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The Last Wave
A beautifully rendered family drama set in Dover, England, between the 1940s and the present day, The Last Wave follows the life of Martha, a woman who has swum the English Channel ten times, and the complex relationships she has with her husband, her children, and her close friends. The one constant in Martha’s life is the sea, from her first accidental baptism to her final crossing of the channel. The sea is an escape from her responsibilities as a wife and a mother; it consoles her when she is diagnosed with cancer; and it comforts her when her husband’s mind begins to unravel.
An inter-generational saga spanning six decades, The Last Wave is a wholly authentic portrait of a family buffeted by illness, intolerance, anger, failure, and regret.
An inter-generational saga spanning six decades, The Last Wave is a wholly authentic portrait of a family buffeted by illness, intolerance, anger, failure, and regret.
- GenresFictionContemporary
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First published August 26, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
July 3, 2017
Martha's one escape is the ocean, even as life changes around her and she gets older swimming in the sea always brings her solace. The book follows Martha's life from her first encounter with the sea until her death. The book is told through multiple perspectives and jumps through time back and forth or forward in years. Though the writing was decent the constant switching of POV and time kept jarring me out of the story because I had to reorient myself to what was happening every time I started a new chapter. I think the author might as well have gone chronologically. The characters were complex but I had a hard time caring about any of them also. I'm not sure why maybe because I never got into the story. I felt bad about John's Alzheimer's but honestly it's hard to empathize with people who won't help themselves. I personally didn't love or hate the book, I think it had it's strong moments like but most of it fell flat. I thought Martha's swimming was supposed to be the under current that tied the story together but it really didn't do anything, it never came along to intertwine with what was happening in her life. The writer has potential though, it was just the plot line didn't seem thought out.
August 8, 2018
A novel that shows how ordinary people can be extraordinary.
This novel is about the Roberts family who live in Dover, England. In particular, it is about Martha Roberts - wife, mother, and long distance swimmer.
We first meet Martha when she is ten years old. An accidental fall into the sea started her life-long love affair with the ocean.
"I kept thinking about the moments just before Jim rescued me when I recognized the water as something magical."
Martha married John Roberts in 1958. Keep in mind that this was a time when gender roles were clear - and very defined. There was men's work, and women's work. It was also a time when intolerance was the norm...
To say that Martha loved the sea would be an understatement. The sea was where she felt most at home - bringing her solace, and she swam everyday. When John proposed, he thought his love would be enough to take her out of the water. He was right, but only for a while. After almost ten years of being a dutiful wife and mother of two, Martha's dreams of swimming the English Channel overrode everything else. She wanted to be more than a wife, more than a mother.
"She was a different person in the water. On land she could be clumsy
but in the water she had grace and strength."
Thus, Martha began training for a Channel crossing. She went to the beach everyday. Folding her clothes beneath a myrtle bush, she religiously swam in all weathers. The myrtle bush was her talisman. She took a cutting of the bush and began to grow one in the garden of her house.
We come to meet Martha and John's neighbour, Henry. A lonely man who lives alone, he makes himself invaluable to the Roberts family.
We meet Martha's grown son Iain, and her grown daughter, Harriet.
Over the years, Martha makes the twenty-one hour swim across 20.7 mile English Channel on nine separate occasions. Her tenacity, strength, dedication and commitment saw her through the pain, the bone-chilling cold, the punishing currents, the jellyfish stings, the tongue swollen from the salt... as she swam in the busiest stretch of water in the world.
"Maybe the point of life was to get to the moment where all you needed was to gaze at another person's face, one you knew better than your own, reading the lines and wrinkles that marked out the years you had spent together."
We follow Martha and John into their seventies. The life of these ordinary people takes a tragic turn...
"Good news arrives at reasonable hours but bad news barges in, possessing neither the restraint nor the decency to wait."
MY THOUGHTS
"The last wave" is a well-crafted debut novel about a remarkable woman and her family. I found the pace a bit slow at times, but the narrative kept my interest throughout. Like life itself, it contains moments of joy AND moments of tragedy. The story about a loving though dysfunctional family was told in a bold, realistic way. A book of love, loss, responsibility, hurt, forgiveness, aging, and illness. It shows how passions can often skip a generation.
