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A review by thecultivatedlibraryco
Last House by Jessica Shattuck
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
When I read the description and added Last House to my tbr, I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't this! I don't even know how to adequately explain my thoughts about this book! Last House by Jessica Shattuck is part historical fiction, part multigenerational family saga, and partly a conversation on how we as humans treat each other and the planet we inhabit. It is just so good!
Aside from the brief WWII references in the beginning, I wasn't super familiar with the other historical events in the book, like the oil negotiations between the US and Iran and activism in the US during Vietnam. More than history however, Shattuck gives us so much more to ponder. She touches on women and their roles, activism, conflict between parents and their offspring, capitalism, survival, husbands and wives, and marriages. There's just so much to consider!
I feel like Last House is the kind of book that after we get the gist of the story from the first read through, we could read it again and glean even more from the stories of Nick and Bet and Katherine and Harry. And to be honest, while reading this, I found myself wishing I had my own Last House. Shattuck's storytelling is both engaging and insightful, and I can't wait to read what she writes next!
Read this if you like:
• books with William Krueger Kent vibes
• books that explore family dynamics
• 20th century historical fiction
Aside from the brief WWII references in the beginning, I wasn't super familiar with the other historical events in the book, like the oil negotiations between the US and Iran and activism in the US during Vietnam. More than history however, Shattuck gives us so much more to ponder. She touches on women and their roles, activism, conflict between parents and their offspring, capitalism, survival, husbands and wives, and marriages. There's just so much to consider!
I feel like Last House is the kind of book that after we get the gist of the story from the first read through, we could read it again and glean even more from the stories of Nick and Bet and Katherine and Harry. And to be honest, while reading this, I found myself wishing I had my own Last House. Shattuck's storytelling is both engaging and insightful, and I can't wait to read what she writes next!
Read this if you like:
• books with William Krueger Kent vibes
• books that explore family dynamics
• 20th century historical fiction