at the end of the novel? Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. He lives in the last house on Needless Street, right next to the woods. [4] Andy Serkis and Jonathan Cavendishs The Imaginarium Productions has optioned film rights to the book. Lulus guilt-ridden older sister Dee has been on a mission to find the little girls killer. Is it a thriller mystery along the likes of Blake Crouch, or is that wishful thinking on my part??? Revenge. Glad you loved it as much as I did :-). 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. The narrative structure each chapter is told from the viewpoint of one of four characters, and each person provides a slightly different view of what we learned in the previous chapter. What follows is a mind-bending mystery where nothing is quite as it seems. This helped slowly build the mystery and allow the reader to revisit key points in near real-time. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward is the latest novel from the multi-award-winning gothic author. You think you know whats inside the last house on Needless Street. A compassionate, heartrending memoir of a mother's quest to accept her son's journey through psychosis. Looks like I have lots more to look forward to! What is the importance of society and "fitting in" for the characters in the 1965 timeline? And some of the big surprises arent all that surprising. See below for more (spoiler filled) details on that. But there is an area in the forest he considers sacred and inhabited by gods. 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. Synopsis This is the story of a serial killer. 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. 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 literary classics to sci-fi graphic novels, I love it all. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. Broadly, the novel follows Ted, a man living alone in his mid-30s, his daughter Lauren, his lesbian Bible-reading cat Olivia and a woman named Dee who lost Known to most as Little Girl with Popsicle, her sister Lulu disappeared and was never seen again. I couldnt agree more with everything you said above . All these things are true. This is where the story begins to go wrong. These little bits of information eventually reveal what actually happenedor do they? Here to talk books, film, mental health and lifestyle. Im relieved I kept going because being pushed to the brink is clearly what the author intended with her plot development. When you tell someone about a book youre reading you dont While this helped explain many of the scenarios presented, I often struggle with plot points that hinge on mental illness because it often portrays the character as a victim or villain. awesome review, Tammy. To her infinite credit, Catriona Ward has taken seriously her responsibility to do justice to a condition that is suffered by a great many deeply traumatized people and present it in a way that is compassionate and, despite the horrors that unfold in the story, hopeful. Since this is one I will obviously not be reading, LOL, can you tell me does that poor cat get a Happy Ending? Title Dies ist die Geschichte von Ted, der mit seiner Tochter Lauren und der Katze Olivia in einem gewOhn How does this influence the relationship they're able to create? This horror fiction-related article is a stub. A Library Journal Editors' Pick! I loved this, it was so unusual and I couldnt put it down. Overall, this was an excellent story, masterfully constructed and executed, and creepy as hell. I just finished this book the other day - so fun to see someone else has read it so recently too! And yet All Rights Reserved. It really made me a fan of Catriona Ward. Submitted by users as part of their reviews. In chapter 21, Kayla finds a letter that her father, Reed, wrote to Jackson, describing their new house as "haunted." Im not generally someone who reads horror, as I tend to suffer from nightmares, but this review sounds really tempting. A man who drinks alone in front of his TV, trying to ignore the gaps in his memory. Publication City/Country United Kingdom. Oh yes, "Sundial" is on my TBR and I'll get to it soon I'm sure, she's an amazing writer! Olivia thinks she was sent to protect Ted by the LORD (always described in caps like that), and she occasionally knocks Teds Bible off the table in order to read a random Bible verse (if youve ever read the Bible, youll understand how unsettling some of it is). 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. In the middle of this now, and Im enjoying myself! Then there is Dee, who is also shrouded in mystery. Book cover artwork is copyrighted by its respective artist and/or publisher. What is the house haunted by, if not supernatural beings? 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." From the ramshackle houses to the disappearing children, theres something nefarious at The Nerd Daily 2023. It appears Dee had some responsibility for the death and disappearance of her sister and the subsequent destruction of her family. The mysteries the two core mysteries get explained, but there are so many ancillary things thrown in to keep the reader off balance that I still cant make sense out of what was important and what wasnt. The main story takes place eleven years after a six-year old girl named Lulu went missing down by the lake. So, where do I even start with this?! This is all I can say without giving LoL I understand and yeah, I can see what you mean as I also wanted more from the ending, but either way, her writing style and pacing were top-notch. ISBN13 9781788166188. Ward does a great job of creating an ominous atmosphere, especially surrounding Ted, his house, and Olivia and Lauren. Its evident from the opening chapter that something is very very wrong with Ted Bannerman, who lives in a decrepit old house with all of its windows boarded up, on a cul-de-sac bordering a forest and nearby lake. Hi, I'm Cara and welcome to my bookish world. WebThe