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Dava Shastri's Last Day
A dying billionaire matriarch leaks news of her death early so she can examine her legacy—a decision that horrifies her children and inadvertently exposes secrets she has spent a lifetime keeping.
Dava Shastri, one of the world's wealthiest women, has always lived with her sterling reputation in mind. A brain cancer diagnosis at the age of seventy, however, changes everything, and Dava decides to take her death—like all matters of her life—into her own hands.
Summoning her four adult children to her private island, she discloses shocking news: in addition to having a terminal illness, she has arranged for the news of her death to break early, so she can read her obituaries.
As someone who dedicated her life to the arts and the empowerment of women, Dava expects to read articles lauding her philanthropic work. Instead, her "death" reveals two devastating secrets, truths she thought she had buried forever.
And now the whole world knows, including her children.
In the time she has left, Dava must come to terms with the decisions that have led to this moment—and make peace with those closest to her before it's too late. Compassionately written and chock-full of humor and heart, this powerful novel examines public versus private legacy, the complexities of love, and the never-ending joys—and frustrations—of family.
Dava Shastri, one of the world's wealthiest women, has always lived with her sterling reputation in mind. A brain cancer diagnosis at the age of seventy, however, changes everything, and Dava decides to take her death—like all matters of her life—into her own hands.
Summoning her four adult children to her private island, she discloses shocking news: in addition to having a terminal illness, she has arranged for the news of her death to break early, so she can read her obituaries.
As someone who dedicated her life to the arts and the empowerment of women, Dava expects to read articles lauding her philanthropic work. Instead, her "death" reveals two devastating secrets, truths she thought she had buried forever.
And now the whole world knows, including her children.
In the time she has left, Dava must come to terms with the decisions that have led to this moment—and make peace with those closest to her before it's too late. Compassionately written and chock-full of humor and heart, this powerful novel examines public versus private legacy, the complexities of love, and the never-ending joys—and frustrations—of family.
416 pages, Paperback
First published November 30, 2021
883 people are currently reading
27271 people want to read
About the author
Kirthana Ramisetti
3 books342 followersKirthana Ramisetti worked in media for over ten years before trying her hand at fiction. She received her MFA in creative writing from Emerson College, and her work has appeared in Newsday, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic and more. A pop culture addict whose brain is a repository for random information, she’d make an excellent addition to your trivia team. Her debut novel, Dava Shastri’s Last Day, will be published in December 2021.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,446 reviews
May 12, 2022
Dava Shastri is a billionaire matriarch. She invites her children and their partners to her private island home for Christmas. What they don’t know is that she is dying of Cancer. However, they soon find out when news of her death breaks…before she actually dies.
Dava has purposely arranged for this to happen so she can read the obituaries and tributes from all those who loved and looked up to her due to her philanthropic work over the years. Imagine her frustration when her “death” actually reveals secrets she thought would never come to light. Now the whole world is speculating…including Dava’s children.
Dava tries her best to right wrongs and be open and honest with her children, but given that she doesn’t have a lot of time…can she sort everything out?
This is an interesting domestic/historical fiction drama that hits its peak discussing Dava and her multicultural family, who are all completely different from one another. There are many different angles represented here, which readers will most likely appreciate.
However, this is mostly missing the emotional punch I expected. Dava and her family are pretty darn unlikable. They are also unrelatable as most of us aren’t billionaires and don’t have the luxuries that these folks spend a good amount of time bragging about. Eventually, Dava grew on me as I started to understand what was going on in her head throughout her life, but it felt like a case of too little, too late. I really didn’t care for the rest of the family even though I suspect us readers were supposed to. The synopsis also mentions humor, but I really didn’t find anything funny while reading this. Instead, it’s mostly depressing. We already know things aren’t going to end happily, so what joy is there to look forward to?
Overall, I still enjoyed this enough to finish, and I thought the writing was exquisite. I just wish it had a tad bit more oomph!
Side note: The “current” chapters take place in 2044, but I don’t quite know why. I don’t see how anything in the story would’ve been affected by setting it in current times. Just found that a bit interesting.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for a finished copy in exchange for an honest review. Now available.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
Dava has purposely arranged for this to happen so she can read the obituaries and tributes from all those who loved and looked up to her due to her philanthropic work over the years. Imagine her frustration when her “death” actually reveals secrets she thought would never come to light. Now the whole world is speculating…including Dava’s children.
Dava tries her best to right wrongs and be open and honest with her children, but given that she doesn’t have a lot of time…can she sort everything out?
This is an interesting domestic/historical fiction drama that hits its peak discussing Dava and her multicultural family, who are all completely different from one another. There are many different angles represented here, which readers will most likely appreciate.
However, this is mostly missing the emotional punch I expected. Dava and her family are pretty darn unlikable. They are also unrelatable as most of us aren’t billionaires and don’t have the luxuries that these folks spend a good amount of time bragging about. Eventually, Dava grew on me as I started to understand what was going on in her head throughout her life, but it felt like a case of too little, too late. I really didn’t care for the rest of the family even though I suspect us readers were supposed to. The synopsis also mentions humor, but I really didn’t find anything funny while reading this. Instead, it’s mostly depressing. We already know things aren’t going to end happily, so what joy is there to look forward to?
Overall, I still enjoyed this enough to finish, and I thought the writing was exquisite. I just wish it had a tad bit more oomph!
Side note: The “current” chapters take place in 2044, but I don’t quite know why. I don’t see how anything in the story would’ve been affected by setting it in current times. Just found that a bit interesting.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for a finished copy in exchange for an honest review. Now available.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
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January 12, 2022Didn't really work for me, possibly because I just wanted it to be a completely different book, which is frankly a me problem.
