Jacob M. Appel has a knack for creating characters who will stick to their guns no matter whether there is a mistaken perception of their intentions or not. In his first novel, The Man Who Refused to Stand Up, his protagonist became an early Colin Kaepernick, a symbol for protest that has been wildly misunderstood. In this, his second novel, Millard Salter plans out his day minutely, knowing it is his last by his own choice. Readers drawn by its supposed similarities to A Man Called Ove will find the differences -- both Millard and Ove are drawn by the same forces, deep mourning for a beloved, deceased wife, but whereas Ove is given a second chance at life, Millard is only confirmed in his decision. Beautifully written and perceptive, this novel proves once again Appel's worth as a novelist to follow.

You have Millard Salter who is a psychologist and to me a 100% true narcissist. He is turning 75 years old and decides that instead of being feeble and possibly having to burden other he decides that he will kill himself. This book starts out of the morning of the day he wants to kill himself and goes through the evening. He doesn't see anything good but how things have changed and how old he is. He tries to talk to people that have been in his life for his own closure, but doesn't tell anyone that he is planning on killing himself.

Millard is a very boring one dimensional character that absolutely has no redeeming qualities. I couldn't find one likable character.

Millard Salter has reached his 75th birthday, and he's done all that he wants to do in his life. He's divorced, and widowed. His children are grown, and most of them are successful. Before his health begins to decline he's decided he's going to kill himself. This is Millard's last day.

Because Millard is 75 I did not understand many of his references. He mentions people who were famous during the prime of his life quite frequently in this story. I understood very few references. I didn't relate to Millard in any way, and I wasn't smitten with him either. He was a character I was quite indifferent about. That, for me, left me wanting quite a bit more from this book.

I did enjoy the writing, so I would seek out other work by Jacob M. Appel. There was a lot of humor and many surprises along the way. That, at least, made this book one I could get through though not one I would reread.

Interesting concept but frustrating read, largely because Millard is not the most sympathetic character. The idea of suicide before infirmity will no doubt raise hackles. In this case, it's used as a mechanism to frame the story of Millard's life, which has been filled with frustration. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This wasn't my cup of tea but frankly I wasn't a fan of a Man Called One either.

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC. I very much enjoyed this book. It is the fourth work I have read by Appel, and my favorite. It is a mash-up of Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk and A Man Called Ove. While some might think that a book that is very much like two other books is merely derivative, I'd say rather that those other two books were great reads for me, and I am happy to find a third. I may have a bit of an author crush on Appel...he is clearly super smart and widely accomplished. He has an excellent vocabulary. In this book I believe he has written of those things that are closest to home for him...New York City, psychiatry, growing up Jewish...all to great effect. I have to admit, I never expected to see a reference to the Justice Center in a work of fiction, particularly one I was enjoying...that's a little inside humor for folks who work with vulnerable populations in NYS....

I think you might have to be old – not ancient, but on the other side of 55, maybe 60 – to enjoy this book. Anyone before that age is too young to relate to a bucket list and it urgency, or the musings of a life long-lived, and the should-have-dones or the should-have-beens of life.

I enjoyed the easy reading flow, and I enjoyed my own musings of days gone by when a phrase reminded me of a past situation or experience. I enjoyed Millard’s reminiscing about a historical event or two that younger readers might not even have a clue. I do know most – not all – of the Seven Sisters, Jimmy Durante, and can sing at least the first line of “This is the Army, Mr. Jones.” And what under-40 reader will know what a DeSoto is or remembers white buckskin shoes?

Reflections on death and suicide simply are not pondered by the young. The young, clever as they might be, naively don’t have enough life behind them yet to consider their own end. They will not be contemplating their last days, their last encounters, their last conversations, or tieing up loose ends for many years to come. Oh, but they will, in time.

It’s impressive that this book which is, I think, for the mature reader to really appreciate, is written by someone only 44 years old. Well done. Mr. Appel. I thoroughly enjoyed your creation, but I’m not sure how many of the under-40 generation will. It’s less about whether Millard actually will commit suicide and more about reminiscing and reflecting about his life lived.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I loved it!

With a good premise, that of a 75 year old psychiatrist determined to kill himself before he is a burden in his old age, this book could have been fascinating: either darkly comedic or inspiring in tale and outcome. Instead, the character whines his way through his ‘last day’ and I found that I didn’t care what he finally decided to do, stay or leave, just stop whining. The undiagnosed psychiatrist should have been used to greater purpose in a novel mostly situated in a large hospital. But he was surrounded by other physicians with more pressing problems than his own. And these folks still weren’t funny, nor did the roaming lynx prove comic relief either. If they existed to provide insight, I missed it. This is a challenging book to enjoy and much can be blamed on the marketing campaign. It has nothing to do with A Man Called Ove. It would have done better to edit the book a bit more and make it closer to MASH as it has many of those elements. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

3.5 stars, rounded up

This book has been compared to A Man Called Ove, and yes, it starts with a similar premise. But in this case, Millard isn’t looking to end his life because he hates it. He just doesn’t want to be a burden and figures his 75th birthday is a good day to end it. In fact, Millard is in a surprisingly good mood on his last day, feeling free to say what he feels without worrying about repercussions.

