For fans of Ash Davidson's Damnation Spring, Jessica Shattuck's Last House is an engrossing family epic. The prose was beautiful and the characters were thoughtfully developed. Each successive generation dealt with the repercussions in ways that felt real and organic. Tackling 80 years of the story of the Taylor family, beginning in the mid-20th century and bringing us past current day.

Shattuck writes powerfully and in such an informed way. I learned a lot about the time periods the book was set in, despite the fact that this was fiction. I love an epic family saga and this one was spectacular. Sure to please fans of Kristin Hannah, Ann Patchett, and Wallace Stegner, Last House is a story for the ages, one we can all find some truth and perspective in.

Last House is an interesting book and hard for me to review. I am glad I read it. I like the book more now that I have finished it.

This book is about an American family and the story starts in 1953. This is also a story about oil and its impact on America and some of the political decisions that were made. I really enjoyed the American history in this book. After reading the book it is interesting how many times we have thought that the end of the world was near. Also, that democracy was going to end in the US. This must be about human nature and it definitely causes fear. We hear today routinely that democracy as we know it could end soon.

Every generation of this family has different issues that it must deal with. As the title states - there is a special house that the family has for the end of the world or just a get-away. The house sounds like a fun place to go just to get away from the day to day stress of life. It took me a long time to finish this book. I enjoyed parts of it, but I did not miss the story if I did not get to read it every day.

A historical epic that spans nearly eighty years. The writing is richly detailed and explores the passage of time, progress and empire.
Many thanks to William Morrow and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of Last House, by Jessica Shattuck, P.J. Nelson, from William Morrow/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.

Pedantic, much?

I passed out stone-cold sober the first time I tried to read this book, about a month ago. Did the same thing early this afternoon when I started it over.

I. Should. Have. Gotten. A. Clue.

One of the more boring books I’ve read lately.

Once again, better in concept than in execution.

DESCRIPTION
"An ambitious historical epic that doubles as an intimate family saga. Jessica Shattuck captures and connects it all—the imperial ambitions of the postwar generation, the rebellion of their offspring in the Sixties, and the fallout we’re still sifting through today. . . . This is a wide-ranging novel to savor.” — TOM PERROTTA

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Women in the Castle comes a sweeping story of a nation on the rise, and one family’s deeply complicated relationship to the resource that built their fortune and fueled their greatest tragedy, perfect for fans of The Dutch House and Great Circle.

It’s 1953, and for Nick Taylor, WWII veteran turned company lawyer, oil is the key to the future. He takes the train into the city for work and returns to the peaceful streets of the suburbs and to his wife, Bet, former codebreaker now housewife, and their two children, Katherine and Harry. Nick comes from humble origins but thanks to his work for American Oil, he can provide every comfort for his family, including Last House, a secluded country escape. Deep in the Vermont mountains, the Taylors are free from the stresses of modern life. Bet doesn’t have to worry about the Russian H-bombs that haunt her dreams, and the children roam free in the woods. Last House is a place that could survive the end of the world.

It’s 1968, and America is on the brink of change. Protestors fill the streets to challenge everything from the Vietnam War to racism in the wake of MLK’s shooting—to the country's reliance on Big Oil. As Katherine makes her first forays into adult life, she’s caught up in the current of the time and struggles to reconcile her ideals with the stable and privileged childhood her Greatest Generation parents worked so hard to provide. But when the Movement shifts in a more radical direction, each member of the Taylor family will be forced to reckon with the consequences of the choices they’ve made for the causes they believed in.

Spanning multiple generations and nearly eighty years, Last House tells the story of one American family during an age of grand ideals and even greater downfalls. Set against the backdrop of our nation’s history, this is an emotional tour de force that digs deeply into questions of inheritance and what we owe each other—and captures to stunning effect the gravity of time, the double edge of progress, and the hubris of empire.

"Last House" is a multi generational novel about a family with a backdrop of current issues to the times such as post world war II living, the role of women, the protests of the 60's, and the fight against our reliance on oil.

Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of Last House by Jessica Shattuck. Last House is the story of a family, starting in 1953 in conservative America, through the 1960's and beyond. Nick, the father, works in the oil field, and is involved with politics in the middle east. Katherine and Harry grow up and get involved in the counterculture of the 60's. And through Bet, the mother, we see the evolution of women's roles and expectations. It's a good family story, and also gives interesting historical perspective. I enjoyed this one. #lasthouse #jessicashattuck #takeapagefrommybook #bookstagram #lovetoread #readersofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #booknerd #bookloversofinstagram #familystory