The premise is terrific: wealthy woman philanthropist decides on assisted dying, invites family to be with her, announces her death a day early so she can read her own obituaries, but instead of the hagiographies she was hoping for, old secrets spill out. I was primed for total chaos and soaptastic gossip accordingly, but sadly no. The secrets are pretty mundane and not terribly shameful, the four kids are mildly troubled and somewhat flawed but everyone is basically not that bad and they love each other really. Which, if you want a book about families and forgiveness and flaws, is great. But for me it fell between two stools: not the "dreadful rich people" cat fight I was hoping for but also not really warm and fuzzy enough to be super feelgood. Also, I have very little sympathy for rich people problems right now so overall this just wasn't a good book-match for me. Hey ho.
The premise is terrific: wealthy woman philanthropist decides on assisted dying, invites family to be with her, announces her death a day early so she can read her own obituaries, but instead of the hagiographies she was hoping for, old secrets spill out. I was primed for total chaos and soaptastic gossip accordingly, but sadly no. The secrets are pretty mundane and not terribly shameful, the four kids are mildly troubled and somewhat flawed but everyone is basically not that bad and they love each other really. Which, if you want a book about families and forgiveness and flaws, is great. But for me it fell between two stools: not the "dreadful rich people" cat fight I was hoping for but also not really warm and fuzzy enough to be super feelgood. Also, I have very little sympathy for rich people problems right now so overall this just wasn't a good book-match for me. Hey ho.
December 13, 2021
3.5 Stars: The premise of “Dava Shastri’s Last Day” by Kirthana Ramisetti is a philanthropist and wealthy woman with terminal illness chooses to end her life on her own terms rather than allowing her disease to end her. What is interesting is that she does it on a remote island, with her family by her side, yet announcing her death a day prior to her “scheduled” death. Why? Because she wants to see how the world reacts to her passing. She wants to see what people say about her once she’s dead. She wants to see how she’ll be mourned.
This actually makes me wonder if this has been done in reality. Have people announced their deaths prior to planning their own demise, just to see what reactions will be? I’m assuming when you are extremely wealthy and are used to having every little want and desire given to you, that wanting to know other’s opinions of you after death can be achieved.
Back to the book, one theme was particularly interesting to me, and that was the idea that wealthy women continue their husband’s philanthropy. It’s rare that a woman is the philanthropic force in a marriage, even if the woman was equal to her husband in building family fortune. Dava noticed this and wanted to build an empire in her name alone. After the Gates marriage split, I can see Melinda Gates creating a force in her own name, although I’m doubtful she’ll return to her maiden name.
As imagined, skeletons come out of her closet and Dava has some explaining to do. It’s these skeletons which are fodder for discussion. Living is complex. Could our own children forgive us for some of the choices we have made? Do you have a “secret” that you prefer would not come out?
One of my favorite moments in the story is when Dava reflected on her years after her beloved husband died. She took a long sabbatical and stayed home with her youngest son. When they were sad, they created “free happiness” which was turning on favorite songs, singing full blast accompanied by a bit of dancing. After a few songs, they were happy and laughing. It became their “free happiness” moments. I love that!!
All in all, this was an interesting read. It’s a family drama with some interesting ideas. I recommend it for those who enjoy domestic fiction.
I think I’ll go indulge in a bit of free happiness right now!!
This actually makes me wonder if this has been done in reality. Have people announced their deaths prior to planning their own demise, just to see what reactions will be? I’m assuming when you are extremely wealthy and are used to having every little want and desire given to you, that wanting to know other’s opinions of you after death can be achieved.
Back to the book, one theme was particularly interesting to me, and that was the idea that wealthy women continue their husband’s philanthropy. It’s rare that a woman is the philanthropic force in a marriage, even if the woman was equal to her husband in building family fortune. Dava noticed this and wanted to build an empire in her name alone. After the Gates marriage split, I can see Melinda Gates creating a force in her own name, although I’m doubtful she’ll return to her maiden name.
As imagined, skeletons come out of her closet and Dava has some explaining to do. It’s these skeletons which are fodder for discussion. Living is complex. Could our own children forgive us for some of the choices we have made? Do you have a “secret” that you prefer would not come out?
One of my favorite moments in the story is when Dava reflected on her years after her beloved husband died. She took a long sabbatical and stayed home with her youngest son. When they were sad, they created “free happiness” which was turning on favorite songs, singing full blast accompanied by a bit of dancing. After a few songs, they were happy and laughing. It became their “free happiness” moments. I love that!!
All in all, this was an interesting read. It’s a family drama with some interesting ideas. I recommend it for those who enjoy domestic fiction.
I think I’ll go indulge in a bit of free happiness right now!!
May 31, 2022
Wealthy matriarch, Dava Shastri, leaks news of her own death before it actually occurs. She made this decision after receiving a fatal diagnosis in order to see what’s being said about her and her legacy. Dava’s four adult children are shocked by this news, which breaks before she has a chance to tell them herself, while they’re all secluded for a final holiday together at her private estate.
The premise sounded really good, but I just did not get into this story like I hoped to — Was Dava intentionally created to be unlikable or did I just not care for her? She was obsessed with the idea of her legacy, and unfortunately, her philanthropy and seemingly self-centeredness did not woo me. The kids grew on me as the story progressed, but it took quite a long time to get there.
Dava Shastri’s Last Day finished stronger than it started, but it’s far from a favorite for me — 2.5 stars
The premise sounded really good, but I just did not get into this story like I hoped to — Was Dava intentionally created to be unlikable or did I just not care for her? She was obsessed with the idea of her legacy, and unfortunately, her philanthropy and seemingly self-centeredness did not woo me. The kids grew on me as the story progressed, but it took quite a long time to get there.
