Reviews - Dava Shastri's Last Day

785 reviews for:

Dava Shastri's Last Day

Kirthana Ramisetti

3.53 AVERAGE

bookmarkingchels's review against another edition

3.5

emotional reflective tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

reillyw's review against another edition

3.0

Absolutely zero characters in this book were sympathetic. In conclusion, billionaires are immoral and their descendants are living off blood money xoxo

chaoticbookdragon's review against another edition

3.75

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

maryannc's review against another edition

4.5

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

madelinemaesmith's review against another edition

5.0

4.5⭐️

I imagined more fluff? Less heart? More style over substance as Paul Hollywood on Great British Bake-off would say?

I was WRONG. Though this book flashes back on the glamorous (but not always perfect) life of world-famous philanthropist and billionaire, Dava Shastri, this book is provocative, heartfelt, reflective, and a compelling exploration of family.

Having devoted her life to using her billions to support worthwhile causes around the world, Dava Shastri reaches age 70 and receives a terminal brain cancer diagnosis. Rather than going out on someone else’s terms, Dava decides to arrange for news of her death to break early so she can read her obituaries. She calls her family to their private island for reasons not yet disclosed.

However, though Dava expects to read articles celebrating her life’s work, her “death” reveals two devastating secrets, truths from a past she never thought would affect her future.

One surprising element I enjoyed in this novel was its very real love of music and Dava’s lifelong connection to it. The author was thoughtful in her references to songs over the years, and that paired with her analysis of celebrity culture created a rich dynamic to the Shastri family that I wasn’t expecting.

This is a powerful intergenerational story of past resentment, secrets, trauma, legacy, and redemption. Though the pacing could have been tighter and the characters slightly underdeveloped, I really enjoyed this one and thoughtfulness of the writing and exploration of Dava’s complicated life superb.

Read If:
♛ You enjoyed The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, but want a more modern heroine + more family drama
♛ You love a book *despite* it’s complicated characters and their choices, not everyone you encounter is likable
♛ You enjoy watching: Succession, Crazy Rich Asians, The Family Stone or any wealthy (or matriarchal) family drama
♛ You can imagine a world with a badass, South Asian cagillionaire who created a philanthropy/foundation we can only WISH exists in 2044

wandering_honeybee_reads's review against another edition

4.0

emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Dava Shastri has made a name for herself as a successful philanthropist. When she summons her children, their spouses, and children to her home at Christmas time they are shocked at what they find out. Finding out Dava is stick and dying is only the beginning. This book was enjoyable. The narrator for the audio version was great.

What I liked:
- Character development
- Plot line
- Diverse characters
- Audiobook narrator
- Family drama