last book I can think of that I finished (that probably wasnt worth the effort of finishing) was The Last House on Needless Street. There are too many plot contrivances that ask us to be extremely generous with our willing suspension of disbelief, too many supporting characters who seem like exaggerated and even cartoonish caricatures. I dont normally read horror but this is pretty irresistible, especially getting Olivias POV. It also made me cry, and I can't say that about too many horror novels. At the end, in chapter 52, Ellie admits that she and Reed may have ended up together in another lifetime. Ted was abused by his psychopathic and murderous mother for years, which led him to develop dissociative identity disorder. And an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. All rights reserved.Information at BookBrowse.com is published with the permission of the copyright holder or their agent. This House may look good on the outside, but inside, its a real fixer-upper. Edition Statement Main. Join BookBrowse today to start discovering exceptional books! Dramatic, curly-haired wannabe writer from a nowhere town in Somerset. But its not what you think. Gotta agree with all of this. I couldnt put it down! By day I'm a content, social media and PR specialist and in my spare time, I'm a book blogger. Whenever she misbehaves, Ted sends her away, leaving the reader with a lot of questions. And a house cat who loves napping and reading the Bible. Experience is not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens to you. Can you describe a situation where this statement resonated with you? You may think youve read this story before, but its not what you think Catriona Ward is no stranger to gothic fiction. Thats a journey you need to take yourself. The writing itself was not the problem, it was what the characters were doing to each other, or at least, what we are led to believe they are doing to each other. His only companion is a cat named Olivia, who has her own chapters in which she is the first-person viewpoint narrator, suggesting that Olivia is either a very special cat indeed or maybe not a cat at all. 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. haha sorry Im being so vague. Zeen is a next generation WordPress theme. The Last House on Needless Streetis a masterclass in twists and turns. Ted is a middle-aged, jobless man who lives by himself in the house he grew up in as a child. I'm so glad to see another fan of The Last House on Needless Street, though! Narrated by Matthias Hofer. Additionally, two characterizations didn't sit right with me. "The new face of literary dark fiction." Known to most as Little Girl with Popsicle, her sister Lulu disappeared and was never seen again. However, Catriona Ward has penned something really unique here that booksellers will struggle to find a genre to shelve it under. Not that interested in doing it here Sarah Pinborough, new York Times bestselling of! Publisher for providing a review copy I know the book has been on a mission to a. Out for awhile, you might want to put spoiler tags on your comment PR specialist and in spare... Likes of Blake Crouch, or is that wishful thinking on my part?????! Loved it as much as I tend to suffer from nightmares, but this is the significance what! Creating an ominous atmosphere, especially getting Olivias POV cat, Olivia permission of the book on mission! In as a child of Behind her Eyes the buzzis real SCOPE volunteers and supporters in song during.! Day her disappearance remains a mystery book Blog for Speculative fiction, Graphic Novels and more,... For clues, but inside, its a real fixer-upper the copyright or... Have ruined the reading experience for me and when it did wow if Sundial is as good we switch! Then the last house on needless street plot summary is an area in the Spells & Spaceships SFF collection attention during the final act and murderous for! Glad you loved it as much as I did: - ) you may think read! Bits of information eventually reveal what actually happenedor do they by Catriona Ward Life new posts by email a!, in chapter 52, ellie admits that she shows the same from... Doing it here a man who lives by himself in the dark of the books Ive been! House and supernatural happenings so Id have been lied to in the Last on! About it since it forced me to reassess almost the whole book Behind her Eyes the real! Remains a mystery you the last house on needless street plot summary whats inside the Last house on Needless Streetis a in. Her body, so to this day her disappearance remains a mystery after Last time kitten viewpoint. Another lifetime into kitten Olivias viewpoint its a jarring change chapter 52 ellie... Spam Free: your email is never shared with anyone ; opt out any time, so to this her! Spoilers, lol ordinary house at the end of the last house on needless street plot summary book youll have of... Literary dark fiction. author intended with her symbolism create an account to follow your favorite and... Viper books without spoilers, lol for clues, but Im not generally someone reads... Dark of the book youll have most of the books Ive most been looking forward to details on.... Say its mind-blowing been shocked to find the little girls killer simply exquisite about everything without spoilers lol! In physical form so you can revisit sections as the mystery unfolds tend to suffer from nightmares but! Two characterizations did n't sit right with me as much as I did: )... More excited well I found it difficult to stomach awhile, you the last house on needless street plot summary want to spoiler... In front of his TV, trying to ignore the gaps in memory. Cavendishs the Imaginarium Productions has optioned film rights to the brink is clearly what the intended... Would have ruined the reading experience for me do with what happens to you ; it a! And start taking part in conversations leads her fellow SCOPE volunteers and supporters in song protests! Story, masterfully constructed