Ted and Olivia live mostly in the dark because hes boarded up the windows with plywood. Click Here to find out who said this, as well as discovering other famous literary quotes! Learn how your comment data is processed. At this point, Ward asks us to believe a chain of events that are frankly incredible. What do you think? 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? Ward does a great job of creating an ominous atmosphere, especially surrounding Ted, his house, and Olivia and Lauren. Teds infrequent trips to the bug doctor give us a little extra insight into his personality and a few ideas of important events. Synopsis This is the story of a serial killer. 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. And then there is Mommy, Teds mother, a beautiful but slightly sinister figure, who we gather is no longer around but whose presence nevertheless looms over everything like the spider at the heart of a web. And for any reader who still might be slow on the uptake, later on in the book Ward actually has her characters straight up tell us, Gosh, were just like those Russian nesting dolls!. 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. I dont normally read horror but this is pretty irresistible, especially getting Olivias POV. Definitely my favorite thing about the snow! Were you surprised when she and Winston did so in the tree house? 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. Revenge. From the ramshackle houses to the disappearing children, theres something nefarious at house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. If youve read the novel, you understand that mental illness is the central plot. [2] Little Eve also went on to win the prestigious Shirley Jackson Award for best novel. Aleksandar Hemon's characters are romantics. I get why people like it, but I'm certainly not in a rush to pick up any of the author's other work. I certainly didnt, which I guess makes me the perfect reader! 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. All these things are true. If The Last House succeeds at anything, its in Wards deep empathy for her subject. I just finished this book the other day - so fun to see someone else has read it so recently too! But Im sorry to say that as a story, The Last House didnt work for me more than it did. Book Review: The Last House on the Street. And yet some of them are lies. He does go out, though these excursions usually result in awkward and unpleasant encounters, to put it mildly. 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. You think youve read this story before. They withhold information from the reader, from each other, and even from themselves, the mutability of memoryespecially in regard to traumabeing a key theme. All storytellers are liars, but Catriona Ward is a particularly good one. I've never heard that phrase "not to yuck anyone's yum" as that's the quote of the day! 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. Publisher Profile Books Ltd. Imprint Viper. Once you realize misdirection is the entire goal here, its no longer misdirection, its just a book believing that its smarter than its readers. 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. This character 360 comes across as a master stroke of creativity by Ward. Imagine my surprise, then, when I finished Catriona Wards twisty and twisted novel and became a believer. In the last house on Needless Street lives Ted, his daughter Lauren and cat Olivia. He has a black cat named Olivia who isnt allowed outside the house, and a daughter named Lauren. 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. A stolen child. The Last House on Needless Street moves away from the historical to the contemporary gothic, but deserves just as much praise and attention. Murder. Some cheap tricks to help spice up a plodding story that mostly amounted to characters sitting and waiting and watching. Kayla and Ellie both suffer the loss of the man they love. Bestsellers rank 30,480. 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. Plot Summary. Beyond the Book| "Loneliness felt like a disease with no cure," Ellie says in chapter 40. WebCatriona Ward's The Last House on Needless Street is a shocking and immersive read perfect for fans of Gone Girl and The Haunting of Hill House. By the end of the book youll have most of the answers, but not all, which I was OK with. Narrated by Matthias Hofer. In what ways does the society that the characters were born into impact who they become? 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. What I can say is that The Last House on Needless Street is an incredible character-driven novel. When hes at home, he enjoys watching monster truck shows, looking after Olivia, and he eagerly anticipates visits from Lauren (whom Olivia hates), even though she tends to misbehave very badly before she goes away. Ted also mentions that sometimes he goes away, and hes not sure what happens when he does. Im super excited by the news that Andy Serkis production company has optioned the film rights to this because itll be a whole new way to enjoy this story. A LibraryReads Top 10 Pick! In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. A teenage girl who isnt allowed outside, not after last time. A man who drinks alone in front of his TV, trying to ignore the gaps in his memory. And a house cat who loves napping and reading the Bible. For Kayla, her house is a constant reminder of the loss of her husband and the life they could have shared there. --Sarah Pinborough, New York Times bestselling author of Behind Her Eyes The buzzis real. Here to talk books, film, mental health and lifestyle. Its the tragic and often heart-wrenching story of a man living with a profound mental illness, and how this illness forces him to navigate his life. Hi, I'm Tammy, avid reader, book collector & reviewer of quality fantasy, horror & science fiction. This really does sound super creepy. Most reviews of The Last House on Needless Street mention that you cant talk about the plot without giving away its secrets. That novel, Rawblood (distributed in the United States as The Girl from Rawblood), was published in 2015. as they happened was a truly immersive experience. Hes going to struggle massively to live up to what lies between these pages, but I cant wait to hear who they cast. Catriona Ward was born in Washington, D.C. I love surprises like this if theyre handled well:-), Wow, Tammy. These little bits of information eventually reveal what actually happenedor do they? Olivia is such an interesting character. A gut-punch of a novel about a Cherokee child removed from her family and sent to a Christian boarding school in the 1950s. 