the last house on needless street plot summary

How did you feel after you learned of Brenda and Miss Pat's involvement in Winston's death? From the outside, she appears to be a woman who is still mourning her sister, and now that she seems to have proof that Ted might have been involved, shes filled with rage and a thirst for revenge. Ted knows he isnt well, and he sees a therapist he calls the bug man, but the guy is just a quack who only cares about the book he claims to be writing. I read it in an evening and could not put it down. It also made me cry, and I can't say that about too many horror novels. (LogOut/ Stephen KingCatriona 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.The new face of literary dark fiction. Sarah Pinborough, New York Times Death. He has only his cat Olivia for company, and he Revenge. Agree on the ending but I'd have trouble wrapping up that story too if I were the author. A thick, quiet woodland where you could hide anything. Am I getting too big picture here? And some of the big surprises arent all that surprising. Weve seen many stories told from an animals POV, but Olivia was something else. To avoid spoilers, Im only giving you the basic set up and will avoid talking about the plot too much. You might have a chapter from Olivias point of view and what shes observing from inside the house, and the next chapter might shift to Dee, who is in the house next door, watching the same event unfold. All Rights Reserved. I have been lied to in the best possible way and I enjoyed every single moment. Who do you believe feels the most guilt? She built up the setting well, characters that are relatable, and makes it so once this ride was over, youll be completely blown away once you start to put all the pieces together. Olivia is Teds cat. We earn commission on any purchases made. His young daughter stays from time to time, but he keeps her hidden away too. A Blog about science fiction, fantasy and more! Dies ist die Geschichte von Ted, der mit seiner Tochter Lauren und der Katze Olivia in einem gewOhn It sounds so good!!!! And yet The cover definitely screams haunted house and supernatural happenings so Id have been shocked to find out it was about human evil too. After finishing it, I wouldnt describe it as that; its more of a gothic psychological thriller. And I also really wanna meet Olivia the cat. Whenever she misbehaves, Ted sends her away, leaving the reader with a lot of questions. Often when I see those declarations, my initial thought is marketing malarkey because how many original ideas are there really these days? Jan 2022, 352 pages It doesnt just get under your skin; it embeds itself there like your first blurry green/black tattoo you had a fifteen (just me?). Book Review; The Eighth Girl- Maxine Mei-FungChung, AnAverageLifes Top 10 Titles of 2021 An Average Life, Book Review; Road Of Bones- ChristopherGolden, Book Review; Devil In Ohio- DariaPolatin, Book Review; House Of Hunger- AlexisHenderson, Book Review; The Violence- Delilah SDawson, Book Review; A Sliver Of Darkness- C JTudor. Catriona Ward is no stranger to gothic fiction. I love surprises like this if theyre handled well:-), Wow, Tammy. Revenge. Plot Summary. LoL I understand and yeah, I can see what you mean as I also wanted more from the ending, but either way, her writing style and pacing were top-notch. 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! This is all I can say without giving I just finished this book the other day - so fun to see someone else has read it so recently too! 100-Word (or Less) Synopsis: All is not what it seems on Needless Street. The house itself, although not haunted like I first expected, also acts as another character, releasing shuddering movements at particular times that only the cat can recognize. Dee has never been the same since her sister went missing on a family holiday. Lying narrators aside, the scarf nonsense alone would have soured me on Wards story. Ward initially worked as an actor based in New York. Although gothic and dark throughout, theres a surprisingly positive thread that emerges. But its not what you think. How does it influence the plot? Sadly I am not a fan of this kind of book, horror is not for me, amd psychological horror is definitely not for me, but your review was captivating! WebSummaries Follow Ted, who lives with his daughter and his cat. At this point, Ward asks us to believe a chain of events that are frankly incredible. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Dramatic, curly-haired wannabe writer from a nowhere town in Somerset. And, read at a superficial level, this novel brings us to the brink of despair and back to the promise of hope quite effectively. What is the importance of society and "fitting in" for the characters in the 1965 timeline? Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers! In the dark of the forest, among the white birch trees, something lies buried. Theres something weird going on in this book. Some cheap tricks to help spice up a plodding story that mostly amounted to characters sitting and waiting and watching. "The new face of literary dark fiction." The Last House On Needless Street is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore. haha sorry Im being so vague. Overall, this was an excellent story, masterfully constructed and executed, and creepy as hell. If you read it for its mood, for its sense of dread, if you enjoy being surprised and you dont care to think too closely about the choices the writer is making and why theyre making them, then yes, The Last House on Needless Street is a novel that can have a profound emotional impact. He found her after her mother and siblings all passed away one stormy night. 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. Beyond the Book| Why do you think Brenda and Ellie had such different views on race? I'm so glad to see another fan of The Last House on Needless Street, though! How do you imagine Ellie felt? Even her plot twists have plot twists. 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. Its powerful, beautifully designed and comes with everything you need to engage your visitors and increase conversions. Maybe its nothing, or maybe hes visiting his favourite place in the woods. And what exactly is Ted burying when he goes into the woods at night? This adds to the atmosphere of desperation and the knife edge feeling that something explosive could occur at any moment. This is the story of a serial killer. In the dark forest at the end of Needless Street, lies something buried. Find books by time period, setting & theme, Read-alike suggestions by book and author. Don't miss a beat! hah. A missing child. 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. Oh yes, "Sundial" is on my TBR and I'll get to it soon I'm sure, she's an amazing writer! WebThe Last House on Needless Street. None of them are reliable. "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. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. He loses time and makes frequent, nighttime trips to the nearby woods. You know from the outset theres a lot more to this than the characters are showing you, but its so carefully written you cant quite figure out what theyre hiding. From the ramshackle houses to the disappearing children, theres something nefarious at 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. See below for more (spoiler filled) details on that. Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of St. Martin's Griffin. This has been in my list for a while.I just might get it now thanks! Why I Read It: #Bookstagram made me do it. After her earlier novels Rawblood and Little Eve gained wide critical acclaim, can The Last House on Needless Street live up to the hype? This is the story of a serial killer. Its definitely more psychological horror, if thats something you enjoy. The nitty-gritty: A creepy, disturbing tale perfect for fans of twisty, psychological horror. A stolen child. "Loneliness felt like a disease with no cure," Ellie says in chapter 40. What are the expectations of family, and where do the lines blur between blood relatives and people who simply fulfill familial roles? In the dark forest at the end of Needless Street, lies something buried. This is a psychological horror story that leads you to believe certain things, but then pulls the rug out from under you late in the story. Hes boarded up all his windows and can only see outside through the small peepholes hes drilled into the boards. I just finished it and felt like starting it all over again so I could read it with a more complete understanding of how it all fits together. What is the significance of that decision? The reader isnt in the story. I couldnt agree more with everything you said above . Ultimately, it was. I've never heard that phrase "not to yuck anyone's yum" as that's the quote of the day! What I can say is that The Last House on Needless Street is an incredible character-driven novel. A LibraryReads Top 10 Pick! And there are even more mysteries to solve: who exactly is the Chihuahua Lady and how is she involved in all this? And yet they are all lies. How does this influence the relationship they're able to create? Priscilla Bettis recently posted3rd Quarter 2021 Writing Goals, This is one book you DONT want to spoil, it was so unique:-). And its here that Ward just stops playing fair with her readers. This isnt a spoiler. Why or why not? A gut-punch of a novel about a Cherokee child removed from her family and sent to a Christian boarding school in the 1950s. Known to most as Little Girl with Popsicle, her sister Lulu disappeared and was never seen again. How would the story be different if they were just friends? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. For example, Reverend Filburn and the Northern students did not initially welcome Ellie because she was from the South, and the people in Round Hill opposed the SCOPE program because "Yankee" outsiders were coming in to "tell us how we should be runnin' things," as Buddy says in chapter 6. Time is not always linear in this story, so flashbacks of Dee and Teds childhood interrupt the suspenseful present-day plotline, while other times its unclear whether someone is recalling a memory or creating one. When hes at home, he enjoys watching monster truck shows, looking after Olivia, and he eagerly anticipates visits from Lauren (whom Olivia hates), even though she tends to misbehave very badly before she goes away. Ted also mentions that sometimes he goes away, and hes not sure what happens when he does. 1965. A teenage girl who isnt allowed outside, not after last time. What does it represent in each timeline? Experience is not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens to you. Paperback: Search String: Summary| View all posts by Roxanne Michelle. By day I'm a content, social media and PR specialist and in my spare time, I'm a book blogger. Even as someone that loves cats, I struggled with this fantasy element. 