3.5 stars rounded up for Amazon and Goodreads
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from House of Anansi via NetGalley.
This novel is about the Roberts family who live in Dover, England. In particular, it is about Martha Roberts - wife, mother, and long distance swimmer.
We first meet Martha when she is ten years old. An accidental fall into the sea started her life-long love affair with the ocean.
"I kept thinking about the moments just before Jim rescued me when I recognized the water as something magical."
Martha married John Roberts in 1958. Keep in mind that this was a time when gender roles were clear - and very defined. There was men's work, and women's work. It was also a time when intolerance was the norm...
To say that Martha loved the sea would be an understatement. The sea was where she felt most at home - bringing her solace, and she swam everyday. When John proposed, he thought his love would be enough to take her out of the water. He was right, but only for a while. After almost ten years of being a dutiful wife and mother of two, Martha's dreams of swimming the English Channel overrode everything else. She wanted to be more than a wife, more than a mother.
"She was a different person in the water. On land she could be clumsy
but in the water she had grace and strength."
Thus, Martha began training for a Channel crossing. She went to the beach everyday. Folding her clothes beneath a myrtle bush, she religiously swam in all weathers. The myrtle bush was her talisman. She took a cutting of the bush and began to grow one in the garden of her house.
We come to meet Martha and John's neighbour, Henry. A lonely man who lives alone, he makes himself invaluable to the Roberts family.
We meet Martha's grown son Iain, and her grown daughter, Harriet.
Over the years, Martha makes the twenty-one hour swim across 20.7 mile English Channel on nine separate occasions. Her tenacity, strength, dedication and commitment saw her through the pain, the bone-chilling cold, the punishing currents, the jellyfish stings, the tongue swollen from the salt... as she swam in the busiest stretch of water in the world.
"Maybe the point of life was to get to the moment where all you needed was to gaze at another person's face, one you knew better than your own, reading the lines and wrinkles that marked out the years you had spent together."
We follow Martha and John into their seventies. The life of these ordinary people takes a tragic turn...
"Good news arrives at reasonable hours but bad news barges in, possessing neither the restraint nor the decency to wait."
MY THOUGHTS
"The last wave" is a well-crafted debut novel about a remarkable woman and her family. I found the pace a bit slow at times, but the narrative kept my interest throughout. Like life itself, it contains moments of joy AND moments of tragedy. The story about a loving though dysfunctional family was told in a bold, realistic way. A book of love, loss, responsibility, hurt, forgiveness, aging, and illness. It shows how passions can often skip a generation.
3.5 stars rounded up for Amazon and Goodreads
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from House of Anansi via NetGalley.
May 8, 2017
I was immediately drawn to "The Last Wave" for several reasons:
....The title made me feel good
....The book cover made me feel good
and....
....I love the water, the beaches....the smells and sound at the beach... the sand. All those 'beach' feelings I get when just walking along the waters edge for miles alone, or the exuberant way my body feels when I swim in the ocean.
.....most: This book takes place in England...giving me a hunch the 'emphasis' would not be on 'grazin-in-the-sun', ice cream cones, or beach parties.
On one hand, this is a story that centers around Martha, her relationship with the sea, and her family. A tragic-comic story - spanning many years - (1940's to present days; interchanging narrators), with her husband John, who is crumbling with Alzheimer's, the children Harriet and Ian, each with their issues, Martha's parents, (they have issues) and close friends.
On the other hand it's a story that centers around the 'sea' and Martha's beach surroundings. the solitude...( an empty beach)....pebbles, stones, rocks, the surf.... shallow waves, large waves, white cliffs, black night sky, dark sea, and jet engine sounds coming from the sea. The water could be unpredictable and could change quickly.
The 'sea' became a main character for me. I could taste the salt, feel the chill in the air, and feel the power of the water. The sea had movement --currents changing.....we can't control what it's going to do. There are also many things in life we can't control ....so I was always looking at the family - the tragedies through the eyes of the sea. "It was a mackerel sky that evening. The clouds were lit from underneath in a blood red hue and the sun bloomed pink like my myrtle blossoms. I felt that somehow
the sea - my sea -knew about my diagnosis and was trying to console me".
