Book Reviews of The Last Time They Met

I consider myself a pretty bright person - at least not stupid, but I did NOT understand the ending of the book. If what it was implying is true, then the rest of the book makes absolutely no sense to me AT ALL. So, do I believe 1 page or the previous 312 pages? ARGGGHHHH!

I also struggled with this book. The prose irritated me and her overuse of italics (I mean really, if someone says something, use quotes!).

Sigh... I dunno. I wanted to like this book, but I just didn't overall. Some of it was really good, but by and large, I found it irritating me. :( I think it had to do with the cross-over of the character of Thomas from Weight of Water... I didn't like him in that book and didn't like him here either.

Worth a read if you are smarter than me - and if someone reads this that understand the ending, enlighten me!

After I finished this book I had to go on-line and read reviews and comments on this book to make sure I understood the ending. I did. This book is very unconventional. It starts out with Linda and Thomas meeting at a writer’s convention when they are in their 50’s. The reader discovers Linda and Thomas have a passionate history. Very little of the history is revealed. What is revealed is the obvious attraction and deep love these two people feel for each other. The next section takes you back 26 years to the “last time they met” in Africa. Shreve spent some time in Africa and did some work there. You can tell the familiarity of the landscape and culture from the writing. It seems fate has brought Linda and Thomas together after almost 10 years apart. I did find it too much of coincidence that you would run into someone you once loved in highschool in the middle of Africa. Shreve did a good job making it believable. The final section of the book is really the beginning of the love story when Thomas and Linda are seniors in highschool. The rest of the mystery is revealed in this section; From Linda’s life with her aunt and how she ended up there to the tragic accident that initiated their first separation. And then, the surprise ending. I had to read it 3 times to make sure I understood it. I appreciate Shreve’s talent as a writer even more after reading this book, reinforcing her place on my favorite author list.

I've read a number of Anita Shreve's novels, and this one is quite different. That's not to say that it's not good... It definitely is a wonderful story and an interesting read, it's just different from her other books.

This one starts off slowly. I almost gave up after the first few chapters, but because I'm an Anita Shreve fan I stuck with it, and it got much better. I'm glad I stayed with it.

Give it a try. It's unconventional, but I think it's worthwhile!

This book started a little slow for me. But as I began to get farther into the book, the characters began to come alive for me. The two main characters, Thomas and Linda, are basically soul mates, having first met in their teens. The book begins in the present in their 50's when they "bump" into each other at a writer's convention and progresses, or maybe I should say regresses, backwards from their 50's to their teens when they met. I fell in love with the two characters, cheering them on all during the book that something would help them to finally get together. The ending I never saw coming. In a way, I felt betrayed by th author. Still, overall, a great book and an author that I will definitely be looking for more of.

What an amazing book. The ending will leave you wanting to reread the book again! This is my first by this author and I definitely will read more of her novels.

This is my favorite Shreve book. There was a lot of back and forth and at times hard to follow, but a great story. I am in such awe of this author. I could not put this down. DO NOT be tempted to read the ending ahead of time. The ending will blow your mind as others have said, but I enjoyed the ending which, to me, totally set this author apart from the others. She went where no one else would dare to. I read this quite a few years ago and this was one of those books that just stayed with me. This is the #1 Shreve book with Eden Close a very close second.

Extremely well written as is typical of Shreve. Has characters you care about, but resolution is disappointing.

The Last Time They Met opens with two old lovers, both poets, running into each other at a writer's conference. Well, Linda Fallon and Thomas Janes aren't old, actually--just middle-aged, with a lifetime's worth of history between them. In the first section, Anita Shreve only suggests what that history contains: there was adultery, we gather, and a car accident, plus some illicit encounters under a pitiless Kenyan sun. Presumably the rest of the book will lead back to the beginnings of this grand passion, right? We think we know where this is going--but that's the tricky part, because we don't.
The novel does get off to a slow start, with an unnecessarily drawn-out description of a luxury hotel. But it picks up speed as it moves backward in time, from the lovers' vividly evoked interlude in Africa, to their adolescent years in the Massachusetts village of Hull, and finally to Linda's deepest, darkest secret. Only then does the author unveil her final revelation, which should leave most readers somewhat out of breath, and possibly even obliged to turn back to the first page and read the book over again.

