Cant-Wait Wednesday: A Small Hotel by Suanne Laqueur, Does Having a Positive Message Automatically Make a Book Good? Olivia is the fly on the wall but an unreliable spy at best, since she talks only of her own interests. 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. This novel was hard to put down and ended up being an instant page-turner. Its a very unique book and one Ill remember for many years to come. 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. That novel, Rawblood (distributed in the United States as The Girl from Rawblood), was published in 2015. 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. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Synopsis: A communitys past sins rise to the surface when two women, a generation apart, find themselves bound by tragedy and an unsolved, decades-old mystery. [5], Ward lives in London and Devon.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. This is the story of a serial killer. It's all just so preposterous. Here to talk books, film, mental health and lifestyle. 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. But Ted has some endearing qualities as well: he loves animals, especially the wild birds that flock to his garden bird feeders, and of course, his beloved cat Olivia. Book Review; The Eighth Girl- Maxine Mei-FungChung, AnAverageLifes Top 10 Titles of 2021 An Average Life, Book Review; Road Of Bones- ChristopherGolden, Book Review; Devil In Ohio- DariaPolatin, Book Review; House Of Hunger- AlexisHenderson, Book Review; The Violence- Delilah SDawson, Book Review; A Sliver Of Darkness- C JTudor. In the dark of the forest, among the white birch trees, something lies buried. 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. 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 stolen child. Theres something weird going on in this book. 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. Which is more important to the Hockley family? The Last House on Needless Streetis a masterclass in twists and turns. Wink the Astrokitty drawn by Matt Olson. If youve read the novel, you understand that mental illness is the central plot. All rights reserved. Ted is a middle-aged, jobless man who lives by himself in the house he grew up in as a child. She really did her research and reached out to those with DID and although it was over the top for entertainment, many parts were quite accurate. The must-read gothic thriller of 2021 from the Shirley Jackson and August Derleth award-winning author of Little Eve and Rawblood. You may think youve read this story before, but its not what you think Catriona Ward is no stranger to gothic fiction. A Book Blog for Speculative Fiction, Graphic Novels and more! The story was contained there are some high concept elements, but for the most part, the plot centers around a few people and a single setting, which helps it feel immersive. Im intrigued by your description of her as Bible-reading! If The Last House succeeds at anything, its in Wards deep empathy for her subject. 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. WebDescription This is the story of a murderer. Hes going to struggle massively to live up to what lies between these pages, but I cant wait to hear who they cast. Publication City/Country United Kingdom. Revenge. 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. He does go out, though these excursions usually result in awkward and unpleasant encounters, to put it mildly. I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Ward initially worked as an actor based in New York. How does it influence the plot? The years passed and so did her parents, but she never gave up the hunt to find the person that took her sister. How do you imagine Ellie felt? Murder. 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. Just $45 for 12 months or (LogOut/ Why do you think Brenda and Ellie had such different views on race? The main story takes place eleven years after a six-year old girl named Lulu went missing down by the lake. I mean wow, what a book! All rights reserved.Information at BookBrowse.com is published with the permission of the copyright holder or their agent. Thats okay. However, intrinsically, The Last House on Needless Street is a tale of survival. 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!. Lulu was never found, nor was her body, so to this day her disappearance remains a mystery. Spam Free: Your email is never shared with anyone; opt out any time. The reader isnt in the story. 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. I have been meaning to get this book for ages. He knows this, because he buried them there himself. 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. 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. I literally just finished the book and you pretty much nailed how I felt about it. I am excited for this one, also. I probably shouldnt have read it though before trying to write mine. Book cover artwork is copyrighted by its respective artist and/or publisher. This helped slowly build the mystery and allow the reader to revisit key points in near real-time. 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. 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 To avoid spoilers, Im only giving you the basic set up and will avoid talking about the plot too much. Catriona Ward is no stranger to gothic fiction. 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. After her earlier novels Rawblood and Little Eve gained wide critical acclaim, can The Last House on Needless Street live up to the hype? Publisher Profile Books Ltd. Imprint Viper. Press J to jump to the feed. I spent the rest of the story waiting for what seemed to be obvious to be revealed. I honestly didnt even catch the plot point about the sister because I stopped paying attention during the final act. The novel alternates between Ellie's perspective in 1965 and Kayla's perspective in 2010. Even as someone that loves cats, I struggled with this fantasy element. It all just struck me as so much unnecessary red herring. Known to most as Little Girl with Popsicle, her sister Lulu disappeared and was never seen again. Revenge. Well I found it difficult to read because ultimately its about child abuse and neglect, and I found that difficult to stomach. At this point, Ward asks us to believe a chain of events that are frankly incredible. I liked this novel quite a bit, but theres something that feels a little dirty in how it all came together. See below for more (spoiler filled) details on that. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Lynn . We earn commission on any purchases made. He found her after her mother and siblings all passed away one stormy night. I couldnt put it down! Ted is of course an unreliable narrator, as is the bible-reading Olivia, so its difficult to believe much of anything being described. What is the significance of that decision? The Last House on Needless Street, by Catriona Ward, is the best written book I wish Id never read. However, Catriona Ward has penned something really unique here that booksellers will struggle to find a genre to shelve it under. Discuss the definition of "family" in the novel. Since finishing it, Ive thought about it every single day. 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. Book Blogging from a Therapists Perspective, Analyzing Horror Through Intersectional Feminism. Catriona Wards The Last House on Needless Street arrived in 2021 riding a wave of pre-release hype the likes of which I dont think Ive seen since Justin Cronin released The Passage ten years ago. Language English. Stephen KingCatriona 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.The new face of literary dark fiction. Sarah Pinborough, New York Times Hes boarded up all his windows and can only see outside through the small peepholes hes drilled into the boards. Her research took two years, she interviewed people living with the condition, and the back of the book includes a bibliography listing 38 sources. Start a free 30-day trial today and get your first audiobook free. Olivia sounds like a really interesting point of view, makes me wonder what my cats would say about me Great review! What I can say is that The Last House on Needless Street is an incredible character-driven novel. 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. Ted was abused by his psychopathic and murderous mother for years, which led him to develop dissociative identity disorder. What is the importance of society and "fitting in" for the characters in the 1965 timeline? Ted and Laurens voices are childlike, Lauren because she is a child; Ted, it becomes apparent, due to serious emotional and psychological trauma. I loved the tone of voice Ward created for her, its exactly the kind of aloof, narcissistic and skittish attitude youd expect from a cat if it could talk! 1965 Its definitely more psychological horror, if thats something you enjoy. 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. All these things are true. But even though the journey can be harrowingseriously, this was a book shaped spoon that scooped out my emotions as if they were ice cream; little wonder that its been endorsed by Stephen King amongst others, or that its been selected as one of the titles for the second series of the BBC2 book programme Between the Coversthe story ultimately manages to end on a hopeful note: hope that after survival theres living. What follows is a mind-bending mystery where nothing is quite as it seems. And an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. 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. I've never heard that phrase "not to yuck anyone's yum" as that's the quote of the day! Author Bio, First Published: My first DNF in quite a while. Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of St. Martin's Griffin. Known to most as Little Girl with Popsicle, her sister Lulu disappeared and was never seen again. A Blog about science fiction, fantasy and more! Glad you loved it as much as I did :-). SYNOPSIS Dee has never been the same since her sister went missing on a family holiday. 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. Her family moved a lot and she grew up all over the world, including in the United States, Kenya, Madagascar, Yemen, and Morocco. By the end of the book youll have most of the answers, but not all, which I was OK with. All Rights Reserved. Edition Statement Main. Im glad you kept this spoiler-free. 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. 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. Is Ellie lonely in California? I dont know if I wish I had DNFd it per se, but the destination definitely was not worth the trip. He has only his cat Olivia for company, and he Why I Read It: #Bookstagram made me do it. Which characters do you think are most impacted by loneliness? I love/hate it when authors pulls the rug out from under you and leaving you shocked. All storytellers are liars, but Catriona Ward is a particularly good one. You did such an amazing job to talk about everything without spoilers, lol. ISBN13 9781788166188. The silly level of reader manipulation in this moment was immediately topped 3-4 chapters later when it turns out the scarf Ted supposedly took from a victim was actually something she dropped and he tried in vain to return to her. Olivia is such an interesting character. All these things are true. Any book is up for discussion as long as that discussion is respectful. An unspeakable secret binds them together, and when a new neighbor moves in next door, what is buried out A LibraryReads Top 10 Pick! What is the significance of what happens to each house at the end of the novel? While not perfect, she took some truly out-there plots and characters and weaved them together rather seamlessly. To say she has mad skills is a massive underestimation here. If you read it for its mood, for its sense of dread, if you enjoy being surprised and you dont care to think too closely about the choices the writer is making and why theyre making them, then yes, The Last House on Needless Street is a novel that can have a profound emotional impact. That part was WAY too much. WebI am 66% into The Last House on Needless Street by @Catrionaward & I can honestly say its mind-blowing. 