Dava Shastri’s Last Day finished stronger than it started, but it’s far from a favorite for me — 2.5 stars
February 14, 2022
This book was picked for numerous public book clubs and selected as an Indie next pick. And the premise of this book was enticing. The execution was less so. I loved the idea of a successful woman who leaks news of her death before it happens so she can see how she is viewed. But it backfires as secrets she has tried to keep quiet come roaring back to life.
The problem I had with the story is that none of the characters felt real. And Dava was less than a sympathetic character. She has sacrificed healthy relationships with her children (those acknowledged and those not) for her success and reputation. It doesn’t matter that her fame all comes from philanthropic efforts. Her children all struck me as cliches, too - the over-achiever, the lazy youngest, the angry son, the odd daughter out.
The synopsis of the story speaks to its humor. Whatever humor there was, must have flown over my head. At times, it gets too focused on bling - Fendi handbags, Rolexes, overbooked spa visits, etc., which added nothing to the story.
I debated giving up on this several times. I plowed through out of curiosity if it would get better and what decisions Dava would make at the end.
Soneela Nankani is the narrator and did a decent job, but I didn’t feel she added anything to the story.
The problem I had with the story is that none of the characters felt real. And Dava was less than a sympathetic character. She has sacrificed healthy relationships with her children (those acknowledged and those not) for her success and reputation. It doesn’t matter that her fame all comes from philanthropic efforts. Her children all struck me as cliches, too - the over-achiever, the lazy youngest, the angry son, the odd daughter out.
The synopsis of the story speaks to its humor. Whatever humor there was, must have flown over my head. At times, it gets too focused on bling - Fendi handbags, Rolexes, overbooked spa visits, etc., which added nothing to the story.
I debated giving up on this several times. I plowed through out of curiosity if it would get better and what decisions Dava would make at the end.
Soneela Nankani is the narrator and did a decent job, but I didn’t feel she added anything to the story.
February 28, 2023
A novel that discusses the complicated dynamics of family and ambition. Through the lenses of both mother and children, Dava Shastri’s Last Day highlights the heavy shadow that legacy casts; is it better to be remembered for greatness at the cost of time with family? Is it better to take secrets to the grave? What is it worth to be a legend? Is it possible to have unconditional love? Dramatic and sentimental, this novel is a love letter to family and to the self, despite every messy way we forge our own path.
April 30, 2021
I expected to love this book, but honestly, I felt mired in a confusion of names and characters. The idea is one that has been used many times before, announcing one’s death and waiting to see how they are mourned. The big problem with this book is the profusion of names and undeveloped characters. I felt like I was being hit with a shotgun disgorging names and backgrounds.
So, I really can’t recommend this for a pleasant read since the level of concentration and the reliance on a trite plot line made it a real disappointment.
Thank you Netgalley for this opportunity.
So, I really can’t recommend this for a pleasant read since the level of concentration and the reliance on a trite plot line made it a real disappointment.
Thank you Netgalley for this opportunity.
December 28, 2021
Dava Shastri's Last Day was hands-down one of the BEST books I read in 2021! It is a beautiful story of family and friendship that left me turning the pages almost faster than I could read them. Not all characters were likeable and some were totally relatable, but all were thought-provoking and heartfelt. The whole book took my breath away and left me with tears in my eyes at the end... something that rarely happens to me! I absolutely cannot wait to see what Kirthana Ramisetti pens next!
January 7, 2022
4.5⭐️
I imagined more fluff? Less heart? More style over substance as Paul Hollywood on Great British Bake-off would say?
I was WRONG. Though this book flashes back on the glamorous (but not always perfect) life of world-famous philanthropist and billionaire, Dava Shastri, this book is provocative, heartfelt, reflective, and a compelling exploration of family.
Having devoted her life to using her billions to support worthwhile causes around the world, Dava Shastri reaches age 70 and receives a terminal brain cancer diagnosis. Rather than going out on someone else’s terms, Dava decides to arrange for news of her death to break early so she can read her obituaries. She calls her family to their private island for reasons not yet disclosed.
However, though Dava expects to read articles celebrating her life’s work, her “death” reveals two devastating secrets, truths from a past she never thought would affect her future.
One surprising element I enjoyed in this novel was its very real love of music and Dava’s lifelong connection to it. The author was thoughtful in her references to songs over the years, and that paired with her analysis of celebrity culture created a rich dynamic to the Shastri family that I wasn’t expecting.
This is a powerful intergenerational story of past resentment, secrets, trauma, legacy, and redemption. Though the pacing could have been tighter and the characters slightly underdeveloped, I really enjoyed this one and thoughtfulness of the writing and exploration of Dava’s complicated life superb.
Read If:
♛ You enjoyed The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, but want a more modern heroine + more family drama
♛ You love a book *despite* it’s complicated characters and their choices, not everyone you encounter is likable
♛ You enjoy watching: Succession, Crazy Rich Asians, The Family Stone or any wealthy (or matriarchal) family drama
♛ You can imagine a world with a badass, South Asian cagillionaire who created a philanthropy/foundation we can only WISH exists in 2044
I imagined more fluff? Less heart? More style over substance as Paul Hollywood on Great British Bake-off would say?
I was WRONG. Though this book flashes back on the glamorous (but not always perfect) life of world-famous philanthropist and billionaire, Dava Shastri, this book is provocative, heartfelt, reflective, and a compelling exploration of family.
Having devoted her life to using her billions to support worthwhile causes around the world, Dava Shastri reaches age 70 and receives a terminal brain cancer diagnosis. Rather than going out on someone else’s terms, Dava decides to arrange for news of her death to break early so she can read her obituaries. She calls her family to their private island for reasons not yet disclosed.
