Just finished the bookagreed 100%. Claire Douglas | The Girls Who Disappeared, Amy Lea | Exes and Os (The Influencer #2), Trish Doller | Off The Map (Beck Sisters #3). This is something that has made its way into my psychology and my imagination, Ward says. An unspeakable secret binds them . Bravo and a round of applause to Catriona Ward!!! Thats not to say I wasnt appalled by some of the events because, hell, I was. Thank you, Catriona Ward, NetGalley, and Viper books for the opportunity to read this book. As the review details, the "multiple personality"/"it was all in their head" reveal is a tired trope by now and a cop-out substitute for good story telling and plot development. The Last House on the Street touches upon several national current events in each timeline, for example: LBJ passing the Voting Rights Act in the 1965 timeline and the presidency of Barack Obama in 2010. I read some reviews after I finished the book that spoiled the main twist, so beware! Accepting that things didnt quite make sense but knowing it would come together. This is an old comment but I just finished this book and I agree! I knew what was happening in this story. In fact, it wasnt even scary. But its not what you think. There is a truth we begin to see relatively early on . Fury of the Gods Brings Back the "Shazamily": Inside DC's New Superhero Adventure, Scream 6's Brutal NYC Trip: "You Can't Trust Anyone" This Time, Cocaine Bear Is Not Just About a Killer "Coked-Up" Bear, It's Also an "Underdog Story", How Marvel's Wastelanders Podcast Created an Exciting Story with No Visual Safety Net, The Secrets That Lurk in The Last House on Needless Street. Pretty clear, right? Suspending belief and use of tropey twists is par for the course for horror/thriller books but this book seemed intent on piling them all into one. The atmosphere in this novel is depressing and the strangeness can lead to confusion "'The first time I tried to run,' she says, 'he took my feet. Anyway, not long after my friend confided in me our contact quite abruptly ended. I loved Olivia! Lauren appears in her own narrated chapters later in the book. Margaret M - Hiatus - I will respond when I can. His daughter Lauren comes to visit from time to time, but they never go out when she does, and their relationship is always tense and often violent. Catriona Ward's The Last House on Needless Street arrived in 2021 riding a wave of pre-release hype the likes of which I don't think I've seen since Justin Cronin released The Passage ten years ago. That was my first encounter with this particular mental disorder so I had no understanding of what it really meant. I miss my friend, but I dont really have any means to reach her and even if I would, I have no idea if the person I call a friend is still around. Ted remembers details from his childhood, for example. At the end of the street are the eerie Woods where the gods are buried. I knock things over, I bounce off doorways. I just loved the ride. The reader has to hunt them out, reflect on what theyve already read to find out where the story is going to take us. Really good summing up of the book's flaws here: https://medium.com/wayward-magazine/im-so-mad-about-the-last-house-on-needless-street-57a2f9b16f88. Fuck this book and every author who blurbed it. Sure, she had a responsibility in the fate of her sister dragging her along, then leaving her alone to play by the river, then running away once she thought she was dead and the snakes were coming but Im not convinced she was a bad person up to that point or that she deserved punishment. Each character has their own distinctive voice, each one giving a slightly different viewpoint of the story. He nails the different voices so well, that you feel compelled to go and make sure that its really only one person narrating. It sounds trite but this is story-telling at it's finest. First, there's the stunning transformation as the film shifts from . The book was well written and certainly had its moments but the ending was extremely disappointing. Book spoilers to jog your memory. If you dont, you may not., Especially since The Last House on Needless Street isnt the sort of horror story (or even quasi-horror story) that relies on gore or jump scares to terrify its readers. What I got was a distorted story that used mental illness as its major plot point. This book is in love with itself. For more information, please see our TW: child abuse, portrayal of mental health. I had previously recommended Catriona Ward`d first two novels on this sub. Sounds like some people just expect too much from books these days. I was concerned when I realized this wasn't pure thriller from the get-go. The last twist was that Teds mother was the one who took Lulus body for more of her medical experiments. A teenage girl who isn't allowed outside, not after last time. Weight: 340 g. Dimensions: 196 x 128 x 34 mm. "The Last House on Needless Street" by Catriona Ward is definitely worth all the hype! There are a limited number of characters who are given names. While Im talking about spoilers, one of the most chilling things about this book was how the mother treated Ted. I did not like the last 20-30% at all when the big "reveals" happen. And Olivia is Ted's cat, with a mind all her own. And while Im in the minority who didnt fall in love with Wards prose, story, or characters, I can see why others did. Five-star audio production, and five-star book. I dont think I still have for that matter, although for all I know, The Last House on Needless Street gives justice to people dealing with this on a daily basis. 