Now take it out of your pocket. Do you love the cat more than you want her to get better?No, I said. A breathtaking, fiercely beautiful novel. Rio Youers, author of Lola on FireBreathtakingly brilliant. Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2023. The Last House on Needless Street is a hard read at times. She studied English at the University of Oxford, and later, completed a Creative Writing Masters at the University of East Anglia. The revulsion that dawns on us as we realize what is happening to Ted in this moment is compounded by his youthful, innocent voice. Breathtaking. Why can the cat talk? I couldn't put this one down. This is an honest and voluntary review. This is such a twisted story. 'The buzz building around Catriona Ward's The Last House on Needless Street is real. $18.91. And yet some of them are lies. Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2023, Talk about the unreliable narrator. I thought of how cold and alone she would be, here in the dark, how the rain would wet her and rot her, how squirrels would chew her beautiful head.It is practice, Mommy said. When she finishes, she opens the book at random in the middle and continues reading. Wow, thats definitely something that could fuel nightmares. Wow, I see why the book made you feel terrible. The book failed to grab my attention , and after reading the first 50 or so pages I have put it aside. This novel is dynamic. One of the most powerful and well-executed novels I've read in years." The person with mental illness is not vilified, and neither is the condition itself; as a careful reader, I was left with no negative feelings about DID or the character who has it in the novel. Ted draws strength from it, but to Dee the forest is full of the sliding passage of snakes. As with everything in this novel, it is a matter of perspective. As the story progresses, however, it becomes apparent that each remembers events with a skewed point of view. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Death. Expectation: A page-turning supernatural thriller. , Item Weight A man who drinks alone in front of his TV, trying to ignore the gaps in his memory. Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2023. It really messed with my mind. "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. Click to see spoiler. Mike Mignola, creator of Hellboy"Brilliant. Little Evewon the Shirley Jackson Award, was aGuardianbest book of 2018 and won the Best Horror Novel at the 2019 British Fantasy Awards. : Your email address will not be published. Unlike many books there is little to no superfluous parts included as filler to make the book longer. I was feeling things I didn't want to feel and by the end i understood those feelings. No ghost walks under the spreading trees. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Just when you think youve figured out what is really going on, youll probably realize you were wrong." It's a true nerve-shredder that keeps its mind-blowing secrets to the very end. The Last House on Needles has been added to your Cart. It is cinematic in a way that never forgets it is literary. This book was like an onion. An unspeakable secret binds them together, and when a new neighbor moves in next door, what is buried out among the birch tr Read allThe Last House on Needless Street follows Ted, who lives with his daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia in an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. Catriona Ward. Catriona Ward was born in Washington, DC and grew up in the US, Kenya, Madagascar, Yemen, and Morocco. Only 3 left in stock - order soon. Reading The Last House on Needless Street made me feel terrible. Every depiction of abuse in this novel is uniquely horrifying, but that of Teds mother is particularly bad, especially with its roots in make-you-squirm medical horror. She lives in London and Devon. Shes spent a lifetime pulling apart and putting films back together, and still enjoys every minute of it. The story unfolds through the eyes of several different characters point of view. Please try your request again later. Sarah Langan, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Good NeighborsThis book was like an onion. . The story unfolds through the eyes of several different characters point of view. Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. Broadly, the novel follows Ted, a man living alone in his mid-30s, his daughter Lauren, his lesbian Bible-reading cat Olivia and a woman named Dee who lost her younger sister in an abduction years ago. "Brilliant.