The Last Woman

by John Bemrose

In the heart of cottage country in Ontario, bordering on a native reservation, Ann and Richard are confronted with the abrupt reappearance after ten years of a local man, Billy. His presence once again in their lives brings back powerful memories and rekindles old conflicts, love, and a betrayal, as each of their past and present stories gradually unfolds during one 1980s summer. Containing all of the elements for which The Island Walkers was celebrated, The Last Woman envelops us in Bemrose’s flawlessly crafted and complete world, where each character is unforgettably alive and real, and the land itself breathes its own story into our hearts.

Genres: Fiction, Indigenous, Canada

336 pages, Hardcover

First published September 29, 2008

Reviews

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Bemrose's The Last Woman focuses on the intertwined lives of an artist, her lawyer husband and her former lover, an Aboriginal community leader in northern Ontario where the artist's family has had a cottage for many years. The book is thoughtful and carefully crafted. However, Bemrose's attempt to present all three points in this triangle in as balanced and evenhanded a manner as possible results in the book being overly internal, self-absorbed and ponderous. To one extent or another, each character is emotionally paralyzed at the juncture when Bemrose examines them, and it neither makes for compelling sustained reading nor ultimately rouses much sympathy or empathy for any of them. If in fact the novel is trying to surreptitiously skew towards sympathy for one specific character - as the title and a titular painting might suggest - it doesn't work.

The book's descriptions of the natural world and human encroachment on it are very good, even heart tugging in places. I felt much more sympathy for Mother Nature as the "last woman" than for anyone else as the book wound up ... and maybe that's not such a bad thing.

Bemrose's previous novel, The Island Walkers, was engrossing and engaging. Even with the wider cast of characters compared to his current novel, Bemrose still made each of them authentic and made the reader care about them. Despite some of the weaknesses of The Last Woman, I know I'll be interested in visiting his explorations of the human and natural world again in future.

[Steven Langdon · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Last Woman" explores the tangled relationship amongst three complex people whose past in the end proves so powerful that it overwhelms their present -- and turns their lives in directions that they thought they had all escaped. Ann, the woman that both Billy and Richard have loved, is the heart of this novel, grappling with her passion to paint and the pain that she has experienced in her life. Her painting, "The Last Woman," drives this book forward -- her efforts to complete it mirror the changes in her love, as she realizes that she must reassert her ties with Billy, despite the much less secure life he represents for her. Billy, in turn, reconnects to the Ojibway community he used to lead as Ann reaffirms his life -- despite the land claims fight that he and lawyer Richard fought and lost. It is Richard's choices and his political ambitions that fade most sadly in this novel's realistically nuanced conclusion.

I found this a deeply engaging, mature book, evocative of the northern wilderness, and beautifully written. Ann and Billy, particularly, are very strong and believable characters, and their complex relationship is heart-rending and intense

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite liked this book and had a hard time putting it down, although the ending left me wanting more. I enjoyed the writing style and I was really able to relate to the main female character - I was somewhat surprised that she was written by a man. He manages to capture the feminine emotions surrounding young love, sexuality, and an unwanted pregnancy with an unexpected poignancy. Enjoyable.

[Marlene · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit heavy on the lyrical, but I will push on.

[David Mills · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful. Tedious, boring. I did not care one bit for any of the characters.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I liked the setting and the premise of the book, I struggled to remain engaged. Not sure I cared about the characters by the end of the book.

[Shannon Latour · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel was well-written, poetic and poignant. It relates a story between three friends that form a love triangle between Ann, Billy and Richard. It also relates a story about man's destruction of our natural world. We see the analogy of the relationships Ann engages in... and the clear-cutting of the forest. In one of Ann's paintings, her main female character is being cut with axes, chainsaws...and we see that 'the last woman' is Mother Nature herself. Suffice it to say, we are not treating her very well. We are making it very hard for her to produce anything.

