Technically, the book was well written and the characters were interesting but the ending was such a cop-out, relying on such an overused trope these daysas the review above notes. The birds close their eyes and pant in the fumes. We have a problem with that around here, especially by the lake, so things happened fast. This is the best book I have read in recent years. 2023 One hundred and thirty-two years of editorial freedom. I didn't find it horrifying or terrifying, though it is thrilling to read. 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. Just when you think youve figured out what is really going on, youll probably realize you were wrong." Very tired.Nothing. I was shaking. But it ends in a way that makes me somehow feel tranquil. Your email address will not be published. Click to see spoiler. What I used to do there was: I sat outside on the sidewalk by the sliding doors. The Last House On Needless Street By Catriona Ward I had previously recommended Catriona Ward`d first two novels on this sub. No picture, no story. 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. His bright mess of feathers shine like an oil slick. They gasp, their narrow black tongues stiff with pain.My mind runs like ants, everywhere. The setup is simple. My Godreally? I felt this, particularly in the flashback scenes as we see what happened in Teds childhood. With him is his cat Olivia, whom Ted gives full personification to, and readers will actually be able to enjoy chapters written directly from Olivias perspective (a first for me in horror fiction). 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. One perfect sentence after the other this is a story I wish I knew how to writeand I'm thrilled that Ward pulled off this trick of a book. Rachel Howzell Hall, author of And Now She's GoneTHIS IS THE BEST HORROR NOVEL I HAVE EVER READ. You made it to the end, which is further than I did. I dont know what to do now. You got to look after yourself, Ted, she says. Margaret M - Hiatus - I will respond when I can. They were leaving me, vanishing into white. How did the cat learn to read the Bible? Your email address will not be published. They had half given up already, from heat and fear. She always spoke her notes aloud. The book is so well written and Catriona Ward brought the setting to life with beautiful descriptions. THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET blew me away. Ward is the internationally bestselling author of, "The buzzis real. I predict that Catriona Wards THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET will be a literary horror novel that everyone will be talking about. I tell myself not to be weird, take a deep breath and put my eye to the hole.I see the jay first. I was home.Olivias head butted my palm. 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." 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. Couldn't handle the lukewarm purple prose and near total absence of suspense. I didn't make a single one when reading this because I was too absorbed. Sharpen up, I tell myself. Ill make cookies.I cant tomorrow.Well, any time. Its inhabitants include a man who drinks a lot, an angry teenage girl who isn't allowed out, and a religious cat. It's a true nerve-shredder that keeps its mind-blowing secrets to the very end." )Anyway, thanks, I say. Even now I take a moment to lock it behind me. The lawnmower still buzzes somewhere on the block, the scent of cut grass is sticky and green on the air. Pain makes them quiet.I take them inside and try all the things I can think of to dissolve the glue. Press J to jump to the feed. MEDIA REVIEWS. 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. But this is one of those books that you have to trust and take the plunge so you can ride a hell of a ride. Even a bird should have that. Maybe the internet has an idea. It kept me glued and guessing right up to the endI loved every inch of it." Of walking away from something you love. If so it hovered just over the edge of my thoughts.Mr. It was extremely obvious as well. Stephen King called Sundial Authentically terrifying. The can flies wide and hits the fence post with a noise like dunggg. She lives in London and Devon. Character development, plot, setting: everything was perfect. I know this genre can have a reputation for vilifying mental illness, especially DID, so I was wary of mental illness coexisting so closely with horror in this novel. Bravo. Joanne Harris, New York Times bestselling author of The Gospel of Loki"The new face of literary dark fiction." Could you all raise your hand if the first thought after finishing this book was something like: Conflicted by this one. A teenage girl who isn't allowed outside, not after last time. 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. I stayed up way past my bedtime. ", is a shocking and immersive read perfect for fans of, is real. I realize that I am not wearing shoes or socks. I get that look all the time. 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. Then there was the broken music box on the mantelMommy brought it from her faraway home. The first one is: would they be kind to my cat? But when the last half came around, I was glad that I had invested my time in the first half. A masterpiece to read at your own peril." Its definitely going to be in my top ten books of the year! My teeth made little clicks like I was cold, but I was so hot.You were yelling my name. Thank you to the author, publishers Viper Books and NetGalley UK for access to an advance readers ebook. I don`t even want to try and review it, because I won`t do it justice. 