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The Last Time They Met by Anita Shreve

The Last Time They Met

by Anita Shreve
  • Critics' Consensus:
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  • First Published:
  • Apr 1, 2001, 320 pages
  • Paperback:
  • Jan 2002, 320 pages
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There are currently 62 reader reviews for The Last Time They Met
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Jenny

It was simply a mesmerizing pece of work. However, I was very intrigued by the way it's ended. I would love to ask an author herself about it, since she is the only one who can answer this one for sure.
But meanwhile, you can interpret it in the following way: maybe Linda thought she was dying and her life flashed before her eyes? But she didn't actually die. One thing that supports this interpretation is that Thomas commits suicide. How could he commit a suicide right after his daughter dies and still attend the festival in Toronto?
I would very much like to accept this intrerpretation since I have grown to love the main chatacters so much in the course of the book that I would hate to lose them. Although both ways of interpreting are quite realistic.
Highly recommend this novel, especially if you are into drama and romance and most important of all if you ever asked yourself "what if" as the authoer herself puts it - "infinite possibilities of a life not llived".
Heather

Well I have to say, I'm with all of you. This was an excellent book! Just finished it a few minutes ago.

I was completely caught off guard by the ending too. I kept checking to see how many pages were left, and was very curious as to what was going to happen. I can tell you, I was not prepared for the ending I did read!

Like many of you, I had to go back and reread parts to see if I missed something! It drove me nuts wondering what happended and how they met in the beginning, and yet how she could have died at 17. I was left hanging and thought I was the only one. I was relieved when I found this site, and even more so when I learned that I wasn't the only person confused by the ending.

I have decided, as a few of you have already said, that Thomas must have made up the rest of Linda's life to get through his own. Knowing this makes the impact of the book that much greater. To think that all of those moments with Linda were made up by him, which seemed to keep him alive for so long, is especially heart wrenching. I have to admit, I did start to feel a tear or two when I understood this all. The book just suddenly took on a completely different meaning.

This was a powerful book, and understanding the ending the way I do now, made me feel pretty sad thinking that's the way it turned out. Let's just say I was hoping for the "off into the sunset" ending. :-)

I can see how so many of you wanna go back and reread it, looking for "clues" or things that might explain the ending better. I have read Anita's other book, The Pilots Wife. Another great book! I couldn't put that one down either! What a great writer! I look forward to reading her next book, Sea Glass. I might have to break down and buy the hard cover book though, don't know if I can wait a year for the paperback to come out!
Betsy

This book had the most incredible and dramatic ending I have read in a long time. It's one of those books that you want to go back and re-read because the ending ties everything together, and you wish you had paid more attention. The love story was real and true to the characters. I loved it.


i cannot stop thinking about this book and what an amazing author anita shreve is. the end is so incredible, it is one of the only books i am reading again just to see how it all fits together and make sense of the journey that i was taken on. i am sure i will smile upon rereading knowing what a fabulous character thomas janes is and how the strength of true love can haunt the imagination to such creativity that we will all be truly touched by reading this book.
Jessie

What a brilliant novel! I finished this morning and have been in shock the entire day. As soon as I closed the cover I felt like crying. Anita Shreve is absolutely amazing.
Maria

I loved the book and couldn't believe the ending...was it really all in Thomas' imagination??? There is just too much that doesn't jibe...help....hobana@attglobal.net
Rose

I am in shock after finishing this book. I loved it, but am confused by the ending. I don't want to believe that it ended the way that it did. I will definitely re-read it. I also need to re-read The Weight of Water to look for further clues to Thomas. Anita Shreve is an amazing writer!


I have just read The Last Time They Met and I am completely intrigued by the ending. I have many questions and am dying to talk to someone about it. Please email me at akim6@aol.com Thanks!!!

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