Up the Creek Book Club
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© 2000 Kathy Craig |
The Last Life
by Claire Messud
November 2000
Synopsis
"The Last Life is the story of the teenage Sagesse LaBasse and her family, repatriated French Algerians. It is set in colonial Algeria, the South of France, and New England. The LaBasse family had always believed in the permanence of their world, in which stories created from the past had the weight of truth, in which cynicism was the defense against disaster. But when shots from the grandfather's rifle shatter an evening's quiet, their world begins to crumble, the reality to emerge: the bastard son abandoned by the family before he was even born; Sagesse's handicapped brother for whom the family cared with Catholic dignity; her American mother who pretended to be French; the trigger-happy grandfather; and Sagesse's father, whose act of defiance brought down the Hotel Bellevue, her grandfather's house built on rock, to its knees. Observed with a fifteen year old's ruthless regard for truth, 'The Last Life' is a novel of secrets and ghosts, love and honor, the stories we tell ourselves, and the lies to which we cling."
Reviews
- Claire Messud brings an astonishing intelligence to the stories which make the rich tapestry of The Last Life. The novel's power lies in her probing with great immediacy both cultural and generational history. She has written an emotional and moral exploration of exile, of the stories left behind and the stories her characters live. The many voices of the LaBasse family--French, Algerian, American--are woven into a narrative of the painful personal revelations and the impermanence of history itself.--Maureen Howard
- In this rich, resonant, beautifully written novel, Claire Messud brilliantly illuminates the dislocations of body and soul that are the true consequences of exile.--Andrea Barrett
- Claire Messud is a deeply interesting young writer.--Penelope Fitzgerald, Author of The Blue Flower
Book Club Rating and Comments
Most liked the book, but didn't love the book. Too much detail. Sentences too long. It got trying. Pieces missing in the book. Should have gone further. However there were some beautiful passages. A lot of threads were never tied together at the end.
Even though the book has obvious flaws, would recommend as a good discussion book. 3 1/2 stars.
If you or your book club has read this book and would like to share your comments, please email us at upthecreekbc@yahoo.com.
Other Books by Claire Messud
- 'When the World Was Steady'