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Last Woman Standing
From the author of Good as Gone (“So gripping you might want to start to question your own family’s past”--Entertainment Weekly) comes a brilliant and timely thriller: Strangers on a Trainby way of Thelma and Louise.
Dana Diaz is an aspiring stand up comedian--a woman in a man’s world. When she meets a tough computer programmer named Amanda Dorn, the two bond over their struggles in boys’ club professions. Dana confides that she’s recently been harassed and assaulted while in L.A., and Amanda comes up with a plan: they should go after each other’s assailants, Strangers on a Train–style. But Dana finds that revenge, however sweet, draws her into a more complicated series of betrayals. Soon her distrust turns to paranoia, encompassing strangers, friends--and even herself. At what cost will she get her vengeance? Who will end up getting hurt? And when it’s all over, will there be anyone left to trust?
Dana Diaz is an aspiring stand up comedian--a woman in a man’s world. When she meets a tough computer programmer named Amanda Dorn, the two bond over their struggles in boys’ club professions. Dana confides that she’s recently been harassed and assaulted while in L.A., and Amanda comes up with a plan: they should go after each other’s assailants, Strangers on a Train–style. But Dana finds that revenge, however sweet, draws her into a more complicated series of betrayals. Soon her distrust turns to paranoia, encompassing strangers, friends--and even herself. At what cost will she get her vengeance? Who will end up getting hurt? And when it’s all over, will there be anyone left to trust?
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First published January 15, 2019
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About the author
Amy Gentry
13 books556 followersAmy Gentry is the author of the novels Good as Gone, Last Woman Standing, and Bad Habits, as well as the 33 1/3 book about Tori Amos's Boys for Pele. Also a critic, she has reviewed for the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Review of Books, Paris Review, LitHub, and Electric Literature, as well as writing introductions for two books in the NYRB Classics line. She holds a PhD in English from the University of Chicago and lives in Austin, Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 281 reviews
September 3, 2021
Dana Diaz is struggling to make it as a stand-up comic and frequents open mike nights all over Austin, Texas. Part of Dana's schtick is to make fun of herself, joking about being a short Latina woman with 'double d's' (big boobs).
Unfortunately the double d's sometimes attract the wrong kind of attention, and Dana fled Los Angeles a year ago - after a famous comedian named Aaron Neely trapped her in the back of his chauffeur-driven car and masturbated. In fact Dana has experienced all kinds of sexual abuse - from lewd comments to wandering hands to assault - and she muses that every woman she knows 'has gone through something.'
Thus it may be kismet when Amanda Dorn attends one of Dana's stand-up shows. Dana's jokes are falling flat until beautiful blonde Amanda starts to laugh and draws in the crowd.
Afterwards, the two women chat over drinks, and the topic soon turns to 'men that done them wrong.' Amanda confides that she had to leave her software engineering job because of an abusive boss called Doug Branchik, and Dana mentions the humiliating experience in Aaron Neely's car.
Somewhat tipsy, Amanda comes up with an idea right out of 'Strangers on a Train.' Amanda suggests swapping acts of vengeance: that is, Amanda will retaliate against some of the men who have hurt Dana and vice versa. Dana doesn't take the suggestion seriously and goes about her business, preparing for the 'Funniest Person in Austin' competition.
As it happens Aaron Neely is in town to judge the 'Funniest Person' contest, and Dana would rather perform for the devil than the masturbator. Dana doesn't need to worry though, because Neely leaves town very suddenly.....after a 'visit' from Amanda.
Amanda then demands her quid pro quo, and Dana is reluctantly sucked into an elaborate revenge scheme. For this the comic dons a curly blonde wig and takes on the persona of 'Betty' - a tough-talking gal with attitude.
Things soon get out of hand and Dana, determined to cut ties with Amanda, heads for Los Angeles - where she has new job opportunities and old friends. In Los Angeles Dana renews her friendship with comedian Jason Murphy - who was her lifelong pal and writing partner until they had a huge falling out.
Vengeful Amanda isn't about to let things go, however, and uses her cyber skills to become the ultimate stalker. Dana's no slouch either, and takes measures to fight back. Secrets are revealed as the story unfolds, and there are some twists and surprises before the dramatic climax.
As one would expect, men come off rather badly in this book. Even the 'nice ones' make excuses for their compatriots' abusive behavior, contending that 'men will be men' and 'they didn't do anything THAT bad' (unless it's outright rape).
The clueless men should embrace the following aphorism:
I didn't find any of the main characters very sympathetic, but I did get a kick out of Dana - who considers almost every situation she encounters as material for a sitcom pilot. Some of her 'plot ideas' are unique and amusing.
The novel is well-written, though some of the surprises are too clearly foreshadowed (IMO). Still, this is a good story, recommended to readers who like suspense.....as well as proponents of the #me too movement.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
October 23, 2018
2.5 stars
I think I would have liked the book more if it didn't go in the Strangers on a Train direction and instead stuck to more regular fiction focusing on #metoo movement issues. The intent behind the novel was certainly good but an outlandish type plot really hurt the book in my opinion.
Dana Diaz is trying her best to find success as a stand-up comedian. She meets Amanda Dorn one day after a set and the two start talking about men who have attacked and harrassed them. Amanda comes up with an idea that they each should go after the other's assailant. But will getting revenge be worth it in the end?
There's some really serious and timely themes going on in the story as one of the males is a Louis C.K. type character. I wish the story hadn't included the character of Amanda because I feel like there was more than enough to explore in Dana's life. The comedy world is indeed a boy's type club and it's not something that is typically featured in books. I think the book had potential but a crazy, overused plot device kinda ruined it.
I won a free advance copy of the book but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
I think I would have liked the book more if it didn't go in the Strangers on a Train direction and instead stuck to more regular fiction focusing on #metoo movement issues. The intent behind the novel was certainly good but an outlandish type plot really hurt the book in my opinion.
Dana Diaz is trying her best to find success as a stand-up comedian. She meets Amanda Dorn one day after a set and the two start talking about men who have attacked and harrassed them. Amanda comes up with an idea that they each should go after the other's assailant. But will getting revenge be worth it in the end?
There's some really serious and timely themes going on in the story as one of the males is a Louis C.K. type character. I wish the story hadn't included the character of Amanda because I feel like there was more than enough to explore in Dana's life. The comedy world is indeed a boy's type club and it's not something that is typically featured in books. I think the book had potential but a crazy, overused plot device kinda ruined it.
I won a free advance copy of the book but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
November 12, 2018
Tl;dr: Last Woman Standing is a furiously angry novel. In fact, its fury overwhelms the plot, but it certainly does make you think..
Last Woman Standing confronts not just the magnitude of harassment women face, but also the odd and tangled place women who refuse to be silent find themselves in.
In making the main character, Dana, a comedian, you might think this will be a thriller with dark humor.
It's not--which I think is the point--although I think it will displease some readers. Comedians often mine humor from dark places and Dana, who by the end has harnessed her rage into an up and coming career, has found that she's most successful when becoming "Betty," a woman who furiously strides through life, destroying anyone and anything that she comes across. And that--furious rage--is the heart of Last Woman Standing.
It starts in a familiar place: Dana, having left Los Angeles to return to Texas after an estrangement from her best friend and writing partner, Jason, that still has her questioning what happened and what she did wrong (even as she knows that she's a victim, she's unable/unwilling to think about that)--meets Amanda after a difficult set.
Amanda and Dana quickly become friends, and as Amanda reveals she's in Austin for revenge against the man who cost her entire career because of an unsuccessful sexual harassment suit (she also has an abusive ex), Dana finds herself drawn into Amanda's plans--first, they benefit her, then she helps Amanda, and then she starts to wonder exactly how far Amanda is willing to go for revenge--and more interestingly, how easy it is for her to be part of it, and how powerful it makes her feel to hurt men who've intimidated/harassed/assaulted women.