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. '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. When I try to separate them, feathers part from flesh. After the first quarter of the book I wasnt quite sure why it was considered a horror or modern gothic mystery, but it was obvious that it was building to something more intense, and then about 2/3 through it becomes more and more disturbing and rather sad with a few twists that I didnt see coming. It's a must-read for horror fans." Reading Guides for The Last House on Needless Street Maybe I felt worst about her. 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. I was feeling things I didn't want to feel and by the end i understood those feelings. I think it was meant for floors or countertops, not for skin. Touching it makes me feel strange, like someones whispering nearby, just below the level of my hearing.Theres a tape already in the machine, part usedabout half of one side has been recorded. An Indie Next Pick! 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. This is an honest and voluntary review. I think about unlocking the laptop cupboard. I'm very late to the party but I completely agree (except I never read anything else by the author). People notice weird. In the night someone went to each feeding place and put glue traps down, wrapped them around the wire cages, attached them to the balls that hang from string. Somehow the ending is peaceful and happy, which isnt cheesy in this case because everyone in the novel has endured such hardship that a peaceful ending is the least they all deserve. 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. His daughter Lauren comes to visit from time to time, but they never go out when she does, and their relationship is always tense and often violent. Revenge. Ted was questioned, but had an alibi. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. SFF World"This is a true page-turner. This does not sit well with Ted. First off, we meet Ted Bannerman. That's where you're wrong. The New York Times"[T]he 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." I bend down to put it at the bottom of the pile. It shocks us into remembering we are human in the sense that we are mere flesh and bone, yet we are also extraordinary creatures able to contemplate our existence. So far, pretty straightforward. ISBN: 9781788166188. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period. The tree lent me its strength. I listened to this book and I'm glad that I was forced to stay with the pacing of the novel. Unsurprisingly, Dee's family disintegrated, and her father is now dead. Mommy would have been ashamed if she knew but I loved candy so much. I knew it well. This book is in love with itself. He lies in the dead center of the lawn. Reading Group Guide Both novels are critical darlings & both are horror-adjacent . The little ballerina was snapped from her stem, felled and dead. This is the story of a serial killer. As a result this isnt an easy read. This is such a twisted story. Everyone was upset. I clean my hands with the floor stuff too. And there I was, standing in front of the house. It brought everything in line as to the sequence of the Was an interesting read ,but at times frustrating ,with all the different characters relating their perception of the same events. I recall reading something somewhere that birds have lice. It is cinematic in a way that never forgets it is literary. Its terrifyingly real and physically upsetting, yet, like the best of the genre, it leaves space for hope to ultimately shine through." Mike Mignola, creator of Hellboy"Brilliant. I lost time but not too much, I think. I wrap my foot in gauze. It brought everything in line as to the sequence of the events throughout the book. Please, just read it. Its a weird book. I don't want to delve into plot or speak of twists and turns because that might influence expectation. You take everything from me, Theodore. It's a true nerve-shredder that keeps its mind-blowing secrets to the very end.". It was summer, bright and hot as the surface of a star. And yet they are all lies You think you know what's inside the last house on Needless Street. Ted is an odd sort of a fellow. Bravo and a round of applause to Catriona Ward!!! A brutal, twisty, puzzle box of a book. Dark and relentlessly twisty, the best thing I've read this year. Lisa Hall, author of The PartyNot only edge of the seat, terrifying suspenseful horror, but it also broke my heart into tiny pieces. Its hard to elaborate on that without major spoilers, but suffice it to say no one is quite who they first appear. She opened these cuts again, cleaned them and sewed them back up.. Honestly, I wish I could award a bonus star to explain how good it is. This kind of stuck is forever. How did the Murderer know that so many birds feed in my yard at dawn? She finds a disc of sun, flings herself down and blinks in my direction. The book failed to grab my attention , and after reading the first 50 or so pages I have put it aside. And a house cat who loves napping and reading the Bible. It really messed with my mind. So many. We have to look out for each other.Thats what I always say. I am polite.Youve got a nice smile, Ted, you know? CATRIONA WARD was born in Washington, DC and grew up in the United States, Kenya, Madagascar, Yemen, and Morocco. Each idea makes me feel weirder. 