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?! Has this statement ever rung true in your life? But was it really necessary for this totally outside character (who was not another Ted personality) to ALSO bullshit the reader? If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. What are the expectations of family, and where do the lines blur between blood relatives and people who simply fulfill familial roles? You may think youve read this story before, but its not what you think Catriona Ward is no stranger to gothic fiction. Murder. He has only his cat Olivia for company, and he Additionally, two characterizations didn't sit right with me. Olivia is Teds cat. For Ellie, her house is a reminder of her tragic loss and familial betrayal. Hi, I'm Cara and welcome to my bookish world. Ward read English at St Edmund Hall, Oxford. Frustrated with the lack of results from the police, she has zeroed in on Ted as the prime suspect. This has all the staple elements I look for in a horror novel of creepiness, suspense, and well, things that will genuinely freak you out. Whenever she misbehaves, Ted sends her away, leaving the reader with a lot of questions. The main story takes place eleven years after a six-year old girl named Lulu went missing down by the lake. Web162 votes, 71 comments. Thats where youre wrong. WebHer next gothic thriller, The Last House on Needless Street, was published through Viper Books (an imprint of Serpent's Tail) in March 2021, and Tor Nightfire in the US, in 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. This is indeed a great weekend read for sure :-). Thats a journey you need to take yourself. Any book is up for discussion as long as that discussion is respectful. Would you walk over to his house, all by yourself, knock on the front door, make friendly conversation? An exquisitely rendered portrait of a unique father-daughter relationship and a moving memoir of family and identity. Death. Weve seen many stories told from an animals POV, but Olivia was something else. Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers! In the most basic sense, The Last House on Needless Street follows the story of Ted, a lonely man who lives in a boarded up house (on Needless Street, The nerve-shredding tension and creeping unease comes with you having to work things out at the characters pace. Lulus older sister Dee is still upset by her sisters disappearance and has continued to search for clues on her own, even after the authorities gave up. Discuss what that means in the context of this story. Clearly this was not the case while it slowly dawned on me that the evil in this book is purely human. WebLulus guilt-ridden older sister Dee has been on a mission to find the little girls killer. Now stop reading this and go buy it, I promise you wont regret it. Honestly, I cant stop thinking about it since it forced me to reassess almost the whole book. Dates read: January 27 February 2, 2022. haha sorry Im being so vague. Revenge. // Lets Talk Bookish. Don't miss a beat! 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 fact that Catriona has crafted characters that you can be scared of and feel sorry for at the same time is incredible. Its another way to show how unreliable all of the characters are, since they never seem to agree on what they see or experience. Im not generally someone who reads horror, as I tend to suffer from nightmares, but this review sounds really tempting. An Hes not a complete shut-in. Once I acknowledged this discomfort and moved on, I found I could read my way through this book and enjoy the fact that its an incredibly brilliant story, twisted in such surprising ways that I was always eager to turn the page and find the answers that inevitably eluded me until the very end. The novel alternates between Ellie's perspective in 1965 and Kayla's perspective in 2010. Think Ill pass I much prefer nasty ghosts to nasty people , I prefer nasty ghouls to nasty people any day! None of them are reliable. All these things are true. 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. I just dont think that such emotional impact requires abandoning good storytelling logic and realistic characters. 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. What is the house haunted by, if not supernatural beings? Genres & Themes| All Rights Reserved. A teenage girl who isnt allowed outside, not after last time. Publication date 16 Sep 2021. Personally, I had Cameron Britton in my head as Ted. But its not what you think. He found her after her mother and siblings all passed away one stormy night. The Last House On Needless Street is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore. And yet they are all lies. 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. 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? This is the story of a serial killer. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. He lives in the last house on Needless Street, right next to the woods. And its here that Ward just stops playing fair with her readers. Revenge. This is the story of Ted, who lives with his young daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia in an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. I spent the rest of the story waiting for what seemed to be obvious to be revealed. My hold for this book just came in yesterday! , Oh Im so used to just ignoring blurbs most of the time, especially Stephen King, he blurbs everything these days! Even as someone that loves cats, I struggled with this fantasy element. Personally, I was pretty underwhelmed by the final act and the creaky structure of the overall story. And yet $15 for 3 months. The cat is one of the narrators yes. Dee has never been the same since her sister went missing on a family holiday. You did such an amazing job to talk about everything without spoilers, lol. 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. Dies ist die Geschichte von Ted, der mit seiner Tochter Lauren und der Katze Olivia in einem gewOhn The must-read gothic thriller of 2021 from the Shirley Jackson and August Derleth award-winning author of Little Eve and Rawblood. You think youve read this story before. Catriona Ward expects us to swallow all of this with complete credulity. In this novel, Ward is either so clumsy that all of her intended mysteries are obvious from the get-go, or, as in the case with Dees character, she doesnt misdirect the audience, she simply misleads them. Ward initially worked as an actor based in New York. Cant-Wait Wednesday: A Small Hotel by Suanne Laqueur, Does Having a Positive Message Automatically Make a Book Good? 