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A review by curlyjessreads
Last House by Jessica Shattuck
2.0
Spanning across generations this family saga follows the Taylors through some big societal changes. Beginning in 1953 with Nick and Bet as they settle down in the suburbs after WWII. Nick's job as a lawyer for an oil company (and experience from the Marines) takes him to the Middle East for negotiations and deals. While Bet tries to set up house and takes care of their kids. In the late 1960s we see those kids, Katherine and Harry, coming into their own ideals during the Vietnam war, Civil Rights Movement, and opposition to Big Oil (even though their lives of comfort and privilege were made possible by that same oil). Through conflict, tragedy, and healing this family learns about themselves as individuals and a family unit.
I don't think I am really the right audience for this book. It was a bit too cerebral for me. I felt like the climax was pretty anticlimactic as it had been eluded to a lot, and wasn't a surprise. I just didn't really get it, maybe due to the topic of fighting Big Oil, and I wasn't able to connect to the characters. I wish we had gotten some narration from Harry's perspective, because I felt like we only got who others thought he was, although that may have been the point.
I enjoyed her book The Women in the Castle, which I think had a somewhat similar feel (everyone is so pensive), but I connected more with the characters.
This was already published earlier this month, so if you enjoy pensive family generational sagas, go ahead and give this one a try.
Thank you to @netgalley for providing me with a copy to review!
#NetGalley #LastHouse
I don't think I am really the right audience for this book. It was a bit too cerebral for me. I felt like the climax was pretty anticlimactic as it had been eluded to a lot, and wasn't a surprise. I just didn't really get it, maybe due to the topic of fighting Big Oil, and I wasn't able to connect to the characters. I wish we had gotten some narration from Harry's perspective, because I felt like we only got who others thought he was, although that may have been the point.
I enjoyed her book The Women in the Castle, which I think had a somewhat similar feel (everyone is so pensive), but I connected more with the characters.
This was already published earlier this month, so if you enjoy pensive family generational sagas, go ahead and give this one a try.
Thank you to @netgalley for providing me with a copy to review!
#NetGalley #LastHouse