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The Last Word #1

The Last Word

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The Lord's Last Messages to his Church! Written by the Dean of the Theological Seminary at Baylor University

122 pages, Paperback

First published June 21, 2014

127 people are currently reading
704 people want to read

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Paul W. Powell

47 books4 followers

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5 stars
115 (33%)
4 stars
107 (31%)
3 stars
90 (26%)
2 stars
18 (5%)
1 star
10 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
Profile Image for Hákon Gunnarsson.
Author 29 books162 followers
June 18, 2015
This really should be four and a half stars, but goodreads doesn't allow half stars, so four stars it has to be. I enjoyed this book very much. I'm a bookaholic and one that isn't going to join bookaholics anonymous any time soon, so I do like books about books ever so often. I like to read about characters that enjoy reading as much as I do now and then.

Of course it is not only about books. Its mostly about an interesting collection of characters. The main ones are the two cousins that inherit the book store where most of the story takes place. They are quite different from one another, Sal is a small time American gangster and Camden is a English accountant. Supporting them are a few characters that work for them in the book store and a few others.

It is a light hearted story, often laugh out loud funny, with a minor mystery thrown in. There is very little I don't like about this book and it is probably going on my re readable list. It's just that enjoyable.

There are two things that drag it down to four and a half stars. The first thing is a thing that bugs me as a writer. Occasionally the author repeats things when there is no need to do so, the narrator says something, and then a character will say the same thing very few lines later. This is an excess that could be taken out. The other thing is that in the beginning one gets the impression that Sal and Camden are going to be equally important to the plot, but then Sal slowly takes up more and more space. I would have liked to read a little bit more about Camden.

But seriously, now I'm really just nitpicking. It is a very good novel, one that I enjoyed very much and will most probably re read someday.
Profile Image for Michelle Morgan.
Author 5 books148 followers
July 6, 2014
What a delightful debut! In "The Last Word," an unlikely group of booksellers must partner together to revive a sleepy indie bookstore in Fort Worth, Texas. Among the group, there's a London executive, an ex-mobster (maybe) from Jersey, and a bunch of quirky native Texans. The novel is charming and witty, enjoyed best by the intelligent reader. There are so many references to classic and contemporary literary masterpieces throughout, you will actually feel like you're IN the bookstore with the gang, perusing the shelves while laughing your butt off. The humor that arises is spot-on, and the setting provides just enough old-world charm to make you want to settle in and read this book cover-to-cover before putting it down. Goes great with a cup of coffee!
Profile Image for Roxy.
299 reviews8 followers
May 26, 2018
As someone who worked for over 17 years in a bookshop, I really enjoyed this book. The characters were rather stereotypical, but the book discussions, the book scout, and the competition between stores was fun to read about. Favorite quote: “Each book is a portable universe, an unspoken contract between the writer and the reader, and a friend who will never let you down.”
Profile Image for Saxitlurg.
67 reviews
September 10, 2016
This book is pretty awful, I honestly don't know why it has such rave reviews. While not the worst book I've ever read, it was usually boring, often infuriating, and an all around pain to make myself finish.

The characters are flat cardboard cutouts of stereotypes that were old in the 90s, the dialogue is stilted and sounds exactly the same no matter who's talking (with the exception of Camden and her often painfully shoehorned British slang), and the prose is limited and bland.

The Last Word, about two cousins who inherit a bookstore, is a slice-of-life novel that, instead of a straightforward plot, gives the readers short vignettes about the bookstore and its employees; sort of like reading a collection of short stories that all feature the same cast of characters.

The non-linear format is actually interesting, and I have a soft spot for stories that are essentially about nothing. But if you're going to write a book without a plot, the characters need to be REALLY strong and interesting, and these simply aren't.