And that frightens Dana, just as Amanda reveals her ultimate target and frightens Dana even more.
Is Amanda crazy? Is Dana in danger? Who is she in danger from? Can she save herself?
Sort of, very much, the ultimate villian is (sadly) very obvious, and kind of.
It's that last question and answer that propels the story, unleashing a ferocity that consumes everything and produces a different Dana. One who is sharper, stronger, but so tired by what she sees that anger is all she's got to keep her going.
By the end, Amanda, who is so consumed by her plans for revenge that it carries a very heavy toll, is ultimately the most sympathetic character. Why? Dana herself puts it best:
"I needed her to tell the truth once more in court, where a dead woman was easier to believe than a live one every time."
While the plot of Last Woman Standing can't hold up to what it's saying, Ms. Gentry has created two very memorable characters in Dana and Amanda. The abuses each woman has suffered, and the way they both change from it--in Amanda's case, to be eaten alive by a system that can't/won't deal with a woman's rage out of anger at it or fear of it (I vote for both, but lean more towards fear)--and in Dana's case, to embrace the anger and channel the exhaustion that comes from realizing that being a woman means always facing:
"...the endlessly reflected faces of abuse...Once you see that struggle, you can't unsee it. You can profit by it or get crushed by it, but you can't escape it."
Told you--furiously (and I would add gloriously) angry. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Last Woman Standing confronts not just the magnitude of harassment women face, but also the odd and tangled place women who refuse to be silent find themselves in.
In making the main character, Dana, a comedian, you might think this will be a thriller with dark humor.
It's not--which I think is the point--although I think it will displease some readers. Comedians often mine humor from dark places and Dana, who by the end has harnessed her rage into an up and coming career, has found that she's most successful when becoming "Betty," a woman who furiously strides through life, destroying anyone and anything that she comes across. And that--furious rage--is the heart of Last Woman Standing.
It starts in a familiar place: Dana, having left Los Angeles to return to Texas after an estrangement from her best friend and writing partner, Jason, that still has her questioning what happened and what she did wrong (even as she knows that she's a victim, she's unable/unwilling to think about that)--meets Amanda after a difficult set.
Amanda and Dana quickly become friends, and as Amanda reveals she's in Austin for revenge against the man who cost her entire career because of an unsuccessful sexual harassment suit (she also has an abusive ex), Dana finds herself drawn into Amanda's plans--first, they benefit her, then she helps Amanda, and then she starts to wonder exactly how far Amanda is willing to go for revenge--and more interestingly, how easy it is for her to be part of it, and how powerful it makes her feel to hurt men who've intimidated/harassed/assaulted women.
And that frightens Dana, just as Amanda reveals her ultimate target and frightens Dana even more.
Is Amanda crazy? Is Dana in danger? Who is she in danger from? Can she save herself?
Sort of, very much, the ultimate villian is (sadly) very obvious, and kind of.
It's that last question and answer that propels the story, unleashing a ferocity that consumes everything and produces a different Dana. One who is sharper, stronger, but so tired by what she sees that anger is all she's got to keep her going.
By the end, Amanda, who is so consumed by her plans for revenge that it carries a very heavy toll, is ultimately the most sympathetic character. Why? Dana herself puts it best:
"I needed her to tell the truth once more in court, where a dead woman was easier to believe than a live one every time."
While the plot of Last Woman Standing can't hold up to what it's saying, Ms. Gentry has created two very memorable characters in Dana and Amanda. The abuses each woman has suffered, and the way they both change from it--in Amanda's case, to be eaten alive by a system that can't/won't deal with a woman's rage out of anger at it or fear of it (I vote for both, but lean more towards fear)--and in Dana's case, to embrace the anger and channel the exhaustion that comes from realizing that being a woman means always facing:
"...the endlessly reflected faces of abuse...Once you see that struggle, you can't unsee it. You can profit by it or get crushed by it, but you can't escape it."
Told you--furiously (and I would add gloriously) angry. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
January 26, 2019
I finished reading The Last Woman Standing a couple weeks ago. Thanks to @hmhbooks and @netgalley for this free advance electronic review copy. All opinions are my own. Have you read this one yet?
“Dana Diaz is an aspiring stand‑up comedian—a woman in a man’s world. When she meets a tough computer programmer named Amanda Dorn, the two bond over their struggles in boys’ club professions. Dana confides that she’s recently been harassed and assaulted while in L.A., and Amanda comes up with a plan: they should go after each other’s assailants, Strangers on a Train–style. But Dana finds that revenge, however sweet, draws her into a more complicated series of betrayals.”
3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Parts of this book were suspenseful and kept my attention while others felt drawn out. I absolutely loved Amy Gentry’s debut Good As Gone, but this one fell a little short for me in terms of character development.
I felt apathetic about all of the characters. I don’t have to love the characters to enjoy a book, but I need to care. Have you ever read a book like that—where you really want to love it, but you just don’t?
I like that this book addresses some important issues, including sexual assault, but overall the book didn’t work for me. It felt like too much effort was put into telling the reader what it was like to be a comedian instead of showing it through the story. I found that part of the plot very hard to get into, relate to, or even believe.
When you read a book how important is it for you to relate, empathize, or care about the characters in it? For me it’s pretty important, but I can overlook it if the plot is unputdownable.
All that being said, even though this book didn’t work for me, it very well may work for you. Have you read this one? What did you think? Let me know! I still recommend her debut, Good As Gone, and I will definitely read Amy Gentry’s next book.
**** Thanks to netgalley and the publisher, I received an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion. ****
“Dana Diaz is an aspiring stand‑up comedian—a woman in a man’s world. When she meets a tough computer programmer named Amanda Dorn, the two bond over their struggles in boys’ club professions. Dana confides that she’s recently been harassed and assaulted while in L.A., and Amanda comes up with a plan: they should go after each other’s assailants, Strangers on a Train–style. But Dana finds that revenge, however sweet, draws her into a more complicated series of betrayals.”
3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Parts of this book were suspenseful and kept my attention while others felt drawn out. I absolutely loved Amy Gentry’s debut Good As Gone, but this one fell a little short for me in terms of character development.
I felt apathetic about all of the characters. I don’t have to love the characters to enjoy a book, but I need to care. Have you ever read a book like that—where you really want to love it, but you just don’t?
I like that this book addresses some important issues, including sexual assault, but overall the book didn’t work for me. It felt like too much effort was put into telling the reader what it was like to be a comedian instead of showing it through the story. I found that part of the plot very hard to get into, relate to, or even believe.
When you read a book how important is it for you to relate, empathize, or care about the characters in it? For me it’s pretty important, but I can overlook it if the plot is unputdownable.
All that being said, even though this book didn’t work for me, it very well may work for you. Have you read this one? What did you think? Let me know! I still recommend her debut, Good As Gone, and I will definitely read Amy Gentry’s next book.
**** Thanks to netgalley and the publisher, I received an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion. ****
October 3, 2018
***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of LAST WOMAN STANDING by Amy Gentry in exchange for my honest review.***
3 STARS
Amy Gentry’s debut AS GOOD AS GONE was a five star read, so I was excited to have the opportunity to review LAST WOMAN STANDING, a modern retelling of STRANGERS ON A TRAIN.
I had a difficult time connecting to narrator Dana. The story opens during her standup routine, which I didn’t find funny. Other than Joan Rivers and political comedians, standup isn’t my thing. I prefer satire. Then she met Amanda in the audience, a woman who gave off such troubled vibe I would have gone running. I don’t necessarily need to identify with characters to champion their journey or to enjoy books, but I do need to feel more than apathy.