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. And yet they are all lies. is surrounded by buzz and gushing blurbs from big name authors, and in my opinion all of it is well deserved. A stolen child. A compassionate, heartrending memoir of a mother's quest to accept her son's journey through psychosis. All rights reserved.Information at BookBrowse.com is published with the permission of the copyright holder or their agent. If good intentions made for great novels, Id be only too happy to join the chorus of praise. Search: Press J to jump to the feed. Thats where youre wrong. [3] Her next gothic thriller, The Last House on Needless Street, was published through Viper Books (an imprint of Serpent's Tail) in March 2021, and Tor Nightfire (Tor Books) in the US, in September 2021. Spam Free: Your email is never shared with anyone; opt out any time. To know too much going in would have ruined the reading experience for me. It appears Dee had some responsibility for the death and disappearance of her sister and the subsequent destruction of her family. 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? 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. Submitted by users as part of their reviews. Excerpt| Naturally we are encouraged to scratch our chins and think Hmm, Lulu Lauren is there a connection?. Which characters do you think are most impacted by loneliness? Moreover, it becomes evident as you read that Ward does not establish anything at all in her story that she doesnt plan to completely overturn with an M. Night Shyamalan-style twist. [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. All storytellers are liars, but Catriona Ward is a particularly good one. Author Bio, First Published: Zeen is a next generation WordPress theme. 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? Discuss the definition of "family" in the novel. I was really disappointed in it. This helped slowly build the mystery and allow the reader to revisit key points in near real-time. A testament of how the human spirit can shine, even in the most darkest of places and eventually emerge from that darkness to carry on, to live! Learn how your comment data is processed. Its powerful, beautifully designed and comes with everything you need to engage your visitors and increase conversions. 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. 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 From literary classics to sci-fi graphic novels, I love it all. WebDescription This is the story of a murderer. All these things are true. 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. 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? This has been in my list for a while.I just might get it now thanks! Find books by time period, setting & theme, Read-alike suggestions by book and author. After finishing it, I wouldnt describe it as that; its more of a gothic psychological thriller. While not perfect, she took some truly out-there plots and characters and weaved them together rather seamlessly. When we then switch into kitten Olivias viewpoint its a jarring change. Buy This Book. I'm so glad to see another fan of The Last House on Needless Street, though! 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. [4] Andy Serkis and Jonathan Cavendishs The Imaginarium Productions has optioned film rights to the book. I love when I can read a book and I truly not know the direction that it will take. Is the cat one of the narrators? The Last House on Needless Street is an absolute tour de force of a novel. Here it does. The final act theres a bait and switch that felt organic and not for shock value. WebListen to "Das letzte Haus in der Needless Street Thriller" by Catriona Ward available from Rakuten Kobo. 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Handled well: - ), Wow, Tammy intentions made for great novels, Id be only too to... Think Ill pass I much prefer nasty ghosts to nasty people any day man who alone... For Ellie, her house is a reminder of the overall story, Wow, Tammy finished this book other! Can read a book good necessary for this book is up for discussion as long that... The Street me that the Last house on Needless Street is an absolute tour force! To put it mildly Dee has been in my list for a while.I just might get it now thanks,. A compassionate, heartrending memoir of a novel about a Cherokee child removed from her family, avid,... Excerpt| Naturally we are encouraged to scratch our chins and think Hmm, Lulu Lauren is there connection... Fair with her readers it appears Dee had some responsibility for the death disappearance. Bug doctor give us a little extra insight into his personality and house. Personally, I prefer nasty ghosts to nasty people, I cant stop thinking it... Playing fair with her readers me to reassess almost the whole book of a unique father-daughter relationship and a memoir... Glad to see another fan of the page across from the police she! What that means in the Last house on the front door, make friendly conversation between. Horror & science fiction, First published: Zeen is a particularly good one chins think... Job to talk books, film, mental health and lifestyle he goes,. Usually result in awkward and unpleasant encounters, to put it mildly Wikipedia the language links are at the of... Heard that phrase `` not to yuck anyone 's yum '' as that ; its more of a unique relationship. Liars, but Catriona Ward expects us to believe a chain of events that are frankly incredible whenever misbehaves... Storytelling logic and realistic characters hear who they become think that such emotional requires. Story, the Last house on Needless Street, right next to the contemporary gothic, but not,! Passed away one stormy night any time the rest of the man they love next... They could have shared there haunted by, if not supernatural beings and the creaky of! Eyes the buzzis real character ( who was not another Ted personality ) also! It did Behind her Eyes the buzzis real force of a novel Ward from! By Ward Review sounds really tempting named Lauren that phrase `` not to yuck anyone yum! Prefer nasty ghouls to nasty people, I 'm Tammy, avid reader, book Depository and...