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A review by okevamae
Dava Shastri's Last Day by Kirthana Ramisetti
5.0
The book opens with Dava Shastri, billionaire philanthropist, laughing over her own obituary. It’s followed shortly after by her adult children, who have gathered for the holidays, quite rightly demanding to know why the news is announcing their mother’s death. Dava has recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer, and in addition to bringing her family together to break the news, she has arranged for the press to announce her death early so that she can read the things they say about her life and legacy. But the narrative swiftly moves out of Dava’s control as secrets long buried begin to surface.
The POV switches between various members of the Shastri-Persson family. Interspersed throughout are bits of press coverage and other writings that offer little glimpses into Dava’s life. The result is that we get a rounded, all-angles view of a very complex character: we know how her various family members think of her, we know how the world sees her, and we know the innermost thoughts of Dava herself – about her life, her family, and her legacy. The various relationships between members of the family are complex, compelling, and sometimes heartbreaking. If you love books about complicated family dynamics, this is a good one for you.
Representation: People of color as main characters, gay couple as main characters, polyamorous main character
CW: cancer, assisted suicide, infidelity
The POV switches between various members of the Shastri-Persson family. Interspersed throughout are bits of press coverage and other writings that offer little glimpses into Dava’s life. The result is that we get a rounded, all-angles view of a very complex character: we know how her various family members think of her, we know how the world sees her, and we know the innermost thoughts of Dava herself – about her life, her family, and her legacy. The various relationships between members of the family are complex, compelling, and sometimes heartbreaking. If you love books about complicated family dynamics, this is a good one for you.
Representation: People of color as main characters, gay couple as main characters, polyamorous main character
CW: cancer, assisted suicide, infidelity