3 of which have their POV chapters: Ted, Olivia, and Dee. The description is vague on purpose, and the best thing to do is just dive in without any information. Overall, The Last House on Needless Street is a thought-provoking novel, with some chilling elements, placing mental illness into the focus in a different way - which is refreshing - managing to stay with you for a long time. Some say the concept has been done to death, but you could argue the same thing about everything ever created (movies, tv shows, books, whatever). DAS LETZTE HAUS in der Needless Street, Catriona Ward - EUR 22,99. (LogOut/ The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward, 9781788166188, available at Book Depository with free delivery . Once I figure that out, I started to get uncomfortable and grew uneasy. However, upon finishing the book, I appreciate how the author didnt make Ted the villain of the story after all even if it seemed like it for a long time and that she showed how Teds life was improved with the right medication, professional help, and genuine friendship maybe even love. A teenage girl who isn't allowed outside, not after last time. In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. And yet they are all lies You think you know what's inside the last house on Needless Street. Her next gothic thriller, The Last House on Needless Street, will be published March 2021 by Viper (Serpents Tail). By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. I'm very late to the party but I completely agree (except I never read anything else by the author). The only reason I can write this stuff is because Im afraid of it. A teenage girl who isn't allowed outside, not after last time. At this point, we still think that Lauren is Lulu. The clues are all there, slowly introduced by fact or omission, even the street name takes on a different tone when the final page is turned. That was my first encounter with this particular mental disorder so I had no understanding of what it really meant. But I'll talk about this a bit more in depth in the spoilers section after the review itself. While Im talking about spoilers, one of the most chilling things about this book was how the mother treated Ted. Catriona Ward adds to these greats with The Last House on Needless Street a tale of a man and his household that will make you question your morality and your senses. So, when I read about Teds story, the abuse he went through at the hands of his mom, I just couldnt help thinking what might have happened to cause DID and create the person I called a friend. Dee didn`t kill her own sister, it was accidental and she panicked and ran off only to realize she wasn`t dead. You dont get to know everything about everyone. A stolen child. And according to Ward, that unease is absolutely something she counted on her audience feeling. Suffice to say, horror is not a genre Im overly familiar with which can be one of the reasons I failed to love this book. 1 ijnfleetadmiral Omake: The Kong-Ree ijnfleetadmiral Omake: You need more than luck, Goto Judge Mental Omake: Wrong question, Issei gS49 Omake: Gred and Forge find out a secret MagisterAurelius Omake: Darth Draco is Displeased A twenty-year mystery. I'm not used to how much space I take up in the world. Seeking redemption and revenge is one thing, but inflicting self-judgment on innocent people is a whole another one. He's unemployed and drinks a lot. (LogOut/ "The Last House on Needless Street" has had rave reviews all round and I was a little apprehensive in case it didn't live up the hype but, my god, I didn't need to worry! Just in time for October's spooky reading season. Please do not copy or reproduce without explicit permission. Couldn't handle the lukewarm purple prose and near total absence of suspense. You think you've read this story before. The Last House on Needless Street. It sure left me with thoughts. It gives hope that people with this disorder can find their path in life even if its not an easy one. I thought long and hard because at first, I wasnt sure if portraying DID in a horror setting was something I was comfortable with. I later exchanged emails with one of her other personalities which was an emotional roller coaster in and on itself learning that the person I knew wasnt in a good shape and it might never surface again. I hadn`t read anything about this book prior, just jumped straight in. I dont know. Its a bit un-shelvable.. I listened to this book and I'm glad that I was forced to stay with the pacing of the novel. Get help and learn more about the design. I dont think I still have for that matter, although for all I know, The Last House on Needless Street gives justice to people dealing with this on a daily basis. When she ran back her sister had been taken by someone. No one is who they appear to be, a fact that is lost on them. I did not think I would find such a perfect match in I Witnessed A Crime. It made me think of an online friend I had a couple of years ago, who as she confessed to me at one point has DID. This is finally out! Thats not to say I didnt get caught by surprise here or there, though. If you usually ignore the afterword in books, make this one your exception (though not until after youve finished the book as there is a spoiler in there). The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward is one of those books that is difficult to describe without giving away spoilers. When a woman named Dee moves into the abandoned house next door while on a quest to find her sister, who was kidnapped years ago, Ted's life begins to spiral into chaos. Thanks! Ted Bannerman lives alone with his cat Olivia in a boarded up house at the end of Needless Street. The New York TimesCatriona Ward's The Last House on Needless Street is a shocking and immersive read perfect for fans of Gone Girl and The Haunting of Hill House.In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three.A teenage girl who isn't allowed outside, not after last time.A man who . And I won't even start with the talking cat. I opted for the audiobook, and I have to say, Christopher Raglands narration is absolutely top-notch. This book is wearing the disguise of horror. Ted lives in the last house on Needless Street. And a house cat who loves napping and reading the Bible. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. If you're a fan of the dark and mysterious, this book will be for you. Dee is driven by her obsession and seems to be somewhat in control, but then that image crumbles; she's afraid of going to sleep because the "red birds will come flying into her head." This all seems rather straightforward, aside from maybe getting the perspective of Olivia the . First we find out that Olivia is one of Laurens alters, created to hide from the pain that Ted was causing her. Which is disappointing, because I had high expectations going in based on the recommendations of people whose taste I trust in. Part horror story, part mystery thriller, and part tragedy, the book subverts a lot of expectations about what a genre story should be and do, unpacking a complex emotional narrative in the midst of a menacing tale of fear, uncertainty, and constantly escalating dread. The book embraces many of the most familiar aspects of the horror genre, but it also counts on its readers to possess a shared understanding of its common tropes and signifiers, and uses those assumptions to subvert many of their preexisting expectations. Death. I wasnt surprised, in hindsight, but still. I read the reviews after the fact, and the fact that this book is about DID is totally spoiled. CATRIONA WARD was born in Washington, DC and grew up in the United States, Kenya, Madagascar, Yemen, and Morocco. I never heard from her again although I do think of her every once in a while. ISBN: 9781788166188. The Plot (from Goodreads): Three missing girls. A woman who may be able to crack this cold case. Follow Queen's Book Asylum on WordPress.com. Learn how your comment data is processed. GENRE: Thriller. Revenge. ONLY 3 for my enjoyment level of the story. Welcome! Im just really not into it, I guess. And for that, it definitely deserves the praise. All the evidence is there in the beginning. Thank you! Inside the triple locked door Ted keeps his cat Olivia and his daughter Lauren safe from the outside world. Dee and her ending was kind of a let down. My dear friends, please add this brilliant book to your reading list! Your perceptions change every instant and quite often no two people remember the same event the same way. This is smart! It hangs like it has been strapped there. Readers are left unbalanced by sequences they dont entirely understand and cant completely trust, armed only with partial and imperfect knowledge., One of my great loves is the Gothic, the fragmented narrative. Ted is an odd sort of a fellow. Then as the story progressed, I started thinking of DID until it got confirmed that DID indeed got the drivers seat in the story. I loved every moment of it and Im keeping the book so I can read it again from a new perspective later on. It doesn't matter if you're into Stephen King, Octavia Butler, Jack Ketchum or Shirley Jackson, this is the place to share that love and discuss to your heart's content. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. What's worse, she adds the further cliche of repressed memories/unreliable narrator to the protagonist in order to further obfuscate the narrative. A teenage girl who isnt allowed outside, not after last time. All I know is that Stephen King had an endorsement quote on the cover, it was a horror book, and may or may not contain a serial killer story. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. Just brilliant. What cat understands English and speaks in slang? Everything from the gripping plot twists that no one sees coming, to the intricacy of the characters that readers are coming to love. Everything was obvious to me from the get-go. The creepy dilapidation of the outside world mirrors their mental state. AGE RANGE: Adult. Catriona Ward's The Last House on Needless Street is a shocking and immersive read perfect for fans of Gone Girl and The Haunting of Hill House. A teenage girl who isn't allowed outside, not after last time. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward ~ARCReview~, Fin for short Fingolfin, the High King of the Noldor and was able to wound Morgorth seven times in battle, You may be a world class procrastinator when you have a million other things that must get done but youre like nah, I am gonna organize my books that I dont have bookshelves for yet. Transgender journalist and musician from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Some are more disturbing than others. Scan this QR code to download the app now. Because in my opinion, this is not even close to a gothic thriller. It's also useless, because nothing in The Last House on Needless Street is what it seems. #whathaveidone #booksfordays #whoops, Herbs have been planted. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise With Gabby D Barbosa, Jeremy Behie, Dylan Garcia, Tristan Koclanis. Abused as a child, he has turned mostly into a recluse in his adult life, going out to get food when necessary and see his therapist so he can get his meds. Anne Coates is a journalist and author of the Hannah Weybridge crime thriller series: Dancers in the Wind, Death's Silent Judgement, Songs of Innocence and Perdition's Child . Stephen King called Sundial Authentically terrifying. Don't even open Sundial then. His mother knew what he was at an early age after finding him killing an animal, and her words in that moment never left him: "For a long time, I have feared that this was in you. Lulu had followed Dee while she hit on Trevor, and while Dee and Trevor were fooling around, Lulu slipped on some rocks and hit her head and died. What kind of parent says they dont love their child? Big, fat. Dee dies from the snake bite. And [theres] actually a huge quality of empathy [involved] because what youre saying to the