However, though Dava expects to read articles celebrating her life’s work, her “death” reveals two devastating secrets, truths from a past she never thought would affect her future.
One surprising element I enjoyed in this novel was its very real love of music and Dava’s lifelong connection to it. The author was thoughtful in her references to songs over the years, and that paired with her analysis of celebrity culture created a rich dynamic to the Shastri family that I wasn’t expecting.
This is a powerful intergenerational story of past resentment, secrets, trauma, legacy, and redemption. Though the pacing could have been tighter and the characters slightly underdeveloped, I really enjoyed this one and thoughtfulness of the writing and exploration of Dava’s complicated life superb.
Read If:
♛ You enjoyed The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, but want a more modern heroine + more family drama
♛ You love a book *despite* it’s complicated characters and their choices, not everyone you encounter is likable
♛ You enjoy watching: Succession, Crazy Rich Asians, The Family Stone or any wealthy (or matriarchal) family drama
♛ You can imagine a world with a badass, South Asian cagillionaire who created a philanthropy/foundation we can only WISH exists in 2044
Read
November 29, 2022For a first novel, this book is interesting and pretty good. It's a look at a life completely unlike any life the ordinary reader probably ever sees. The main character is two days from death as the story opens. She's called together her four children, their spouses, and the grandchildren to spend a final winter holiday on her personal island in the snow. During the course of the novel, the reader sees her past life unfold in unexpected ways, revealing information about her that her children never knew and that Dada herself never expected to see the light of day. The book is a look at a family in crisis as its matriarch is revealed to them as less of stalwart heroine and more of a real human being with flaws to which each of her children react differently. The author knows a great deal about modern pop music, and she uses her knowledge as a means to flesh out the main character. She balances her physical perfection with a score of emotional and psychological imperfections. She is at times loving, at times demanding, at times hopelessly out of touch, at times narcissistic, at times utterly unreasonable. Centered as it is on the rich and famous in the US music scene, the book is off-putting at times, leaving the reader wondering if anyone could possibly be as fashionable, beautiful, and charismatic as Dava. Nonetheless, it's an interesting look at a very different life.
dnf
December 17, 2021DNF at 35%. Didn’t like the characters or the rich people problems.
March 22, 2022
This book was a slog. It was billed as a sort of take on Succession with a rich immigrant family with a grand legacy at the center of it, which sounded cool. An Indian-American family, even cooler -- and one with my last name to boot!
But it ended up being completely uninteresting. The main character, billed as an uber successful businesswoman and philanthropist, showed no indication that she deserved either of those descriptors. She seemed completely ambivalent about her 4 children and only showed passing interest in the one child she gave up for adoption -- not enough, though, to actually acknowledge her as a child. And her whole premise is ridiculous. She wants to spread news of her death before the fact to see how the world reacts? How self-involved can you be? The children meanwhile were equally vapid. Showed no character development or personality. Shocker -- one is gay, one is in a thruple, one is having a baby out of wedlock. Is that supposed to be scandalous or surprising or original?
And for some reason the book was set in the year 2044. Why? It was not futuristic in any way, which is fine, as I'm not a sci-fi fan. But it felt like the only reason to be set in the future was so the main character could look back nostalgically on present day -- oh, remember Lady Gaga and Beyonce and Julianne Moore? Weren't they great? I couldn't help but feel that the author was just uninformed about anything that happened 20-30 years ago and so could offer no actual nostalgia. To add to that -- it was disappointing to know she thinks that 20+ years in the future, we'll still be saying things like "Can we not?" and "He's sexy AF". Does vernacular as specific as that not change with the times? Lazy and trite.
Definitely not worth the significant time and effort to get through this book.
But it ended up being completely uninteresting. The main character, billed as an uber successful businesswoman and philanthropist, showed no indication that she deserved either of those descriptors. She seemed completely ambivalent about her 4 children and only showed passing interest in the one child she gave up for adoption -- not enough, though, to actually acknowledge her as a child. And her whole premise is ridiculous. She wants to spread news of her death before the fact to see how the world reacts? How self-involved can you be? The children meanwhile were equally vapid. Showed no character development or personality. Shocker -- one is gay, one is in a thruple, one is having a baby out of wedlock. Is that supposed to be scandalous or surprising or original?
And for some reason the book was set in the year 2044. Why? It was not futuristic in any way, which is fine, as I'm not a sci-fi fan. But it felt like the only reason to be set in the future was so the main character could look back nostalgically on present day -- oh, remember Lady Gaga and Beyonce and Julianne Moore? Weren't they great? I couldn't help but feel that the author was just uninformed about anything that happened 20-30 years ago and so could offer no actual nostalgia. To add to that -- it was disappointing to know she thinks that 20+ years in the future, we'll still be saying things like "Can we not?" and "He's sexy AF". Does vernacular as specific as that not change with the times? Lazy and trite.
Definitely not worth the significant time and effort to get through this book.
July 11, 2021
Dava Shastri's Last Day by Kirthana Ramisetti shares, as the novel's title reveals, the final days of Dava's life. A self-made billionaire and philanthropist (who at one point in the novel likens herself to John D. Rockefeller as depicted in Titan by Ron Chernow) has terminal brain cancer and has decided to end her life the way she lived it, on her terms. Dava gathers her family to her mansion (modeled after a chalet in Switzerland) on her private island off the coast of Long Island to say her goodbyes. Then, the news of her death is leaked prematurely and instead of being lauded (as she expected) for all of her philanthropic work, past secrets and scandals are revealed.