It's very interesting to talk about the generation of 50s and the 60s.And how this family changed over time. Nick was going into the service as an officer. Met his future wife in washington d c. She was very smart.She was going to get a phd , but she took time off from that. They got married and they started the fifties lifestyle. Nick gotten involved because he was a lawyer and somehow he got mixed up in the c.I.A. He went to iran To negotiate oil deals. This was actually Cover By the c. I. A. To put the other person in Power. He's got a very normal life. His friend.
Was very wealthy decided to ask them to buy a house up in Vermont. The friend owned this land. They called it the last house. My wife loved it because you're so busy doing everything. The kids grew up in a very idealistic world.But then they started to change in the sixties. Catherine , start it to work for radical newspaper , new york city. She was caught up with them all the protests and stuff like that and you can hear it in her voice. Her brother henry didn't know what he wanted to do in life so he decided to join them. This writer was very interesting how she wove. Different plots. Please explain how these children were changing.. I had a black friend.She was very close to and things came to a head when you all met up in the house and vermont. The parents were away on their trips. Your mother really didn't feel comfortable on these trips. N I c k was growing up , he did not have a lot of money in his father's very abused. But he seemed to overcome that, but his brother died. When he was fishing he always reminded me of his brother. He was mad at henry because he did not live Up to his expectation.
Very interesting book. How things changed from the fifties to the sixties days.

Last House by Jessica Shattuck is a compelling family saga that spans nearly eight decades, drawing readers into the lives of the Taylor family starting in 1953. The novel’s focus on the oil industry provides a unique backdrop, as seen from the surprising partial list of oil-based products at the book's beginning. The story captures the family's journey as they navigate the changes of the 1960s and 1970s, with each generation's hopes and desires reflecting the evolving societal landscape. The purchase of an old home during a vacation becomes a central refuge for the family, offering a contrast to the turbulent realities of the world outside. Shattuck masterfully weaves in significant historical events and shifts, offering a rich tapestry of political, social, and cultural changes from the 1940s to the 2020s. The narrative's depth and attention to detail provide a vivid portrayal of the era's transformations and their impact on the family.

While the novel offers a fascinating historical perspective, it is not without its flaws. The expansive timeline sometimes results in a disjointed narrative, particularly during Nick's overseas ventures, which may not captivate all readers. The early parts of the book are engaging, especially the portrayal of the 1960s and their impact on the family. However, the story's pacing slows in the middle sections, making it challenging to stay fully immersed. The conclusion, although more engaging, feels rushed and could have benefited from more development. Despite these issues, Last House remains an intriguing read for those who appreciate multi-generational family sagas and historical fiction. Shattuck's ability to evoke the essence of each era and her exploration of the oil industry's influence on everyday life add a unique dimension to this literary work. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this review!

Last House is a complicated 20th century American saga, one of my favorite genres. It takes place in the New England/New York area, mainly during the time period 1950-1968 and follows a family working and growing up during that tumultuous time. The house of the title is a second home for the family, a refuge. The characters are complex. Dad is a WWII veteran who works as a lawyer for an American oil conglomerate, doing complicated deals with foreign countries, yet he can’t see what is happening with his son under his own nose. Mom is predictably stifled but applies her intelligence to raising and knowing her children. They’re growing up during the idyllic post-war period but have yet to learn the lies we tell ourselves about our country, the way what it asks of us - soldiers, men, women, families - tears us apart. I especially appreciated the way the author took the kids from babyhood to the end, revealing that who they always were remained who they are. The same is true with the parents, but they have each in their own way compartmentalized their true natures so as to move along in the world that has changed so much for them. The pace of the last chapters was much faster than the rest, understandably to tie things up, but I felt sad to see all that drama so compressed. This is one I’ll read again, for sure. Many thanks for NetGalley and the publisher, William Morrow, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a big story of a small family. Spanning the years after WW2 (and a bit before) up to and including two years out from now, Shattuck engages big picture questions (about the machine of war, about idealism, about climate change, about regime change, about generational difference and trauma) through the lens of Nick and Bet Taylor and their children Harry and Katherine. The "Last House" refers to a house commandeered by the family and some of their friends in the woods of Vermont, an "end of the world" kind of home, metaphorically and in some ways literally. The value and efficacy of protests to effect societal change is also woven through the book - this issue as explored by Shattuck really resonated with me personally. Recommended for lovers of intelligent, engaging multigenerational family sagas with political overtones. Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the E-Arc.

Really great dual timeline novel from Jessica Shattuck, author of The Women in the Castle. I loved that book, but this one is even better (if that's possible. In the 1950's, your stereotypical family buys a host in a remote valley in Vermont. The house is called Last House and it's an escape from the worries of the day. It's an interesting family: Nick, having survived WW2 is now a lawyer, and his wife Elizabeth (Bet for short) was a codebreaker. Now a housewife, Bet looks for things she can do that are meaningful, in addition to raising their two children and creating a happy home for Nick. Fifteen years later, Bet & Nick's children Harry and Katherine are trying to find their own ways among the tumult of the late 60's. But their directions are very different from that of their parents, and they struggle to understand each other. Last House remains a source of comfort for all of them...until it isn't.

Full of pathos and drama, things that aren't quite what they seem and people who also aren't quite what they pretend to be, Last House explores a world in transition and its effects on everyone that Nick and Bet love. A compelling read, hard to put down, and worth every page.

