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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I struggle with my review of Dava Shastri’s Last Day, if I could give half stars it would be 3.5, but leaning on the higher end of the scale.
There is no major storyline throughout this book, the books itself it’s mostly about the personal development of each family member as they grapple with the impending death of their mother and past secrets are revealed.
At times I found the pace slow, but it is a beautifully written novel and I’ve saved countless quotes from it.
I found it interesting to see how the 4 siblings had differing relationships and opinions of their amma and how they all struggled to reconcile their childhoods. I found I resonated with Sita and Arvie the most, the older children who were both disillusioned by their upbringing but dealt with it in entirely different ways. A quote from Sita sat with me heavily “she wished their relationship could exist outside of her mothers ambition”, and that was ultimately my problem with this book, I hated the protagonist.
Dava Shastri was a complex and deeply flawed character, I applaud the author for taking such an approach, I am sure some people will have felt empathy or awe for Dava, but I found her self-serving, arrogant and conceited.
While I badly wanted to applaud such a strong female business woman, I couldn’t put aside the impact her ambition had on her family. All of her regrets in life seemed to come back to her public legacy, the words that meant the most to her in her final hours were praise about her work. She seemed to realise she failed her family but I don’t think she cared.
As much as I’m grappling with how I feel, I think this is a book that will stay with me for a long time.
There is no major storyline throughout this book, the books itself it’s mostly about the personal development of each family member as they grapple with the impending death of their mother and past secrets are revealed.
At times I found the pace slow, but it is a beautifully written novel and I’ve saved countless quotes from it.
I found it interesting to see how the 4 siblings had differing relationships and opinions of their amma and how they all struggled to reconcile their childhoods. I found I resonated with Sita and Arvie the most, the older children who were both disillusioned by their upbringing but dealt with it in entirely different ways. A quote from Sita sat with me heavily “she wished their relationship could exist outside of her mothers ambition”, and that was ultimately my problem with this book, I hated the protagonist.
Dava Shastri was a complex and deeply flawed character, I applaud the author for taking such an approach, I am sure some people will have felt empathy or awe for Dava, but I found her self-serving, arrogant and conceited.
While I badly wanted to applaud such a strong female business woman, I couldn’t put aside the impact her ambition had on her family. All of her regrets in life seemed to come back to her public legacy, the words that meant the most to her in her final hours were praise about her work. She seemed to realise she failed her family but I don’t think she cared.
As much as I’m grappling with how I feel, I think this is a book that will stay with me for a long time.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am surprised I liked a book where I found the main character so distasteful.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The characters aren't exactly likable, so I had a hard time getting into this.
I really wanted to love this book, but ended up really struggling to finish it. I loved the concept of this book and the idea of Dava Shastri and everything she created for herself and her loved ones. My struggles were grounded in how the author wanted us to feel about the main character. Dava is definitely a complex character, and I completely understand hard having a complicated relationship with her adult children, but I have a hard time believing that a woman who has created such a legacy for herself (while being so fiercely individualistic) would be so incredibly tone def about her own children’s happiness/individual identities/unique goals. The parts where Dava outlined her wishes for her children’s futures felt particularly half-baked.
This is one novel I wish I could talk about with others, so please share your thoughts if you have them!
This is one novel I wish I could talk about with others, so please share your thoughts if you have them!