None of the characters have realistic flaws that might lead to actual comedy. Instead, they all come across as mouthpieces for punchlines instead of people having actual humorous conversations. Every female character is written as either totally sex-obsessed and willing to sleep with anyone with a penis, or are Bible-thumping, overly-hostile prudes. Every Latino character who makes an appearance is a womanizing criminal, intent on overthrowing the government. The main love interest Julie is so bland and generic that she may as well be a potted plant (when the best thing a man can say about his love interest is that she peels her own shrimp, you know you have a really boring character)

Personally, the most insulting part of the book was the end, when the one gay character (who had been used for nothing but punchlines and as something for the horny women to drool over) was declared "turned" by one of the Sirens. Reading this part made me so furious that I wanted to throw the book through the window (I actually live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, so there's a better than average chance I could have hit the author if I'd chosen the right window). LGBTAQ people get enough shit, especially in Texas, without the insultingly prevalent idea that they can be turned straight. The inclusion of this scene, especially since it was such a throwaway joke, is totally unforgivable, especially for a book that came out as recently as 2014. (My rating would have been two stars if not for this scene)
Profile Image for Barbara Backus.
287 reviews15 followers
November 29, 2014
This book is not without its faults. However, if the idea of opening your own book store ever crossed your mind, you'll enjoy this story of how two cousins - one a former member of the Mafia in New Jersey and the other a cool British woman - join forces when they inherit their late uncle's Fort Worth bookstore.

There's a diverse cast of characters - booksellers as well as customers - and their particular likes and dislikes of genres, authors and their works. It's not great literature but a welcome respite from the more serious books I've read lately.
Profile Image for Brian Quast.
134 reviews7 followers
April 4, 2024
Still firmly entrenched as one of my favorite novels of all-time. A must read for bibliophiles. 5 Stars!!!
137 reviews1 follower
March 4, 2015
Enjoyable

What an eclectic cast of delightful characters. Long a fan of anything "books about books" related....I picked this up for my Kindle. 5 stars is not a high enough rating gauge the enjoyment I received.
Well done.......please write more!!
Profile Image for Emily.
203 reviews2 followers
August 27, 2014
A laugh-out-loud,light hearted and unintentionally educational tale about the day to day running of a Texas bookstore and its odd but extremely lovable staff.
1,495 reviews3 followers
June 10, 2022
(3.5 rounded to 4.0)

Satirical and light hearted. When you pick up this book, please keep these words in mind. There are many reviews that seemed to expect more serious and cerebral than this little book is designed to offer.

Salvatore (“Sal”) Terranova and Camden Templeton are distant cousins who haven’t seen each other since they were children and neither have seen or been in touch with their elderly Uncle Franklin Templeton, owner of Templeton Books. So they are both bemused that he has left all of his estate to them—including a downtown bookstore in Ft. Worth, TX, all of the contents, problems, employees etc., and his apartment and all of his personal property on the building’s second floor. Sal is a minor criminal from Jersey trying to outrun the mother of his family’s don. Camden is an English accountant in suits and high heels who is fleeing a difficult divorce and a job loss. So these two mismatched cousins end up running a bookstore and sharing an x-rated apartment (Uncle Franklin had some secrets) as roommates. There are several quirky bookstore employees: a curmudgeon of a rare book seller, a no nonsense sexy librarian type salesperson, a Hemingway obsessed fan salesperson, a part-time Puerto Rican writing a manifesto on revolution, and a part-time Black Adonis who is their expert on Sci-Fi/Fantasy. Surprisingly Sal also turns out to be an amateur expert on books while Camden sees them as nothing but inventory.

The book is formatted as a series of crises that have to be dealt with in order to keep the bookstore operating rather than a single big plot line developed as a complex scenario. The characters are quirky, funny, found family types so there is no complex, in-depth character development although they all end up a little better than they were in the beginning. So instead of being upset by what is not there in the book and enjoy and appreciate it for what it is. This is a light-hearted, funny, satirical work and it left me with a warm feeling and a smile.
2 reviews
July 27, 2021
When mobster Sal and his British cousin Camden find themselves inheriting a beloved but struggling Texas bookshop, the stage is set for an addictive, gripping, hilarious comic drama, as the pair come to grips with running their new business, and the eccentric staff contained therein.

What draws you into The Last Word by Paul Combs isn't so much the plot - though the narrative alone is engaging - but the lean, clear-sighted prose. Not a word is wasted in any of hugely entertaining vignettes. Combs's clear love for classic literature, including Hemingway, Russian classics, Dickens, and many others shines through. Best of all, an agreeably cynical wit undercuts the entire work, taking pot-shots at satirical targets including evangelicals who object to Harry Potter and ignorant interviewees who think What to Expect When You're Expecting is written by the same person who wrote Great Expectations.

And yet... One comes away with a feeling of warmth; perhaps because the characters are so well-drawn and relatable, with believable flaws and foibles. There's a kindly undercurrent to the relationships, a spot of romance, and an extraordinary appearance from a certain popular rock star one gets the impression the author rather idolises (I won't spoil the fun by saying who). At one point, there's even a profound discussion of faith, via a confession sequence in a Catholic church.