I went into 𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗦𝗘 by Jessica Shattuck knowing little about it, and found myself pleasantly surprised throughout. The story had 3 qualities that really work for me: its era, family, and the settings. These combined to create a truly top tier read.⁣⁣
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It begins at the end of WWII and closely follows Nick, Bet and their two children, Katherine and Harry, for 30+ years. Shattuck encapsulated so much of the mid-century into her novel. As time moved, so did this family’s story. Different members took leading roles when appropriate.⁣⁣
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The Taylor family was one I found realistic and fascinating. Nick’s career and the things Bet gave up were the foundation of this story. Layered on top were their relationships to each other, to friends, their children and the vacation home all came to love. Topping it all off was the close bond between siblings Katherine and Harry.⁣
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“I was afraid that Harry would die, but I was also afraid he would become like my father: firm and serious, a dark and unknowable crater at the center of his self.”⁣⁣
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The settings in this book were truly special. From their vacation house in Vermont, to Nick’s work in Iran securing oil rights for U.S. companies, to NYC in the era of Vietnam, Shattuck always created a vivid sense of place and time.
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“We were privileged and clueless and arrogant—we actually thought we could understand what it was like to be, for instance, Black or poor or drafted, despite being white and almost entirely middle or upper class...”⁣⁣
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My only fault has to do with the book’s last chunk which felt like an overly long epilogue. I’d have been happier had it either gone deeper or was shortened. Nonetheless, 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 was a true slice of 20th century Americana and one I highly recommend. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This novel starts in the 1950s, from the perspective of Nick, a WWII veteran working for the company American Oil who is encouraged by the CIA to help with reinstalling the Shah in Iran, and his wife Bet, who started out with bigger educational and career aspirations but has put them aside to be a wife and mother to their two young children Katherine and Harry. Most of part one of the book is set over just a few years of their life, told in the 3rd person. Part two is then a first person narration from the perspective of their daughter Katherine looking back many years later to the time when she was in her 20s in the 1960s and falls in with a group of activists. Part three starts in the immediate aftermath of part two, then quickly jumps forward into their present, ending a few years in the future from our present time.

A family drama with a strong setting in history and with historical events, this book somehow manages to be both sweeping and yet so intimate, illuminating the backdrop events of the time while also being more concerned with how it all affects the characters. It’s a bit slow of a read for a relatively short book, but the writing was absolutely wonderful. If I had to compare it to something else, I’d say maybe Alice McDermott’s Absolution. I also enjoyed Jessica Shattuck’s book The Women in the Castle, but thought this one was even better.

To me, this is heavy literary fiction, and I think I'm starting to realize that this genre is not my jam... I'd be really interested to hear other people's thoughts and takeaways, but I found it challenging to grasp the purpose of this book. I wasn't engaged with the plot, and without a strong connection to any characters, it was a chore to continue picking it up. Just when I thought some 'juicy' (for lack of a better word) plot point was about to occur, it didn't. The book is divvied up until multiple parts - the first 3 parts cover a certain individual in the Taylor family and their POV. Then the last part combines these 3 characters and covers all of their POVs. The first part/character covered is Nick Taylor, the patriarch of the family, and I found this to be the most tedious part. And since it starts the book, I found it to be especially slow going. The book is a little over 300 pages, and now that I'm done, I'm left here thinking, "Why?" Again, maybe if I could figure out the point made by the story in general, I'd be understanding or even appreciative of the length of this book, but I'm not holding my breath on that front. One thing I will say is that the cover is gorgeous, so at least there's that?

had heard of Jessica Shattuck's previous books but had not read any personally so I was not sure what to expect.

Last House is more of a story that has some references to historical events but I would not call it historical fiction. The story starts post WW2 and continues for decades focusing on two families. The house (Last House) could be considered a character of the story. I didn't feel connected to any of the characters.

This is a case, I believe, that not all books are for all people. It wasn't that the writing was poor. I just found the story to be boring. I was forcing myself to pick it up and after 30% I have decided to throw in the towel.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

thank you netgalley for the e-arc. often times, books spanning decades with important details are not done well. however, this one was masterful keeping the story going and seamlessly telling the story throughout the years. the first 2/3 of the book went slowly but i guess that's to layout the groundwork. its also a cool aspect when books like this focus on a constant detail, which oil was in this one. i kinda learned things about the oil trade? i think readers would enjoy this most through audiobook.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was an interesting read and touched on so much history. The story was quite slow but well worth the read. The family drama/saga aspect was very well done and kept me engaged.

This book exceeded all of my expectations. There was a little bit of everything, but the family drama is really what drew me in. If that's a genre you like, I would really encourage you to read this book.

Set through generations, this is the true definition of a family saga. Each generation is so different from the one they came from, and this book touches up on the events and tribulations that each deals with. Seeing it from their point of view (vs. media input and NPR articles on social media) makes things more understandable for readers from different generations. Some of the story lines are slower than others, but for the span of the book it holds the reader's attention and lets us question how previous generations affect the newer.

A family drama starting in the 1950s and following the family to the 1970s and then to 2026 while noting historical events and signs of the times as they change. This was a slower pace than I would have liked, but sped up by the end. Politics and radicalism are prevalent to the storyline. I finished it and liked it, but unfortunately at times this one fell flat for me making it a slower read.