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. Discussion spoiler. Layer after layer after layer and then you're crying and somebody's got a knife. Its then that I see it on the shelf, half hidden behind the tower of newsprintthe tape recorder.I recognize it immediately. Thank you to the author, publishers Viper Books and NetGalley UK for access to an advance readers ebook. The revulsion that dawns on us as we realize what is happening to Ted in this moment is compounded by his youthful, innocent voice. I like the local because it has a rare bird alertyou can write in if you see something special, like a Northern Flicker or a Siberian Accentor. Well-written, captivating, you think you know what is about to happen and then the blue, or is it orange, rug odd pulled out from under you! 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. That made me feel even better. Catriona Ward's The Last House on Needless Street arrived in 2021 riding a wave of pre-release hype the likes of which I don't think I've seen since Justin Cronin released The Passage ten years ago. I cover one foot with the other but it doesnt make me feel any better. Read all Writer Catriona Ward (based on a book by) Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2023, Talk about the unreliable narrator. Any book is up for discussion as long as that discussion is respectful. It's a true nerve-shredder that keeps its mind-blowing secrets to the very end." At several points of the novel I was convinced I'd cracked it, and felt very smug. 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. 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. So therefore, I wont go into specifics on the book, just my thoughts on it overall. I enjoyed the switching POVs initially, as I was just trying to piece things together, before anything had been confirmed. I had a conversation the other day about how literature depends not on plot, but on style. NPR"[P]erhaps the slipperiest psychological study in the annals of horrora book with secrets as sorrowful as they are appalling." There was a problem loading your book clubs. 19 comments. Your post just bumped it to the top of my TBR list! They twitch, caught helpless on what looks like pieces of tan paper. But this.this is a whole new level. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. I felt that everything the author wrote added to the story. * * *I ate a pickle and now I feel a lot better. Theres only a small handful of books Ive read which have made me feel like that, and Im sure Ill be thinking about it for a long time to come. It doesnt take long. Ted is a recluse, living in a boarded up house at the end of Needless Street with his young daughter Lauren and his cat Olivia. 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. Beside her sat the music box. I count seven hearts still beating. Was there something to tell? I was going to wait until September to buy this when the US version is released, but all the hype is making me want to just buy the UK version so I can read it ASAP. I really liked Little Eve. 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. The conclusion is somehow so predictable, while also being entirely chaotic in its execution. A man who drinks alone in front of his TV, trying to ignore the gaps in his memory. Yeah, the mom buried Lulu in the neighbor's yard when the neighbor went on vacation. She abuses him by performing unnecessary and painful medical procedures, during which he is not allowed to make any noise or move at all. This is wrong. Ted is convinced that something is buried in those woods, and he wants whatever it is to stay there. 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. At the end of the street are the eerie Woods where the gods are buried. The gods are closer than you would think. Come and have iced tea tomorrow. A . She alters her memory of the snakes in order to cope with the guilt. )When I think about a Murderer creeping around my house in the cold dark, laying traps in my yardmaybe even peering in, watching me, Lauren and Olivia with their dead beetle eyesmy heart stutters. Mommy did. The thing is a pest. Just in time for October's spooky reading season. Reviewed by Ray Palen. One long wing strokes the air, desperate for flight. The book failed to grab my attention , and after reading the first 50 or so pages I have put it aside. A new neighbor stops by the house to introduce herself to TedDee, a young woman who is brand new to the area. The security tape says so. A Library Journal Editors' Pick! I know thats tough to do as you want to read everyones reviews and see if the plot is a good fit. This is a place to discuss horror literature. Alex North, author of The Whisper ManAbsolutely brilliant. Some say the concept has been done to death, but you could argue the same thing about everything ever created (movies, tv shows, books, whatever). I loved being suspicious, piecing it together in my mind, feeling a tad disoriented. Around halfway, I think things start to fall apart fast. Doesnt it make you feel strong?. Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2023. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward is insanely good. They had the white trees of death in their eyes. Absolutely creep-inducing, skin-crawling, even agonising; and also so beautiful, both in writing and heart. Then I think, I have to clean up. 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. One of the most powerful and well-executed novels I've read in years." 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. 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