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ortizzyy's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
sennas_reads's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
rmarcin's review against another edition
4.0
When billionaire Dava Shastri realizes she is dying, she decides to end things on her own terms. She gathers her family together for a last Christmas. When news of her death leaks out before she is dead, her children are frantic. Information is released about Dava's life and loves, things she had kept secret for years.
My favorite part of this story was the time she spent with the grandchildren and what they did and said. I felt that this was the most honest part of the book. The rest - about the adult children - was typical of adults concerned more about themselves then another person. It was an interesting and well written story of a life, and the memories, accomplishments, and regrets one makes in life.
I also listened to the book, and at the end is the song Dava.
My favorite part of this story was the time she spent with the grandchildren and what they did and said. I felt that this was the most honest part of the book. The rest - about the adult children - was typical of adults concerned more about themselves then another person. It was an interesting and well written story of a life, and the memories, accomplishments, and regrets one makes in life.
I also listened to the book, and at the end is the song Dava.
laurenmwhite20's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars- Dava let’s her death leak before she’s actually dead and before she tells her children she’s dying. The rest of the book is all about her four children, their different reactions to the news, and the legacy that is left behind when you die. It’s definitely a thought provoking book about how you leave the world and if it’s a little better because of you.
truegrit's review against another edition
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Poorly written and disappointing. Plus, the narrator is just awful.
bethechange_07's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to like this book. I would say it left me super disappointed. The characters were all not very easy to like. At the same time, I didn’t find them interesting enough to care what happened to them. I love the concept of finding out what people would say about you when you’re dead. Having news of your death leak before you’re dead so you can read all about it is fascinating. I don’t think the story flowed well. When I got about 60% I wanted to stop, but I pushed through. Looking back I probably should have stopped.
Overall I wouldn’t recommend this book. It wasn’t terrible, but also wasn’t good.
Overall I wouldn’t recommend this book. It wasn’t terrible, but also wasn’t good.
raisakchow's review against another edition
1.0
What a waste of my time! The premise started off as being very interesting, only to be filled with narcissistic, one-dimensional characters who are all so very self-involved and vapid. The author set this book in the year 2044, which added zero value to the plot; I guess it was an easy way out for them to having to actually research music from other past generations when looking back on yesteryears for the characters. Honestly, the book really read as though the author seemed to have gone to the Mindy Kaling school of writing, having the plot overwhelmingly filled with all(or mostly) Caucasian characters with only Dava as the central POC person, with her heritage peppered through just enough to satisfy some reader who would perhaps lap this up. Do yourself a favour and DO NOT BUY!
cathyatratedreads's review against another edition
3.0
This has an interesting premise: a woman tells the world she’s dead but lives a few days past that date. The book starts out with her announcement to her family (and then news breaking to the world outside of their carefully closed-off holiday haven). Then it goes back and forth between the present (well, technically, the future as it is for us because this is set about 20 years from now) and the past. As information is shared in news articles and Dava and her family read about it, the story flashes back to what happened.
The novel is a profile of a very strong-willed, determined personality and the effects she had on her family and others in her orbit. Dava is sometimes not very likeable; her toughness and zeal for her work made her often distant to her children. But the point is made that these qualities would be forgiven, indeed, praised, if she had been a man. Several interesting things to think about.
Read my full review, including a rating for content, at RatedReads.com: https://ratedreads.com/dava-shastris-last-day-fiction-book/
The novel is a profile of a very strong-willed, determined personality and the effects she had on her family and others in her orbit. Dava is sometimes not very likeable; her toughness and zeal for her work made her often distant to her children. But the point is made that these qualities would be forgiven, indeed, praised, if she had been a man. Several interesting things to think about.
Read my full review, including a rating for content, at RatedReads.com: https://ratedreads.com/dava-shastris-last-day-fiction-book/
kaceyconn13's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
rozlev's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the story. Well written. Great characters. A few unexpected twists. 4 stars because it was too long and a bit repetitive. Looking forward to Ms Ramisetti's next novel.