I absolutely loved this book!! It kept me completely interested up 'till the last page. The last page completely left me in awe wanting to call someone and let them know how this book had ended even though they may have not read it!! She is a really enjoyable writer!!

It took me a bit to get started but once I did I didn't want to stop. This book tugs at your heart as you take a backwards look throught the relationship of two people drawn together over and over through the years. With a twist that hits you like a brick wall. This book left me with a feeling I couldn't describe but I was glad to have read it. It is powerful and sexy. The writer has a way of creating images that easily transcend you to this time and place. You can feel the cold of the ocean spray and the dust in between yor toes as the sweat drips down your spine. Its a good thing.

This is the first book I've read by Shreve and am an instant fan. This story was amazing! I could not put it down. I actually finished it in less than 24 hrs!

The story is about a life-long love between two people told in reverse order. You first meet the main characters Linda and Thomas at age 52, then again at age 26, and finally at age 17. It is a beautiful, heartbreaking love affair. A must read.

I loved this book. The beginning was a little difficult to get into, but once it got going, I found it remarkable. Plenty of thought provoking material and an ending to make you rethink all of what you had just read.

An intense love story between Linda and Thomas who first meet as high school teenagers then as young adults and much later as adults just past their prime. They have a deep connection to each other but people and events keep them apart though they never lose their love for each other despite all the decades that pass. I have never felt so cheated by a novel's ending. I felt the ending was absolutely gimmicky. I can take a sad ending, after all stories can't all have happy endings, but the ending of this book comes isn't sad. It's a complete shock. It's like Shreve doesn't care about the readers at all. Read this book but don't read the last page.

From the time Linda and Thomas meet, at a charmless hotel in a distant city. to the moment, thrity-five earlier, when a chance encounter on a rocky beach bins them fatefully together, this hypnotically compelling novel unfolds a tale of intense passion, drama, and suspense.

A love story...and then some! As I read this book, I enjoyed it. The story line was captivating. At first, I thought Anita Shreve's writing style was a little different and kept me wondering why she chose to chronologically regress as she told this tale. However, you MUST read this novel all the way to the very last line. It leaves you with an "Oh, my gosh!" reaction. I loved it!

As with every single word that Anita Shreve has published, her writing is flawless and lovely, haunting and realistic. I loved this story. The ending was unexpected and I had to reread it a few times to make sure I was understanding what my mind would not see! It was an excellent book. I would not recommend this to someone as your first by this author. Try Fortune's Rocks or The Weight of Water before this one, and you'll be a fan of hers forever! :)

I stayed up unti 3AM some nights reading this one...

this book, and all books by Anita Shreve are absolutely fabulous!!!

I would highly recommend it!!!

A Writer who is good at capturing the delicate relationships we have

Compelling reading as only Shreve does.

Fascinating story.

It has been a very long time since I read this book, but I recall liking it!

Another great Shreve book with a twist at the end!!

From the last time Linda and Thomas meet, at a charmless hotel in a distant city,to the moment ,thirty-five years earlier,when a chance encounter on a rocky beach binds them fatefully together,.

Couldn't get into it, but it got good reviews from others.

A woman runs into a man she knew 35 years earlier and their stories unfold. Passion, drama and suspense. Thought provoking and enjoyable.

Interesting plot. Easy to read. suspenseful

4 stars !! I really enjoyed this one! Another great read by Anita Shreve!! It moves back in time from the end to the start of a love affair... poignant!!

This was difficult to get into, and I am confused by the ending.

Passion, drama and suspense

Intens passion, drama and suspense.

A wonderfully written book that captures your attention from start to finish. Never know what may happen next and even if you do wonder, you're probably wrong!