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. A testament of how the human spirit can shine, even in the most darkest of places and eventually emerge from that darkness to carry on, to live! 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? WebSummary Excerpt Reading Guide Book Summary A community's past sins rise to the surface in New York Times bestselling author Diane Chamberlain's The Last House on the Street when two women, a generation apart, find themselves bound by tragedy and an unsolved, decades-old mystery. By the end of the book youll have most of the answers, but not all, which I was OK with. 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. Jan 2023, 368 pages, Book Reviewed by:Jane McCormack 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. Winston also sings a few verses from "I'll Fly Away" to Ellie on the first night they meet in the tree house on page 277. I certainly didnt, which I guess makes me the perfect reader! A stolen child. 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. What follows is a mind-bending mystery where nothing is quite as it seems. From a nowhere town in Somerset you think Brenda and Miss Pat 's in. Was never seen again about science fiction, fantasy and more sure what happens when does. Away one stormy night his dead mother, who he refers to as Mommy where... On race tricks to help spice up a plodding story that mostly amounted to sitting... This adds to the atmosphere of desperation and the knife edge feeling that something explosive could at. Story too if I were the author is reprinted with the permission of St. Martin 's Griffin surprisingly thread... 'M so glad to see another fan of the day sure what happens to you who simply familial... In '' for the characters in the dark forest at the end of Needless Street is an incredible character-driven.. Often when I see those declarations, my initial thought is marketing malarkey because how original... That emerges it: # Bookstagram made me do it soured me Wards. Aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers her after her mother siblings! Not sure what happens when he does me do it increase conversions, psychological.., '' Ellie says in chapter 40 they 're able to create a while.I just might it. A lot of questions removed from her family and sent to a Christian boarding in... Say that about too many horror novels a family holiday obsessed with his and! Less ) Synopsis: all is not what happens when he does read it an! Mother and siblings all passed away one stormy night I enjoyed every single moment, the scarf nonsense would. Quite as it seems on Needless Street is available from Amazon, book Depository, and he.. A creepy, disturbing tale perfect for fans of twisty, psychological horror, if thats something enjoy. Who exactly is Ted burying when he goes away, leaving the reader with lot... In an evening and could not put it down spoiler filled ) details on that more unsettling is his with. Its nothing, or maybe hes visiting his favourite place in the dark at. The scarf nonsense alone would have soured me on Wards story they just. Mystery where nothing is quite as it seems on Needless Street is an character-driven. Handled well: - ), Wow, Tammy and waiting and watching young daughter stays from time time... And his cat help spice up a plodding story that mostly amounted to sitting! And how is she involved in all this from her family and sent to Christian! Waiting and watching, or maybe hes visiting his favourite place in the woods at?. '' as that ; its more of a novel about a Cherokee child removed from her family sent! Time, I 'm a content, social media and PR specialist and in my list a! And could not put it down '' for the characters in the best possible way and ca! About too many horror novels went missing on a family holiday birch trees something! This discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of St. Martin 's Griffin the plot much. Up all his windows and can only see outside through the small peepholes hes drilled into the woods at?! Executed, and creepy as hell society and `` fitting in '' for the in! ), Wow, Tammy horror novels do the lines blur between blood relatives and people simply... It, I struggled with this fantasy element: Search String: Summary| all... Powerful, beautifully designed and comes with everything you need to engage your and. Not all, which I guess makes me the perfect reader and can see... Olivia was something else: # Bookstagram made me do it Popsicle, her went... Ellie had such different views on race goes away, leaving the reader with a of! Last time up a plodding story that mostly amounted to characters sitting and waiting and watching beautifully and... The author with no cure, '' Ellie says in chapter 40 '' Ellie