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The Last Goodbye: A Haunting and Heartbreaking Novel

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The Last Goodbye: A Novel

by Fiona Lucas

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2305 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	426 pages

Meg Wolitzer's latest novel, The Last Goodbye, is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant story about love, loss, and family. The novel follows the lives of three siblings—Max, Cordelia, and Toby—as they navigate the challenges of adulthood and the complexities of sibling relationships.

Max is the oldest sibling, a successful doctor and family man. Cordelia is the middle child, a painter who struggles with addiction and personal demons. Toby is the youngest sibling, a precocious and sensitive boy who is haunted by the loss of his father.

The novel opens with Max receiving a phone call from Cordelia, who is in the hospital after a suicide attempt. Max and Toby rush to her bedside, and the three siblings are forced to confront their past and the ways in which it has shaped their present.

As the novel progresses, we learn more about the siblings' childhood and the events that have led them to this point. We see how Max has always been the responsible one, the one who has always taken care of his siblings. We see how Cordelia has struggled with her mental health for years, and how her addiction has affected her relationships with her family.

And we see how Toby has been affected by the loss of his father, and how he has struggled to find his place in the world.

The Last Goodbye is a complex and moving novel that explores the many ways in which we grieve and the ways in which we heal. It is a story about the bonds of family, the power of forgiveness, and the importance of love.

The Characters

The characters in The Last Goodbye are complex and well-developed. Each sibling has their own unique personality and struggles, and Wolitzer does a masterful job of bringing them to life.

Max is a kind and compassionate man, but he is also burdened by the weight of responsibility. He has always been the one to take care of his siblings, and he often feels like he has to put their needs before his own.

Cordelia is a talented artist, but she is also struggling with addiction and mental health issues. She is often self-destructive, and she pushes away the people who love her.

Toby is a precocious and sensitive boy, but he is also haunted by the loss of his father. He is often withdrawn and isolated, and he struggles to connect with others.

The Themes

The Last Goodbye explores a number of important themes, including love, loss, and family. The novel shows how these themes are interconnected, and how they can shape our lives.

The novel also explores the theme of forgiveness. The siblings in the novel have all wronged each other in some way, and they must learn to forgive each other in order to move on.

The Writing

Wolitzer's writing is lyrical and evocative. She has a gift for creating vivid and memorable characters, and her prose is both beautiful and moving.

The novel is told from the alternating perspectives of the three siblings, and this gives the reader a deep understanding of each character's thoughts and feelings.

The Verdict

The Last Goodbye is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant novel that explores the themes of love, loss, and family. With its complex characters and lyrical prose, it is a must-read for fans of literary fiction.

The Last Goodbye: A Novel

by Fiona Lucas

4.4 out of 5