I have to say I really liked Millard. He was a warm, thoughtful man, not the typical curmudgeon one would expect in a book with this subject matter. A man in love with a woman dying from cancer. A father that lamented his son not turning out as expected. A psychologist in a teaching hospital that worries about both his residents and patients. I felt most sorry for him when he was lunching with his ne’er do well son. Millard came from a long line of hardworking men and he just doesn’t understand where he went wrong with Lysander.

Of course, his day doesn’t go as planned. He gets waylaid by people he doesn’t want to see. “Meeting any one of these unfortunate creatures was enough to dampen his spirits; all four in one morning was like appearing on the satanic version of This Is Your Life.”

At times, the author reaches for humor but it falls flat, like when Millard writes a letter of recommendation. Or situations aren’t fully realized, like during lunch with his son. So, Appel does a great job of character development, but loses a star for plot development.

My thanks to netgalley and Gallery Books for an advance copy of this novel.

Millard Salter's Last Day is the story of a man looking back on his life as he goes through his last day. Millard doesn't want to linger too long. He doesn't want to be a burden or suffer the indignity of returning to a helpless state. At the end of the day, he plans to take his own life.

We follow Millard as he meets with psychiatric patients, colleagues, his adult son, and visits his second wife's grave. His day is filled with interesting events, and Millard comes to realize he won't leave this earth without some regrets.

I found this book to be genuinely thought-provoking. The characters and circumstances of the story were unexpected, and Millard's slightly grumpy but thoughtful outlook made this a refreshing read. This would be a perfect pick for a book club!

Millard Salter's Last Day was interesting but not exceptional. The story follows the main character's last day, which is the day on which he chooses to die. The reader is filled in on his past and present relationships, and the fact that he wants to die before he gets ill, while still fully employed and loved. Many things come forward to convince him he has unfinished business...and yet... I did not connect with the main character even though the reader had opportunities on his last day to get to know him.

I was unable to get into this book. I found Millard rather dull and self absorbed. I also kept getting lost. I felt like the idea's kept pulling me in different directions and I was unable to follow a lot of the book. I kept getting confused and that made reading frustrating.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley for my honest review.

It is Millard Salter's 75th birthday. It is also the day he decides to end his life. While trying to ties up several loose ends with his son, ex-wife, coworkers and others there are several calamities.

While the story was slow to start I did finally get into it. At times, the story seemed a bit disjointed and would go off on a tangent. Some of that could have been left out. I did enjoy the last few chapters and was a bit surprised on how it ended.

From the description, I was really looking forward to how this book would play out. It was a fast read and I had some time over a weekend to read it straight through. The book is about an older man who is justifying his decision to take his own life. In one day, the author takes you along the journey of Millard’s life, explains some of his decisions, good or bad, covers experiences over many years, then gives you details on Millard’s family, his son and daughter, ex-wife, etc and his past and present profession with his co-workers. The loss of his wife was a difficult time for Millard but he had found love again with a terminally ill woman. I’m sure there will be quite a few readers that will really enjoy this book, I did find it hard to put down because I kept waiting for the story line to take off and come out with some meaningful situations that would change or give you a clue as to how he was truly thinking. It just didn’t happen. I found it very hard to visualize all of these things that occurred could all take place in one day. I thank NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book for my review. Unfortunately this one did not make my most favorite book listing.

I had been interested in trying one of Jacob Appel's books for a long time, so I was delighted to get the opportunity to read an advance copy of his latest work. I thoroughly enjoyed his humor and great use of vocabulary. The characters were quirky, and I thought the premise of the book let you learn about Millard's whole life. There were interesting ethical issues, although I couldn't at all relate to Millard's desire to commit suicide when he was generally healthy and competent. I think the book would be a great choice for book discussion books and I highly recommend it. I look forward to reading Appel's backlist and future books.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for this review.

Millard Salter is turning 75 and has decided to end his life by the end of the day after tying up loose ends.

This was a good read. It starts off pretty slow. I put it down several times and ended up reading other books, but I did come back to it. I’m not sure the best way to describe Millard, but you can tell that he is appreciated by his colleagues (he is a psychiatrist) and cares for people he is closest with. There are bits and pieces of humor here, including a lynx that is on the loose in the hospital.

I think the book’s main problem is the comparison to A Man Called Ove. I absolutely loved that book, and Ove is an odd, grumpy character who becomes cherished after he is figured out. I don’t think Millard is like Ove at all. It is unfair for Millard to be compared to Ove.

There are moments of Millard’s life that warmed my heart, but they were few and far between. It’s not a bad book. I rather liked it and it did grow on me.

If you want a book exactly like A Man Called Ove, you will be sorely disappointed. But, if you are looking for a story that will challenge your thoughts and ideas on aging and death, then this book will not disappoint!

