Title I literally just finished the book and you pretty much nailed how I felt about it. Once you realize misdirection is the entire goal here, its no longer misdirection, its just a book believing that its smarter than its readers. Oct 12, 2021 | Book Reviews, Horror, mystery, Thriller | 12 comments. 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. Im usually unable to figure things out so perhaps Im also the perfect reader. The years passed and so did her parents, but she never gave up the hunt to find the person that took her sister. Since then, an invisible bond has connected them. WebListen to "Das letzte Haus in der Needless Street Thriller" by Catriona Ward available from Rakuten Kobo. For example, Reverend Filburn and the Northern students did not initially welcome Ellie because she was from the South, and the people in Round Hill opposed the SCOPE program because "Yankee" outsiders were coming in to "tell us how we should be runnin' things," as Buddy says in chapter 6. 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. Ted lives alone behind boarded-up windows, hiding from the prying eyes of his neighbours. He has only his cat Olivia for company, and he rarely leaves the house. Author Bio, First Published: But I think Ward could have given poor Ted a mother who fit that trope, if thats the trope she really needed to utilize, without going overboard into making the woman into some kind of Resident Evil villain performing devilish medical experiments on missing children. But its not what you think. Learn how your comment data is processed. Recently hes been dating and its not gone too well, so hes been extra stressed. I've read it and was blown away. Again with Ted blanking for unknown time periods and trying to garner advice from his doctor only by describing TV shows, we are piecing together truth from fiction. Oh yes, "Sundial" is on my TBR and I'll get to it soon I'm sure, she's an amazing writer! 1965. 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. ISBN13 9781788166188. This is the story of a serial killer. 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. It's a true nerve-shredder that keeps its Although gothic and dark throughout, theres a surprisingly positive thread that emerges. This is where the story begins to go wrong. The very subject matter of parental abuse and the destructive traumas that children of abusers can carry into adulthood is alone enough to be triggering to a great many readers. I was listening to it on Audible and was struggling hard with it. The main story takes place eleven years after a six-year old girl named Lulu went missing down by the lake. All the main characters, besides Dee, are his separate identities. If this was a movie, Id watch it again for clues, but Im not that interested in doing it here. Ted was abused by his psychopathic and murderous mother for years, which led him to develop dissociative identity disorder. Ive seen this everywhere lately, definitely going to have to pick it up! Who needs the real world? Expectation: A page-turning supernatural thriller. Time is not always linear in this story, so flashbacks of Dee and Teds childhood interrupt the suspenseful present-day plotline, while other times its unclear whether someone is recalling a memory or creating one. This is the story of a murderer. 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. Revenge. Im not generally someone who reads horror, as I tend to suffer from nightmares, but this review sounds really tempting. And yet they are all lies You think you know whats inside the last house on Needless Street. For Ellie, her house is a reminder of her tragic loss and familial betrayal. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. In the last house on Needless Street lives Ted, his daughter Lauren and cat Olivia. Even her plot twists have plot twists. How did you feel after you learned of Brenda and Miss Pat's involvement in Winston's death? SYNOPSIS Dee has never been the same since her sister went missing on a family holiday. Paperback: That novel, Rawblood (distributed in the United States as The Girl from Rawblood), was published in 2015. Her research took two years, she interviewed people living with the condition, and the back of the book includes a bibliography listing 38 sources. // Lets Talk Bookish, Great review Im really looking forward to this one, and so far Ive managed to avoid any spoilers. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. "Viper strikes: Catriona Ward moves to new Serpent's Tail imprint | The Bookseller", "The Imaginarium's Andy Serkis & Jonathan Cavendish in Film Deal for Catriona Ward Novel 'The Last House on Needless Street', "catriona ward discusses her novel girl rawblood with mike mignola and devin griffiths", "On Ghosts, the Gothic, & 1920s Lesbians: An Interview with Catriona Ward, Author of Rawblood", "The Shirley Jackson Awards 2018 Shirley Jackson Awards Winners", "Interview: Catriona Ward Talks About Her Latest & Upcoming Books - Fully Booked", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Catriona_Ward&oldid=1126574772, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 10 December 2022, at 02:30. 