It was the sea that gave Martha strength. When her body moved through the water, she let the water cradle her, and most she felt free....'freedom'.....swimming in the wide open ocean.
Martha went on the swim the English Channel ten times. She did die of cancer. Her husband John was disoriented, lonely, loss, and childlike. But author Gillian Best never
strayed into the sentiment. I laughed and smiled many times.
Lots of symbolism throughout the storytelling between the complexities of this family unit and the ocean. "I knew the tide was coming to greet me, as though I were a long last friend".
There's an elegance about this novel.... quiet, allowing for the waves to have a voice.
Thank You Freight Books, Netgalley, and Gillian Best
....The title made me feel good
....The book cover made me feel good
and....
....I love the water, the beaches....the smells and sound at the beach... the sand. All those 'beach' feelings I get when just walking along the waters edge for miles alone, or the exuberant way my body feels when I swim in the ocean.
.....most: This book takes place in England...giving me a hunch the 'emphasis' would not be on 'grazin-in-the-sun', ice cream cones, or beach parties.
On one hand, this is a story that centers around Martha, her relationship with the sea, and her family. A tragic-comic story - spanning many years - (1940's to present days; interchanging narrators), with her husband John, who is crumbling with Alzheimer's, the children Harriet and Ian, each with their issues, Martha's parents, (they have issues) and close friends.
On the other hand it's a story that centers around the 'sea' and Martha's beach surroundings. the solitude...( an empty beach)....pebbles, stones, rocks, the surf.... shallow waves, large waves, white cliffs, black night sky, dark sea, and jet engine sounds coming from the sea. The water could be unpredictable and could change quickly.
The 'sea' became a main character for me. I could taste the salt, feel the chill in the air, and feel the power of the water. The sea had movement --currents changing.....we can't control what it's going to do. There are also many things in life we can't control ....so I was always looking at the family - the tragedies through the eyes of the sea. "It was a mackerel sky that evening. The clouds were lit from underneath in a blood red hue and the sun bloomed pink like my myrtle blossoms. I felt that somehow
the sea - my sea -knew about my diagnosis and was trying to console me".
It was the sea that gave Martha strength. When her body moved through the water, she let the water cradle her, and most she felt free....'freedom'.....swimming in the wide open ocean.
Martha went on the swim the English Channel ten times. She did die of cancer. Her husband John was disoriented, lonely, loss, and childlike. But author Gillian Best never
strayed into the sentiment. I laughed and smiled many times.
Lots of symbolism throughout the storytelling between the complexities of this family unit and the ocean. "I knew the tide was coming to greet me, as though I were a long last friend".
There's an elegance about this novel.... quiet, allowing for the waves to have a voice.
Thank You Freight Books, Netgalley, and Gillian Best
September 2, 2017
This is a book of emotional gutpunches and the smell of the salt air. Personally speaking it was both a delight to read and a wrench - I have family going through some similar illnesses to those suffered by characters in the book (though thankfully their situations are less complicated). Made me cry more than once. Made me want to go wild swimming, though I've never done it before.
February 15, 2019
'There's a lot of symbolism but it is never laboured, and never blurs Gillian Best's sharp realist vision of family life.’
Age
‘Beautifully written.’
Woman’s Day
Age
‘Beautifully written.’
Woman’s Day
August 7, 2017
The Last Wave could easily be titled 'The Old Woman and The Sea' as this is the story of Martha and her relationship with the sea/English Channel.
Following six decades, this book/story follows Martha and her family and friends and how everything is connected. The writing is beautiful and compelling but honestly, the first chapter was the best. It could have been a short story and I would have been satisfied with just that.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Following six decades, this book/story follows Martha and her family and friends and how everything is connected. The writing is beautiful and compelling but honestly, the first chapter was the best. It could have been a short story and I would have been satisfied with just that.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
June 27, 2017
This was a five star read for me. I was drawn to the fabulous cover and from the first chapter, I had a lump in my throat. Rarely do books make me cry as they can tend to be over wrought if intensely emotional. The Last Wave strikes the right balance and you get to know each character's story through alternating chapters. And the sea! It's own character, all - consuming for the swimmer, Martha and for the reader. There are many themes here that circle a somewhat dysfunctional family-- aging parents, motherhood. Alzheimer's, terminal illness, obsession--and all are relatable. These characters will pull you in to the story and stay with you after you turn the last page.
