Set in Southeast England, friendship and love among a group of men whose lives have been intertwined since World War II. When one dies, the survivors are brought together and are forced to take stock of the paths their lives have taken, by choice and by accident, since the war. Winner of the 1996 Booker Prize.
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"I really enjoyed the build-up to the very end of this story, it lagged in parts for me but I was definitely tearing up in the last few pages. I had to push through it because I wasn't in the mood for something written at a slower pace - lots of reminiscing, back and forth in time and between the narratives of the different characters. I am glad I finished it!"
— Jessica (4 out of 5 stars)
" This one's been hanging around on my shelf for some time, and I finally decided to read it after seeing the movie. Heck, didn't those script writers do a good job with the flimsy material in this book? And what a disappointment the book turned out to be. I can't for the life of me understand how this came to win a Booker Prize. "
— Christopher, 2/15/2014" A moving tribute to the lifespan of a friendship for several bar patrons. It's an interesting look at the changing social dynamics of working class london, and the unspoken tension and issues between several bar buddies as they give their regards to a deceased friend. "
— Ran, 1/27/2014" coughAsILayDyingcough "
— Alice, 1/25/2014" Hard to get into, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. "
— Pat, 1/21/2014" all-time favorites,novel "
— Meg, 1/18/2014" I loved this novel (and really enjoyed the film based on it--with Ray Winstone, Helen Mirren, et al.). "
— Tim, 1/17/2014" This Booker prize winning title, tells the tale of four friends on a journey to fulfill the last request of one of thier mates. This group has been together for a long time, but they must overcome thier history on this one last day together. "
— Anders, 1/5/2014" Finely constructed tale of a bunch of mates (geezers, innit) carrying out the last wishes of one of their number. Fragmented storytelling that doesn't negatively impact the narrative - good stuff. Recommended if you're after something plain-speaking with hidden depth. "
— Luke, 12/26/2013" Great book about friendship - and a great film. "
— Roslyn, 12/4/2013" A tale of a group of aging men who have been friends for years - one of them has just died - I liked the characters...overall a nice story. "
— Claire, 11/9/2013" Well written excellent characterizations. "
— Teresa, 4/6/2013" Last Orders is a very close parallel to Faulkner's As I Lay Dying, making it seem incredibly derivative at times. Still, Swift is able to cover some new ground and provide some moving meditations on aging and family, and inverts Faulkner's tale in some intriguing ways. "
— Rebecca, 3/16/2013" WINNER OF THE bOOKER pRIZE. This was a very smooth book written as a series of first persons telling the same story of the day one of the group is buried. They are driving to the sea to distribute his ashes and each character in turn remembers him and "
— Michael, 3/15/2013" Booker Prize winner 1998. "
— Donna, 12/13/2012" Fantastic!! Such rich characters! "
— Guy, 11/7/2012" Didn't love it. Found it difficult to identify with the characters. Maybe because it's written from the male perspective. Waterland still remains my favourite! "
— Poppy, 5/3/2012" Enjoyable - very moving "
— Richard, 5/2/2012" My husband loves this book, so he was a bit crushed that it didn't speak to me on the same level. It's a good book, but just SO sad. Maybe at another time in my life, I would appreciate it more. "
— Kelly, 4/23/2012" This book was well written but very difficult due to the British working class slang - almost felt like a different language at times. "
— Rozzinner, 2/1/2012" I bet £2 on this to win. "
— Miranda, 5/9/2011" I just didn't seem to get as much out of it as other people did. What am I missing? "
— Effie, 5/1/2011" + movie maybe a 2.5 -- kind of frumpy story of veterans who review their lives as 1 of their own is dying. "
— Irene, 3/23/2011" Sad but very engrossing !! "
— Mervyn, 3/20/2011" Couldn't get into it. I didn't understand who was who or when. I could see it translating well on screen but I'm just not in the mood for this type of book at the moment. "
— Jud, 3/7/2011" Unfortunately I couldn't connect to this book..the language, the words, the English working class just could not engage with my 2011's mind in any way. "
— Tudor, 3/7/2011" Listened to this on the trip back from spring break. After a short time getting used to the British accents, I enjoyed this tale of several interwoven lives. "
— Rob, 3/1/2011" A superb book, one of the best novels I've read in years. Swift paints his character's everyman lives with honesty and truth, not skimping on the ugly bits and small betrayals which can (and do) share space with a fundamental love and care for each other. A must read. "
— Marcelo, 2/9/2011" OK This was an award winner. It was solid but really didn't move me. Perhaps the subject matter was something that I couldn't really relate to.<br/> "
— Sandy, 1/9/2011" stodgy but fittingly so it's a cold pie with stout but it's a damn nice pie "
— Sandyboy, 12/10/2010" This is one of those difficult to rate books part of me really liked it and part of me is not really sure. It was lent to me by a friend who knows a lot about literature and came with high recommendation. It is an interesting wee read, not long but rather poignant. "
— Kate, 11/13/2010" man booker prize 1996, h w wilson fiction catalog, the lives of petit bourgeoisie in eastern uk after wwii "
— Tuck, 9/3/2010Graham Swift is the author of eight novels, including the Booker Prize–winning Last Orders and Waterland, which won the Guardian Fiction Award. His work has been translated into more than thirty languages. He lives in London.
Jenny Sterlin, winner of several Earphones Awards, has more than ninety audio titles to her credit, including Laurie R. King’s popular Sherlock Holmes / Mary Russell series. Before beginning her narration career, she helped found England’s experimental Living Theatre.
Ian Stewart is an Emeritus Professor and Digital Media Fellow in the Mathematics Department at Warwick University, England, with special responsibility for public awareness of mathematics and science. He won the Royal Society’s 1995 Michael Faraday Medal for outstanding contributions to the public understanding of science. He is best known for his popular science writing on mathematical themes.
Gerard Doyle, a seasoned audio narrator, he has been awarded dozens of AudioFile Earphones Awards, was named a Best Voice in Young Adult Fiction in 2008, and won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. He was born of Irish parents and raised and educated in England. In Great Britain he has enjoyed an extensive career in both television and repertory theater and toured nationally and internationally with the English Shakespeare Company. He has appeared in London’s West End in the gritty musical The Hired Man. In America he has appeared on Broadway in The Weir and on television in New York Undercover and Law & Order. He has taught drama at Ross School for the several years.