LAST WOMAN STANDING is a good story with an important message, particularly in the #MeToo movement. If we count childhood, I’ll bet most people who have been wronged have had revenge fantasies, so on some level Dana and Amanda are partially relatable. The trusting a stranger and acting on those fantasies is the stuff of thrillers and will find an audience clamoring for more.
One of my favorite aspects of Gentry’s writing is that she finishes stories. I liked the wrap up of LAST WOMAN STANDING.
Suspense and thriller lovers, LAST WOMAN STANDING is worth checking out.
3 STARS
Amy Gentry’s debut AS GOOD AS GONE was a five star read, so I was excited to have the opportunity to review LAST WOMAN STANDING, a modern retelling of STRANGERS ON A TRAIN.
I had a difficult time connecting to narrator Dana. The story opens during her standup routine, which I didn’t find funny. Other than Joan Rivers and political comedians, standup isn’t my thing. I prefer satire. Then she met Amanda in the audience, a woman who gave off such troubled vibe I would have gone running. I don’t necessarily need to identify with characters to champion their journey or to enjoy books, but I do need to feel more than apathy.
LAST WOMAN STANDING is a good story with an important message, particularly in the #MeToo movement. If we count childhood, I’ll bet most people who have been wronged have had revenge fantasies, so on some level Dana and Amanda are partially relatable. The trusting a stranger and acting on those fantasies is the stuff of thrillers and will find an audience clamoring for more.
One of my favorite aspects of Gentry’s writing is that she finishes stories. I liked the wrap up of LAST WOMAN STANDING.
Suspense and thriller lovers, LAST WOMAN STANDING is worth checking out.
January 14, 2019
Dana Diaz is an aspiring comedian trying to make it in Austin, TX--with the ultimate goal of making it back to L.A. someday. She once lived there with her best friend, Jason, but left in a bit of disgrace. While performing in L.A., she meets Amanda Dorn, a computer programmer who applauds during her set and catches Dana's eye. The two bond over being women in a man's world and soon learn that both have had similar struggles with harassment. But then Amanda proposes a plan: they'll each seek revenge on a man that has harmed the other. Dana quickly finds herself pulled into Amanda's revenge schemes. She also finds herself unable to trust anyone--even her friends.
I really loved Amy Gentry's GOOD AS GONE, so I was so excited to read this one. It didn't appeal to me as much as GOOD, but I enjoyed pieces of it. This was a weird but also interesting book that certainly capitalized on the momentum of the #metoo movement and did a good job of highlighting the aftermath of sexual assault and violence against women.
Dana is an intriguing character; I liked that she was a comedian, because that's not a character you usually see in books! She's also a minority and a fairly strong female--all pluses. No one expects her to be a comic or funny. It's also heartbreaking and eye-opening to see how much she's been through: as we learn about her experiences, we see how often she's had to endure sexual harassment, sexual violence, assault, and more during her career and life.
"It was true that my appearance--short and brownskinned and shaped like my mother minus the control-top pantyhouse--did not prepare most people for my extracurricular activities."
Even worse, so many of the women in the book seem to take this behavior as par for the course. To get ahead, they must endure being harassed, or they see this sexual assault as part of life. For instance, maybe it's just part of the acting business, Dana rationalizes.
"Maybe I really was the only one who couldn't take the joke."
The plot of this book was a little complicated for me; it seemed to struggle to find itself between fiction (a struggling comic attempting to find herself) and thriller (revenge scheme gone horribly wrong). For me, it really took off when it became more of a thriller. There were lots of twists and turns, most of which were quite surprising. Some of them were bizarre. Amanda and Dana's plans are a little crazy and things sort of spiral from there.
Still, I liked Dana overall, even if she made some questionable decisions. I appreciated how her character highlighted the plight of violence of women. As the book went on, it became more exciting and interesting, even some parts were a little crazy. 3+ stars.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review; it is available everywhere as of 01/15/2019.
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I really loved Amy Gentry's GOOD AS GONE, so I was so excited to read this one. It didn't appeal to me as much as GOOD, but I enjoyed pieces of it. This was a weird but also interesting book that certainly capitalized on the momentum of the #metoo movement and did a good job of highlighting the aftermath of sexual assault and violence against women.
Dana is an intriguing character; I liked that she was a comedian, because that's not a character you usually see in books! She's also a minority and a fairly strong female--all pluses. No one expects her to be a comic or funny. It's also heartbreaking and eye-opening to see how much she's been through: as we learn about her experiences, we see how often she's had to endure sexual harassment, sexual violence, assault, and more during her career and life.
"It was true that my appearance--short and brownskinned and shaped like my mother minus the control-top pantyhouse--did not prepare most people for my extracurricular activities."
Even worse, so many of the women in the book seem to take this behavior as par for the course. To get ahead, they must endure being harassed, or they see this sexual assault as part of life. For instance, maybe it's just part of the acting business, Dana rationalizes.
"Maybe I really was the only one who couldn't take the joke."
The plot of this book was a little complicated for me; it seemed to struggle to find itself between fiction (a struggling comic attempting to find herself) and thriller (revenge scheme gone horribly wrong). For me, it really took off when it became more of a thriller. There were lots of twists and turns, most of which were quite surprising. Some of them were bizarre. Amanda and Dana's plans are a little crazy and things sort of spiral from there.
Still, I liked Dana overall, even if she made some questionable decisions. I appreciated how her character highlighted the plight of violence of women. As the book went on, it became more exciting and interesting, even some parts were a little crazy. 3+ stars.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review; it is available everywhere as of 01/15/2019.
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January 21, 2020
Just didn't feel this one. At first I liked it, but then it just fell flat. I really enjoyed Gentry's debut thriller, so this was a disappointment for me. I'm still a fan though, and look forward to her next release.
August 17, 2019
Having not read “Good As Gone” by author Amy Gentry, yet being highly recommended, I was therefore highly excited and intrigued to be trying her latest novel “Last Woman Standing”.
Dana Diaz, (nicknamed Double D for her name and ‘appearance’) can’t get over the humiliation she suffered at the hands of a man she believed would help her career. After an open mic session as a stand up comic, she drowns her sorrows at a bar and ends up talking to Amanda, a stranger who also has a story to tell. During the evening as the friendship develops, Amanda proposes a plan....the women should take revenge on each other’s behalf. However, when the stalking and vengeance becomes a thrill, one act of revenge soon leads to another. But although it’s an addictive game, only one can survive. Who will be be the ‘last woman standing’?
I have to admit that I did struggle initially with the story. I did find it rather ‘American’ with the dialogue and I sadly didn’t quite ‘get’ the comedy act early on in the book and therefore it did drag somewhat. Admittedly though, the story does kick off towards the second half of the book and it was this that kept my attention, along with a tense and uneasy feeling of foreboding.
I’m not sure I took to the main character Dana, she was still quite evasive with her emotions, even after declaring her innermost secrets but I did think Amanda was very enigmatic and she was the one that intrigued me the most. Being narrated in the first person by Dana it was interesting to hear her thoughts before, during and after her comedy sets, just proving those on stage, do suffer from nerves, unresponsive audiences and having to deal with hecklers. I thought the author covered Dana’s time at the mic very well and due to the descriptive nature of the writing, I actually felt I was in the room with Dana listening to her act.
“Last Woman Standing” was a nice quick read, that once got going was very nicely paced and addictive. With a nod to the movie “Strangers on a Train” and the current #MeToo movement in its storyline, this was an exceedingly timely and topical novel that was written well and covered abuse and harassment by men in power sympathetically. Using a unique premise with a stand up comic as the main protagonist and women taking vengeance and retribution on their abusive men, this story was an empowering read and I can imagine that this stylish psychological thriller with go down very well with a female audience.