Billy is a local native from Ann's youth that attempts to win back land for his people in a court case with Richard as his lawyer. They lose the battle, which causes a rift between the two men, and Billy leaves to travel in the States for a while. Ann, married to Richard, raise a boy named Rowan together. Their relationship seems very stifled and lackluster, especially when Richard changes careers to pursue politics. Billy returns some time later and is angered at the destruction of the land he once fought for. His passionate love for Ann also returns, in spite of her flaws...

I originally picked up this book, due to the fact that it took place in Northern Ontario. When my husband and I have time off away from our businesses, we head up north. You don't need to drive far, to get to someplace magical, a place that is rejuvenating and peaceful. Inverness is to the east of Georgian Bay... so beautiful.

The reason I did not give this book a higher rating, is the lack of excitement, focus or any suspense. It was such a slow read, and I'm not sure if it will be memorable. Even when I had only 3 pages left to read, I was wondering how the author was going to 'save' this story. Where is the BIG reveal? Where did he explain the reason for writing this? Was it just a personal, therapeutic exercise?

Perhaps we are supposed to feel empty, sad and lonely at the end.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took this book from the library because I loved the author's other book "The Island Walkers". Again, this is a Canadian story and a love story and a political story and it all comes together. I like the way the author uses words and his simple sentences. Very good book!

[Lauren Bauman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-crafted writing, a glimpse into the heart of the Canadian North, and fleshed-out characters surpassed the plot, told mainly in flashbacks, but enough intrigue in the love triangle to keep reading.

[Jan Pocock · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was board.
I want to love this book, but I barley like it.
I would like to see the painting thou.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

For our book club ..lots of material to discuss and is relevant in today’s world . Very complex and somewhat flawed characters

[Lyn Zuberbuhler · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Bemrose has attempted to write about the impact of industry on the beautiful lakes of Ontario, as well as the impact on the native people who live in these areas. His story involves 3 people, 2 of whom have known each other for a very long time, with the third added as the woman's husband. Ann has a secret which she has kept from both men in her life for many years. It continues to haunt her relationship with her husband, Richard, and then resurfaces when her former lover, Billy, returns to his reserve, and Ann and Richard's life.
I appreciate what Bemrose is trying to convey, but found the plot a bit too contrived to make his point. However, his characterizations are well portrayed, and one does become involved in each character's own personal dilemmas and heartbreaks as the story unfolds.
Would I recommend it to a friend? Not sure.

[Denis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is set in the 1980s Northern Ontario, cottage country. The narration is an alternating POV between Ann, a painter who has cottaged there throughout her childhood; Billy, a native whom she loved as a young girl, and her present day husband, Richard, who also had a working relationship with Billy.

So yes, the story revolves around a love triangle. It is beautifully written (Bemrose is also a poet) and effectively uses flashbacks throughout to bring the reader to the present day. My nitpick with the novel is that it takes too long to get moving. But it's a good read with interesting and real characters.

[Sooz · Rating 4 out of 5]

i picked this up because i read his first novel, The Island Walkers, and liked it a great deal. it may not be completely fair, but it seems inevitable that some comparison is made. i think The Island Walkers was a stronger story. more compelling. but i like that The Last Woman deals with different aspects of life, and that he even picked a different geographical location. this seems important, as the geography seems to have a significant presence in both these books.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book and am surprised that it did not get more press. Beautifully written characters and great description in a powerful setting. There were a few scenes that really struck with me. The author also did a great job of linking flashbacks with present day narrative in a way that kept me intrigued. Good book.

[Vionna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The poet in the author rises up in his descriptions of the land and the destruction brought upon it. His characters, especially Ann, Richard and Billie, are so well drawn and complex. The hardships and alienation of its youth on reservations are so well described. This book was hard to put down.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slow start but I came to really enjoy this book. Story involves an Aboriginal land claim, a marriage that is floundering, and memories of time at the cabin. While not a gripping page turner, once I got into the plot I wanted to keep on going.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by a Toronto beach resident. Apparently he often visits the Beach Public Library - or so the librarian told me when i returned the book, and mentioned how much i loved the writing. Heartbreak at its best.

[Martha · Rating 1 out of 5]

no plot