reader is, Here are my vulnerabilities. This absolutely horrifies me because what kind of world do we live in where someone can walk up to a woman in a group of friends, introduce himself by his name, and take her away and kill her in broad daylight? she continues. For Ward, part of writing Needless Street necessarily involved processing heartbreaking and often quite upsetting things. In [], The Plot (from Goodreads): Romance-novel connoisseur Tara Chen has had her heart broken ten times by ten different menall of whom dumped [], The Plot (from Goodreads): Carla Blacks life motto is here for a good time, not for a long time. Shes been travelling [], The Plot (from Goodreads): Alex has all but given up on her dreams of becoming a published author when she receives a [], Your email address will not be published. But Ill talk about this a bit more in depth in the spoilers section after the review itself. A teenage girl who isn't allowed outside, not after last time. Catriona Wards latest novel, The Last House on Needless Street, is the sort of book that defies easy description and categorization. Unsurprisingly, Dee's family disintegrated, and her father is now dead. The Last House on Needless Street Audible Audiobook - Unabridged Catriona Ward (Author), Christopher Ragland (Narrator), Viper (Publisher) & 0 more 4.0 out of 5 stars 3,338 ratings As for Dee, while I didnt have any feelings for her, Im not 100% sure she deserved to die as she did. ), but such a creative way to describe Ted from another point of view. To play [not just ] with the expectations of horror but also with the snap conclusions people might come to about certain kinds of behavior or mental health conditions [or socio-economic indicators].. More than biting into a nice apple and finding a worm, this book is like unexpectedly stepping on the worm barefoot, only to find out the worm isn't a worm and I mean that in the best way possible. Then as the story progressed, I started thinking of DID until it got confirmed that DID indeed got the drivers seat in the story. This is the story of Ted, who lives with his daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia in an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. As an affiliate for Amazon, I may receive a small monetary commission for purchases made through certain links on this website. All commissions go toward supporting this blog. I wasnt surprised, in hindsight, but still. I wanted to read this book and be shocked, so I ignored other reviews and didnt even read the synopsis. I kept reading because of the amazing reviews. One of the best books I've ever read. Thats not to say I cant appreciate a great thriller or mystery I like watching true crime shows for instance. She hasn`t repressed the memories, the guilt of what happened and the fact that she kept it all to herself drives her to find who took her. Ted has blocked out the outside world as much as possible, except for his . Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https://medium.com/wayward-magazine/im-so-mad-about-the-last-house-on-needless-street-57a2f9b16f88. Its pretty heartbreaking. Things are slowly getting out of his control when Dee appears in the house next to his, bent on finding her lost sister who went missing some ten years earlier from the lake. I loved Ward's Rawblood a few years ago but The Last House on Needless Street is such a disappointment, just a cheap series of narrative cheats whose only purpose is to support the oldest and most cliched 'twist' ending in horror fictionwe are seriously supposed to believe that not only does the murder suspect have multiple personalities, but that the dominant one has a name coincidentally similar to the name of a girl who went missing years ago, who was killed by his mother, but not really, she was actually killed by her own sister, who has stalked the suspect and moved in next door, but has repressed memories so she doesn't remember killing her sister, and who gets written out of the narrative by dying of a snakebite, because her greatest fear is snakes, based on a childhood experience which is actually a false memory, and the suspect acts so weirdly throughout because his psychiatrist is mis-prescribing him outdated medication, and who vanishes without explanation once he's exposed, and all of the other child disappearances around the area are just coincidence. *Now available! The books narrative counts on its readers to feel as though they know whats happening, that theyve already guessed the twists ahead of them. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for an ALC of this incredible audiobook. Privacy Policy. No longer must I search my heart for a love that I cannot feel." Time is iffy and everyone is erratic. But I don't need a mirror to know how I look. The Chihuahua lady and the mom seemed to be close, and the mom told her later on that she would be going out of town as a way to lead false tracks away from her if the police came snooping because of what happened at the hospital . The problem, for me, was that I wasnt invested in the characters and didnt really feel what I should have been feeling and that bothers me. I thought that was really important to make sure that [those things] come out, [that[ it has the light shining through the dark branches as it were.. out of By Catriona Ward. As an avid reader, I often find myself reading a book description and not being able to remember whether Ive read it before. Today, we're delighted to share this Q&A our . Ok But on Saturday (the day we". I got a free e-copy through NetGalley about a week ago. And an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. I'm getting bigger all the time. I first was thinking to go with something from Stone Sour, but then I remembered The Horrible Crowes, who have creepy lyrics and a sound that fits more the atmosphere of The Last House on Needless Street.