All in all, a wonderful, witty, addictive gem. Now I've finished the novel, I would say I'm going to miss these characters a great deal. But since there's a sequel, it looks like I'll get the chance to meet them again after all.
3,922 reviews21 followers
September 21, 2025
This book is an absolute delight; I'm only sorry that the story ended. People who read as many books as I do know that humorous satire is one of the most challenging genres to write. That is why there are so few books in this category. I love stories about libraries and bookstores.

This is a contemporary story of a Mafia foot soldier who finds it too hot in New Jersey. When their distant uncle, and owner of a dying bookstore, dies, he leaves the bookstore to cousins -- mobster Salvatore Terranova and his cousin, accountant Camden Templeton. Camden (who is British) has just found her husband (of several years) with his gay lover. She decides to pull up stakes in England and try life in the bookstore in Fort Worth.

The characters are quirky and memorable. Sal and Cam are charming and have more depth than the reader expects at first. If I had one criticism, the book is episodic, rather than a continuous tale. I cannot tell you how many times I laughed out loud. The author has a "Far Side" sense of humor.

The editors claimed that this book was what happens when The Sopranos meet Fawlty Towers. They aren't far wrong. This is one of those books that stay with the reader for a long time. This is one of my favorite books for 2025.

The Last Word Series
** 1) The Last Word (2014)
2) Writer in Residence (2015)
3) Book Town (2018)
4) The Bookstore War (2024)
493 reviews
October 16, 2023
If you like books about then.This book is for you!

I've mentioned before that I'm A sucker.for books about books, and bookstores and libraries and ancient manuscripts and anything focusing.on readers. The Last.Word covers all.those subjects (save ancient manuscripts) and does it in an accessible, even humorous way. You can not help.but fall in love with not.only Sal and Camden the New Jersey nephew and the London nice who inherit Uncle Frank's Texas bookstore -- but you will.be equally charmed by the employees and their friends and neigh it's of The Last.Word. This is not a heavy literary tome but rather a lighthearted romp through the fantasy world that readers mentally inhabit. . . . all of us have imagined having our own bookstore - often with what or cafe thrown in the mix. This book is a lovely diversion I to that beloved space
Profile Image for Rebecca.
69 reviews3 followers
October 13, 2019
A book about books and booksellers and a bookstore that is as slow and cartoonish as The Last Word violates some natural law, I am certain. That said, it is a likable read, and not wholly a bore. The characters are embarrassingly stereotypical - from the Italian mobster to the prissy Brit to the lascivious Latins and assorted pain-wrap Texans - but they do get up to some interesting antics. There is a lot of good preaching about literacy and the role of good books in a good life, and a measure of insight into the behind-the-scenes life of a busy book shop, on the positive side of the ledger. On the negative, I had to push myself to finish, and as for the last scene in the series of episodes that make up the novel's loose "plot", well, I am not sure if it was worth it.
Profile Image for Jason Anderson.
74 reviews1 follower
June 27, 2023
This book was definitely not what I expected when I started reading it. In many ways, it was much better. I am typically more of a suspense/thriller/mystery reader, but this book was absolutely entertaining. A funny look at family and friends revolving around a bookstore inherited by an ex-mobster and his cousin, an accountant from England. I truly had a hard time putting this book down until I was finished, and hated to see it end. I will definitely be looking to read more by this author. Minor critique was some editing errors.
165 reviews3 followers
November 2, 2018
I'm a book lkver, ex bookseller & a future book scout - loved, loved, loved this book.

You only have to turn one page before you start laughing. The characters can be identified in three dimensions, funny, hysterical or pee-peeing outrageous! Sal is a well-known and admired well-defined gangster from New Jersey. Camden, his very British cousin, a stolid accountant, jointly inherit a floundering bookstore in Texas. Yep, Texas! And there the fun begins.
Profile Image for The Book Bistro Society.
9 reviews
August 25, 2019
This was such a fun read! It was entertaining and I found that the reading preferences of many of the characters are much like my own! I smiled through much of the book and even laughed out loud because we all have that one friend that is very much like Sal! Camden the straight woman in the comedy duo learned to let her hair down. I may just go and re-read the wonderful novels mentioned in the book. A book about books is definitely worth reading! An excellent first book by Paul Combs I can't wait to read his future books!
17 reviews1 follower
June 28, 2020
Enjoyable Summer Book