Amy Gentry is a smart and very intelligent writer that kept this reader guessing till the end and I would happily read more by her in the future.
3.5 stars
Dana Diaz, (nicknamed Double D for her name and ‘appearance’) can’t get over the humiliation she suffered at the hands of a man she believed would help her career. After an open mic session as a stand up comic, she drowns her sorrows at a bar and ends up talking to Amanda, a stranger who also has a story to tell. During the evening as the friendship develops, Amanda proposes a plan....the women should take revenge on each other’s behalf. However, when the stalking and vengeance becomes a thrill, one act of revenge soon leads to another. But although it’s an addictive game, only one can survive. Who will be be the ‘last woman standing’?
I have to admit that I did struggle initially with the story. I did find it rather ‘American’ with the dialogue and I sadly didn’t quite ‘get’ the comedy act early on in the book and therefore it did drag somewhat. Admittedly though, the story does kick off towards the second half of the book and it was this that kept my attention, along with a tense and uneasy feeling of foreboding.
I’m not sure I took to the main character Dana, she was still quite evasive with her emotions, even after declaring her innermost secrets but I did think Amanda was very enigmatic and she was the one that intrigued me the most. Being narrated in the first person by Dana it was interesting to hear her thoughts before, during and after her comedy sets, just proving those on stage, do suffer from nerves, unresponsive audiences and having to deal with hecklers. I thought the author covered Dana’s time at the mic very well and due to the descriptive nature of the writing, I actually felt I was in the room with Dana listening to her act.
“Last Woman Standing” was a nice quick read, that once got going was very nicely paced and addictive. With a nod to the movie “Strangers on a Train” and the current #MeToo movement in its storyline, this was an exceedingly timely and topical novel that was written well and covered abuse and harassment by men in power sympathetically. Using a unique premise with a stand up comic as the main protagonist and women taking vengeance and retribution on their abusive men, this story was an empowering read and I can imagine that this stylish psychological thriller with go down very well with a female audience.
Amy Gentry is a smart and very intelligent writer that kept this reader guessing till the end and I would happily read more by her in the future.
3.5 stars
January 15, 2019
When I read Gentry's Good As Gone a while back, I was floored at just how RAW of a read that was. While Last Woman Standing is a different category, it's still quite raw in terms of the victimization and harassment of women, comics or otherwise.
Gentry gives us Dana Diaz - an aspiring comic who has been on the brunt end on more than on occasion. When Amanda enters her life, here comes the outlet she needed... because sometimes the inactions taken in the past explode into actions in the present.
Listen, as woman who has been through her fair share of harassment, there certainly is a fine line of what you think you should fight against and whether or not it's worth it. I tried to get a manager fired but instead he was just sent to another restaurant, where I'm hoping he didn't harass anyone there... and it's this type of "justice" that gives women a sense that it's not worth it. Just because he's not in the same place to bother me and the other girls who complained (to me, and me who took it higher), instead of being punished or corrected, he was just sent away. Out of sight, out of mind? Nope. It just doesn't work that way and this particular incident was an extremely small action compared to others. I have been lucky that it never escalated to something worse and it's sad that I think this way.
But I digress, back to this read. I don't particularly get triggered by books but those who do, this may be a hard read for you. Keep this in mind when reading, straight from the author: "I started writing Last Woman Standing before the #MeToo tidal wave, unaware of some of the worst offenses by famous comics - though I'd heard some rumors. When the first big story broke, I worried that people might draw conclusions about who certain characters represented. But as more and more stories came to light, I realized that this type of behavior was just too ubiquitous in the industry to any one person. Which would be funny if it weren't so sad. Rage, like comedy, is unforgiving."
This book definitely went in a direction I wasn't expecting from the beginning. I found the beginning a bit slow quite frankly, but I also *know* Gentry and she has a purpose and I'm glad I continued. One, I'm certainly going to have less delivery services from now on (or at least for a little bit) and two, guys that won't believe women are probably a bit guilty of something themselves. STOP BLAMING THE VICTIM.
But on a less serious note, the revenge game is nothing new to the genre, but the manipulation and strategic movement and underscoring of what is happening in the world intertwined was well done.... I don't understand why men just don't get it - DON'T PISS OFF WOMEN. We are patient, calculating and vindictive... but only when we have to be *wink*. But man, crazy is as crazy does and UFF, Amanda...….
I don't think this book is going to be for everyone considering the slow-ish start and the topic, but I think it's worth the read.
Thank you to HMH for this copy.
Gentry gives us Dana Diaz - an aspiring comic who has been on the brunt end on more than on occasion. When Amanda enters her life, here comes the outlet she needed... because sometimes the inactions taken in the past explode into actions in the present.
Listen, as woman who has been through her fair share of harassment, there certainly is a fine line of what you think you should fight against and whether or not it's worth it. I tried to get a manager fired but instead he was just sent to another restaurant, where I'm hoping he didn't harass anyone there... and it's this type of "justice" that gives women a sense that it's not worth it. Just because he's not in the same place to bother me and the other girls who complained (to me, and me who took it higher), instead of being punished or corrected, he was just sent away. Out of sight, out of mind? Nope. It just doesn't work that way and this particular incident was an extremely small action compared to others. I have been lucky that it never escalated to something worse and it's sad that I think this way.
But I digress, back to this read. I don't particularly get triggered by books but those who do, this may be a hard read for you. Keep this in mind when reading, straight from the author: "I started writing Last Woman Standing before the #MeToo tidal wave, unaware of some of the worst offenses by famous comics - though I'd heard some rumors. When the first big story broke, I worried that people might draw conclusions about who certain characters represented. But as more and more stories came to light, I realized that this type of behavior was just too ubiquitous in the industry to any one person. Which would be funny if it weren't so sad. Rage, like comedy, is unforgiving."
This book definitely went in a direction I wasn't expecting from the beginning. I found the beginning a bit slow quite frankly, but I also *know* Gentry and she has a purpose and I'm glad I continued. One, I'm certainly going to have less delivery services from now on (or at least for a little bit) and two, guys that won't believe women are probably a bit guilty of something themselves. STOP BLAMING THE VICTIM.
But on a less serious note, the revenge game is nothing new to the genre, but the manipulation and strategic movement and underscoring of what is happening in the world intertwined was well done.... I don't understand why men just don't get it - DON'T PISS OFF WOMEN. We are patient, calculating and vindictive... but only when we have to be *wink*. But man, crazy is as crazy does and UFF, Amanda...….
I don't think this book is going to be for everyone considering the slow-ish start and the topic, but I think it's worth the read.
Thank you to HMH for this copy.
December 28, 2018
*** 3-3.5 Stars ***
Publication date: January 15, 2019
This book is considered a "revenge thriller" but unfortunately it fell a little flat for me. Dana Diaz is a tiny feisty Hispanic girl trying to make it in Austin, TX as a stand up comedian. I think what happened was the book focused so much on Dana and her career at the beginning, I started to lose interest. In hindsight that build was necessary and made the revenge part more interesting. A lot of #metoo incidents were brought up in this book, acknowledging the current social hardships women are dealing with daily.
I felt the ending was strong and the twist was good, unpredictable, but I wasn't wowed. I've read some really great psychological thrillers recently, so I may just be hard to please in that category now. I had not read Amy Gentry's other book Good as Gone, but I still plan on reading it as I did enjoy her writing style and flow in this book.
