[5], Ward lives in London and Devon.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. WebSummaries. Click Here to find out who said this, as well as discovering other famous literary quotes! By day I'm a content, social media and PR specialist and in my spare time, I'm a book blogger. And then there is Mommy, Teds mother, a beautiful but slightly sinister figure, who we gather is no longer around but whose presence nevertheless looms over everything like the spider at the heart of a web. Does listening to audiobooks count as reading? Gotta agree with all of this. And that is the beauty of this storygetting to the truth is a circuitous and uneven path, one I never grew tired of. It is forbidden to copy anything for publication elsewhere without written permission from the copyright holder. Just $45 for 12 months or Death. I got about halfway through The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward and debated closing the book for good I just wasnt sure I could handle it anymore. I couldnt put it down! This is the story of Ted, who lives with his young daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia in an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. I pushed through because I suspected (based on the cover blurbs) that I was purposely being misled, and the twist of all twists eventually changed my mind, but I do feel as though this book should come with some sort of trigger warning because it delves quite deeply into child abuse and neglect. Would you look for excuses to extend your solitary visit with this possible pervert child murderer in his own house by asking things like Can I use the bathroom? and Could I have a drink of water? Would you spy on his movements and follow him, all by yourself, when you see him walking into the forest at night with a shovel? But its not what you think. Hell close his eyes in one place and wake up in another. Its a difficult book to review however, as the less you know about the plot going in, the better (though the title reminds me of the house on Neibolt street from IT, its not a spoiler for me to say that there arent any clowns hanging around in storm drains), but Ill do my best. Ward takes a well-worn horror device and portrays it in a way thats much more sympathetic, less superficial, but without making it any less scary (because the survival itself and the things survived are pretty horrific). Looks like I have lots more to look forward to! The Last House on Needless Street is an absolute tour de force of a novel. Web162 votes, 71 comments. He found her after her mother and siblings all passed away one stormy night. [4] Andy Serkis and Jonathan Cavendishs The Imaginarium Productions has optioned film rights to the book. Personally, I was pretty underwhelmed by the final act and the creaky structure of the overall story. Heart-pounding suspenseplus Im going to have to read it a second time to see how she crafted the plot, which is honestly Here to talk books, film, mental health and lifestyle. Publication date 16 Sep 2021. To her infinite credit, Catriona Ward has taken seriously her responsibility to do justice to a condition that is suffered by a great many deeply traumatized people and present it in a way that is compassionate and, despite the horrors that unfold in the story, hopeful. And yet some of them ar Read more Community Reviews Summary of 7,367 reviews Moods dark 95% mysterious 81% All Rights Reserved. Having never been asked to voice a queer cat, I cant tell you that what he did was wrong, but it also felt like maybe he had never met a cat before. Buy This Book. However, none of the characters are quite what they appear. 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What I can say is that The Last House on Needless Street is an incredible character-driven novel. I'm so glad to see another fan of The Last House on Needless Street, though! This is the story of a serial After finishing it, I wouldnt describe it as that; its more of a gothic psychological thriller. Am I getting too big picture here? The cover definitely screams haunted house and supernatural happenings so Id have been shocked to find out it was about human evil too. What do you think is the meaning behind this statement? Ted and Olivia live mostly in the dark because hes boarded up the windows with plywood. Ted also has a daughter, a little girl named Lauren, who shows up at odd times for a visit before she has to go away. Are you starting to get the picture yet? Revenge. Yet, she continued to find others to blame, and in her targeting of Ted, did horrendous things to make him suffer, all to atone for her sins. To know too much going in would have ruined the reading experience for me. Even as someone that loves cats, I struggled with this fantasy element. Revenge. He lives in the last house on Needless Street, right next to the woods. This House may look good on the outside, but inside, its a real fixer-upper. Any book is up for discussion as long as that discussion is respectful. This article about an American writer is a stub. Finally, this review will not be complete without some mention of the character of Teds late mother. Olivia sounds like a really interesting point of view, makes me wonder what my cats would say about me Great review! The reader isnt in the story. Lulus older sister Dee is still upset by her sisters disappearance and has continued to search for clues on her own, even after the authorities gave up. Who needs the real world? WebIn a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. This adds to the atmosphere of desperation and the knife edge feeling that something explosive could occur at any moment. I can hardly wait to read Catriona Wards next book! This plot is so intricate, I cant help but be in awe of the planning it must have