Jessica Shattuck

I enjoyed Last House. It is a family saga covering the years just following WWII through the 1960s, with a small bit of tying up loose ends around the end of the century. The story begins with the thrill of being newly upper middle class and the joy of first parenthood. Most of the book is spent during this time and the following generation. Nick and Bet have left behind their WWII activities; he as a war veteran, she as a codebreaker. They settle into middle-class affluence and start a family. As was the norm then, Bet leaves her aspirations and becomes a wife and mother, while Nick is a lawyer brokering deals between US oil companies and Middle Eastern countries. The book's second section covers Nick and Bet's daughter and son, who come of age during the era of protests against racial inequality, the war in Vietnam, and big oil companies. The novel is more a history lesson than a family story, as the plot lines are not fully fleshed out. Yet it is less a history lesson than a fictionalized series of events, as so much of history during Nick and Bet's story is omitted. The characters are quite well-developed, especially Bet and Katherine. Jessica Shattuck's writing is smooth, but there is depth underlying the straightforward wording. This is a book for readers who enjoy elegant writing and not those looking for a strong character-driven plot. Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided by William Morrow via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.… (mer)

Jessica Shattuck’s newest historical fiction, Last House, examines the political shift of the country from the 1950s to the 1970s through the lens of the Taylor family. Nick and Bet marry as soon as he returns from WWII, and they soon find themselves living the American dream in the suburbs on Nick’s job with a large oil company. Their two children, Katherine and Harry, enter the 1970s filled with protests — some even aimed at their own father’s business. Readers who enjoy historical fiction will find an emotional book about generational change at a complicated time in US history, and the intricacies of family legacy.… (mer)