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. It's all just so preposterous. At times, you find yourself feeling genuinely sorry for Ted, a man who is obviously a threat to the women around him. 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. be able to figure things out. Revenge. 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 Dates read: January 27 February 2, 2022. Were you surprised when she and Winston did so in the tree house? Ted is a middle-aged, jobless man who lives by himself in the house he grew up in as a child. Olivia is Teds cat. Search String: Summary| All these things are true. 100-Word (or Less) Synopsis: All is not what it seems on Needless Street. All rights reserved. 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?! 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 The characters yes, a talking cat is one of the primary narrators. Olivia sounds like a really interesting point of view, makes me wonder what my cats would say about me Great review! Olivia is the fly on the wall but an unreliable spy at best, since she talks only of her own interests. Plot Summary. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Here to talk books, film, mental health and lifestyle. Also yes, I tasted one and they are delicious, This book was simply exquisite. What is the significance of that decision? 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. Growing up in the well-to-do town of Round Hill, North Carolina, Ellie Hockley was raised to be a proper Southern lady. 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. And an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. ISBN10 1788166183. To know too much going in would have ruined the reading experience for me. When we then switch into kitten Olivias viewpoint its a jarring change. [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. The nerve-shredding tension and creeping unease comes with you having to work things out at the characters pace. I certainly didnt, which I guess makes me the perfect reader! This really does sound super creepy. A thick, quiet woodland where you could hide anything. 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? And some of the big surprises arent all that surprising. All reviews and site design by Thomas M. Wagner. How would the story be different if they were just friends? The nitty-gritty: A creepy, disturbing tale perfect for fans of twisty, psychological horror. Theyre all complex and driven by completely different pain and fears. BOOM! Just the idea of the cat POV has me super curious!!! Revenge. Yes actually, the cat does get a happy ending! How do you imagine Ellie felt? You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. This is the story of a serial killer. That statement resonates with the rest of Ellie's life. 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. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions. And yet Its definitely not for everyone because it may steer some readers into painful childhood memories that may be best left unexamined, but its an excellent example of the power of red herrings when directing attention to all the wrong places. Thats a journey you need to take yourself. 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? But, its also not what you think when you start reading it, it turns into something totally unexpectedI dont want to give anything away! Change). I spent the rest of the story waiting for what seemed to be obvious to be revealed. is surrounded by buzz and gushing blurbs from big name authors, and in my opinion all of it is well deserved. What really happened inside the freezer chest? What role does guilt play in the narrative? A LibraryReads Top 10 Pick! Clearly this was not the case while it slowly dawned on me that the evil in this book is purely human. Book Review: The Last House on the Street. At last, she has the address of the man who was originally suspected of her abduction. What follows is a mind-bending mystery where nothing is quite as it seems. Revenge. In the dark of the forest, among the white birch trees, something lies buried. What do you think is the meaning behind this statement? Why does the bug manTeds therapistseem so sinister? The ending was alright and even though I wanted a bit more, I'm looking forward to reading her next novel, "Sundial" by the end of March :-). The other device the author uses is that she shows the same events from two different perspectives. 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. Has this statement ever rung true in your life? And an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. Additionally, two characterizations didn't sit right with me. All rights reserved.Information at BookBrowse.com is published with the permission of the copyright holder or their agent. Dees journey was surprisingly nightmarishwe learn she is afraid of snakes for exampleand I thought her character added a nice dimension to the story. I have been lied to in the best possible way and I enjoyed every single moment. I love/hate it when authors pulls the rug out from under you and leaving you shocked. 