Copy provided by NetGalley.
Copy provided by NetGalley.
April 19, 2021
if i had to describe this book in one word it would be human, it felt like I was reading someone's memoir, and all the characters were so imperfect and real -- and almost painfully relatable? (the ugly parts of being human you don't want to acknowledge)
October 2, 2017
4.5 stars. A heartbreaking, beautifully written book. I loved how the story was told from the perspective of three different generations of the same family. I could not stop reading this one.
October 27, 2017
Very well written story about love, family, and loss. Spanning from the 1940's to present day, this is the story of a family, centered around the matriarch, Martha.
When Martha is a young girl she learns to swim and falls in love with the water to the extent that her life revolves around swimming and ultimately crossing the English Channel. When she meets and later marries John, things begin to change as running a household trumps her need to be in the water. Together they raise two children and navigate the choppy waters of family life.
John and Martha represent a typical family who face very common struggles, there is a lot of emotion written into this story that is punctuated by the flow of the storytelling through different family members from different times throughout their lives, all while being centered largely around Martha and her swims.
For anyone passionate about swimming, this is a fantastic read. For anyone who is not interested in swimming (like myself) this is STILL a fantastic read. The Characters are well written and relatable in a way that makes them feel like an extension of your own family.
When Martha is a young girl she learns to swim and falls in love with the water to the extent that her life revolves around swimming and ultimately crossing the English Channel. When she meets and later marries John, things begin to change as running a household trumps her need to be in the water. Together they raise two children and navigate the choppy waters of family life.
John and Martha represent a typical family who face very common struggles, there is a lot of emotion written into this story that is punctuated by the flow of the storytelling through different family members from different times throughout their lives, all while being centered largely around Martha and her swims.
For anyone passionate about swimming, this is a fantastic read. For anyone who is not interested in swimming (like myself) this is STILL a fantastic read. The Characters are well written and relatable in a way that makes them feel like an extension of your own family.
October 27, 2017
Beautifully written. The words flow wonderfully through each narrative. Heartbreaking and inspiring all at once. It did remind me of Harold Fry which I so enjoyed.
September 9, 2017
I will say the first thing that drew me to this novel was it’s beautiful cover. I have always been intrigued (and slightly frightened) by oceans and their unseen depths. This novel gave me an entirely different perspective of the water and the way a person connects with it. The Last Wave is a beautifully written, emotional story about one woman’s remarkable life and her unending connection to the water.
This novel traces events across six decades for Martha, her husband and their two children. Steadfast through every moment of this story is Martha’s deep connection to the English Channel. She swims across the Channel ten different times in life. Martha endures several conflicts with family and friends, but her connection to the water never wavers.
The novel is told from the perspective of several characters. I really appreciated that despite the fact that Martha was the central element of the novel, you had insight into the thoughts and actions of her family members. It gave a much more rounded perspective of how Martha’s obsession with the sea impacted those around her and at times hurt her relationships. By the time I was finished reading, I was completely invested in every single character’s life.
This was a really emotional read. I found myself tearing up more than once. Martha’s character is far from perfect and I may not have agreed with every decision she made, but I think that is why she resonated with me. She is a woman guided by her passion for swimming and the sea and it takes precedence over everything in her life, including her family.
I really enjoyed Gillian Best’s writing style. I highly recommend checking out The Last Wave if you are a fan of character driven novels or looking for a thoughtful read.
Big thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for the ARC of The Last Wave. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review.
This novel traces events across six decades for Martha, her husband and their two children. Steadfast through every moment of this story is Martha’s deep connection to the English Channel. She swims across the Channel ten different times in life. Martha endures several conflicts with family and friends, but her connection to the water never wavers.
The novel is told from the perspective of several characters. I really appreciated that despite the fact that Martha was the central element of the novel, you had insight into the thoughts and actions of her family members. It gave a much more rounded perspective of how Martha’s obsession with the sea impacted those around her and at times hurt her relationships. By the time I was finished reading, I was completely invested in every single character’s life.