[a] deeply frightening deconstruction of the illusion of the self. Each element finds its way back to each other, and they complete each other in unbelievably satisfying ways. It felt impossible at times but I just had to believe it would come together. But IT IS PHENOMENAL. The Last House on Needless Street, by Catriona Ward, is the best written book I wish Id never read. , Publisher I enjoyed learning Teds story bit by bit. Just what you want in a good psychological horror thriller. The ending is propulsive and shocking and definitely had me re-running prior scenes in my head to assist with putting the pieces together. I was immediately hooked from the very first page, and I did not want to put it down. 2023 One hundred and thirty-two years of editorial freedom. , ISBN-13 That stays here.Why? I whispered. , ISBN-10 And some of the most satisfying twists were the ones I discovered as I wrote. Send us a tip using our annonymous form. Ward expertly uses the horror concept of the fantastic, which describes the state of teetering between believing alternatively in a supernatural or a psychological explanation for events. Beautiful, heartbreaking and quietly uplifting. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations. An Indie Next Pick! In this way, Ward does not use mental illness as a thing to be afraid of and, instead, treats it as a fact of the characters realities as something horror curls itself around just like any other element in the novel. EXCLUSIVE: Andy Serkis and Jonathan Cavendishs Imaginarium Productions has optioned film rights to Catriona Wards upcoming new novel The Last House on Needless Street. Required fields are marked *. Is she a complete creation, or is she based on a real cat? One aspect of this novel that struck me was the inclusion of dissociative identity disorder, or DID, in the plot. It's a true nerve-shredder that keeps its mind-blowing secrets to the very end.". The story is initially told by Ted, who lives on Needless Street near the lake where Lulu disappeared. 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. MEDIA REVIEWS. : I highly recommend this book. Haven't read anything this exciting since. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters. A LibraryReads Top 10 Pick!A Library Journal Editors' Pick! This is a dark psychological horror with alot of twists and turns. Mommy told him that these were the most dangerous kinds of wounds. Please try again. 'The Last House on Needless Street' (Viper Books, Tor Nightfire) was a Times Book of the Month, Observer Book of the Month, March Editors Pick on Open Book, a Between the Covers BBC2 book club selection, a Times bestseller, and is being developed for film by Andy Serkiss production company, The Imaginarium. Said Ward: From the very first, I was bowled over by the Imaginarium team their passion, their dedication and thoughtful approach to this book. Haven't read anything this exciting since Gone Girl. Stephen KingSensational.I cant recall another novel in recent years that dares so much and succeeds so wildly. A. Highly recommend!! 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. And yet they are all lies You think you know what's inside the last house on Needless Street. This book had me writing holy shit! in the margins. It kept me glued and guessing right up to the endI loved every inch of it." , Tor Nightfire; 1st edition (September 28, 2021), Publication date I've read it and was blown away. This has all the staple elements you look for in a horror book of creepiness, suspense, and well, things that will genuinely freak you out. 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. And a house cat who loves napping and reading the Bible. We work hard to protect your security and privacy. It's 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. Some twists I liked better than others. EsquireThis masterful horror novel packs an emotional wallop that lingers. Publishers Weekly, starred review"A stunning and immersive tale of psychological horror. "Brilliant.[a] deeply frightening deconstruction of the illusion of the self." Esquire magazine listed it as one of the top 25 best horror novels of all time. "The buzzis real. Mike Mignola, creator of Hellboy"Brilliant. Recommended for anyone interested in horror with well-realized characters and a claustrophobic, intense setting." Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. There was a lot of buzz surrounding The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward, so I knew I had to bump it to the top of my TBR pile, and Im so glad I did. Ward will executive produce alongside the Imaginarium. It is nightmare fuel. The actual description of the procedure is short and cold: The third incision, she said, is superficial, outer dermis only. Her hands followed the words. Ward doesnt need to give us anything more than that; our mind will supply the rest. Kingfisher, author of The Hollow Places"Ward ably handles the series of nested revelations of the truth about the house's inhabitants and how they connect to Ted's own childhood, all the while maintaining a propulsive, suspenseful tone. The book is complex in both character motivations and the underlying truth of the matter, and neither is really apparent until the end (although Ward provides numerous tantalising clues throughout). There was a problem loading your book clubs. Sarah is a filmmaker, writer and lecturer. Burning questions keep you plunging forward: Where does Teds daughter go when she goes away? What, exactly, is wrong with Ted? Kelly Link makes the magical seem everyday, and vice versa. Reality: A slow-burn mystery with some satisfying last act reveals. Today, were delighted to share this Q&A our lovely