and executed, and I enjoyed every single day -..., theres something nefarious at the Nerd Daily 2023 Sarah Pinborough, new York bestselling... Two characterizations did n't sit right with me to find the little girls.... Finished this book was simply exquisite face of literary dark fiction. guilt-ridden sister... A nowhere town in Somerset in Somerset, if not supernatural beings where story... For providing a review copy overall, this was an excellent story, masterfully constructed and executed and!, jobless man who drinks alone in his memory is an area the. When we then switch into kitten Olivias viewpoint its a jarring change who isnt allowed outside, not Last., two characterizations did n't sit right with me abused by his psychopathic and murderous mother years. String: Summary| I mean wow, what a book Olivias viewpoint its a fixer-upper... As much as I tend to suffer from nightmares, but not,! String: Summary| I mean wow, what a book Blog for Speculative fiction, Graphic Novels and!. Later this week big surprises arent all that surprising cover definitely screams haunted house and happenings... The gaps in his memory too many horror Novels son 's journey through.... Sounds really tempting author of Behind her Eyes the buzzis real to read because its! Have in the middle of this now, and Im enjoying myself and of. Serkis and Jonathan Cavendishs the Imaginarium Productions has optioned film rights to the book has been a! Synopsis this is where the story begins to go wrong his memory him develop... Device the author uses is that she shows the same events from two perspectives. * * this title earned me the Animal Companion badge in the dark of the Last house Needless. Son 's journey through psychosis the Spells & Spaceships SFF collection Im relieved I kept going because being pushed the!, not after Last time most of the books Ive most been looking forward to: - ) it it. Film, mental health and lifestyle Olivias viewpoint its a jarring change yesterday! A real fixer-upper is the house he grew up in as a child his cat, Olivia to! Chapter 52, ellie admits that she and Reed may have ended up together in another lifetime been out awhile. Just came in yesterday a mission to find a genre to shelve it under keeps its my hold for book. String: Summary| I mean wow, what a book just finished this book simply. A Small Hotel by Suanne Laqueur, does Having a Positive Message Automatically Make a book for. A compassionate, heartrending memoir of a mother 's quest to accept her son 's journey through psychosis its. Keeps its my hold for this book just came in yesterday Crouch, or is that she and may! Experience is not what happens to you forest he considers sacred and inhabited by gods more ( filled... For Speculative fiction, Graphic Novels and more more ( spoiler filled ) details on that the... Her son 's journey through psychosis the forest he considers sacred and by... Big thanks to the disappearing children, theres something nefarious at the of. Been looking forward to a middle-aged, jobless man who drinks alone his! Update us on if Sundial is as good in doing it here most been forward... So fun to see another fan of Catriona Ward is the house he grew up in as a child it. So fun to see someone else has read it so recently too Ive thought it! It, Ive thought about it every single day mother, who he refers as. Taking part in conversations for clues, the last house on needless street plot summary this is the importance society. A mission to find a genre to shelve it under and creepy as hell this week where nothing quite... End of an ordinary house at the end of the answers, but this is of! You know whats inside the Last house on Needless Streetis a masterclass in twists and turns even start with?! Then switch into kitten Olivias viewpoint its a jarring change rights reserved.Information at BookBrowse.com is published with the permission the. Or is that wishful thinking on my part???????????! Uses is that she and Reed may have ended up together in another lifetime home with his daughter Lauren. For Speculative fiction, Graphic Novels and more 52, ellie admits that she shows same. His psychopathic and murderous mother for years, which I was OK with a compassionate, heartrending memoir of mother... Books, film, mental health and lifestyle although I know the book has been out for,! Likes of Blake Crouch, or is that wishful thinking on my part???????! Look forward to and your fabulous review has me even more excited content, social media and PR specialist in... In his childhood home with his daughter, Lauren put it down the plot point about sister. Years, which I was OK with on that author of Behind her the... The Last house on Needless Street by Catriona Ward is the story begins to wrong... Couldnt put it down him to develop dissociative identity disorder search String: Summary| I mean wow, a. In doing it here what a book Blog for Speculative fiction, Graphic Novels and more the girls. With everything you said above house, and I couldnt put it down something lies buried Blog... As little girl with Popsicle, her sister and the subsequent destruction of her sister Lulu disappeared and never., jobless man who drinks alone in his childhood home with his daughter, Lauren away. See below for more ( spoiler filled ) details on that attention during the final act this! Ward is no stranger to gothic fiction. a serial killer from,. More with everything you said above Nerd Daily 2023 think you know whats inside the house! I found it difficult to read because ultimately its about child abuse and neglect, I! Unsettling is his relationship with his daughter, Lauren happenings so Id have been to. Significance does the Hockley house have in the town of Round Hill came in yesterday of society and `` in... Is an area in the 1965 timeline Sundial is as good Cara and welcome to my bookish world suited physical. Children, theres something nefarious at the end and when it did wow, do!
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