This was a really emotional read. I found myself tearing up more than once. Martha’s character is far from perfect and I may not have agreed with every decision she made, but I think that is why she resonated with me. She is a woman guided by her passion for swimming and the sea and it takes precedence over everything in her life, including her family.
I really enjoyed Gillian Best’s writing style. I highly recommend checking out The Last Wave if you are a fan of character driven novels or looking for a thoughtful read.
Big thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for the ARC of The Last Wave. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review.
July 15, 2017
What a beautiful book. I love how their relationship is not all fairy tales. Not how things end up in the end, but more meaning what you find out about their little nuances. I really appreciated such a refreshing view on love. That this person in your life does not have to be your only or even biggest passion in life! I also love how Henry's life of love is shown in the novel, as well as Iian's. John may be the most flawed character, but out of the three men in the story, he is the one who finds love, but realizes that she (Martha) deserves to have another passion other than him. Even though Martha does not wish to only be a housewife, from an outsider looking it, it may seem that is all she becomes. Yet John is the person who allows her to. He may be stubborn, stuck in the old ways of life, and not open to his lesbian daughters choices, but at least he steps back, and allows Martha to have the sea. He barely misses a beat at their proposal when the sea steals the ring and he uses Myrtle instead. It was cute how the author ended the story with Myrtle's attempt, and John still feeling like she was there. Made me cry a little when he jumped in for her!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2018
Beautiful and heartbreaking. If multi-generational, relatable gentle family drama is your thing, and you don't mind crying on the subway, you should definitely read this. The sea is pretty much a main character, and the descriptions of it are vivid and full of wonder. The (human) characters are well-fleshed and touching and so very flawed. As with any family narrative, the story doesn't actually end since you know the people will go on with their lives, but it does make a neat and satisfying loop. Recommended, for sure.
September 10, 2017
i was the lucky winner of a copy of this novel through a goodreads win. i loved this story. it is about a woman named martha who has always loved the sea. she is a champion long distance swimmer who has swum the english channel more times than anyone else. the only constant in her life is the everchanging sea. she becomes sick with cancer and as she is facing her own mortality she looks back on her life. the sea stimulates her, comforts her and challenges her.this was a fascinating book. syndi
June 8, 2017
This brilliantly written story had me laughing, it had me crying and, most of all, it had me thinking about this family for days after I finished reading the book. I couldn't put it down and was sad when it was done as I wanted to know more. I'd love to see this book made into a movie!
June 30, 2017
4.5 stars!
The writing is so beautiful. I ached for the characters by the end of this, can I can't wait to read anything else Gillian Best puts out.
Thanks to Freight Books and Gillian best for sending me an ARC.
The writing is so beautiful. I ached for the characters by the end of this, can I can't wait to read anything else Gillian Best puts out.
Thanks to Freight Books and Gillian best for sending me an ARC.
August 14, 2018
This is a story of Martha, that swam the english channel 10 times. It is a very complex story of the relationship she has with her children and husband that emphasizes on the sadness and loneliness of the main characters, especially when they both get ill. But it is a real life story. She lives and breathes for the sea, being in the water, and that perfect swim, wanting to avoid any responsibilities for motherhood and being a wife. There is something missing between her and her husband, yet she meets another man though when she swims to France, for she is stuck there because the conditions for the swim are too stormy, and even though you know her life is about the swim, she doesn't seem to really mind getting out of the responsibilities of motherhood and wife and maybe even being away from her husband. The thing that left me questionable that perhaps I missed something for when she returned to France, where was this romantic Frenchmen? The author did not show what happened to him and why he was not there, leaving a meeting again without any real answers. She found a note he never found, but that still left me wondering what happened to him. Even with this being the case, I really did enjoy this story.
November 18, 2017
Beginning with an incident that epitomizes "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger", Martha falls off the pier and into the sea. She can't swim. She hits the water and remembers thinking it strange that it hurt so much -- as though she had hit something solid and hard. And cold.