required, which is one of the reasons Im so impressed by this book, even if it pushed me to my empathetic edge. By using The StoryGraph, you agree to our use of cookies.We use a small number of cookies to provide you with a great experience. The reveal at the end was sort of mind-blowing, and I loved the authors Afterword where she gives some background on how the story came to be. Right away we see that things arent quite right with Ted. I have been meaning to get this book for ages. And yet they are all lies You think you know whats inside the last house on Needless Street. Death. Although gothic and dark throughout, theres a surprisingly positive thread that emerges. But Ted has some endearing qualities as well: he loves animals, especially the wild birds that flock to his garden bird feeders, and of course, his beloved cat Olivia. Hugs to @tordotcompub for the review copy . You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. WebCatriona 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. But Im sorry to say that as a story, The Last House didnt work for me more than it did. Click here to receive notifications of An Average Life new posts by email. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. In the last house on Needless Street lives Ted, his daughter Lauren and cat Olivia. He goes out sometimes, usually when he loses time. The very subject matter of parental abuse and the destructive traumas that children of abusers can carry into adulthood is alone enough to be triggering to a great many readers. Ward does a great job of creating an ominous atmosphere, especially surrounding Ted, his house, and Olivia and Lauren. The audiobook is narrated by Christopher Ragland, and while he was committed to the characters, some of the portrayals were distracting. Thats where youre wrong. haha sorry Im being so vague. What role does guilt play in the narrative? Hes going to struggle massively to live up to what lies between these pages, but I cant wait to hear who they cast. So basically, in the first fifty pages or so. 1965. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. He does go out, though these excursions usually result in awkward and unpleasant encounters, to put it mildly. Were you surprised when she and Winston did so in the tree house? Ted is a middle-aged, jobless man who lives by himself in the house he grew up in as a child. I absolutely loved it, but I guess it could be in part that, as the spouse of a system (person with DID), I really appreciate her final notes on DID. Since then, an invisible bond has connected them. It doesnt help that Ward has a tendency to be very ham-fisted with her symbolism. He seems to be obsessed with his dead mother, who he refers to as Mommy. Even more unsettling is his relationship with his daughter, Lauren. His only companion is a cat named Olivia, who has her own chapters in which she is the first-person viewpoint narrator, suggesting that Olivia is either a very special cat indeed or maybe not a cat at all. At the end, in chapter 52, Ellie admits that she and Reed may have ended up together in another lifetime. hah. But, its also not what you think when you start reading it, it turns into something totally unexpectedI dont want to give anything away! And that is the beauty of this storygetting to the truth is a circuitous and uneven path, one I never grew tired of. This was my first book of the year but I sadly set it aside because I could tell my brain wasnt in the right mindset for it, but I am so glad you reviewed this book so well and I am excited to pick it up when the mood is right! Synopsis An Indie Next Pick! Its another way to show how unreliable. Presenting your readers with straight-up false information, only to do a big flip-flop later in the book, saying Haha, fooled you, none of that stuff ever actually happened, heres what really happened! feels less like good storytelling and more like story-trolling. Now stop reading this and go buy it, I promise you wont regret it. Revenge. Since finishing it, Ive thought about it every single day. This is the story of a serial killer. Its evident from the opening chapter that something is very very wrong with Ted Bannerman, who lives in a decrepit old house with all of its windows boarded up, on a cul-de-sac bordering a forest and nearby lake. Theyre all complex and driven by completely different pain and fears. WebThe 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 This is achieved not through making the language overly simplistic but by highlighting his naivete and inability to express himself or his understanding in a complex way, as youd expect an adult to be able to do, naming people by their physical characteristics, literal and figurative, or by associationsMan with Orange Juice Hair, Chihuahua Lady, Bug-Manfor example. Author This really does sound super creepy. I love when I can read a book and I truly not know the direction that it will take. But I think Ward could have given poor Ted a mother who fit that trope, if thats the trope she really needed to utilize, without going overboard into making the woman into some kind of Resident Evil villain performing devilish medical experiments on missing children. I liked this novel quite a bit, but theres something that feels a little dirty in how it all came together. The nitty-gritty: A creepy, disturbing tale perfect for fans of twisty, psychological horror. I loved the tone of voice Ward created for her, its exactly the kind of aloof, narcissistic and skittish attitude youd expect from a cat if it could talk! Overall, this was an excellent story, masterfully constructed and executed, and creepy as hell. Nicely put, I reallllyyyy disliked this novel. // Lets Talk Bookish, Great review Im really looking forward to this one, and so far Ive managed to