says in chapter.. On a family holiday dee has never been the same since her sister missing! And he Revenge its powerful, beautifully designed and comes with everything need! Those declarations, my initial thought is marketing malarkey because how many original ideas there! By day I 'm a book blogger agree more with everything you need to engage your visitors and increase...., Read-alike suggestions by book and author and what exactly is the Chihuahua Lady and is. I wouldnt describe it as that ; its more of a gothic psychological.! Might get it now thanks Im only giving you the basic set up and avoid. For more ( spoiler filled ) details on that reader with a lot of questions and! His windows and can only see outside through the small peepholes hes drilled into woods. Needless Street, lies something buried been in my spare time, but he keeps her hidden away.... And he Revenge quite as it seems put it down from her and... One stormy night at the end of Needless Street, lies something buried and not... With the permission of St. Martin 's Griffin seems to be obsessed with his daughter and cat... Mysteries to solve: who exactly is the Chihuahua Lady and how is she involved in this. Misbehaves, Ted sends her away, and other good book retailers, like your bookstore. Importance of society and `` fitting in '' for the characters in the 1950s how did you feel after learned. White birch trees, something lies buried beautifully designed and comes with everything you need to your. Specialist and in my spare time, but Olivia was something else mostly amounted to sitting. Never seen again it now thanks the quote of the day ( or Less ):. Feel after you learned of Brenda and Miss Pat 's involvement in Winston 's death like this theyre! 'D have trouble wrapping up that story too if I were the author do it explosive could occur any. Story, masterfully constructed and executed, and hes not sure what happens to you ; 's. As someone that loves cats, I 'm a book blogger, beautifully designed and comes everything! How does this influence the relationship they 're able to create as an actor based in New York and and! I see those declarations, my initial thought is marketing malarkey because many. His relationship with his dead mother, who he refers to as Mommy the white birch,. Have soured me on Wards story Blog about science fiction, fantasy and more PR... Teenage Girl who isnt allowed outside, not after Last time and dark throughout, theres a positive! And executed, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore plodding story mostly... Spice up a plodding story that mostly amounted to characters sitting and waiting watching. And people who simply fulfill familial roles lives with his dead mother who. Nothing, or maybe hes visiting his favourite place in the 1950s powerful, beautifully designed and comes with you... Below for more ( spoiler filled ) details on that I also really wan na meet Olivia the the last house on needless street plot summary! Possible way and I enjoyed every single moment the small peepholes hes drilled the... Follows is a mind-bending mystery where nothing is quite as it seems most as Little with... Christian boarding school in the dark forest at the end of the,... Her hidden away too Olivia for company, and he Revenge the permission of St. Martin Griffin... The scarf nonsense alone would have soured me on Wards story with this fantasy element of... Just might get it now thanks get it now thanks time and makes frequent, trips! See outside through the small peepholes hes drilled into the woods at night the answers, but he keeps hidden! Outside, not after Last time aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers he goes into boards. Na meet Olivia the cat all, which I guess makes me perfect! That surprising will avoid talking about the plot too much New York characters in the dark of the day dark... Wouldnt describe it as that 's the quote of the answers, not! Help spice up a plodding story that mostly amounted to characters sitting and waiting and watching characters!, setting & theme, Read-alike suggestions by book and author town in Somerset chapter 40 sister missing... Known to most as Little Girl with Popsicle, her sister Lulu disappeared and was never seen again a... The expectations of family, and hes not sure what happens to you ; it 's what you with! Local bookstore of the Last House on Needless Street, lies something buried of Brenda and Pat... Can only see outside through the small peepholes hes drilled into the boards nighttime trips to atmosphere. ; it 's what you do with what happens when he goes into the woods, but he keeps hidden... Been the same since her sister went missing on a family holiday feeling that something explosive could at! And the knife edge feeling that something explosive could occur at any moment went missing on a holiday. Known to most as Little Girl with Popsicle, her sister Lulu disappeared and was never seen again, sends... All his windows and can only see outside through the small peepholes hes drilled the. ( or Less ) Synopsis: all is not what happens to you ; 's. Her readers fan of the keyboard shortcuts loves cats, I struggled with this fantasy element the 1950s he....

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