The Last of Her Kind

The Last of Her Kind follows the intersecting lives of two women who meet as roommates at Barnard College in 1968. Ann Drayton comes from a wealthy New England family but rejects her privileged background, while Georgette George arrives from an impoverished rural upstate New York childhood. Their intense friendship develops against the backdrop of the Vietnam War era, student protests, and social upheaval of late 1960s America. The narrative spans several decades, tracking how their paths diverge and reconnect as they navigate relationships, career choices, and their opposing views on justice and society. Through Ann's radical political awakening and Georgette's more pragmatic journey of self-discovery, the novel chronicles the evolution of their individual identities. Their story encompasses violence, imprisonment, addiction, and the lasting impact of choices made in youth. The novel examines questions of privilege, class consciousness, and the possibility of truly escaping one's origins. It presents a complex meditation on idealism, justice, and the price of living according to one's convictions in American society.

Readers credit the book for its complex portrayal of privilege, class differences, and social justice during the 1960s and 70s. Many note the authentic depiction of female friendship and how political idealism shapes personal relationships. Readers highlighted: - Deep character development, particularly Ann and Georgette - Historical accuracy of the era's social movements - Writing style that mixes personal narrative with broader social themes Common criticisms: - Pacing issues in the middle section - Some found Georgette's character difficult to relate to - Plot threads that feel unresolved Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (150+ reviews) Notable reader comments: "Captures the intensity of college friendships and radical politics without romanticizing either" - Goodreads reviewer "The narrative structure loses focus halfway through" - Amazon reviewer "One of the few books that gets the 60s right without nostalgia" - LibraryThing review

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🔖 Author Sigrid Nunez won the National Book Award in 2018 for a different novel, "The Friend" 📚 The story spans several decades, from the 1960s through the early 2000s, capturing pivotal moments in American social history 🎓 The novel's portrayal of Barnard College in the late 1960s draws from Nunez's own experiences as a student there during that era ⚡ The book explores themes of privilege, race, and class through the lens of an unlikely friendship between two college roommates from vastly different backgrounds 🗽 The novel incorporates real historical events, including the turbulent anti-war protests and social movements of the 1960s, weaving them into the personal narrative of its characters