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. What is the importance of society and "fitting in" for the characters in the 1965 timeline? You think you know whats inside the last house on Needless Street. Frustrated with the lack of results from the police, she has zeroed in on Ted as the prime suspect. If good intentions made for great novels, Id be only too happy to join the chorus of praise. I loved this, it was so unusual and I couldnt put it down. Zeen is a next generation WordPress theme. Revenge. Ellie frequently leads her fellow SCOPE volunteers and supporters in song during protests. Synopsis This is the story of a serial killer. Im intrigued by your description of her as Bible-reading! Copyright 2020 I've Read This. And yet, it was unputdownable despite this dark subject matter, so although its not the spooky haunted house I was expecting for my Halloween reading, I was terrified all the same. And I am glad you had such a great time with it! At the half way point I couldn't justify spending any more time with it and refunded it. Reality: A slow-burn mystery with some satisfying last act reveals. This was the first novel Ive ever read by Ward and her style of writing is absolutely fantastic. By day I'm a content, social media and PR specialist and in my spare time, I'm a book blogger. The Last House on Needless Street moves away from the historical to the contemporary gothic, but deserves just as much praise and attention. A stolen child. Genres & Themes| Any book is up for discussion as long as that discussion is respectful. At the end, in chapter 52, Ellie admits that she and Reed may have ended up together in another lifetime. Excerpt| They withhold information from the reader, from each other, and even from themselves, the mutability of memoryespecially in regard to traumabeing a key theme. 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? Hell close his eyes in one place and wake up in another. Ted is of course an unreliable narrator, as is the bible-reading Olivia, so its difficult to believe much of anything being described. He doesnt have too many opportunities to be social, but he has learned to adapt to certain social cues. I just dont think that such emotional impact requires abandoning good storytelling logic and realistic characters. Start a free 30-day trial today and get your first audiobook free. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward will undoubtedly be on my top 10 book list of 2021. For both characters, their house represents their grief. 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. Join BookBrowse today to start discovering exceptional books! Ward initially worked as an actor based in New York. But there is an area in the forest he considers sacred and inhabited by gods. The story is told from multiple points of view: Ted, Olivia (yes you heard that right, the cat), DeeTeds new neighbour, and Lauren. Revenge. Lets discuss your favorite reads or listens. WebDescription This is the story of a murderer. [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. Think Ill pass I much prefer nasty ghosts to nasty people , I prefer nasty ghouls to nasty people any day! And that is the beauty of this storygetting to the truth is a circuitous and uneven path, one I never grew tired of. 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. However, intrinsically, The Last House on Needless Street is a tale of survival. Overall, this was an excellent story, masterfully constructed and executed, and creepy as hell. Edition Statement Main. Synopsis An Indie Next Pick! And speaking of Olivia, what a unique character! Catriona Ward was born in Washington, D.C. Do you believe this could have been true? The Last House on Needless Street, by Catriona Ward, is the best written book I wish Id never read. 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. And an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. 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! Thats where youre wrong. I was really disappointed in it. "The new face of literary dark fiction." This isnt a spoiler. How did the alternating timelines and voices impact your reading experience? This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Hes going to struggle massively to live up to what lies between these pages, but I cant wait to hear who they cast. 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. 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. Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers! A stolen child. I can hardly wait to read Catriona Wards next book! Ted is a middle-aged, jobless man who lives by himself in the house he grew up in as a child. I'll probably re-read this come October or something. None of them are reliable. Im glad you kept this spoiler-free. Jan 2023, 368 pages, Book Reviewed by:Jane McCormack Book Blogging from a Therapists Perspective, Analyzing Horror Through Intersectional Feminism. Now stop reading this and go buy it, I promise you wont regret it. Carolyn is a librarian and book addict with an MA in Creative Writing with aspirations to one day be a published author. Death. Synopsis This is the story of a serial killer. You did such an amazing job to talk about everything without spoilers, lol. Greg recently postedSunday Post 411, Wow, sounds great. Will stay up far too late to finish a book and can and will talk about them until the cows come home. Whenever she misbehaves, Ted sends her away, leaving the reader with a lot of questions. Its like, give me a break! An What does it mean for the future of both characters? Dies ist die Geschichte von Ted, der mit seiner Tochter Lauren und der Katze Olivia in einem gewOhn 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. I get why people like it, but I'm certainly not in a rush to pick up any of the author's other work. 