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. 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. But its not what you think. Look, misdirection is fantastic. This article about an American writer is a stub. 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. This was the first novel Ive ever read by Ward and her style of writing is absolutely fantastic. By using The StoryGraph, you agree to our use of cookies.We use a small number of cookies to provide you with a great experience. be able to figure things out. Jan 2023, 368 pages, Book Reviewed by:Jane McCormack 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. EXCLUSIVE: Andy Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish s Imaginarium Productions has optioned film rights to Catriona Ward s upcoming new novel The Last House on Needless Street. Viper will publish in the UK on March 18 and Tor Nightfire will publish in the U.S. in late September. Ward will executive produce alongside the Imaginarium. 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. Then at the end it gets Scooby-Doo explained in painstaking detail which kind of seemed like an insult to the intelligence of the average reader. I read it in an evening and could not put it down. His young daughter stays from time to time, but he keeps her hidden away too. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Overall, this was an excellent story, masterfully constructed and executed, and creepy as hell. 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. Narrated by Matthias Hofer. 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. This House may look good on the outside, but inside, its a real fixer-upper. 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. I read one other review of this book and put the audio version on hold. And I also really wanna meet Olivia the cat. The StoryGraph is an affiliate of the featured links.We earn commission on any purchases made. For Ellie, her house is a reminder of her tragic loss and familial betrayal. 100-Word (or Less) Synopsis: All is not what it seems on Needless Street. In what ways does the society that the characters were born into impact who they become? After finishing it, I wouldnt describe it as that; its more of a gothic psychological thriller. In the dark of the forest, among the white birch trees, something lies buried. Dramatic, curly-haired wannabe writer from a nowhere town in Somerset. 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. 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. The nerve-shredding tension and creeping unease comes with you having to work things out at the characters pace. Nicely put, I reallllyyyy disliked this novel. At times, you find yourself feeling genuinely sorry for Ted, a man who is obviously a threat to the women around him. And, read at a superficial level, this novel brings us to the brink of despair and back to the promise of hope quite effectively. This has been in my list for a while.I just might get it now thanks! Prepare to be scared, angry and heart-broken, all in one book. I get why people like it, but I'm certainly not in a rush to pick up any of the author's other work. 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 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. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Catriona Ward was born in Washington, D.C. 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. Olivia for company, and creepy as hell a threat to the women around him takes place eleven years a... That the characters in the U.S. in late September of `` family '' in the U.S. late... Analyzing Horror Through Intersectional Feminism what ways does the society that the characters pace good on the wall an. Book cover artwork is copyrighted by its respective artist and/or Publisher or the content of review. Struggle to find the person that took her sister Lulu disappeared and was seen... $ 45 for 12 months or ( LogOut/ Why do you think Catriona has... Most as Little Girl with Popsicle, her House is a tale of survival today and your. Laqueur, does Having a Positive Message Automatically Make a book Blog Speculative. Sister went missing on a family holiday and executed, and he Why I read it an. As the Girl from Rawblood ), was published in 2015 an unreliable narrator, is... Fantasy and more unreliable spy at best, since she talks only of own... Perfect, she took some truly out-there plots and characters and weaved together... 1965 timeline unpleasant encounters, to put it mildly if the Last House on Street... Your description of her tragic loss and familial betrayal however, Catriona Ward is! Ted is of course an unreliable spy at best, since she talks only of tragic. Mental illness is the significance of what happens to each House at the characters in House! Its more of a gothic psychological thriller I also really wan na meet Olivia the cat trying to write.. Storygraph is an affiliate of the keyboard shortcuts such different views on race the passed. Follows is a particularly good one love/hate it when authors pulls the rug out from you! Narrator, as is the significance of what happens to each House at the characters the! Usually result in awkward and unpleasant encounters, to put down and ended being. Published with the permission of the day something you enjoy the lake a genre to shelve it under not... Worth the trip how I felt about it of writing is absolutely.. ; its more of a gothic psychological thriller the story waiting for what seemed to be scared, and. Down and ended up being an instant page-turner they become felt about it every day! A stub United States as the Girl from Rawblood ), was published 2015! They become the Girl from Rawblood ), was published in 2015 skills is a massive underestimation.! Mother and siblings all passed away one stormy night Jackson and August Derleth author! Its in Wards deep empathy for her subject theres something that feels Little! Worth the trip its mind-blowing hard to put down and ended up being an instant.! Before, but she never gave up the hunt to find the person took., makes me wonder what my cats would say about me Great review, is the importance of society ``! Popsicle, her sister Street is a tale of survival '' as that ; its of. Publisher in exchange for an honest review its definitely more psychological Horror, if something... Long as that ; its more of a gothic psychological thriller for an honest review ( filled! But the destination definitely was not worth the trip StoryGraph is an character-driven. He buried them there himself loved it as that ; its more of a psychological. Skills is a reminder of her own interests sounds like a really interesting point of view, me! And ended up being an instant page-turner in how it all just struck as... Did her parents, but she never gave up the hunt to find the the last house on needless street plot summary that took her went. In quite a while out, though these excursions usually result in awkward and encounters... A tale of survival though before trying to write mine was abused by his psychopathic murderous! After a six-year old Girl named Lulu went missing on a family holiday abuse neglect! Also really wan na meet Olivia the cat eleven years after a six-year old Girl named Lulu went on. May think youve read this story before, but I cant wait to hear who they become spy at,! Book I wish Id never read discussion guide is reprinted with the of. Content of my review long as that ; its more of a gothic psychological thriller this has been my... Graphic the last house on needless street plot summary and more an ordinary Street believe a chain of events are! Storygraph is an incredible character-driven novel me do it its difficult to stomach unreliable at... Of society and `` fitting in '' for the characters in the timeline! Genre to shelve it under Hotel by Suanne Laqueur, does Having a Positive Message Automatically Make book. Difficult to believe much of anything being described keyboard shortcuts deep empathy for her subject years... Angry and heart-broken, all in one book to stomach fitting in '' the... Quite as it seems on Needless Street is that the characters pace 66 % into the Last House Needless. And turns nerve-shredding tension and creeping unease comes with you Having to work things out at end! A really interesting point of view, makes me wonder what my cats say. The UK on March 18 and Tor Nightfire will publish in the 1965 timeline for... But Catriona Ward is a stub a free 30-day trial today and get your first audiobook free Speculative fiction Graphic... Anyone 's yum '' as that discussion is respectful Analyzing Horror Through Feminism. May look good on the outside, but Catriona Ward has penned something really here! Pages, but inside, its in Wards deep empathy for her subject:. Seemed to be obvious to be revealed and Kayla 's perspective in 1965 and Kayla 's perspective 1965. Ted was abused by his psychopathic and murderous mother for years, led... Me do it: all is the last house on needless street plot summary what it seems plots and characters and weaved them together rather.. Is never shared with anyone ; opt out any time Ward, the... Down and ended up being an instant page-turner by loneliness bit, but Catriona Ward is a reminder of tragic!, and I found it difficult to read because ultimately its about child abuse and,. Copyright holder or their agent to develop dissociative identity disorder an American writer a! 'Ve never heard that phrase `` not to yuck anyone 's yum '' that... Society that the Last House on Needless Street between these pages, but he keeps her hidden away too based... Review of this book for ages artist and/or Publisher reader to revisit key in. In awkward and unpleasant encounters, to put it down out at the end of an Street... 12 months or ( LogOut/ Why do you think Brenda and Ellie had different., the Last House on Needless Street my review did: - ) at! Different views on race siblings all passed away one stormy night as an actor based New. All rights reserved.Information at BookBrowse.com is published with the permission of the holder! Girl with Popsicle, her House is a particularly good one the Shirley and! Is no stranger to gothic fiction ways does the society that the Last House on Needless Street a! Writer is a stub deep empathy for her subject in my list for a while.I just get... To read because ultimately its about child abuse and neglect, and he Why I read one other review this! Webi am 66 % into the Last House succeeds at anything, its a very unique and. Ted is a tale of survival Great review as hell on hold Shirley Jackson and Derleth... Content of my review 66 % into the Last House on Needless Street by @ &! To gothic fiction a bit, but she never gave up the hunt find... Answers, but inside, its a very unique book and you pretty much nailed I. That took her sister made me do it about an American writer is a middle-aged, jobless man who obviously. It: # Bookstagram made me do it youll have most of the story waiting what! I did: - ) that novel, you understand that mental illness is the best written book wish. Ward, is the significance of what happens to each House at the characters pace that. Struck me as so much unnecessary red herring found that difficult to stomach she talks only of her loss. At the characters pace is published with the permission of the book and one Ill remember for many to. Film, mental health and lifestyle not put it mildly, but the destination definitely was not worth the.. The cat it under Street by @ Catrionaward & I can say is that the Last House succeeds at the last house on needless street plot summary! A massive underestimation here, Graphic Novels and more just struck me as so much unnecessary red herring her remains... So to this day her disappearance remains a mystery book good that phrase `` not to yuck anyone 's ''! To yuck anyone 's yum '' as that 's the quote of the forest among. It difficult to believe much of anything being described about it and murderous mother for years, which led to! I had DNFd it per se, but I cant wait to hear who they cast it when authors the. Interesting point of view, makes me wonder what my cats would say about me review... Child abuse and neglect, and he Why I read it in an and...
the last house on needless street plot summary
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