From that moment, she was hooked. She went on to swim the English Channel from Dover to Cap Gris Nez, in France, nine times, and the return trip from France to England once. The training, the daily workouts, and the preparations which all culminate in that endurance swim of 21 miles or so which takes just short of 24 hours. Why would anyone attempt this? "Because it's there" is the standard answer. It was certainly the answer for Martha and her family.
This novel brings the term "channel swim" into sharp focus. You won't soon forget it.
I read this EARC courtesy of Edelweiss and Ingram Pub. pub date 03/06/18
From that moment, she was hooked. She went on to swim the English Channel from Dover to Cap Gris Nez, in France, nine times, and the return trip from France to England once. The training, the daily workouts, and the preparations which all culminate in that endurance swim of 21 miles or so which takes just short of 24 hours. Why would anyone attempt this? "Because it's there" is the standard answer. It was certainly the answer for Martha and her family.
This novel brings the term "channel swim" into sharp focus. You won't soon forget it.
I read this EARC courtesy of Edelweiss and Ingram Pub. pub date 03/06/18
February 27, 2019
I predicted fairly early in the first chapter that this story would tug at my heartstrings and I wasn’t wrong—I cannot get over how beautiful and moving it was. The writing is mesmerising and evocative, and the story is absolutely captivating. It’s a quietly beautiful, multi-generational family drama with a sweeping timeline, spanning from the 1940s to the present day. The characters are all superb—flawed and highly relatable, just the way I like them. The female characters are the main focus of the story, which I loved, especially as they are all strong and driven women.
The Last Wave is a highly insightful portrayal of the highs and lows of everyday life, and a reminder that there is beauty to be found in the ordinary. It’s a story about identity, passion, love, sacrifice and longing. It’s such a phenomenal debut—I highly recommend it!
DISCLAIMER: I received a free copy of this book from Text Publishing in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 18, 2018
A gorgeous, heartbreaking look at family, aging, aspirations, and love. Told from the perspective of various characters and across a wide timeline, the reader is invited into the story much like lapping waves can entice you into the ocean. There is great tenderness in the authors approach, and more than once I found myself hoping no one would walk into the room and catch me in an ugly cry - because, trust me, this book will gut you!
While water and swimming lay the foundation for the story, the real magic is in the relationships - both the strong and the broken. It is a powerful look at what it means to fall in love, the true meaning of 'for better or for worse', and the pain of strained family connections. A real gem of a book.
While water and swimming lay the foundation for the story, the real magic is in the relationships - both the strong and the broken. It is a powerful look at what it means to fall in love, the true meaning of 'for better or for worse', and the pain of strained family connections. A real gem of a book.
November 9, 2018
I thought this was an very well crafted and wonderfully written book. It was a very satisfying and interesting read. (I haven’t thought about English Channel swimming in a long time.)It was poignant and moving, and a very honest portrayal of a family dynamic whose members don’t talk with each other about individual wants and needs soon enough, or at all.
It’s written using different key, first person narratives and different timeframes. I don’t think I would have been as impacted without the use of this writing technique ’. This is especially true while reading about the disease and disability of the aging parents, and the angry children having to deal with this heartbreaking reality. Very good ending though, so not a total sob story, thank goodness!
It’s written using different key, first person narratives and different timeframes. I don’t think I would have been as impacted without the use of this writing technique ’. This is especially true while reading about the disease and disability of the aging parents, and the angry children having to deal with this heartbreaking reality. Very good ending though, so not a total sob story, thank goodness!
December 13, 2019
Starting to read this book was slow, and I kept losing the storyline. I had to backtrack in order to catch on. However, once I was past halfway, I could not put it down. It was worth holding on to, and will tell others about this book. The connection between family members is brilliantly portrayed. She understands the spiritual connections permeating in families. Families and the pain that it takes to pursue holding on is like swimming the channel, but persistence pays off. Families are not like a storybook, with happily ever after endings. Connection is in the bones, the soul and the DNA. Well done, Gillian. You were able to put it into words.
Marlene, Psychotherapist, Marriage and Family Therapist
(You are an old Waterloo neighbour who I did not know.)