As a cancer survivor, I could appreciate Dava's desire to control her inevitable medical destiny. However, she just isn't a likable character. She's self-absorbed, controlling, and selfish, as are her children. Dysfunctional would be putting it mildly for this group. One of the characters, Sandi who is pregnant and engaged to one of Dava's sons, likened the family's reality to living life in bubble wrap, utterly impervious to how the other 99% of the globe lives.
The writing worked well enough, but the characters in this book were not for me. I received a complimentary ARC from Grand Central Publishing and all opinions expressed are my own.
As a cancer survivor, I could appreciate Dava's desire to control her inevitable medical destiny. However, she just isn't a likable character. She's self-absorbed, controlling, and selfish, as are her children. Dysfunctional would be putting it mildly for this group. One of the characters, Sandi who is pregnant and engaged to one of Dava's sons, likened the family's reality to living life in bubble wrap, utterly impervious to how the other 99% of the globe lives.
The writing worked well enough, but the characters in this book were not for me. I received a complimentary ARC from Grand Central Publishing and all opinions expressed are my own.
February 1, 2022
wow what a debut!!!! this novel was beautiful and so unique. i’ve never read a book like it. it makes for a perfect book club discussion and i can’t wait to talk about it with mine.
Dava’s world and family is very complex. it’s beautiful and complicated and different. the flashbacks were my favorite part and i wish we had even more. it’s like she lived 100 lifetimes… she did so much!! ugh
full review to come on my Instagram 🥰❤️
Dava’s world and family is very complex. it’s beautiful and complicated and different. the flashbacks were my favorite part and i wish we had even more. it’s like she lived 100 lifetimes… she did so much!! ugh
full review to come on my Instagram 🥰❤️
December 2, 2021
Hmmmm, I was really excited for the opportunity to read and review this book before pub day. It seemed promising and had a ton of good feedback. However, the whole novel fell a little short for me. I found it repetitive, slow, and I didn’t really connect with the storyline or the characters. I found parts of the book to be therapeutic and it offered some good messages to the reader about life in general, but other than that I found myself skimming to the end. Dava Shastri did give me some Evelyn Hugo vibes. So, if you enjoyed that book you’d probably like this one too. Happy reading!
January 25, 2022
3.75 stars
This was a book that read like tough meat eats...lol!
Remember how when you were a child you would take a bite of meat and the longer you chewed the bigger it got? That is how I felt about this book in the beginning. For every page I read, the book grew by 5 more pages. There was a point that I thought I would never get through it.
It was not because the writing was bad, or because the story was bad. I think it was because it was just not moving quickly enough for me. Most of the characters are likeable and the plot is acceptable. New information was gathered, so it wasn't like the story kept repeating itself. It just appeared to be slow building.
After I got through the first half of the book, the reading became much easier and the story began to mean more. By the end of the book I decided that I thoroughly liked Dava, her family and the book.
Dava Shastri was a wealthy woman - a woman who lived life exactly as she wanted - and was very philanthropic. Her biggest dream was that her children would carry on her work. With a terminal illness, Dava gathered her family around her, one last time, and scheduled a medically supervised suicide. But not before her death was announced - prior suicide - so that she could see what everyone had to say about her and her life long work.
By the end of this story I liked most of Dava's children, I respected Dava and understood her reasoning. I was sorry the book ended.
Meat suddenly thoroughly chewed...
This was a book that read like tough meat eats...lol!
Remember how when you were a child you would take a bite of meat and the longer you chewed the bigger it got? That is how I felt about this book in the beginning. For every page I read, the book grew by 5 more pages. There was a point that I thought I would never get through it.
It was not because the writing was bad, or because the story was bad. I think it was because it was just not moving quickly enough for me. Most of the characters are likeable and the plot is acceptable. New information was gathered, so it wasn't like the story kept repeating itself. It just appeared to be slow building.
After I got through the first half of the book, the reading became much easier and the story began to mean more. By the end of the book I decided that I thoroughly liked Dava, her family and the book.
Dava Shastri was a wealthy woman - a woman who lived life exactly as she wanted - and was very philanthropic. Her biggest dream was that her children would carry on her work. With a terminal illness, Dava gathered her family around her, one last time, and scheduled a medically supervised suicide. But not before her death was announced - prior suicide - so that she could see what everyone had to say about her and her life long work.
By the end of this story I liked most of Dava's children, I respected Dava and understood her reasoning. I was sorry the book ended.
Meat suddenly thoroughly chewed...
December 5, 2021
A fantastic book, maybe a late challenger to be on my favorite books of 2021. Some other reviews mentioned there are too many names thrown at you all at once, but given the premise that's to be expected. I never found myself confused about who anyone was. My main issue with names is that Tom Buck was called Tom Buck every time Tom Buck came up.
That said, it was great. And I highly recommend the audiobook since, in addition to great narration, it ends with a performance a song that features heavily in the story.
That said, it was great. And I highly recommend the audiobook since, in addition to great narration, it ends with a performance a song that features heavily in the story.
February 24, 2022
Well this book can be summed up by its name. It was an interesting read into the dynamic of the Shastri family. While being a part of a rich family legacy may seem ideal it is for sure not without its tightly kept secrets and pressures.
March 10, 2022
I have read many of the reviews, and I totally disagree. I just couldn't get past this self-centered, egotistical, and controlling character, who rationalized her massive failures, and who got away with her bad behavior because of her philanthropy. She openly admitted to treating her own family like employees, but candidly, they were treated more like furniture, or mirrors, reflecting her "shining" image. Even her own grandchildren were mere afterthoughts. I found very little redeeming qualities in any of the characters.
January 10, 2022
4.5-5 stars? TBD. I just loved this so much and the ideas of your legacy, what happens when you die, how you want to be remembered, the dreams you have for your children vs the actual paths they want to take... super super interesting and I think this would make a great book club discussion.