** Special thanks to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for allowing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.***
Publication date: January 15, 2019
This book is considered a "revenge thriller" but unfortunately it fell a little flat for me. Dana Diaz is a tiny feisty Hispanic girl trying to make it in Austin, TX as a stand up comedian. I think what happened was the book focused so much on Dana and her career at the beginning, I started to lose interest. In hindsight that build was necessary and made the revenge part more interesting. A lot of #metoo incidents were brought up in this book, acknowledging the current social hardships women are dealing with daily.
I felt the ending was strong and the twist was good, unpredictable, but I wasn't wowed. I've read some really great psychological thrillers recently, so I may just be hard to please in that category now. I had not read Amy Gentry's other book Good as Gone, but I still plan on reading it as I did enjoy her writing style and flow in this book.
** Special thanks to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for allowing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.***
September 28, 2018
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle ARC of
Last Woman Standing.
I liked Good as Gone which is why I was looking forward to Last Woman Standing. It had a plot similar to the thrilling classic Strangers on a Train with modern touches.
Unfortunately, the novel lacked the inherent creepiness and suspensefulness of the film.
What I did like:
A woman of color named Dana Diaz trying to make it in the cutthroat business of stand-up comedy. She's tough, sassy and determined to achieve success despite the obstacles in her way; crude and crass jokes about her voluptuous body, her tiny stature, the fact that she's, you know, a WOMAN.
As if life wasn't already difficult enough for us ladies.
I liked the author's acknowledgement of the #MeToo movement; the inherent difficulties all women face, not just in the entertainment or IT industry but in all walks of life, in all industries, even from partners and lovers.
I liked how modern technology, social media, and advances in modern technology have given rise to a whole new range of ways to bully and act violently, in the form of scum hiding behind their computer screens. There is truly no escaping the vitriol and hate spewed at women (and men) in all kinds of ways.
What I did not like:
I dislike comedy. I barely watch sit-coms and comedic movies and I hate hate HATE stand-up. It reminds me of when I was in college and reps from comedy clubs would go around all the schools trying to sell $5 tickets to us poor undergrads so they could fill seats.
I didn't really like Dana. There was something...passive about her. All she kept talking about was how much she liked Jason and she missed him and how their relationship was over and she couldn't go back to see him.
I get it; Jason is her BFF, they've been friends for a LONG TIME. They have history. I'm not belittling their friendship. Her constant reminiscences became repetitive and she sounded incredibly dependent on him for...well, everything. Emotional support, for friendships, for creativity.
It's ironic that Dana describes herself as a woman with few, if any, female friends in a story about abusive men and predators and how they try to take away our voices, yet Dana is a stand-up comedian who puts herself out onstage with bravery and stamina yet can't stop talking about Jason?
Am I terrible for saying that I preferred Amanda, kind of liked her in a way? Well, I did. I don't condone violence but I could understand and empathize with her anger, her aggression, her need to lash out and take vengeance. Sometimes, we feel so powerless, vulnerable and lost that anger is a preferable way to emote than shame and embarrassment.
The plot quickly became complicated with the inclusion of Jason, Dana's BFF, writing partner and not so secret crush. There is a twist I saw coming, mostly because I read so many thrillers and mysteries my educated guesses are right 99% of the time.
I would have preferred if the plot remained around Dana and Amanda instead of pulling a man, once again, into the story.
There was potential in Amanda and Dana's "friendship," their relationship could have been developed such as how they could have enabled one another, or Dana slowly coming to her senses (or not) about what she was doing, or pulling others into their Lady Vengeance act.
There was a serious lack of suspense, though there are shocking acts of violence and not just against the women. There were no gasps of shock as revelations are revealed or eyes widening as clues are found.
Everyone gets their comeuppance in the end but I felt female empowerment could have been seriously strengthened, if not improved upon, if the focus was on Dana and Amanda.
I liked Good as Gone which is why I was looking forward to Last Woman Standing. It had a plot similar to the thrilling classic Strangers on a Train with modern touches.
Unfortunately, the novel lacked the inherent creepiness and suspensefulness of the film.
What I did like:
A woman of color named Dana Diaz trying to make it in the cutthroat business of stand-up comedy. She's tough, sassy and determined to achieve success despite the obstacles in her way; crude and crass jokes about her voluptuous body, her tiny stature, the fact that she's, you know, a WOMAN.
As if life wasn't already difficult enough for us ladies.
I liked the author's acknowledgement of the #MeToo movement; the inherent difficulties all women face, not just in the entertainment or IT industry but in all walks of life, in all industries, even from partners and lovers.
I liked how modern technology, social media, and advances in modern technology have given rise to a whole new range of ways to bully and act violently, in the form of scum hiding behind their computer screens. There is truly no escaping the vitriol and hate spewed at women (and men) in all kinds of ways.
What I did not like:
I dislike comedy. I barely watch sit-coms and comedic movies and I hate hate HATE stand-up. It reminds me of when I was in college and reps from comedy clubs would go around all the schools trying to sell $5 tickets to us poor undergrads so they could fill seats.
I didn't really like Dana. There was something...passive about her. All she kept talking about was how much she liked Jason and she missed him and how their relationship was over and she couldn't go back to see him.
I get it; Jason is her BFF, they've been friends for a LONG TIME. They have history. I'm not belittling their friendship. Her constant reminiscences became repetitive and she sounded incredibly dependent on him for...well, everything. Emotional support, for friendships, for creativity.
It's ironic that Dana describes herself as a woman with few, if any, female friends in a story about abusive men and predators and how they try to take away our voices, yet Dana is a stand-up comedian who puts herself out onstage with bravery and stamina yet can't stop talking about Jason?
Am I terrible for saying that I preferred Amanda, kind of liked her in a way? Well, I did. I don't condone violence but I could understand and empathize with her anger, her aggression, her need to lash out and take vengeance. Sometimes, we feel so powerless, vulnerable and lost that anger is a preferable way to emote than shame and embarrassment.
The plot quickly became complicated with the inclusion of Jason, Dana's BFF, writing partner and not so secret crush. There is a twist I saw coming, mostly because I read so many thrillers and mysteries my educated guesses are right 99% of the time.
I would have preferred if the plot remained around Dana and Amanda instead of pulling a man, once again, into the story.
There was potential in Amanda and Dana's "friendship," their relationship could have been developed such as how they could have enabled one another, or Dana slowly coming to her senses (or not) about what she was doing, or pulling others into their Lady Vengeance act.
There was a serious lack of suspense, though there are shocking acts of violence and not just against the women. There were no gasps of shock as revelations are revealed or eyes widening as clues are found.
Everyone gets their comeuppance in the end but I felt female empowerment could have been seriously strengthened, if not improved upon, if the focus was on Dana and Amanda.
January 7, 2019
Strangers on a Train for the #MeToo era. I liked this one okay, but didn't love it. I never quite connected with the main character, Dana, and her standup never came off as funny. The first half of the book was pretty slow, and kept me only just engaged enough to keep going, but the action and suspense really took off in the second half. The plot is twisty, but most of the twists are easy to guess. There's lots here about what women go through and how men behave towards us, and questions about how far it's okay to go for revenge. I don't particularly recommend this unless the blurb sounds really inviting to you, because I think there are better thrillers out there, but overall it was thought-provoking and attention-grabbing.
*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 12, 2019
This book is so bad, I can’t can’t count the number of times I had to close the book and grimace for a moment after a particularly cringe line. I usually finish a book in a couple of days, but thanks to my irrational cannot DNF rule, I wasted 3 weeks torturing myself through this. The overall message behind I do really love, but it was hidden behind weird plot lines, horrible jokes, and bad writing.
January 16, 2019
"It had nothing to do with justice and even less to do with preventing future misdemeanors by petty offenders. It had been vengeance, plain and simple."