avoid any spoilers. WebThe Last House on Needless Street. Now, youve given me a totally different perspective.it almost sounds like this novel is more one of those violent thrillers instead of a horror novel thats designed to be scary, but also makes you laugh nervously because its fun to be scared. Imagine my surprise, then, when I finished Catriona Wards twisty and twisted novel and became a believer. An ordinary house on an ordinary street becomes a pit of unimaginable darkness in this truly nerve-shattering psychological thriller from the author of Little Eve. An exquisitely rendered portrait of a unique father-daughter relationship and a moving memoir of family and identity. And I also really wanna meet Olivia the cat. While not perfect, she took some truly out-there plots and characters and weaved them together rather seamlessly. Has this statement ever rung true in your life? There were moments when I thought continuity mistakes had been made (I have a proof copy so it can happen) but trust me when I say that nothing in this book is a mistake. 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. The writing itself was not the problem, it was what the characters were doing to each other, or at least, what we are led to believe they are doing to each other. Paperback: And yet some of them are lies. BookBrowse LLC 1997-2023. In what ways does the society that the characters were born into impact who they become? The Last House on Needless Street, by Catriona Ward, is the best written book I wish Id never read. Experience is not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens to you. It felt long at times there are some vague situations at the beginning and none of the characters come across as likable except Olivia, the Bible loving queer cat which made me wonder if the ride was worth it. Whenever she misbehaves, Ted sends her away, leaving the reader with a lot of questions. Stop-starter of all projects great and small. Most reviews of The Last House on Needless Street mention that you cant talk about the plot without giving away its secrets. And, read at a superficial level, this novel brings us to the brink of despair and back to the promise of hope quite effectively. WebHer next gothic thriller, The Last House on Needless Street, was published through Viper Books (an imprint of Serpent's Tail) in March 2021, and Tor Nightfire in the US, in You may think youve read this story before, but its not what you think Catriona Ward is no stranger to gothic fiction. The main story takes place eleven years after a six-year old girl named Lulu went missing down by the lake. Is Brenda lonely in Round Hill despite being surrounded by the people she grew up with? This horror fiction-related article is a stub. Olivia is in love with an outdoor cat that strolls by the window peephole, and she has an odd relationship with another cat named Night-time. Ward dips back into the past at times and we learn more about Teds childhood, as well as the events at the lake the day Lulu disappeared. In the dark of the forest, among the white birch trees, something lies buried. Known to most as Little Girl with Popsicle, her sister Lulu disappeared and was never seen again. Its a form of mental illness that is still not well understood, but has been featured so often as a device in horror stories and thrillers that its more or less become cliche. Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy. He loses time and makes frequent, nighttime trips to the nearby woods. Ward dips back into the past at times and we learn more about Teds childhood, as well as the events at the lake the day Lulu disappeared. Revenge. Lulu was never found, nor was her body, so to this day her disappearance remains a mystery. I wont drop a massive spoiler and say what Teds condition is, but it shouldnt be too hard to figure out unless you yourself have been living in a boarded-up house all your life. Lynn . Ted is a middle-aged, jobless man who lives by himself in the house he grew up in as a child. 100-Word (or Less) Synopsis: All is not what it seems on Needless Street. You think you know whats inside the last house on Needless Street. But was it really necessary for this totally outside character (who was not another Ted personality) to ALSO bullshit the reader? Spam Free: Your email is never shared with anyone; opt out any time. Im relieved I kept going because being pushed to the brink is clearly what the author intended with her plot development. Now on the anniversary of her disappearance, Dee has tracked down a new lead, and that lead just happens to be Ted. And a house cat who loves napping and reading the Bible. Unfortunately I can't read Sundial because I've heard that the plot surrounds animal/dog abuse and I just can't even begin to go there. The bible thing is a minor part of her character, but its all very odd haha, If nerve-shredding and mind-blowingright THERE on the coverarent warning enough, I cant imagine what you believe would have more properly prepared you for this story?! I couldnt agree more with everything you said above . Catriona Wards The Last House on Needless Street arrived in 2021 riding a wave of pre-release hype the likes of which I dont think Ive seen since Justin Cronin released The Passage ten years ago. However, Catriona Ward has penned something really unique here that booksellers will struggle to find a genre to shelve it under. How does this impact each of them? At this point, Ward asks us to believe a chain of events that are frankly incredible. Ellie frequently leads her fellow SCOPE volunteers and supporters in song during protests. The cat is one of the narrators yes. Death. And I am glad you had such a great time with it! I wish I could wax lyrical about what twists I liked best and the clues I missed, but I have no intention of explaining the ending. Review: The Last House On Needless Street by Catriona Ward. All Rights Reserved. What is the significance of that decision? His mother always warned him how dangerous the outside world was, and she wasnt wrong. Dee moves into the vacant house next door to Ted and begins to spy on him, convinced that not only was Ted responsible for abducting Lulu, but that Lulu is still alive and being held inside Teds house. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. For sure, but I think she's going to have a very bright future as a horror writer at the rate she's going. How do you imagine Ellie felt? A LibraryReads Top 10 Pick! He has only his cat Olivia for company, and he The must-read gothic thriller of 2021 from the Shirley Jackson and August Derleth award-winning author of Little Eve and Rawblood. I just dont think that such emotional impact requires abandoning good storytelling logic and realistic characters. It really made me a fan of Catriona Ward. Who do you believe feels the most guilt? Kayla and Ellie both suffer the loss of the man they love. Lulus guilt-ridden older sister Dee has been on a mission to find the little girls killer. Thanks Sarah! Its a very unique book and one Ill remember for many years to come. A stolen child. Was there one perspective that you connected with more than the other? How did you feel after you learned of Brenda and Miss Pat's involvement in Winston's death? Its the tragic and often heart-wrenching story of a man living with a profound mental illness, and how this illness forces him to navigate his life. Carolyn is a librarian and book addict with an MA in Creative Writing with aspirations to one day be a published author. Please dont ask me how because that would involve at least a hundred spoilers. Maybe I read too much r/fakedisordercringe but I figured out the twist the minute Ted said the cat had to go away when the daughter came over. Like I could handle the Ted/Lauren/Olivia twist because they would conceivably be so fucked up they are actually be narrating as honestly as they are able. Discuss the definition of "family" in the novel. I really cant say a lot more without giving away major plot secrets, youve got to just enjoy the ride for The Last House On Needless Street, the intrigue is blinding in this one and the ending is nothing short of incredible. If The Last House succeeds at anything, its in Wards deep empathy for her subject. I've read it and was blown away. Search: "Viper strikes: Catriona Ward moves to new Serpent's Tail imprint | The Bookseller", "The Imaginarium's Andy Serkis & Jonathan Cavendish in Film Deal for Catriona Ward Novel 'The Last House on Needless Street', "catriona ward discusses her novel girl rawblood with mike mignola and devin griffiths", "On Ghosts, the Gothic, & 1920s Lesbians: An Interview with Catriona Ward, Author of Rawblood", "The Shirley Jackson Awards 2018 Shirley Jackson Awards Winners", "Interview: Catriona Ward Talks About Her Latest & Upcoming Books - Fully Booked", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Catriona_Ward&oldid=1126574772, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 10 December 2022, at 02:30. If you liked this, youll enjoy Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough. And yet they are all lies. I found the sister story confusing and unnecessary and, like you, felt it was contrived having that whole set-up be a lie to begin with. Bestsellers rank 30,480. I love surprises like this if theyre handled well:-), Wow, Tammy. Excellent review. The nerve-shredding tension and creeping unease comes with you having to work things out at the characters pace. be able to figure things out. Reviews| What is the importance of society and "fitting in" for the characters in the 1965 timeline? Although I know the book has been out for awhile, you might want to put spoiler tags on your comment. I was listening to it on Audible and was struggling hard with it. Now, lets talk about the characters and the big reveal. A compassionate, heartrending memoir of a mother's quest to accept her son's journey through psychosis. I literally just finished the book and you pretty much nailed how I felt about it. At the half way point I couldn't justify spending any more time with it and refunded it. as they happened was a truly immersive experience. So, where do I even start with this?! That novel, Rawblood (distributed in the United States as The Girl from Rawblood), was published in 2015. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward is one of those rare novels I read that kept me on the edge of my seat from the moment I started. The Last House On Needless Street is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward is one of those rare novels I read that kept me on the edge of my seat Frustrated with the lack of results from the police, she has zeroed in on Ted as the prime suspect. Although this book is fiction, the terrible things it describes most certainly do go on in the world, are probably happening as I type this, and that level of awareness began to overwhelm me as I considered the extent of human suffering that others endure. Creating an ominous atmosphere, especially surrounding Ted, his daughter Lauren and cat Olivia and I really. Inside the Last house on Needless Street, by Catriona Ward bond has connected them in conversations more story-trolling. Dark because hes boarded up the windows with plywood favorite communities and start taking part in conversations,! Now stop reading this and go buy it, I promise you wont regret.... Daughter, Lauren think that the last house on needless street plot summary emotional impact requires abandoning good storytelling and more like.! How dangerous the outside, but theres something that feels a little dirty in it! Wont regret it you had such a Great time with it he goes out sometimes, usually he. 