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A review by spaces_and_solaces
Dava Shastri's Last Day by Kirthana Ramisetti
5.0
Dava Shastri is a powerful billionaire. She had her staff announce her death days before her actual death to see how the news would play out in the world.
She is terminally ill, with advanced stage cancer & decides to end the life on her own terms in a remote private island surrounded by her 4 adult children, their partners as well as their kids.
Dava’s kids thought they were at the island celebrating Christmas & are completely blindsided by this news.
Though there’s nothing new to this. Their mother is a domineering figure in their life, controlling their every action & reaction and has left no stone unturned to fulfill her own vision of how the kids should lead their lives.
Or so it seems.
Ramisetti has done a wonderful job of having an Older Indian American woman who is a self-made billionaire at the center of the story. So often women are judged harshly for being ambitious, for having the desire of their name shining as bright as the stars. I could relate so deeply about Dava’s need for being at the very top, of commanding respect many women deserve, but few ever get.
Dava’s life unfurls through flashbacks as she indulges in her past memories one last time. The story takes us through her childhood of living with strict Indian parents & how her upbringing played a pivotal role in Dava making her own path & creating a name to be reckoned with. During her young adult phase, she meets the love of her life with whom she shares her life & her 4 children.
Ramisetti has handled all these ‘side’ characters with an expertise that frankly blew me away. The complexities of living under the shadow of their brilliant mom & dealing with personal insecurities & a lack of identity could be felt through Rev’s commitment issues, Sita’s desperation for a balanced life & being a dutiful daughter, Arvie’s alcoholism and Kali’s seemingly transient lifestyle.
This family is unique & complex.
Dava lived a thousand lifetimes in one. Dava was a beautiful, deeply flawed character with so many secrets which the author uncovers with a delicate poise.
I think Ramisetti walked on a tightrope to introduce us to a character who is so real, raw but at the same time larger than life.
I still can’t believe this is her debut novel and I can’t wait to read more of her stories.
P.S Pop Culture plays an integral part of the story & is as good as a character :) Happy Reading
She is terminally ill, with advanced stage cancer & decides to end the life on her own terms in a remote private island surrounded by her 4 adult children, their partners as well as their kids.
Dava’s kids thought they were at the island celebrating Christmas & are completely blindsided by this news.
Though there’s nothing new to this. Their mother is a domineering figure in their life, controlling their every action & reaction and has left no stone unturned to fulfill her own vision of how the kids should lead their lives.
Or so it seems.
Ramisetti has done a wonderful job of having an Older Indian American woman who is a self-made billionaire at the center of the story. So often women are judged harshly for being ambitious, for having the desire of their name shining as bright as the stars. I could relate so deeply about Dava’s need for being at the very top, of commanding respect many women deserve, but few ever get.
Dava’s life unfurls through flashbacks as she indulges in her past memories one last time. The story takes us through her childhood of living with strict Indian parents & how her upbringing played a pivotal role in Dava making her own path & creating a name to be reckoned with. During her young adult phase, she meets the love of her life with whom she shares her life & her 4 children.
Ramisetti has handled all these ‘side’ characters with an expertise that frankly blew me away. The complexities of living under the shadow of their brilliant mom & dealing with personal insecurities & a lack of identity could be felt through Rev’s commitment issues, Sita’s desperation for a balanced life & being a dutiful daughter, Arvie’s alcoholism and Kali’s seemingly transient lifestyle.
This family is unique & complex.
Dava lived a thousand lifetimes in one. Dava was a beautiful, deeply flawed character with so many secrets which the author uncovers with a delicate poise.
I think Ramisetti walked on a tightrope to introduce us to a character who is so real, raw but at the same time larger than life.
I still can’t believe this is her debut novel and I can’t wait to read more of her stories.
P.S Pop Culture plays an integral part of the story & is as good as a character :) Happy Reading