This stars strong, but halfway through I was less engaged. I think the author was ambitious to cover so much of US history in one story, but the span of 80+ years got a bit overwhelming for the reader.

Last House by Jessica Shattuck is a multi-generational read that spans generations. Nick Taylor is a WWII vet who has a respectable job with American Oil. He is part of their corporate cancer council and is able to provide a wonderful life for his wife and his children. In the beginning money from oil doesn’t seem to be all that big of a deal but as time goes on intentions flare within the United States over all things becomes big trouble. As children grow, they have to come to grips with what “big oil” has given them, the advantages, the education, and all the things that go with it. They do have one thing, they have Last House, that none of them treasure deeply. It is the place that is the safest, most comforting place you could imagine. The house can only provide so much comfort and protection. The climate in America in, is rough. The 60’s are no joke for protests, riots and civil rights. Concerns over the Earth and Fossil Fuels inspires protests and is a timely topic. The characters were well developed, and the tension between the family was very real. Overall, this was an excellent book, at times a little wordy, but I did enjoy it. I want to think NetGalley, William Morrow and the author for my copy of this book, for an honest review. It was my pleasure to read and review this book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

“The Last House” is a beautifully written, epic story about the sweeping effects of war and the power of family. If you love family sagas with twists and turns and loveable yet flawed characters, this is definitely a must-read. While the book did feel heavy and slow at times, particularly the sections related to the Shah of Iran, it ultimately had an uplifting message. I really enjoyed reading about how the backdrop of American life at the time impacted each member of the family differently, both in large and small ways. We don't always get the chance to zoom in on American life surrounding these events, and this was a really refreshing and eye-opening experience.

Thank you to William Morrow Publishing and Netgalley for the eARC. I would recommend this to other fans of historical fiction and family dramas/sagas.

Last House is a title with a double meaning, named for the original owner, John Last it is also held up throughout the narrative as the final refuge for a multigenerational family, and even a metaphor for humanity. As such, although the house does not make an appearance until Chapter 8, it plays a pivotal part in the story.
Much of the action takes place during the chaos of the 1960’s, with protests and radicals in contrast with the power of Big Oil and the secret operations of the CIA. As the present day gets further from those tumultuous times, it is understandable that the author feels a need to fill in the historical gaps for the modern reader.. unfortunately the chapters with a spotlight on the Shah of Iran and the efforts of the United States to protect their stake in Iranian oil by propping up the Shah’s corrupt regime, seemed like a plot that didn’t quite bond with the rest of the story.
The author’s writing is rich and a pleasure to read. Shattuck uses details and descriptions to bring some of her characters vividly to light. Unfortunately, Harry, the focus of much of the story, remains an enigma and at the end of the narrative, the author introduces a several generations of characters that I had no desire to keep straight.
This story has been compared to Ann Patchett’s The Dutch House with its focus on a home as the touchstone of the narrative. To me in both books it is a contrivance that doesn’t serve the story well, although you might say the characters here are as wooden as the architecture of Last House..

3.5 stars! This one was tough to rate considering there were some things I loved and some others I didn't quite care for. Overall, I found it very well written and loved learning some historical facts I hadn't heard of. So even though I enjoyed my time reading it, the parts I didn't enjoy were too big for me to give a bigger rating.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for my advanced copy!

I loved The Women in the Castle and was excited to receive an early copy of Shattuck’s newest. I went in expecting a historical fiction novel but was surprised to find more of a character study, which didn’t work for me. I felt no connection to the characters or their stories. As a result, I ended up not finishing this book.

This book follows a family over the decades, through post WWII and worries over Russian bombs, to the Vietnam War protests and activism. At the heart of it they have their "Last House" to come back to, to reconnect as a family in the middle of nature.

I was interested in this book, but it is a heavy and often slow read. There's a lot to unpack in every generation that is written about, and at the end I found myself struggling to find an overarching theme. It's kind of just a glimpse into this family's life at these certain points in history. I also wish that we had something written from Harry's viewpoint as well. Every other family member gets more of an in-depth look and it would have been interesting so see his thoughts. Many parts of the book were written very well, Shattuck was great at setting the scene and seems to have done much research on these eras.

If you're a fan of family dramas and multi-generational stories you may enjoy this book. It wasn't quite the genre for me, but no fault to the author - just my attention span. I received this book as an ARC for my opinions.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this novel. I was not able to connect with the story and did not finish.

This is an excellent family saga. From the early 1950's, through the tumultuous 60's and early 70's, and ending in the near future, this novel pulled me into the lives of the Taylor family immediately.

The common point is a restored Vermont farmhouse in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, bought by Nick Taylor from his co-worker, as an escape vacation home. Being familiar with this area was a plus for me, as I could picture the setting in my mind. The house is always there in the background as time goes on, and Katherine and Harry, Nick and Bet's children, grow up and also love their summer home.

In the meantime, there are the protests of the 60's, the Weather Underground bombings, which in its way, involves everyone in the family. A tragic death forces changes to everyone's lives.

This book brought back memories, and also gave me food for thought. I will be thinking about the characters for a long time.

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.