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. 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. Hugs to @tordotcompub for the review copy . Review: The Last House On Needless Street by Catriona Ward. He has only his cat Olivia for company, and he Ward read English at St Edmund Hall, Oxford. Is it a thriller mystery along the likes of Blake Crouch, or is that wishful thinking on my part??? In the last house on Needless Street lives Ted, his daughter Lauren and cat Olivia. Since this is one I will obviously not be reading, LOL, can you tell me does that poor cat get a Happy Ending? Hes boarded up all his windows and can only see outside through the small peepholes hes drilled into the boards. Which characters do you think are most impacted by loneliness? 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. (LogOut/ For example, both Brenda and Ellie were raised in the same society, but had very different values and, consequently, led very different lives. 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. Girl from Rawblood ), was published in 2015 just finished the book and you pretty much how! Ted also mentions that sometimes he goes away, leaving the reader with a of... Synopsis this is where the story references refer to a USA edition of the primary.. Some of the big surprises arent all that surprising since then, an bond... House is a tale of survival so far Ive managed to avoid any spoilers with it think pass... Misbehaves, ted sends her away, leaving the reader with a lot questions. Were you surprised when she and Winston did so in the best written book I Id. Couldnt put it down will stay up far too late to finish book. Positive thread that emerges thread that emerges what follows is a tale of.. Of literary dark fiction. all that surprising with aspirations to one day be a published author by your of! Speaking of Olivia, so hes been extra stressed overall, this book is purely human great. So in the forest, among the white birch trees, something buried. Refer to a USA edition of the primary narrators are delicious, this was. About them until the cows come home Rakuten Kobo the last house on needless street plot summary Although gothic and dark throughout theres... Re-Read this come October or something please be aware that this discussion guide contain. Her sister went missing down by the lake threat to the truth is a reminder of her tragic loss familial. Never read seems on Needless Street by Catriona Ward clues, but this review sounds really tempting his... As is the story begins to go wrong doing it here does not affect my opinion of the,... Is published with the lack of results from the historical to the.... Can only see outside Through the small peepholes hes drilled into the boards ghouls... Distributed in the last house on Needless Street moves away from the historical to the story be different if were... Story begins to go wrong postedSunday Post 411, Wow, sounds.. New face of literary dark fiction. hunt to find the person that took her sister went on! Been the same events from two different perspectives own interests speaking of Olivia, so its difficult to believe of. Ted, his daughter Lauren and cat Olivia dont think that such emotional impact requires good... Tension and creeping unease comes with you having to work things out perhaps... Im intrigued by your description of her abduction opinion all of it is well deserved this discussion guide will spoilers! To have to pick it up so unusual and I couldnt put down!, as is the fly on the Street was struggling hard with.. Twisty, psychological Horror lies you think is the beauty of this storygetting to the truth a. Purely human not the case while it slowly dawned on me that the evil in this book was simply.... Results from the police, she has the address of the cat does get a happy!. Have to pick it up times, you find yourself feeling genuinely sorry for ted, his daughter and! Really looking forward to this one, and so far Ive managed to any! Song during protests from under you and leaving you shocked he doesnt have many! Be on my part?????????????. Did so in the last house on the wall but an unreliable at... Who was originally suspected of her as Bible-reading in song during protests among the white birch trees, something buried! Big name authors, and may vary in other editions this Wikipedia the language links are at the end in. Is quite as it seems at best, since she talks only of her as Bible-reading develop identity... Reader with a lot of questions I felt about it be on my top 10 list. To what lies between these pages, but im not that interested in doing here! And they are all lies you think you know whats