I enjoyed reading "THE LAST WORD". IT was a delightful book with a few twist and turns. Each character added to the story and I don't think I would eliminate anyone of them. I stayed interested throughout the book and found myself laughing out loud.
I belong to two book clubs and feel there is not enough story to discuss
At our meetings, that is why I rated the book with four starts.
Profile Image for Shannon C .
101 reviews42 followers
May 31, 2018
I love books about books, and this was a real gem! It's one of those rare finds that pulls you into the book, where you can visualize every nook and cranny, and become part of the bookstore family and share all their emotions. I laughed a lot, and learned a lot. I also have a list of books about books from the story to add to my reading list. 5 stars.
2 reviews
July 29, 2018
A fun read from a contrived premise

Cousins from distant cities jointly inherit a failing bookstore, and together with the staff and some patrons, turn it around. Fantasy fiction, yet the author has fun with it, and lets his own love of books, crooks, and Bruce Springsteen carry it along to an acceptable ending.
94 reviews
September 15, 2021
I wouldn't have even considered this book except that I listen to Paul Combs' podcast and he mentioned he had written three books. This one is pretty good. It concerns the characters who work in a nondescript bookstore which two of them have inherited. I liked it enough to want to continue his series.
Profile Image for Bruce Dinsman.
1,532 reviews3 followers
August 5, 2023
Such a bookstore!

I had a lot of fun with this one, especially with references to books about books and bookstores. It happens that I just finished Mr Penumbras 24 Hour bookstore before I read this 300+ page book so quickly. I would peg this as a page turner for sure. I even enjoyed the insights about books and authors
Profile Image for Tom.
218 reviews3 followers
January 5, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed it

This is an unusual book. The author has taken a town that I'm familiar with and turned up with a little bookstore with all the little cool things that might have been. I will tell you the primary character is not a Texan, yet. You will enjoy getting to know Sal and the rest of the Gang at the bookstore.
Profile Image for Julie Totsch.
111 reviews1 follower
July 5, 2024
Don't pass this up

This book is, well, weird. And, cool. And, different. And, nuts.
Seriously.
It reminds me of Forest Gump, but so much better. The stuff in this book could happen and possibly has. I wouldn't know, I was in Jersey that weekend and I have a room full of people to prove it.
Profile Image for Lynn.
617 reviews5 followers
August 15, 2024
This was a fun read. Two cousins; one from London, the other from New Jersey; inherit a run-down book store in Forth Worth, Texas. They have an variety of characters working with them: old man, young goth, Hispanic teen, middle aged women. Some how they learn to work together to make a good of running an independent book store.
Profile Image for KIM.
292 reviews2 followers
February 5, 2025
This book was Okay. My overriding criteria is character. If I like the character I can live with other faults such as slow storylines, silly storylines, bad editing etc. I didn’t hate the character but didn’t really care about them and I found the storyline so so. I will not be reading any more of this series.
50 reviews
September 28, 2025
Fun little read

This easy to read novel is Combs' first time at bat and he scores a hit.
The characters are believeable, but could have been fleshed out a bit more. Also, more insight into running a profitable bookstore in this time of e readers would have been welcome. But these are made minor quibbles.
We're hoping this offering won't be Combs' "Last Word."
1 review
May 2, 2018
Enjoyable!

Wasn't very interested in the subject matter initially, but was pleasantly surprised. It's an easy read, at times humorous, and has interesting characters. If you love books and bookstores, you probably will like the story.
237 reviews2 followers
July 5, 2020
Delightfully Deceptive

I love books about bookstores and !ibraries, but have rarely found such a delightful mishmash of interesting characters, motivations, and consequences. I hope this author continues to write such entertaining books.
16 reviews
February 24, 2022
a great escape

A great way to escape the mundane!
If you are a reader, you often dream of owning your own bookstore. This is a great way to feel that dream.
Well written…let’s hope there are more books in Mr. Combs future.
Profile Image for tina m gervasio quisito.
48 reviews2 followers
August 1, 2022
Finally a book Intelligently Conceived and Written Book!

Highest Praise for Paul Combs first published book. It’s so well done, I can’t beleive this is the first book he has written, if true, look out world we have a fine author and wordsmith that can only improve with time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews

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