Beautiful (albeit depressing) back- and front-story to Thomas Janes' experiences in The Weight of Water, and the story of what really happened to Linda. The whole thing is lovely, but the last part is the fastest, which it should be, because it brings the stories to two very sudden conclusions.

I don't know about this book I could not get into it at all.

As with all Anita Shreve novels, this one is extremely well written. It moves back and forth in time telling the tale of 2 poeple who met 35 years earlier, who meet again by chance with entire lifetimes behind them.

Very well-written, an interesting story... but I HATED the ending.

i like her writing style and this is one of her better ones.

The Last Time They Met opens with two old lovers, both poets, running into each other at a writer's conference. Well, Linda Fallon and Thomas Janes aren't old, actually--just middle-aged, with a lifetime's worth of history between them. In the first section, Anita Shreve only suggests what that history contains: there was adultery, we gather, and a car accident, plus some illicit encounters under a pitiless Kenyan sun. Presumably the rest of the book will lead back to the beginnings of this grand passion, right? We think we know where this is going--but that's the tricky part, because we don't.

This book delves deeply into the emotions of 2 people who meet after many years & look back to their high school years.

Very good book with a surprise ending!

instanly captivating book..a chance encounter of two people that had not been together in 35 years..same author as "the Pilot's Wife"

I don't think that this is her best book, but it's interesting and has an amazing ending.

Amazing twist at the end!

a page turner that takes you back in time from the end to the start of a love affair

This is a flat-out, can't-put-it-down page-turner. Hypnotically compelling novel unfolds in a tale of intense passion, drama, and suspense.

The Last Time They Met opens with two old lovers, both poets, running into each other at a writer's conference. Well, Linda Fallon and Thomas Janes aren't old, actually--just middle-aged, with a lifetime's worth of history between them. In the first section, Anita Shreve only suggests what that history contains: there was adultery, we gather, and a car accident, plus some illicit encounters under a pitiless Kenyan sun. Presumably the rest of the book will lead back to the beginnings of this grand passion, right?

A suspense filled drama with interesting dark characters

This picks up some years after the end of _The Weight of Water_

From Amazon.com:

The Last Time They Met opens with two old lovers, both poets, running into each other at a writer's conference. Well, Linda Fallon and Thomas Janes aren't old, actually--just middle-aged, with a lifetime's worth of history between them. In the first section, Anita Shreve only suggests what that history contains: there was adultery, we gather, and a car accident, plus some illicit encounters under a pitiless Kenyan sun. Presumably the rest of the book will lead back to the beginnings of this grand passion, right? We think we know where this is going--but that's the tricky part, because we don't.

The novel does get off to a slow start, with an unnecessarily drawn-out description of a luxury hotel. But it picks up speed as it moves backward in time, from the lovers' vividly evoked interlude in Africa, to their adolescent years in the Massachusetts village of Hull, and finally to Linda's deepest, darkest secret. Only then does the author unveil her final revelation, which should leave most readers somewhat out of breath, and possibly even obliged to turn back to the first page and read the book over again. Shreve is a canny storyteller, and she knows her characters inside and out. (As well she might: Thomas is the husband of Jean, the photographer in The Weight of Water.) And The Last Time They Met is yet another example of the kind of book she does best--one that's as skillfully plotted as a thriller, but with writing that lingers long after the last plot twist is unfurled. No matter whether people actually have affairs like these. Reading this book only makes you wish that they did.

This was a page turner with a twist!

3 parts of a story told backwards. Interesting way to tell a story and had me wanting to reread parts again when i was done. A twisting ending!

From the last time Linda and thomas meet, at a charmless hotel in a distant city, to the moment, thirty five years earlier, when a chance encounter on a rocky beach binds then fatefully together, this compelling novel unfolds a tale of intense passion, drama and suspence.

Page turner - passion, drama, suspense

Most in my book club loved this. I am a fan of Shreve's other novels The Pilot's Wife and Weight of Water, but I did not like this as well as the others. Still, a good, involving read with a whopper of an ending.

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