Millard Salter is a widower who has determined that he wants to be the master of his destiny, even unto (and especially in) death. This wonderful story shares his last day on earth; a day that is interspersed with friends, family, an explosion, a tangle with a lynx, and even a surprise birthday party. One thing I especially found endearing in this story was how brilliant the author shows how random things can trigger memories! And once those memories are triggered, how easily it is to get off track. Which Millard does frequently, with rich and powerful memories and while some might find this tedious, I found this portrayal profoundly accurate. The writing is compelling, moving, and at times humorous!

This story is also about ones right to die. And, Appel does this unbelievably well. The tenderness that love and intimacy bring to the end of life are portrayed powerfully. Millard Salter's Last Day explores a difficult subject in a fresh and inviting way and it is a book that will stay with you long after you have finished it.

I just started Millard Salter’s Last Day by Jacob M. Appel. From the description, it sounded like the quirky kind of story I absolutely love. A plot I’ve never seen, and an interesting main character with a fun supporting cast. Take a look:

In an effort to delay the frailty and isolation that comes with old age, psychiatrist Millard Salter decides to kill himself by the end of the day—but first he has to tie up some loose ends. These include a tête-à-tête with his youngest son, Lysander, who at forty-three has yet to hold down a paying job; an unscheduled rendezvous with his first wife, Carol, whom he hasn’t seen in twenty-seven years; and a brief visit to the grave of his second wife, Isabelle.

Complicating this plan though is Delilah, the widow with whom he has fallen in love in the past few months. As Millard begins to wrap up his life, he confronts a lifetime of challenges during a single day—and discovers that his family has a big surprise for him as well.

There are some quirky moments in this book. There are some funny or touching lines. There are some interesting characters. Still, I felt something was missing. It was almost as if the author wanted to be a comedian but at the same time wanted to discuss an important topic. I would say to the author, "Try again. Rewrite with an editor who will help guide you to a more cohesive book"

I went pleasantly along, as the book is pleasantly written, all the while hopeful. I expected the ending would not be in keeping with the protagonist's intention. I should have known better, really I should. At no time did it truly feel as if I was reading about depression and its aftermath, but in fact the book exemplifies why one worries when a depressed person suddenly seems better.

It’s Millard Salter 75th birthday, as this novel begins, and what he wants, more than anything else, for his birthday is to never have another one again. Not even one more birthday. I don’t mean just the acknowledgement of his birthday or any party. He’s done, arriving at the ripe age of 75, he wants not to have another year of dealing with the staff at St. Dymphna’s Hospital where he is a psychiatrist, not another day filled with busy-ness, or those aggravating lunches with his son, Lysander, whom he’s to have lunch with today. Not another day of pretending that Lysander will find a direction in life, make something of himself, and watching him prove otherwise. Not another day missing his second wife, Isabelle, who has left this life behind. Soon, he knows that his current girlfriend’s days will be over, and then, what is the point? The cherry on top - not another day working with that dreadful Hecuba.

”Millard dug his fingernails into his palm and said nothing. What was that pet expression of Lyndon Johnson’s: ‘Don’t wrestle with a pig because you get dirty and the pig enjoys it.’ The same applied to arguing with Hecuba.”

So, his plan is leave it all behind, before it gets bad, before he fades away and can’t take things into his own hands.

A pre-emptive suicide, you might say.

But there are things to do before, people to see, errands to run, and in the course of this unusual day, after he leaves the hospital early to pay a visit to Isabelle’s grave, after a few things go awry, after the day is almost done, he begins to think about the things he enjoys, the things in his life that he holds close to his heart.

In an era that is dominated by celebrities who became celebrities because they out-tweeted enough people, where he feels there is a generation in the work force who has no regard, or use, really, for anyone ‘older,’ Millard can’t relate – which is only fair, since they can’t relate to him, either. He’s a relic, at 75, a person who can relate more to the thrill of meeting Eddie Cantor and Jimmy Durante when he was a child. He’s pretty certain no one remembers who Durante was anymore, and he’s not up figuring out why these new celebrities are and why they’re celebrities.

I was drawn in by the premise of this book, and, to be fair, there are parts of this that I enjoyed, but it also seemed to cram too many divergent storylines into one. While I have not read any of his previous books, I knew he was a highly regarded author, and this seemed like it had great potential. It felt a bit as though the author was wandering all over the place while trying to give the reader the idea that Millard’s life contained all this history and all these people and places and memories.

What I loved most about this book were Millard’s walks down memory lane, his reminiscing of the years he loved, the years he felt loved in return. His years of living in the Bronx, and wandering the streets of his old neighborhood, the girls he had fancied way back then. The years before life had ground him down. I loved parts of this story, but overall, I felt it was a bit too disjointed. There are a lot of side-stories that detracted from the main story, including a story involving a lynx, which had no reason to be in this story, at all. But, I loved Millard as a character; he isn’t without his own somewhat twisted sense of humour and charm.


Pub Date: 07 Nov 2017


Many thanks for the ARC provided by Gallery Books