"The Last of Her Kind" by Sigrid Nunez

I popped into my favorite local backstore a few days ago to browse fiction. One of the books that caught my eye is called The Last of Her Kind by Sigrid Nunez, published in 1995. From Amazon:

When Georgette George and Ann Drayton meet in 1968 as freshmen roommates at Barnard College, Georgette marvels that her privileged, brilliant roommate envies Georgette's rough, impoverished childhood. Through the vehicle of this fascinating friendship, Nunez's sophisticated new novel explores the dark side of the countercultural idealism that swept the country in the 1960s. Hyperbolic even for the times, Ann's passionate commitment to her beliefs—unwavering despite the resentment from those she tries to help—haunts Georgette, the novel's narrator, long after the women's lives diverge. In 1976, Ann lands in prison for shooting and killing a policeman in a misguided attempt to rescue her activist black boyfriend from a confrontation. The novel's generous structure also gracefully encompasses the story of Georgette's more conventional adult life in New York (she becomes a magazine editor, marries, and bears two children), plus that of Georgette's runaway junkie sister. Nunez reveals Ann's life in prison via a moving essay by one of her fellow inmates. By the end of this novel—propelled by rich, almost scholarly prose—all the parts come together to capture the violent idealism of the times while illuminating a moving truth about human nature.

The Boston Globe calls The Last of Her Kind a "brilliant, dazzling, daring novel".

Entertainment Weekly says: "Sigrid Nunez teaches an honors-level survey course in the sexual, political, and cultural movements that shaped the thinking (and rocked the world) of so many boomer women. Nunez's voice is unflinching and intimate, her novelistic structure as invitingly informal as jottings in a journal."

Here is an interview with Sigrid Nunez from Small Spiral Notebook.

I had never heard of this book before - has anyone out there read it?

 

Comments

[Fiery Nuggets]

I've read it. Loved it. Different than what I usually read, but a great story.

[TLB]

I read this book a couple years ago. The plot kept my interest, but sort of unraveled in the end. I definitely did not think the prose was scholarly or rich. In fact "informal jottings in a journal" more accurately describes how I remember the writing. The whole book seemed a little forced. I don't regret reading it, though, because I enjoyed reading about that moment in history, told on a personal level.

Still, I would only give it a lukewarm recommendation.

[mari partyka]

I have had this book in my TBR stack for a while and have been wanting to read it to see if it's a possible book club selection. I will check back to see if anyone else has read this book.

[Stacy]

I read this book and loved it. I posted my review here: http://bookgypsyblog.blogspot.com/2007/02/last-of-her-kind.html

[Melissa]

I only got through about half of it before I lost interest unfortunately.

[Darby Lohrding]

Wow, sorry to hear not that many raving reviews on this book, I thought the book sounded good and ordered it on Amazon. I'll let you know what I think!
Thanks so much
Darby
darbyscloset at yahoo dot com

[Diana L]

just read it for my book club. Well written, thought provoking and disturbing--that a character with such noble ideals and commitment could be so unlikable. Its problematic whenever someone champions social justice but treats everyone around them like crap. Interesting but I can't say I enjoyed reading it, except for an excerpt near the end that was kind of a prison diary.