Marlene, Psychotherapist, Marriage and Family Therapist
(You are an old Waterloo neighbour who I did not know.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2017
Two and a half stars
Intriguing cover, intriguing idea. Martha has had a lifelong love affair with the sea and has swum the channel several times. I just wasn't grabbed by this and it was confusing on an e-reader as each chapter jumped from different times and different people - certainly keeps you on your toes though. Sad to say I found all the main characters quite charmless and it was hard to see anything likeable in them. Sorry but this book never really got going for me. I was given this ARC by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Intriguing cover, intriguing idea. Martha has had a lifelong love affair with the sea and has swum the channel several times. I just wasn't grabbed by this and it was confusing on an e-reader as each chapter jumped from different times and different people - certainly keeps you on your toes though. Sad to say I found all the main characters quite charmless and it was hard to see anything likeable in them. Sorry but this book never really got going for me. I was given this ARC by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 12, 2021
The Last Wave is not a novel I would usually be drawn to. As a non swimmer who actively hates water it certainly wasn't the cover that drew me to the book! Unsure as to why I picked it up I took it home and gave it a go. I certainly wasn't disappointed!
The only downside - and it is minimal is the flicking between people and time periods, which can be confusing, but does also add to the story by giving contrasting points of view.
Other than that, I loved the book! Rich imagery, authentic family experiences, and an exploration of loyalty, and at times guilt. Fantastic read!
The only downside - and it is minimal is the flicking between people and time periods, which can be confusing, but does also add to the story by giving contrasting points of view.
Other than that, I loved the book! Rich imagery, authentic family experiences, and an exploration of loyalty, and at times guilt. Fantastic read!
August 27, 2022
After Martha accidentally falls off the end of Dover Pier and nearly drowns, she wants nothing more than to please her father by learning to swim. Soon her love for the sea grows along with her need to swim daily. But once she marries John and has children, the challengers of meeting her family's needs leave no time for her desires until, ten years later she is determined to begin training to fulfill her dream of swimming the English Channel.
This is not merely a tale of Martha achieving her ambition, but one of children abandoning their parents, dementia, and cancer—a lot of heavy reading.
This is not merely a tale of Martha achieving her ambition, but one of children abandoning their parents, dementia, and cancer—a lot of heavy reading.
July 19, 2023
Ganz toll. Ich fühle mit Martha das Älterwerden in einer Ehe, die altert…mit Ihrer Tochter, die eine Frau liebt und akzeptiert werden will und mit ihrer Enkelin, die sich mit Oma im Meer 🌊 verbunden fühlt.
Ich bin erfüllt und kenne auch die Distanzen in der Familie, die ich so gerne überwinden würde.
Das Freiwasserschwimmen als Leidenschaft teile ich mit Martha und ihrer Enkelin, schön, das die Autorin auch im Wasser zuhause ist.
Durch die wechselnden Ich-Erzähler wird jede Figur nahbar. Sehr empfehlenswert
Ich bin erfüllt und kenne auch die Distanzen in der Familie, die ich so gerne überwinden würde.
Das Freiwasserschwimmen als Leidenschaft teile ich mit Martha und ihrer Enkelin, schön, das die Autorin auch im Wasser zuhause ist.
Durch die wechselnden Ich-Erzähler wird jede Figur nahbar. Sehr empfehlenswert
October 22, 2023
This was a wonderful book to read on so many levels. The central character is Martha, a woman who sorts out her life while swimming in the sea. It’s home to her like nowhere else. Martha’s husband supports this about her, although he doesn’t completely understand it. And then there are her two children, and eventually a grand-daughter, and a next door neighbour, all of whom (along with Martha), have complicated lives that are looked at from different points of view and over time. Seamless, flawless.
November 5, 2018
I really liked this book, but I can see how others wouldn't be as fond of it. The different POVs and toggling between time periods was cumbersome at times (especially since I have the attention span of a gnat and had to reorient myself frequently). While some of the themes could be perceived as cliched, I thought it was beautifully written and enjoyed it.
July 18, 2021
Martha is a women compelled to swim the cold waters of the English Channel. This family story of Martha, her husband John, their neighbor Henry, and their children and granddaughter spans decades and is well written but hampered by an unnecessarily choppy structure of switching time periods and points of view.
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