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January 3, 2022This has to be one of my most favorite book covers....
Dava Shastri's Last Day is a multi-generational story about family, the choices that we make, and the consequences of those actions. Dava Shastri is a philanthropist who has spent her life helping others; specifically women and the musical arts. When she learns that her life is coming to an end, she brings her four children and their families home to tell them and spend her last days with. But, everyone is surprised to find out that Dava has leaked the news of her death to the world in order to examine how the world reacts and the legacy she leaves behind. As with any choice, there are consequences and secrets come to light that Dava is forced to reckon with.
This is the kind of book that really makes you think ... my heart went out to Dava, and while I could understand the choices that she made throughout her life, I didn't always agree with her (isn't that just how family is!?). I am one of four siblings so I found the dynamics between Dava's children very interesting to watch; the need for acceptance, feelings of belonging, and wanting to be "perfect" for a mother who didn't always understand them or see them for who they are felt very real to me. Again, with any family dynamic there are some people you love and some people you don't (LOL), some choices you support and some you don't, so this felt like a very real, authentic depiction of family interactions: especially during a tragic and emotional time. There are definitely a lot of characters to keep track of, so be sure to pay attention. I really liked the writing style of the book, told in present day (well 2044 which was present for what was happening) and flashbacks and I found myself turning pages quickly. I also liked how we got each character's perspective about what was happening, as death and grief impacts all of us differently.
Dava Shastri's Last Day is a multi-generational story about family, the choices that we make, and the consequences of those actions. Dava Shastri is a philanthropist who has spent her life helping others; specifically women and the musical arts. When she learns that her life is coming to an end, she brings her four children and their families home to tell them and spend her last days with. But, everyone is surprised to find out that Dava has leaked the news of her death to the world in order to examine how the world reacts and the legacy she leaves behind. As with any choice, there are consequences and secrets come to light that Dava is forced to reckon with.
This is the kind of book that really makes you think ... my heart went out to Dava, and while I could understand the choices that she made throughout her life, I didn't always agree with her (isn't that just how family is!?). I am one of four siblings so I found the dynamics between Dava's children very interesting to watch; the need for acceptance, feelings of belonging, and wanting to be "perfect" for a mother who didn't always understand them or see them for who they are felt very real to me. Again, with any family dynamic there are some people you love and some people you don't (LOL), some choices you support and some you don't, so this felt like a very real, authentic depiction of family interactions: especially during a tragic and emotional time. There are definitely a lot of characters to keep track of, so be sure to pay attention. I really liked the writing style of the book, told in present day (well 2044 which was present for what was happening) and flashbacks and I found myself turning pages quickly. I also liked how we got each character's perspective about what was happening, as death and grief impacts all of us differently.
August 29, 2021
Easy read but trite and predictable. Maybe you should not review a book based on what it could be - that is the reader imposing their expectations on the author.
I read the overview and it intrigued me - this ARC was a giveaway at a local independent bookstore. I like the family dynamics at the beginning but as the book progressed it became predictable and the characters were never really developed well. It's not so much whether I did or did not care about them, it was I never felt like they were real people so I did not feel vested in the outcome. Each of the four children were representative of a type - the type A driven for success one, the resentful one, the artistic sensitive one, the beautiful aimless one.
I read the overview and it intrigued me - this ARC was a giveaway at a local independent bookstore. I like the family dynamics at the beginning but as the book progressed it became predictable and the characters were never really developed well. It's not so much whether I did or did not care about them, it was I never felt like they were real people so I did not feel vested in the outcome. Each of the four children were representative of a type - the type A driven for success one, the resentful one, the artistic sensitive one, the beautiful aimless one.
December 22, 2021
Wish I'd liked this more, but it didn't deliver for me.
January 20, 2022
When I first got this book and read the summary, I found the premise to be extremely interesting. I thought we were going to get a story filled with so many secrets and a generations old family mystery. I was so excited.
Once I started reading it, I found it to be very slow, to the point where it dragged, particularly in the middle. The characters were underdeveloped which made them unrelatable and also very unlikable. I felt the story had so much to offer and we got a very tiny portion of that. I enjoyed a lot of the messages and the lessons that the story teaches us. I was definitely getting some Evelyn Hugo vibes but it wasn’t quite at that level. I feel that if we had some more character development and perhaps a different timeline of the events presented, it could have been a great novel.
Once I started reading it, I found it to be very slow, to the point where it dragged, particularly in the middle. The characters were underdeveloped which made them unrelatable and also very unlikable. I felt the story had so much to offer and we got a very tiny portion of that. I enjoyed a lot of the messages and the lessons that the story teaches us. I was definitely getting some Evelyn Hugo vibes but it wasn’t quite at that level. I feel that if we had some more character development and perhaps a different timeline of the events presented, it could have been a great novel.
March 9, 2023
3.4/5 stars. It started off so intriguing but then it plateaued.
I am sad this book didn’t end up being better than it was because it truly had all the making for a great novel. A rich celebrity and philanthropist on her death bed, as all her secrets are finally revealed?! So good, but it sadly didn’t produce.
I loved the relationship the Shastri family shared, it seemed authentic. I also love what Dava’s character was all about, how she saw herself living 2 separate lives that never co-existed. That is a concept definitely hard to explain, but I feel like I understood what she meant and related to it very much. We are multifaceted and I think all characters showed that. This novel also showed how one decision can absolutely change the trajectory of your life.
Pacing was a little weird. Overall, I felt like there was so much information, but most of it seemed irrelevant? A lot of writing that felt like space filling, which was very unfortunate considering there were so many great ways this story could have gone.