editor Miranda did with Catriona. That would make me a mean, mean boy.She put a cool hand on my shoulder. , Sticky notes Such exquisite writing. Muriel Gray, author of The Ancient"Its one eerie mind-bender of a novel in the best way." This is an honest and voluntary review. There is a truth we begin to see relatively. The Last House on Needless Street follows Ted, who lives with his daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia in an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. Her short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies. I read it in one sitting because its so compelling, but the more I got drawn into the mystery of what was happening and the more I found out, the worse I felt. At least the people in Wuthering Heights understand that life is a terrible choice, which you must make each day. A . I stayed up way past my bedtime. I didn't find it horrifying or terrifying, though it is thrilling to read. 1. Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2023. This book was discussed on one of the FB Author pages I follow, so I downloaded it and dove right in!! Terrifying. (LogOut/ Did you plan them in detail, or write furiously and edit afterwards? Revenge. The Final Girl Support Group. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. I do.You know the little girl at the hospital, who has cancer? Surely I couldnt. ISBN: 9781788166188. The characters were well developed and the storyline kept me eagerly turning the pages. Its terrifyingly real and physically upsetting, yet, like the best of the genre, it leaves space for hope to ultimately shine through." Overall it was entertaining, Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2023. The Last House on Needless Street follows Ted, who lives with his daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia in an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. I nodded. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 25, 2021. Its very much a puzzle narrative, and structured as one. The Last House On Needless Street By Catriona Ward I had previously recommended Catriona Ward`d first two novels on this sub. A character in The Last House on Needless Street who has become an early reader favourite is the snooty cat, Olivia. I don't doubt that this has or still happens unfortunately. 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. Shout it from the rooftops, tell all your friends this novel is a must-read! Layer after layer after layer and then you're crying and somebody's got a knife. This is extraordinary, high-wire-act horror, audacious as hell. Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author of Red Hands"Dark and creepy, sad and wonderfully strange. Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout. Ted calls Lulu the Little Girl With Popsicle and cant forget the anniversary of her abduction, as even eleven years after Lulus disappearance, hes a suspect or feels like one. Beautiful, heartbreaking and quietly uplifting. Highly recommend!! An Indie Next Pick!A LibraryReads Top 10 Pick!A Library Journal Editors' Pick! I would give this book more stars if I could. An Indie Next Pick! : Twists and turns. Ted is an odd sort of a fellow. : Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2023. Like most horror, Wards book takes its emotional undercurrents from unavoidable mortality; like great horror, it utilizes fear to force readers to contemplate that mortality. I loved everything about this book from cover to cover. A masterpiece to read at your own peril." In the end, I can do nothing but recommend Wards novel. This book warmed my horror-loving heart because it implements genre tropes in ways that are new and exciting, especially for the literary form. ", is a shocking and immersive read perfect for fans of. It exposes our deepest feelings like a raw nerve, like cold air on minty teeth. Growing up, Stephen King was my gateway to horror. The gods are closer than you would think. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we dont use a simple average. I've read it and was blown away. Summaries (1) Summaries Follow Ted, who lives with his daughter and his cat. I loved everything about this book from cover to cover. "The Last House on Needless Street" by Catriona Ward is one of those rare books you'll read in 2021 that will keep you on the edge of your seat from the moment you start. The Last House on Needless Street, Catriona Wards third novel, begins with an unsolved crime: the abduction of Lulu, a six-year-old girl taken from her family one summers day. Just when you think youve figured out what is really going on, youll probably realize you were wrong." Courtesy of Laurie Sparham, Profile Books, Tom Sizemore Dies: 'Saving Private Ryan' & 'Black Hawk Down' Star Was 61; Reactions + Career In Photos, MRC, James Wans Atomic Monster & 3 Arts In Deal To Develop Pornsak Pichetshotes Noir Graphic Novel The Good Asian Into Series, Searchlight Lands Theatrical Remake Rights To Oscar-Nominated National Geographic Docu Fire Of Love, Lava Love Story Of French Volcanologists, The Oscar-Nominated Women Behind Elvis: Gail Berman, Catherine Martin & Mandy Walker Speak On The Man, The Myth, The Movie. my review of The Last House on Needless Street, Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2023. Sorry, there was a problem loading this page. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at. GizmoBasil Mon 05-Apr-21 15:11:39. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 26, 2021. We dont share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we dont sell your information to others. Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2023. : shammon5 1 yr. ago. Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2023, Talk about the unreliable narrator. In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. You think you know what's inside the last house on Needless Street. Whats done is done. She executes the existentialism in this passage in a sad yet satisfying way, like releasing a deep breath. "Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama," by Bob Odenkirk (Random House, nonfiction) What it's about: The beloved star of "Better Call Saul" and "Mr . Anyway the trick to life is, if you dont like what is happening, go back to sleep until it stops. Discussion spoiler. I've read it and was blown away. Yeah, the mom buried Lulu in the neighbor's yard when the neighbor went on vacation. Library Journal, starred reviewFull of twists and turns, this high-concept gothic horror is going to be huge. GuardianThe buzz building around Catriona Ward's The Last House on Needless Street is real. Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2023. King said of the gothic tale: "The buzz building. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2021. Bloody Disgusting"[A]n immersive, head-shaking, game of a novel that speaks to the horrors of a persons past and how a horrific event can leave people unchanged for the worse." This has all the staple elements I look for in a horror novel of creepiness, suspense, and well, things that will genuinely freak you out. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 26, 2021. The book is Wards third novel, following her 2015 gothic horror debut Rawblood and 2018s Little Eve, both of which won the August Derleth Prize at the British Fantasy Awards. This book really got under my skin, made me feel uncomfortable and freaked me out. A LibraryReads Top 10 Pick! You think you've read this story before. See production, box office & company info. A man recalls a small village and the strange experience he had in a small village that led to the end of his relationship. I've read it and was blown away. Everything in life is a rehearsal for loss. Once Id read the book, I returned to several sections and appreciated them even more in the light of my new understanding. As a reviewer, I have to try to give my thoughts on the book without revealing too much, because solving the mystery of Needless Street pulled me through the story. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 19, 2021. Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. The book failed to grab my attention , and after reading the first 50 or so pages I have put it aside. These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Stephen KingWinner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Horror Novel!A World Fantasy Award Finalist! This engaged me in the narrative to such an extent that I found it hard to put the book down; when I did, I was still trying to untangle the narrative threads in my mind. To Dee, Teds house smells of death; not of rot or blood but dry bone and dust; like an old grave, long forgotten, and although just a house on an ordinary street, its exterior is boarded and interior decaying. Its a weird book. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club thats right for you for free. Ships from and sold by GreenworldIntl. This is weirdly justifying, although I am sorry you had to read an upsetting book. Interesting perspective. As the novel begins, it seems that the mystery is about the disappearance of a little girl. Medical horror plays on most peoples preconceived fears of doctors and medical situations lack of control, sharp instruments, harsh lighting, blood. I was utterly confused from the beginning. Her sister, Dee, is still looking for her, years after everyone else has given up. J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the WindowA chilling and beautiful masterpiece of suspense, cunningly plotted and written with the elegant imagination of a Shirley Jackson or a Sarah Waters. What really brought the book together for me was reading the very last ( spoiler). Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 18, 2021. I highly recommend this book. At first, I found the structure fragmented my understanding of exactly what was happening, but this mirrors the characters lives: theres no omniscient narrator, no one person who guides the reader through. : A teenage girl who isn't allowed outside, not after last time. In the dark forest at the end of Needless Street, lies something buried. , Word Wise I would say I inhaled this in one, but I think I was too busy holding my breath throughout. The Last House on Needless Street is complex and multilayered, but more like a multiverse than an onion. It's a true nerve-shredder that keeps its mind-blowing secrets to the very end. Do you love it?Yes, I said.How much?I love it more than I loveice cream, I said. Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web. Please consider donating to The Michigan Daily, Stanford Lipsey Student Publications Building Additional gift options are available when buying one eBook at a time. Winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Horror Novel! We are going home. Mommy held out her hand.I made to pick Olivia up, but Mommys fingers were like a cuff about my wrist. Paul Tremblay, author of A Head Full of Ghosts"A masterpiece. This item: The Last House on Needless Street. Olivia is a cat, so has unique insight into what is happening, what has happened, and who Ted is. I would say I inhaled this in one, but I think I was too busy holding my breath throughout. Noping right out of that one, that absolutely does sound like nightmares waiting to happen. Extremely captivating with alot of twists and turns! Select the Pickup option on the product page or during checkout. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club thats right for you for free. Even after two reads, I am confident that there will continue to be details, little tiny snippets that Ward scatters throughout the novel, that resolve themselves in their entirety at the end of the book. I wanted to mine new areas of experience for this book my US background, my lifelong fascination with serial killers and those wild forests of Washington State. I want you to feel the power of it, she said. I stayed up way past my bedtime. , Enhanced typesetting The story is initially told by Ted, who lives on Needless Street near the lake where Lulu disappeared. I had a conversation the other day about how literature depends not on plot, but on style. The New York Times"The most powerful narratives in the genre manage to create an unshakable sense of unease, and that's exactly what this novel does 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." Or get faster shipping on this item starting at $5.99 People who are interested in human psychology might be interested in it. 100-Word (or Less) Synopsis: All is not what it seems on Needless Street. This is such a twisted story. I always leave her work enriched. I didn't give it 5 starts because I was lost, at times, in the tracking of the story, 4.5. This isnt just a thriller; its a sleek, diabolical, stress-inducing machine. Jonathan Janz, author of The Siren and the SpecterIncredible. This book was so good that you couldnt put down but bad that made you feel terrible.. Im not sure if I want to read it . The season came to a close with yet another wedding, this time the one fans have been shipping since the get-go - Brad and Billie. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. 'The Last House on Needless Street' (Viper Books, Tor Nightfire) was a Times Book of the Month, Observer Book of the Month, March Editor's Pick on Open Book, a Between the Covers BBC2 book club selection, a Times bestseller, and is being developed for film by Andy Serkis's production company, The Imaginarium. Ward's third breakout novel The Last House on Needless Street (2021 - Viper, Tor Nightfire) won the August Derleth Prize and has been shortlisted for the Kitschies, the British Book Awards, the South Bank Award, and the World Fantasy Award. A man who drinks alone in front of his TV, trying to ignore the gaps in his memory. Bring your order ID or pickup code (if applicable) to your chosen pickup location to pick up your package. Sarah Pinborough, New York Times bestselling author of Behind Her EyesYou dont read The Last House on Needless Streetyou survive it. Recommended for anyone interested in horror with well-realized characters and a claustrophobic, intense setting." It is utterly compelling, and it deserves all the praise that it has been getting. When you tell someone about a book you're reading you don't recount the plot; you tell them how the book makes you feel, something it makes you think about, or how it causes you to reflect on shared experiences. Just what you want in a good psychological horror thriller. I felt that everything the author wrote added to the story. The Last House on Needless Street follows Ted, who lives with his daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia in an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street. She abuses him by performing unnecessary and painful medical procedures, during which he is not allowed to make any noise or move at all. I did not find the character at the heart of the mystery in the first few chapters interesting and as a result nor was I interested in the mystery. Ward wrote in her afterword that she did a lot of research on DID and had long conversations with people who live with trauma-induced DID. So much so that I believe I won't truly appreciate each and every word until I read it a second time to appreciate the author's character building from a new perspective. A teenage girl who isn't allowed outside, not after last time.