For more information, please see our Book spoilers aheadif you havent yet read. It sounds trite but this is story-telling at its finest. This book is wearing the disguise of horror. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. To me, everything is as it seems. The Den of Geek quarterly magazine is packed with exclusive features, interviews, previews and deep dives into geek culture. Edition: Main. Dee saw her dead body, but the police/adults never found it. long-awaited, Stephen King seal of approval-bearing, and impossible to review without spoilers -- Janice Hallett, author of The Appeal I read this in 1.5 nail-biting days. Ted lives in the last house on Needless Street. I was immediately drawn into the story, intrigued by Ted with his idiosyncrasies and strange way of living. To solve this, I started jotting down synopses to jog my memory. The second time I tried, you came out of my mind'" but the experience is unlike anything else out there, and that makes it a must-read for those who like the kind of labyrinthine narratives that pull the rug out from under you, sending you tumbling into a dark, dark room. Big, fat. Accepting that things didnt quite make sense but knowing it would come together. Anyway, not long after my friend confided in me our contact quite abruptly ended. The House on Needless Street SPOILERS | Mumsnet Number of pages: 400. Your perceptions change every instant and quite often no two people remember the same event the same way. Instead, its darkness is primarily rooted in more mental frights: Unreliable narrators, oppressively narrow points of view, and an almost unbearable tension lace through even the most basic scenes. Around halfway, I think things start to fall apart fast. 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. Regardless if you liked the book or not. 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. 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. Unsurprisingly, Dee's family disintegrated, and her father is now dead. Bee houses, bat houses, and bird feeders are set up. Which is disappointing, because I had high expectations going in based on the recommendations of people whose taste I trust in. "You are an honest child. As I mentioned in my review, I suspected from the first chapter that multiple personality issues will come into play in some way, including Lauren and Olivia. Ive been looking for a good opportunity to get to read this book, and the Ladies of Horror Fiction Readalong seemed like the perfect reason to jump The Last House on Needless Street on the top of my TBR. Were afraid of Ted, because context clues say we should be, because our own knowledge of the world has shown us its often right to be suspicious of loner men who live in shabby, boarded up houses at the end of the lane. 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. Her debutRawbloodwon Best Horror Novel at the 2016 British Fantasy Awards, and was a WHSmith Fresh Talent title. Absolutely hated it and it was fucking confusing to follow. Then as the story progressed, I started thinking of DID until it got confirmed that DID indeed got the drivers seat in the story. Once I found out about Olivia though, I did start to think that Lauren was an alter as well. The Last House on Needless Street - a book full of - MicheleReader The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Walker - review 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. Seeking redemption and revenge is one thing, but inflicting self-judgment on innocent people is a whole another one. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward is available in hardback and audible, published by Viper; the paperback will be released on 30th September, 2021. (And the author herself is well aware of that fact. I think what I wanted to do with this [story] was destabilize that a little bit.. I usually try to keep my reviews as spoiler-free as I can, but Im going to have an exception here. Where Did I Get This Book: I received an eARC from NetGalley. In a house that has seen better days lives Ted, his daughter Lauren and Olivia. Als Hauptverdchtiger galt damals der Einzelgnger Ted - ein eigenartiger Mann, der 165961634207 I wasnt surprised, in hindsight, but still. 05/04/2021 15:11. It blew . 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. The Last House on Needless Street | Bookreporter.com He's unemployed, drinks a lot, and suffers from a few undiagnosed mental health problems. A stolen child. Thats not to say I cant appreciate a great thriller or mystery I like watching true crime shows for instance. The Last House on Needless Street is finally out! Copyright 2020 by Bookends. However, I seem to have completely lost grip on the story when it comes to the Chihuahua woman. The Last House on Needless Street has a small(ish) cast of characters. There are also a lot of clues and hints sprinkled throughout which makes it a bit too easy to guess the twists. A teenage girl who isn't allowed outside, not after last time. But it is home for three: Ted, the town drunk; Dee, a teenage waif; and Olivia, a precocious cat. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward, 9781788166188, available at Book Depository with free delivery . He lives secluded, has his mental health problems, and the only time he leaves the house is when he is going to the forest, to a local therapist for meds and advice, and to local pubs to drink and try to date women. You just dont, Ward says. You think you know whats inside the last house on Needless Street. (LogOut/ Couple of things you got wrong. I read the reviews after the fact, and the fact that this book is about DID is totally spoiled. I loved being suspicious, piecing it together in my mind, feeling a tad disoriented. Overall, not a win for me. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The Last House on Needless Street is a very dark, atmospheric and disturbing tale about a boarded-up house at the end of Needless Street whose inhabitants include a man who drinks quite a bit, an angry teenage girl who is a recluse, and a cat that seems to have a religious side. It hangs like it has been strapped there. While Im talking about spoilers, one of the most chilling things about this book was how the mother treated Ted. Possible Spoilers Ahead. I loved the story, but the audio production made it ten times better. Get help and learn more about the design. It was different and kept me interested and may I even say, Im slightly SHOOK. As soon as you crack open Catriona Ward's The Last House on Needless Street, you know something's very wrong. Everything in The Last House on Needless Street is old, dirty, or broken. First we find out that Olivia is one of Laurens alters, created to hide from the pain that Ted was causing her. Wow. Required fields are marked *. Find out more here. Ted is an odd sort of a fellow. GENRE: Thriller. The reader plays detective the whole time trying to piece together what is reliable and what is not, Ward says. What cat understands English and speaks in slang? We see into the depths of their lives through their memories and find the darkest corners of their existence. But in the grand scheme of things, I found this book a bit underwhelming. Almost time to get my garden going. Really disappointing ending and one most could see from a mile away. There is a truth we begin to see relatively early on . Do not miss this book.. Ward's second novel, Little Eve (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2018) won the 2019 Shirley Jackson Award and the August Derleth Prize for Best Horror Novel at the 2019 British Fantasy Awards, making her the only woman to have won the . I kept reading because of the amazing reviews. There arent actually twists to this story, just an occasional fact left for the reader every once in a while. The Last House on Needless Street is out September 28th. A teenage girl who isn't allowed outside, not after last time. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for an ALC of this incredible audiobook. Dee chases Ted through the woods thinking that he has Lauren in a bag and is going to kill her, but is bit by a snake. It feels like a complete short story unto itself, and rightly so because it is integral to all that follows. 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. 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. The Last House on Needless Street | The Arbuturian This is smart! CATRIONA WARD was born in Washington, DC and grew up in the United States, Kenya, Madagascar, Yemen, and Morocco. One particular line in chapter 1 made me guess the first twist, and from then on, the rest was easy to figure out. Death. I listened to this book and I'm glad that I was forced to stay with the pacing of the novel. Dee leaves Lulu there to die but Ted's mum finds her first (she thinks Lulu is a boy because of the short hair) and subjects her to abuse, then buries the body at neighbours house. 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. Last House on Needless Street! | Mumsnet You think youve read this story before. Ted lives on Needless Street. 084121), Northcliffe House, 2 Derry . Somehow I had this book spoiled for me and I still decided to read it and still didnt figure out the actual twist til the big reveal and enjoyed the ride. And for that, it definitely deserves the praise. My dear friends, please add this brilliant book to your reading list! Reading guide for The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain Thank you, Catriona Ward, NetGalley, and Viper books for the opportunity to read this book. I could hardly bear to let go of her, even for a moment. 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." Teds alters integrate, he gets therapy from a real therapist, and starts to become a part of society again. Avoid the spoilers, skip the back cover copy, and place yourself directly into Catriona Ward's chilling hands. Her writing has been featured in Paste Magazine, Collider,. An unspeakable secret binds them together, and when a new neighbor moves in next door, what is buried out among the birch trees behind their house will come back to haunt them all. This is an old comment but I just finished this book and I agree! 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 cat is a litmus test, isnt it? Ward laughs. Thats not to say I didnt get caught by surprise here or there, though. 