I am sad this book didn’t end up being better than it was because it truly had all the making for a great novel. A rich celebrity and philanthropist on her death bed, as all her secrets are finally revealed?! So good, but it sadly didn’t produce.
I loved the relationship the Shastri family shared, it seemed authentic. I also love what Dava’s character was all about, how she saw herself living 2 separate lives that never co-existed. That is a concept definitely hard to explain, but I feel like I understood what she meant and related to it very much. We are multifaceted and I think all characters showed that. This novel also showed how one decision can absolutely change the trajectory of your life.
Pacing was a little weird. Overall, I felt like there was so much information, but most of it seemed irrelevant? A lot of writing that felt like space filling, which was very unfortunate considering there were so many great ways this story could have gone.
July 2, 2023
This book made me think of Taylor Jenkins Reid (derogatory). Specifically, Malibu Rising and what I think of as The Chickenshit Scandal Paradox. By which I mean, the author has no interest in committing her beloved characters to anything actually dirty. In Malibu Rising, TJR describes the past parties thrown by her main characters, which includes what she considers to be the height of scandal in 1980s Malibu: skinny dipping and two models kissing. It’s laughably benign, like what a home-schooled preteen would describe as Scandalous. The same error is made here, where the greatest “scandals” that this author can think to assign to her billionaire main character are……..these (I won’t spoil; they’re boring and deliberately rooted in making you sympathize with the dying billionaire; whither Rosebud), rather than, idk. Your usual billionaire financial crimes: hoarding of resources and wealth; tax evasion; exploitation; the dirty deeds and moral compromises that make that first billion. You don’t become a billionaire out of your good works or by following the U.S. tax code. But I digress. This book has no interest in being interesting.
It’s just. A billionaire diagnosed with terminal cancer decides to announce her death early so she can read all the obits and odes to her legacy is a premise that is ripe for satire! But this book is earnest all the way through, and that points to a bigger problem for me. I’ve read a couple novels this year about Rich Families™ and all these families are alike in that their authors do not know how to contextualize them in the greater world or, maybe, they just refuse to. In a post-Succession media landscape I am sure we’ll see more Rich Families™ stories (lord knows I hear the siren call myself to write one), but what the novels I’ve encountered so far fail to do is create empathy with these monsters while depicting them as exactly that: monstrous. Their effect on the world is monstrous, they should not exist.
And you know, if this book was sudsy, soapy fun maybe I wouldn’t care so much. But it isn’t. Maudlin storytelling written in mind-numbing, uninspired prose that feels the need to summarize neatly each scene you just trudged your way through and characters I couldn’t muster the energy to care about beyond the stereotype they were introduced as (respectively, gay; eldest daughter; in a throuple; male model? lol). Also……..why was this set in 2044 if the author had no interest in doing anything at all with that????? 2044 looks like 2021 looks like 2002; baby, I’m baffled.
Beautiful cover though.
It’s just. A billionaire diagnosed with terminal cancer decides to announce her death early so she can read all the obits and odes to her legacy is a premise that is ripe for satire! But this book is earnest all the way through, and that points to a bigger problem for me. I’ve read a couple novels this year about Rich Families™ and all these families are alike in that their authors do not know how to contextualize them in the greater world or, maybe, they just refuse to. In a post-Succession media landscape I am sure we’ll see more Rich Families™ stories (lord knows I hear the siren call myself to write one), but what the novels I’ve encountered so far fail to do is create empathy with these monsters while depicting them as exactly that: monstrous. Their effect on the world is monstrous, they should not exist.
And you know, if this book was sudsy, soapy fun maybe I wouldn’t care so much. But it isn’t. Maudlin storytelling written in mind-numbing, uninspired prose that feels the need to summarize neatly each scene you just trudged your way through and characters I couldn’t muster the energy to care about beyond the stereotype they were introduced as (respectively, gay; eldest daughter; in a throuple; male model? lol). Also……..why was this set in 2044 if the author had no interest in doing anything at all with that????? 2044 looks like 2021 looks like 2002; baby, I’m baffled.
Beautiful cover though.
March 16, 2022
First impression: The illustration of the woman on the cover of the book totally resembles Rekha, hai na?😆
Dava Shastri is an Indian-American woman (more American than Indian tbh), whose claim to fame is her philanthropy. She amassed a huge fortune, by making some good investments and worked on creating of legacy of giving. A self-made woman, Dava has always worked on reaching her true potential, and refused to be just a footnote on anyone else's story.
In the process, she might not have embraced motherhood in the traditional sense of the word. Something, which are kids never forget to bring up every now and then.
And her kids, oh how I hated them. A bunch of snobby rich adults-behaving-like-children, who never had to struggle for anything in their lives, and all they do is just complain. While reading, I felt like going into the book and smacking them across their faces for all the whining.
I had stretched out this book for over a month and a half, and this slow reading process made me feel like I was actually staying with the Shastri-Perssons in the Beathrix Island. This is something I rarely get to feel as I am always in a hurry to finish off books (because there are so many good ones out there and this lifetime is too short to get through all the books).
Overall, the book was okayish. The constant whining got to me at times. Also, the Indian-ness of Dava was only reflected in her naming of her kids. I would have appreciated if it had reflected in her music taste as well (Dava's life was heavily influenced by music and music is a recurring theme throughout the book).
Apart from this, I really appreciated how Ramisetti navigated through complicated topics of working-mother and the challenges and public perception of a woman for just being herself.
Dava Shastri is an Indian-American woman (more American than Indian tbh), whose claim to fame is her philanthropy. She amassed a huge fortune, by making some good investments and worked on creating of legacy of giving. A self-made woman, Dava has always worked on reaching her true potential, and refused to be just a footnote on anyone else's story.
In the process, she might not have embraced motherhood in the traditional sense of the word. Something, which are kids never forget to bring up every now and then.
