A review by amandalorianxo
Dava Shastri's Last Day by Kirthana Ramisetti

emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I heard some rumbling and mumbling about people comparing this book to Evelyn Hugo? Why I thought ? What could these two books possibly have in common ? So I went for it and I am so happy I did. This is a lot better compared to Evelyn (in my opinion) The only similarities between the two ladies involve the theme of death but I think the way Dava handled it was managed better. It was thought out in more ways than one. This book also encompasses the issues of abandonment, adoption, interracial marriages, racism, and other complex family dynamics. Dava’s four children also have their own distinct personalities as well as the grandchildren. Diversity in characters and sexualities was a nice surprise. Dava is of Indian decent. Her children are a blend of her and her husband (who is not Indian.) Her eldest son is gay and we meet his husband & their children. Her youngest daughter is in a poly relationship with a married couple (although it’s revealed not to be a healthy one.) This takes you through a matter of days during the winter month of December as we realize Dava made an important decision and we are met with flashbacks & present day ideas of how everyone feels. A character driven novel that if you listen to the audio, you are welcomed to a short snippet of the song that Dava said was inspired by her ! 
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