Dana Diaz is a struggling stand-up comedian wanna be when she meets Amanda after a particularly uninspired set. "Short, stacked, and Latina", Dana hasn't had much luck breaking into the scene and she blames it on an event that happened to her when she lived with her BMF, Jason, in LA. As Dana and Amanda talk, they find that they have something in common -- they've both been taken advantage of by men. Amanda suffered from the effects and lost her IT job. Dana was assaulted by a man she was looking at to mentor her. As these things do, their chat leads to a crazy plan -- a swap -- each will "take care of" a man whose name is on their lists as having violated them. This scheme is put into action and leads both in a direction they had not anticipated. Oh wait...one of them had.
NO SPOILERS.
Well, I wanted to like this book given its timely nature with #metoo and so many stories in the media about women suffering because of sexual things done to them by men. Women who kept quiet and didn't speak up thus never going that extra step or preventing those same men from going on to do the same to other women. It was what appealed to me when I read the book, but this story wasn't what I was anticipating for a couple of reasons.
First of all, I hated all the characters. I couldn't muster up one bit of empathy for any of the women or the men. Second -- I hate comedy routines and there wasn't a single line in the book that came from a routine that even made me crack a smile much less laugh. It just wasn't funny, it was crass and stupid and yeah, I guess I can't take a joke. So without anything to hold onto or to care about with the rising action, I wanted to quit reading the book but forced myself to finish without connecting to it in any way. The first half or so was totally boring and, although it picked it up a little in the second half, I just didn't care and slogged on to what I thought was a totally horrible ending.
So, that's all I've got. I am sorry I picked it up and wasted my time. I think the author's message got lost somewhere in the ridiculousness of the whole sordid story. In short, I lost the plot. I kept waiting for there to be ONE decent man but he never showed up! Despite everything that's going on out in the real world, there are some men who don't assault women. Anyway, if YOU are assaulted by any one at any time -- speak up. Save yourself from that inner rage and guilt. Rant over.
I do want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for granting my ill-considered request to read and review. It didn't work for me, but I'm sure others (as noted in some of the reviews I've recently read) will find it "razor sharp" though I thought it dull and pointless.
Dana Diaz is a struggling stand-up comedian wanna be when she meets Amanda after a particularly uninspired set. "Short, stacked, and Latina", Dana hasn't had much luck breaking into the scene and she blames it on an event that happened to her when she lived with her BMF, Jason, in LA. As Dana and Amanda talk, they find that they have something in common -- they've both been taken advantage of by men. Amanda suffered from the effects and lost her IT job. Dana was assaulted by a man she was looking at to mentor her. As these things do, their chat leads to a crazy plan -- a swap -- each will "take care of" a man whose name is on their lists as having violated them. This scheme is put into action and leads both in a direction they had not anticipated. Oh wait...one of them had.
NO SPOILERS.
Well, I wanted to like this book given its timely nature with #metoo and so many stories in the media about women suffering because of sexual things done to them by men. Women who kept quiet and didn't speak up thus never going that extra step or preventing those same men from going on to do the same to other women. It was what appealed to me when I read the book, but this story wasn't what I was anticipating for a couple of reasons.
First of all, I hated all the characters. I couldn't muster up one bit of empathy for any of the women or the men. Second -- I hate comedy routines and there wasn't a single line in the book that came from a routine that even made me crack a smile much less laugh. It just wasn't funny, it was crass and stupid and yeah, I guess I can't take a joke. So without anything to hold onto or to care about with the rising action, I wanted to quit reading the book but forced myself to finish without connecting to it in any way. The first half or so was totally boring and, although it picked it up a little in the second half, I just didn't care and slogged on to what I thought was a totally horrible ending.
So, that's all I've got. I am sorry I picked it up and wasted my time. I think the author's message got lost somewhere in the ridiculousness of the whole sordid story. In short, I lost the plot. I kept waiting for there to be ONE decent man but he never showed up! Despite everything that's going on out in the real world, there are some men who don't assault women. Anyway, if YOU are assaulted by any one at any time -- speak up. Save yourself from that inner rage and guilt. Rant over.
I do want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for granting my ill-considered request to read and review. It didn't work for me, but I'm sure others (as noted in some of the reviews I've recently read) will find it "razor sharp" though I thought it dull and pointless.
March 22, 2019
This was an unusual read for me on many levels and one that I struggled to get in to until about halfway through. However, I was glad that I persevered with this novel because I could not predict the twists and turns that the plot took in the latter half of the story.
It is true what they say: “Hell hath no fury, like a woman scorned”. This is certainly the case for the women represented in this novel. The theme of women receiving abuse is key to the plot and one that resonates with the ‘#MeToo’ movement. It is impossible not to feel sorry for any of the women as the different tales of abuse are revealed. It really portrays the difficulties that women face when receiving abuse; the physical and emotional consequences are forever lasting and Dana is a sad example of a woman who has been taken advantage of too many times.
However, it is Amanda’s appearance that begins to suggest the idea of attempting to make these incidents right again. Exacting revenge so that the perpetrators do not, ever, abuse and mistreat women again. At first you feel that yes, this is totally justified and I could not help but support her conquest for revenge. However, as Dana is drawn further into Amanda’s games, things start to become more serious and Dana’s life becomes complicated and one that is frequently reminded by her difficult and emotional past. Amanda’s role in Dana’s life increases and as a result, so does the danger of what Amanda suggests that Dana does. Tension begins to creep into this story as the events unfold, suddenly making Amanda’s revengeful path more sinister.
As we learn about this twisted game of revenge that Dana and Amanda play, readers are also introduced to Dana’s life-long friend, Jason. I didn’t know what to think about him and throughout the story I had an inkling that something wasn’t quite right. I couldn’t put my finger on it and I think this is a credit to the writer’s characterisation and how Jason is played off against Amanda and Dana. Indeed, some of the views Jason expresses when he hears about the female abuse is unsettling and a reminder of some of the narrow-mindedness that still exists in society today.
The layers of meaning behind the title of this novel are really interesting. 'Last Woman Standing' refers to the stand-up comedy career of Dana. On another level, it links to the theme of female abuse and women having the confidence to stand up to their abusers. Finally, I also feel it demonstrates the game that Dana and Amanda play - who will be the last one left after this friendship?
I ultimately did enjoy the novel, despite it being slow to start. Whilst I did find the ending prolonged, the unexpected twists in the story kept me hooked. It was a plot with a different setting and this unusual element meant this novel had a unique twist on a suspense story.
It is true what they say: “Hell hath no fury, like a woman scorned”. This is certainly the case for the women represented in this novel. The theme of women receiving abuse is key to the plot and one that resonates with the ‘#MeToo’ movement. It is impossible not to feel sorry for any of the women as the different tales of abuse are revealed. It really portrays the difficulties that women face when receiving abuse; the physical and emotional consequences are forever lasting and Dana is a sad example of a woman who has been taken advantage of too many times.
However, it is Amanda’s appearance that begins to suggest the idea of attempting to make these incidents right again. Exacting revenge so that the perpetrators do not, ever, abuse and mistreat women again. At first you feel that yes, this is totally justified and I could not help but support her conquest for revenge. However, as Dana is drawn further into Amanda’s games, things start to become more serious and Dana’s life becomes complicated and one that is frequently reminded by her difficult and emotional past. Amanda’s role in Dana’s life increases and as a result, so does the danger of what Amanda suggests that Dana does. Tension begins to creep into this story as the events unfold, suddenly making Amanda’s revengeful path more sinister.