And her kids, oh how I hated them. A bunch of snobby rich adults-behaving-like-children, who never had to struggle for anything in their lives, and all they do is just complain. While reading, I felt like going into the book and smacking them across their faces for all the whining.
I had stretched out this book for over a month and a half, and this slow reading process made me feel like I was actually staying with the Shastri-Perssons in the Beathrix Island. This is something I rarely get to feel as I am always in a hurry to finish off books (because there are so many good ones out there and this lifetime is too short to get through all the books).
Overall, the book was okayish. The constant whining got to me at times. Also, the Indian-ness of Dava was only reflected in her naming of her kids. I would have appreciated if it had reflected in her music taste as well (Dava's life was heavily influenced by music and music is a recurring theme throughout the book).
Apart from this, I really appreciated how Ramisetti navigated through complicated topics of working-mother and the challenges and public perception of a woman for just being herself.
October 9, 2022
There were a lot of aspects of the premise I was interested to see play out. A billionaire facing death choosing assisted suicide. Announcing her death beforehand so she can see herself eulogized by the media. What happens when she is remembered for the more salacious parts of her life, rather than her philanthropic work. Ultimately, what happens when control is taken away from a control freak.
Dava Shastri is a character who subverts what women are expected to do in fiction (and real life). A mother more focused on her career than her family, who sees her children in terms of how they can carry on her legacy, and who initially doesn't consider how her choices will impact anyone close to her. Even her work itself, while it's benefitted so many lives, seems like it's all organized around curating a perception of her that is generous and giving. It's refreshing to see a woman, especially a mother, make choices solely for her, and it's hard to write a self-centered billionaire that readers won't absolutely hate.
Would have liked to see the premise fleshed out a little more, namely the idea that we all want to, but can't, control public perceptions of ourselves. The cast of characters is large and not developed enough or very realistically. It's about rich people, so entirely unrelatable to most of us (which is fine, but ugh, rich people, lol). It's also set a couple decades in the future but doesn't do enough to address climate change, healthcare, the billionaire class's effect on society, class privilege etc. Read for the premise, not for the story or characters.
Dava Shastri is a character who subverts what women are expected to do in fiction (and real life). A mother more focused on her career than her family, who sees her children in terms of how they can carry on her legacy, and who initially doesn't consider how her choices will impact anyone close to her. Even her work itself, while it's benefitted so many lives, seems like it's all organized around curating a perception of her that is generous and giving. It's refreshing to see a woman, especially a mother, make choices solely for her, and it's hard to write a self-centered billionaire that readers won't absolutely hate.
Would have liked to see the premise fleshed out a little more, namely the idea that we all want to, but can't, control public perceptions of ourselves. The cast of characters is large and not developed enough or very realistically. It's about rich people, so entirely unrelatable to most of us (which is fine, but ugh, rich people, lol). It's also set a couple decades in the future but doesn't do enough to address climate change, healthcare, the billionaire class's effect on society, class privilege etc. Read for the premise, not for the story or characters.
December 1, 2021
I was very intrigued by the cover and title of this book! This beautiful lady on the cover looks like Rekha, one of the elegant actresses of Bollywood, although the story is not based on her!
Kirthana’s witty and thought provoking debut novel is a pick of Good Morning America Bookclub. This book has been roped in for a movie adaptation too! How fun!
Being an South Asian by descent, the story of Dava Shastri who is a billionaire and a strong proponent of women empowerment was very relatable and enjoyable. Dava Shastri who is battling terminal illness leaks the news of her death early to read her obituaries but the chaos it creates amongst her children and in the media was super intriguing, entertaining and challenging.
Thank you grand central publishing and NetGalley for the gifted copy of this beautifully crafted novel of multicultural family that hit the shelves on November 30, 2021
Kirthana’s witty and thought provoking debut novel is a pick of Good Morning America Bookclub. This book has been roped in for a movie adaptation too! How fun!
Being an South Asian by descent, the story of Dava Shastri who is a billionaire and a strong proponent of women empowerment was very relatable and enjoyable. Dava Shastri who is battling terminal illness leaks the news of her death early to read her obituaries but the chaos it creates amongst her children and in the media was super intriguing, entertaining and challenging.
Thank you grand central publishing and NetGalley for the gifted copy of this beautifully crafted novel of multicultural family that hit the shelves on November 30, 2021
January 15, 2022
Dava Shastri
Billionaire
Philantrophist
Brain Cancer dead at 70
Or so it seems that is what Dava wants the world to know in order to read about what the world will say about her legacy, her life, and the contributions she has given to make the world a better place. Instead, it seems that in her death, some things she had hoped to have stayed buried resurfaces, and now she has to face that reality with her family in the last few hours of her life, as they gather together in her private island.
I found the writing incredibly compelling and touched upon the themes about the public and private lives, celebrity culture, complex family dynamics, roles of strong women, and the legacy we leave behind. Though the story revolves around a billionaire, there is something about Dava’s character that we all can glean from. The writing was fresh, with the right amount of humor and love.
Billionaire
Philantrophist
Brain Cancer dead at 70
Or so it seems that is what Dava wants the world to know in order to read about what the world will say about her legacy, her life, and the contributions she has given to make the world a better place. Instead, it seems that in her death, some things she had hoped to have stayed buried resurfaces, and now she has to face that reality with her family in the last few hours of her life, as they gather together in her private island.
I found the writing incredibly compelling and touched upon the themes about the public and private lives, celebrity culture, complex family dynamics, roles of strong women, and the legacy we leave behind. Though the story revolves around a billionaire, there is something about Dava’s character that we all can glean from. The writing was fresh, with the right amount of humor and love.
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