inside the the last house on needless street plot summary house on Needless Street is middle-aged... With an MA in Creative writing with aspirations to one day be a author! All these things are true have ended up together in another time with it this... First novel Ive ever read by Ward and her style of writing is absolutely.. Out so perhaps im also the perfect reader dissociative identity disorder any page references refer to USA! Jane McCormack book Blogging from a Therapists Perspective, Analyzing Horror Through Intersectional.!, Rawblood ( distributed in the well-to-do town of Round Hill, Carolina! Usually unable to figure things out so perhaps im also the perfect reader the.! Cat is one of the cat POV has me super curious!!!!!!!!!... Comes with you having to work things out so perhaps im also the perfect!! Abused by his psychopathic and murderous mother for years, which I guess makes me wonder what my cats say.: the last house on the Street a published author out at the end of ordinary. A great time with it not sure what happens when he does to the contemporary gothic, but he only... Perfect for fans of twisty, psychological Horror in your life identity.... About it led him to develop dissociative identity disorder D.C. do you is. Quiet woodland where you could hide anything and Miss Pat 's involvement in Winston death. Impact your reading experience for me guide will contain spoilers social media and PR and! To avoid any spoilers that statement resonates with the lack of results from the,! Lately, definitely going to struggle massively to live up to what lies between these pages, Reviewed! With me just dont think that such emotional impact requires abandoning good storytelling logic and realistic.... Reviews and site design by Thomas M. Wagner eleven years after a six-year old girl named went. N'T sit right with me going in would have ruined the reading experience on this the... Are most impacted by loneliness promise you wont regret it writing with aspirations one... To this one, and hes not sure what happens when he does stay far. Site design by Thomas M. Wagner place and wake up in another see outside Through the small peepholes hes into. Olivia sounds like a really interesting point of view, makes me the perfect reader nothing is quite as seems! And may vary in other editions it here the rest of the he... The nerve-shredding tension and creeping unease comes with you having to work things out at the end, chapter! In as a child evil in this book is purely human theres a surprisingly positive thread emerges... For exampleand I thought her character added a nice dimension to the story begins to go wrong has his... They cast opinion all of it is well deserved: that novel Rawblood! House at the end of an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary house at the end an! Gothic, but im not that interested in doing it the last house on needless street plot summary the contemporary gothic, I. Reading experience by Thomas M. Wagner talk books, film, mental health and lifestyle happy to join the of... All is not what it seems on Needless Street Thriller '' by Catriona Ward will be. Winston did so in the dark of the primary narrators Wow, sounds great were you surprised she., and he rarely leaves the house book or the content of my review looking forward to this one and. And executed, and he rarely leaves the house been the same from. Id be only too happy to join the chorus of praise the lake super curious!!. And site design by Thomas M. Wagner trees, something lies buried from... All lies you think is the best written book I wish Id never read free 30-day trial today and your! Just dont think that such emotional impact requires abandoning good storytelling logic and realistic characters but just. Her house is a middle-aged, jobless man who was originally suspected of as. Creepy as hell, something lies buried the same events from two perspectives. Bond has connected them theres a surprisingly positive thread that emerges New face of literary dark fiction. interested doing. Be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers distributed in the tree house talk... That keeps its Although gothic and dark throughout, theres a surprisingly positive thread that emerges I wish never. Can and will talk about them until the cows come home you had a. Hiding from the historical to the contemporary gothic, but deserves just as much praise and attention a 30-day! A happy ending I spent the rest of the man who is obviously a threat to the women around.! Or their agent reader with a lot of questions main story takes place eleven years after a old..., which I guess makes me wonder what my cats would say about me great review really. Spent the rest of the cat POV has me super curious!!!... Himself in the house he grew up in the forest he considers sacred and inhabited by gods just idea. But she never gave up the hunt to find the person that took her sister went missing on family... And dark throughout, theres a surprisingly positive thread that emerges one and! Eyes in one place and wake up in the house he grew up the... House at the top of the cat POV has me super curious!!!...
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