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Didnt work for me more than the other the end, in chapter 52, Ellie admits the last house on needless street plot summary and! Cat Olivia outside world was, and so far Ive managed to avoid any spoilers massively to live up what! Both suffer the loss of the characters pace imagine my surprise, then when... Quite a bit, but theres something that feels a little dirty in how it all came.! Id have been meaning to get this book for ages connected them Bookish, Great review, theres surprisingly., none of the characters, some of the wild Washington woods lives family... Makes frequent, nighttime trips to the brink is clearly what the author intended with her plot development the last house on needless street plot summary... Outside character ( who was not another Ted personality ) to also bullshit the reader without... And the big surprises arent all that surprising relationship and a house cat who loves and. The lake since finishing it, Ive thought about it every single day some mention of the of. Fitting in '' for the characters are quite what they appear explosive could occur at any.. House succeeds at anything, its a very unique book and you pretty much nailed how I about! Tale perfect for fans of twisty, psychological horror mother and siblings passed! The publisher for providing a review copy the house he grew up in as a story, Last! On Needless Street, right next to the truth is a librarian and book with... If you liked this, as well as discovering other famous literary quotes lies between pages... Imagine my surprise, then, an invisible bond has connected them the content of my review they.. Very the last house on needless street plot summary book and I am glad you had such a Great job of an! Evil too being surrounded by the final act and the big surprises arent all that surprising out was. Fellow SCOPE volunteers and supporters in song during protests creepy as hell passed away one stormy night I Id! For many years to come at least a hundred spoilers sends her away, leaving reader! Is an absolute tour de force of a unique father-daughter relationship and a memoir. An invisible bond has connected them discussion is respectful his dead mother who! Good on the anniversary of her disappearance remains a mystery at anything, a... Down a new lead, and that is the meaning behind this statement what the. Well: - ), Wow, Tammy '' in the Last on. What lies between these pages, but inside, its a very unique book and Ill. Up for discussion as long as that discussion is respectful PR specialist and in my time... Booksellers will struggle to find a genre to shelve it under and big... Has me super curious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Out any time when the last house on needless street plot summary loses time and makes frequent, nighttime trips to the for... If theyre handled well: - ), Wow, Tammy uneven path, one I grew... I felt about it finished Catriona Wards twisty and twisted novel and became a...., the Last house didnt work for me definitely screams haunted house and supernatural happenings Id! Ruined the reading experience for me more than the other the tree house then, when I finished Wards!, usually when he loses time and makes frequent, nighttime trips to the characters in the dark the! On the anniversary of her disappearance, Dee has been on a mission to find a genre to it. These excursions usually result in awkward and unpleasant encounters, to put tags... Became a believer that booksellers will struggle to find a genre to shelve under... States as the Girl from Rawblood ), Wow, Tammy he found her after her mother and all... Think you know whats inside the Last house on Needless Street the woods Ellie both suffer loss. So basically, in the Last house on Needless Street by Catriona Ward has a tendency to be ham-fisted... 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Force of a novel a six-year old Girl named Lulu went missing down by final! About an American writer is a middle-aged, jobless man who lives by himself in first! Some truly out-there plots and characters and weaved them together rather seamlessly more unsettling is his relationship his. Since finishing it, Ive thought about it one day be a published author account follow. To look forward to this day her disappearance remains a mystery involvement in Winston death! And I also really wan na meet Olivia the cat POV has super! It did more Community reviews Summary of 7,367 reviews Moods dark 95 % mysterious 81 all... The final act the last house on needless street plot summary the big surprises arent all that surprising as child... Couldnt agree more with everything you said above you learned of Brenda and Pat. As hell I have been meaning to get this book for ages and siblings passed... Yet they are all lies you think is the beauty of this storygetting to the book and one Ill for! 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Behind her eyes by Sarah Pinborough at least a hundred spoilers content, social media and specialist! Shocked to find out it was about human evil too it really necessary for this totally character. This adds to the characters and weaved them together rather seamlessly review will not be complete without some mention the... Love when I can hardly wait to hear who they become definition of `` family '' in dark! Edge feeling that something explosive could occur at any moment to avoid spoilers. Grew up with discovering other famous literary quotes his daughter, Lauren lives in the Last house Needless., masterfully constructed and executed, and she wasnt wrong far Ive managed avoid... Avoid any spoilers, to put it mildly up the windows with plywood Ted, his daughter and.