As we learn about this twisted game of revenge that Dana and Amanda play, readers are also introduced to Dana’s life-long friend, Jason. I didn’t know what to think about him and throughout the story I had an inkling that something wasn’t quite right. I couldn’t put my finger on it and I think this is a credit to the writer’s characterisation and how Jason is played off against Amanda and Dana. Indeed, some of the views Jason expresses when he hears about the female abuse is unsettling and a reminder of some of the narrow-mindedness that still exists in society today.
The layers of meaning behind the title of this novel are really interesting. 'Last Woman Standing' refers to the stand-up comedy career of Dana. On another level, it links to the theme of female abuse and women having the confidence to stand up to their abusers. Finally, I also feel it demonstrates the game that Dana and Amanda play - who will be the last one left after this friendship?
I ultimately did enjoy the novel, despite it being slow to start. Whilst I did find the ending prolonged, the unexpected twists in the story kept me hooked. It was a plot with a different setting and this unusual element meant this novel had a unique twist on a suspense story.
January 14, 2019
LAST WOMAN STANDING by Amy Gentry is her second novel, a very edgy, very contemporary psychological thriller, totally apropos to today's exposure of the rape culture. Ms. Gentry deeply examines her characters, and in this novel, contemporary society and culture is also a character in itself. Dana Diaz is a stand-up comic who hopes to "make it to the big time," but carries a tremendous amount of baggage. As a female comic, she is often overlooked or heckled. As a female, she has suffered. Back in Austin after a failed stint in L.A. during which a male asserted his "prerogative," causing her post-traumatic stress and fear of expressing or asserting herself, Dana encounters another woman with issues, Amanda. As their budding friendship stutters along, with Dana holding tightly to her "secrets," which involve molestation and rape, Amanda begins to reveal her agenda. Sounding good on the surface, as striking a blow against contemporary rape culture, Amanda's ideas soon prove to be both dangerous and also illegal; and Dana comes to discover that she also has a dark side, just like the men who have abused women.
March 19, 2019
Meine ausführliche Rezension folgt auf dem Blog
May 13, 2018
Savage, brilliant, and pulse-poundingly gripping, LAST WOMAN STANDING will leave you stunned. Amy Gentry’s revenge thriller is an explosive answer to America’s long ignored culture of sexual violence, and she uses all the tools of modern life—technology, apps, entertainment, and social media—to create a world where victims become vigilantes and there’s nowhere to hide. Gentry’s gift for tapping into both the humanity and darkness of every character works its way into the reader’s subconscious, making us attempt to draw an impossible line between justice and vengeance. An absolute must-read for 2019.
This review is based on an advance reading copy and I need the book to come out so I can start talking about it with everyone!
This review is based on an advance reading copy and I need the book to come out so I can start talking about it with everyone!
Read
August 6, 2018Copy courtesy of NetGalley
This story was disturbing in many ways. Yes, there was an element of "Strangers on a Train" and a highlighting of violence against women throughout the book. But, for me, it also just confirmed that women are bitches to each other, cannot be trusted to have your back and will use any opportunity to attain fame and fortune.
I loved the strong emotion the author's writing provoked. The intricate vacillation of the protagonist (is she though) affected me - I was both swayed by her thought process, and nauseated also. All in all, worth a read and I'll definitely be following this author on Goodreads! :-)
This story was disturbing in many ways. Yes, there was an element of "Strangers on a Train" and a highlighting of violence against women throughout the book. But, for me, it also just confirmed that women are bitches to each other, cannot be trusted to have your back and will use any opportunity to attain fame and fortune.
I loved the strong emotion the author's writing provoked. The intricate vacillation of the protagonist (is she though) affected me - I was both swayed by her thought process, and nauseated also. All in all, worth a read and I'll definitely be following this author on Goodreads! :-)
Read
January 16, 2019I have a weakness for Strangers-on-a-Train style intrigue so I was particularly pleased to get an advanced copy of Last Woman Standing for review. Setting the thriller within the world of stand-up comedy made it feel very fresh and new. I enjoyed the twists and turns and leave the book still unsure of what really happened within a key relationship. The book unapologetically addresses gender discrimination and sexual assault so be warned if that is a trigger issue for you.
Thanks to NetGalley, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and the author Amy Gentry for an advanced electronic review copy
Thanks to NetGalley, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and the author Amy Gentry for an advanced electronic review copy
August 21, 2018
ARC (advance review copy) with thanks from the publisher and Netgalley - more in my August Good Reads blog at https://www.sandiwallace.com/blog/ at the end of the month.
September 30, 2018
Brilliant. Deceptive. Ragetacular. It was like Thelma and Louise on steroids. You do not want to miss this one. Must. Read.
November 5, 2019
DNF. Started off really interesting but then the characters started making really dumb decisions and I got secondhand embarrassment and had to stop.
September 4, 2018
Dana Diaz is competing for the Best Comic in Austin but she feels like she is bombing. No one is laughing at her jokes, until one woman begins laughing. She is appreciative that the woman is "saving" her and they meet at the bar after her set. Amanda begins telling Dana about an abusive relationship she was in and because Dana had a similar experience with a man, they quickly bond and become friends. They decide that they want to exact revenge on these men, which is where is goes sideways.
In the midst of the #metoo movement and all things Harvey Weinstein (one of the characters reminded me of him) this is a timely novel that addresses some tough topics. Lots of triggers here for assault and/or rape.
I did enjoy the story up until the last 10% or so. I wasn't real sure how the story resolved itself, but maybe this will be made clearer with editing as I read an advanced copy. (The last scene with Jason was confusing to me) Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
In the midst of the #metoo movement and all things Harvey Weinstein (one of the characters reminded me of him) this is a timely novel that addresses some tough topics. Lots of triggers here for assault and/or rape.
I did enjoy the story up until the last 10% or so. I wasn't real sure how the story resolved itself, but maybe this will be made clearer with editing as I read an advanced copy. (The last scene with Jason was confusing to me) Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
December 18, 2018
Thanks to the publisher, via Netgalley, for an advance e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
This Strangers on a Train style story took the Me Too movement and gave it a vigilante spin as two women seek vengeanceon the men that have hurt them. It was a quickly paced story that didn't always go as I expected it to, but note that it might be a bit triggering as there's a fair bit of detail and page space given to the experiences that Dana and the other women in her life have had with assault and harrassment.
This Strangers on a Train style story took the Me Too movement and gave it a vigilante spin as two women seek vengeanceon the men that have hurt them. It was a quickly paced story that didn't always go as I expected it to, but note that it might be a bit triggering as there's a fair bit of detail and page space given to the experiences that Dana and the other women in her life have had with assault and harrassment.
February 15, 2020
Di questo thriller mi è piaciuto tutto tranne il finale. Peccato che il finale abbia un'importanza pazzesca. Purtroppo non mi ha convinto, l'ho trovato piuttosto incoerente e forzato.
Avere amato il resto del libro mi ha lasciato un gusto retro-amaro nel momento del finale.
Tuttavia sento di consigliarlo comunque perché ha delle buone potenzialità.
Ho trovato molto originale che la protagonista lavori come cabarettista e l'introduzione del personaggio di Amanda rende la storia molto intrigante.
Avere amato il resto del libro mi ha lasciato un gusto retro-amaro nel momento del finale.
Tuttavia sento di consigliarlo comunque perché ha delle buone potenzialità.
Ho trovato molto originale che la protagonista lavori come cabarettista e l'introduzione del personaggio di Amanda rende la storia molto intrigante.
April 21, 2019
Well, thinks I. it will be interesting to get some insight into the stand-up comedy business as well as enjoying a couple of women wreaking revenge upon deserving men guilty of sexual predation, especially if delivered in the hinted at cleverly thought out plan. Book seemed to hold together well for about 2/3 of the way through, then dissolved into a "who's doing what to who" mass of confusion and turmoil. Some interesting twists and turns but really did not live up to its potential. Three and a half stars were I able to give them.
