Last Things

Last Things follows a young girl named Grace, whose mother is a chemist and whose father writes horror stories. The family's everyday life in 1970s New York appears normal on the surface. The relationship between Grace and her mother becomes the central focus as strange events begin occurring. Their bond grows more complex when Grace starts to notice changes in her mother's behavior and personality. Scientific facts and supernatural elements intertwine throughout the narrative, blurring the lines between reality and imagination. The story progresses through Grace's perspective as she tries to make sense of the shifting dynamics in her household. The novel explores themes of childhood perception, the boundaries between science and mysticism, and how children process their parents' inner worlds. Through Grace's eyes, the book raises questions about truth, belief, and the stories we construct to understand our families.

Readers note this book differs from what the title and marketing suggest - many expected a straightforward story about end times but found an experimental narrative about anxiety and climate change. Positive reviews focus on: - Raw, honest portrayal of eco-anxiety and dread - Unique fragmentary writing style - Dark humor throughout - Effective blend of research and personal narrative Common criticisms: - Too meandering and disjointed - Characters feel underdeveloped - Climate message feels heavy-handed - Expected more plot/resolution From online reviews: "The scattered format mirrors the narrator's scattered mind" - Goodreads reviewer "Wanted to love it but felt like reading someone's therapy journal" - Amazon review "Perfect capture of modern climate anxiety" - LibraryThing Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (28,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (1,200+ ratings) LibraryThing: 4.0/5 (900+ ratings)

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🌟 Jenny Offill wrote "Last Things" as her debut novel, published in 1999, nearly 15 years before her breakout success with "Dept. of Speculation" 🌟 The novel is narrated by an eight-year-old girl named Grace, whose mother Anna is a scientist obsessed with natural phenomena and teaching her daughter to question everything 🌟 The book's structure mirrors the fragmentary nature of childhood memories, using short vignettes rather than traditional chapters to tell its story 🌟 The mother's character was partly inspired by women scientists who were historically dismissed or overlooked, including naturalist Maria Sibylla Merian, who studied insect metamorphosis in the 17th century 🌟 Despite being a novel about family dysfunction and a mother's mental illness, the book is filled with fascinating scientific facts and natural observations that reflect the mother's passion for the natural world