The Last Cruise, Kate Christensen, Doubleday, 2018, 286 pp
I read a couple of novels by this author several years ago. When I saw she had a new one I decided to try it and it was just fine.
It has all the elements of a good story: the final voyage of a vintage cruise ship, good characters, great food writing, some romance, and one of those endings that spark debates in reading groups and on Goodreads.
I was almost discouraged by a somewhat slow start, where all the main characters were introduced though I never forgot who was who after that. Then some of the ship's crew stage a walkout due to employment issues, the excitement builds, and grave danger falls upon the ship itself. What started as a nostalgic cruise turned into a race with disaster. Finally came the enigmatic final pages.
It was definitely worth a couple reading days and kept me entertained.
(The Last Cruise is available in hardcover by order from Once Upon A Time Bookstore.) The paperback will be out in June, 2019)
I confess I had not heard of this one, but I'll accept your assessment that it was entertaining. Sometimes that's all we can ask!
ReplyDeleteSometimes it is all we need!
DeleteSounds a goodie. Hope you bring it over to Books You Loved. Cheers from Carole's chatter
ReplyDeleteOK I will!
DeleteI agree with you both. Sometimes an entertaining story is what we want and need. ;-) I hadn't heard of this book until now.
ReplyDeleteAll on the same page then, as it were.
DeleteYes I like boat/ship disaster/adventure kinds of stories so I'm game for this one. I recall that The Post's critic Ron Charles liked this one in July so I knew about it. Once it builds ... it sounds good.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good one and along with the story you get some good inside scoop on what goes on within cruise ships.
DeleteThe Last Cruise sounds like it could be a lot of fun to read!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I have taken a couple of cruises, which we enjoyed. so reading your review of The Last Cruise makes me feel nostalgic for taking another cruise.
I hope you get a chance to read it. I got it easily from my library.
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