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. Here is what Im afraid of. As for Dee, while I didnt have any feelings for her, Im not 100% sure she deserved to die as she did. Ward uses unreliable narrators extremely well. A spoiler free 1st half of the thrilling, chilling and heart pounding "Last House on Needless Street" Tanya H. said "I don't know why they've got so many bad reviews but our experience was great! It was such a fantastic book!. I got a free e-copy through NetGalley about a week ago. The Last House on Needless Street is complex and multilayered, but more like a multiverse than an onion. What kind of parent says they dont love their child? HERO TOWING - 31 Photos & 39 Reviews - Yelp Because, although Needless Street has no real factual content in the plot at all, there are echoes of a real-life tragedy built into its bones, the kind that could certainly encourage readers to draw specific conclusions about the things theyre watching unfold. I don`t even want to try and review it, because I won`t do it justice. That might sound confusing, but it's all part of the dark, strange world Ward created for this unsettling story, and it all makes sense. Thriller/psychological twisty turner, I couldn't put it down and read it in two days straight. Outside of Ted's house, we are told of a girl who disappeared maybe a decade prior to the start of the novel, and how her sister Dee obsessively is trying to find the sister she called Lulu. "The Wizard of Oz" (Victor Fleming, 1939) As iconic musicals go, "The Wizard of Oz" nearly takes the cake. The Last House on Needless Street has been called a horror novel or a gothic thriller. ), Its a very strange genre, horror. I have a little request for those of you whove already read this. I thought long and hard because at first, I wasnt sure if portraying DID in a horror setting was something I was comfortable with. This is something that has made its way into my psychology and my imagination, Ward says. spoiler I just finished it, I completely agree there was TOO much going on, I kind of figured where it was going with Ted, it was kind of obvious when they were at the mall with Lauren. Trigger Warnings: Child Abuse. Its futile to resist it. THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET is psychological horror of the highest order, disguised as a Russian doll of a novel, with layer within layer holding new characters and secrets. When she ran back her sister had been taken by someone. Ted remembers details from his childhood, for example. 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. The best way to go into this book is completely blind to any information about it. Review: 'The Last House on Needless Street,' by Catriona Ward : NPR When new neighbors move in next door, the legacy of the house will finally be revealed - along with the secrets buried among the trees on this dark, dead-end . In the most basic sense, The Last House on Needless Street follows the story of Ted, a lonely man who lives in a boarded up house (on Needless Street, naturally) with his 12 year old daughter . 18 March 2021. Today, we're delighted to share this Q&A our . 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. I think horror doesnt get enough credit as well for its redemptive qualities, Ward continues. A teenage girl who isnt allowed outside, not after last time. The Last House on Needless Street - Horrified Magazine ok sir, an infinite stratos/is<> fanfic | FanFiction Welcome! When she turned into her street, she looked at the house that she had earned. In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET blew me away. It gives hope that people with this disorder can find their path in life even if its not an easy one. He's unemployed and drinks a lot. Inside the triple locked door Ted keeps his cat Olivia and his daughter Lauren safe from the outside world. She wasn't out of the car before an exhilarated voice said two words she had learned that Chifuyu would think were her most beloved words . And a house cat who loves napping and reading the Bible. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward 1,051 reviews 2,628 followers. 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. LOL. I just finished TLHONS and it was okay. He doesnt have friends and he cant quite get free of his mothers influence over him even though shes been long gone. Thats where youre wrong.In the dark forest at the end of Needless Street, lies something buried. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. I did not want any other details. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward I loved Olivia! 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. Sometimes you just want to say read it, and then talk to me about it, and leave your review at that. I felt that this was just perhaps pushing the envelope a little bit further., Ward refers to her previous novels as Gothic-style stories of distressed girls wandering about on moors, and says that part of her drive to write Needless Street came from an urge to do something completely different and to write something as mad as I liked.. Revenge. (LogOut/ If you watch a lot movies or read a lot of books not much comes off as a surprise. Also Turn of the Screw is a brilliant book . The Last House on Needless Street | Necromancy Never Pays In the dark forest at the end of Needless Street, lies something buried. The mothers coldness should have been a big red flag. Her desperation drove her to the edge of sanity, and I guess thats what she paid for in the end. I was concerned when I realized this wasn't pure thriller from the get-go. Review: The Last House On Needless Street by Catriona Ward 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.