September 12, 2018
This novel is not just a riveting, darkly humorous thriller, but a viscerally honest look into the misogyny baked into every layer of our society. Even if you're not interested in the cultural commentary, you will also find yourself laughing out loud, staying up past your bedtime to see what happens next, and forcing yourself to slow down to savor the book as it races to a surprising and subversive conclusion.
I have never read a novel that illuminates the dark corners of female rage as precisely and candidly as this amazing thriller. The author explores every point on the harassment spectrum--from the "can't you take a joke" variety, to the casual grope, to rape, and honors the unique trauma and emotional experience stemming from each type of encounter. As someone who has been assaulted and still castigates herself for freezing instead of fleeing, seeing an explanation for why we default to this behavior was exceptionally validating and healing. You will find yourself underlining passages because finally, someone put words to the amorphous feeling of rage and defeat a lot of us feel in the face of this culture's treatment of women.
I was fascinated by the author's exploration of the unique struggles of the standup grind for women. As a fan of standup, all of the experiences she describes rings true with articles I've read from comics and journalists, and she's able to add an even deeper emotional intensity to the exhausting experiences women face. What's incredible to me is that our main character comes to a similar revelation that we just recently saw real-life comic Hannah Gadsby share with us in her Netflix special Nanette, which I think speaks to the universality of this experience. It's incredible to a see a novelist and a real-life stand up have such independently profound revelations that dovetail together in describing the fear and pain women deal with on a daily basis, but also the ferocious strength we have to face a world hell bent on keeping us down.
I hope I don't do this novel an injustice by focusing on the political aspects in this review; those just were personally very salient to me and her mastery in elucidating it is unique to a lot of contemporary fiction. This is a first class psychological thriller that features perfect plot pacing, characters who are unique and intriguing, and a fantastic conclusion.
*This novel was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
I have never read a novel that illuminates the dark corners of female rage as precisely and candidly as this amazing thriller. The author explores every point on the harassment spectrum--from the "can't you take a joke" variety, to the casual grope, to rape, and honors the unique trauma and emotional experience stemming from each type of encounter. As someone who has been assaulted and still castigates herself for freezing instead of fleeing, seeing an explanation for why we default to this behavior was exceptionally validating and healing. You will find yourself underlining passages because finally, someone put words to the amorphous feeling of rage and defeat a lot of us feel in the face of this culture's treatment of women.
I was fascinated by the author's exploration of the unique struggles of the standup grind for women. As a fan of standup, all of the experiences she describes rings true with articles I've read from comics and journalists, and she's able to add an even deeper emotional intensity to the exhausting experiences women face. What's incredible to me is that our main character comes to a similar revelation that we just recently saw real-life comic Hannah Gadsby share with us in her Netflix special Nanette, which I think speaks to the universality of this experience. It's incredible to a see a novelist and a real-life stand up have such independently profound revelations that dovetail together in describing the fear and pain women deal with on a daily basis, but also the ferocious strength we have to face a world hell bent on keeping us down.
I hope I don't do this novel an injustice by focusing on the political aspects in this review; those just were personally very salient to me and her mastery in elucidating it is unique to a lot of contemporary fiction. This is a first class psychological thriller that features perfect plot pacing, characters who are unique and intriguing, and a fantastic conclusion.
*This novel was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
December 17, 2018
Last Woman Standing by Amy Gentry has so many twists and turns it will keep your head spinning until the very last page.
Donna Diaz is a stand-up comedian trying to break into a business which is mostly male dominated. Moving back to Texas after an unsuccessful run living in LA with her childhood friend Jason, another comic who is still in LA, Donna starts to begin stand-up again from scratch. After one of her shows she meets Amanda Dorn, a very sophisticated computer programmer. They begin to bond over their problems with men who dominate in their careers and how women are not taken as seriously. They start to relay stories of sexual harassment and abuse they have encountered while trying to reach success in their businesses.
Amanda comes up with an idea on how to get back at their harassers. At first hesitant, Donna agrees and what starts out as a way to get revenge and feel empowered turns into a sick game of betrayal, paranoia and blackmail.
This is a fast paces story which shows the struggles of women and the men who hold all their power. It is also very relevant in the Me Too movement which is going on. What would some women do to get revenge on men who have harmed them both physically and emotionally? As Dana gets drawn into Amanda's sick game she must use her wits to outsmart her. But is Amanda as crazy as she seems or just crazy like a fox?
Who will be the last woman standing?
Last Woman Standing comes out January 15. Thank you #NetGalley #Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the advanced copy. If you enjoyed this review, please visit my blog at www.lisascubby.com. Happy Reading!
Donna Diaz is a stand-up comedian trying to break into a business which is mostly male dominated. Moving back to Texas after an unsuccessful run living in LA with her childhood friend Jason, another comic who is still in LA, Donna starts to begin stand-up again from scratch. After one of her shows she meets Amanda Dorn, a very sophisticated computer programmer. They begin to bond over their problems with men who dominate in their careers and how women are not taken as seriously. They start to relay stories of sexual harassment and abuse they have encountered while trying to reach success in their businesses.
Amanda comes up with an idea on how to get back at their harassers. At first hesitant, Donna agrees and what starts out as a way to get revenge and feel empowered turns into a sick game of betrayal, paranoia and blackmail.
This is a fast paces story which shows the struggles of women and the men who hold all their power. It is also very relevant in the Me Too movement which is going on. What would some women do to get revenge on men who have harmed them both physically and emotionally? As Dana gets drawn into Amanda's sick game she must use her wits to outsmart her. But is Amanda as crazy as she seems or just crazy like a fox?
Who will be the last woman standing?
Last Woman Standing comes out January 15. Thank you #NetGalley #Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the advanced copy. If you enjoyed this review, please visit my blog at www.lisascubby.com. Happy Reading!
August 21, 2018
I got to read an advance copy of this book and I had a revelation.
"Heavy-Handed" is not a style critique, it is a moral critique. It's a reader saying "I wish I could have had more wiggle room to misunderstand the message of this book." If you like the message, though, you might respond to the imagery of a internet troll being beaten with his own Black Widow sex-pose trophy like I did, with a "F!ck Yeah!" and a fist pump.
This is not a thriller about nice women in bad circumstances. This is a thriller about women survivors doing what they need to do to thrive in an unfair system. Every person in this book is morally compromised and struggling. They made choices that scared me a few times. Still, by the end of the story I felt like I might be more dangerous than I seemed, capable of Dastardly Deeds in the Dark. I walked around for a few days after clicking my heels and thinking "watch-out for me!"
So, anyway, this is a thriller for all the girls (and boys) that occasionally identified with Maleficent, Ursula, or Moll Flanders. Don't root for the damsel. Root for the rouge.
"Heavy-Handed" is not a style critique, it is a moral critique. It's a reader saying "I wish I could have had more wiggle room to misunderstand the message of this book." If you like the message, though, you might respond to the imagery of a internet troll being beaten with his own Black Widow sex-pose trophy like I did, with a "F!ck Yeah!" and a fist pump.
This is not a thriller about nice women in bad circumstances. This is a thriller about women survivors doing what they need to do to thrive in an unfair system. Every person in this book is morally compromised and struggling. They made choices that scared me a few times. Still, by the end of the story I felt like I might be more dangerous than I seemed, capable of Dastardly Deeds in the Dark. I walked around for a few days after clicking my heels and thinking "watch-out for me!"
So, anyway, this is a thriller for all the girls (and boys) that occasionally identified with Maleficent, Ursula, or Moll Flanders. Don't root for the damsel. Root for the rouge.
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