Dava Shastri's Last Day
Dava Shastri is a 70-year-old billionaire philanthropist who made her money initially through an app she developed for musicians (so popular music plays a part in Dava's story). Dava has terminal brain cancer, and her fractured family gathers together in her private NY island home to say goodbye before she has her doctor end her life. Dava has her death announced days before she actually dies, so she and her family are privy to the various obituaries and statements people make about her life. When her most closely held secrets are revealed, Dava must deal with the fallout from her family. The novel recounts periods of her life to explain her actions, and her children, their partners and her grandchildren gradually gain a deeper understanding of the real Dava Shastri. Relationships are mended, and all the characters take a deeper look at their own failings and shortcomings.
"Before we enter serious relationships, we don't have to look in the mirror and see our true, selves. So the first time you get called out regularly for being annoying or stubborn or odd is when you're in a relationship. It's like you're taking off the designer dress and letting someone see you in sweats. Sweats that you haven't washed in a week."
I enjoyed Dava's story and her children's dilemmas, though I felt the book was too long (the audiobook was 13 hours) and could have used an editor to tighten up some of the slower sections.
Hardcover 384 pages, Audiobook 13 hours ⭐⭐⭐/5 on Goodreads - - join our RipeReads group for more book recommendations featuring mature adults. Click on the image below to order on Amazon (it's on sale for $11.18 today) or better yet, at your local bookstore!
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Best wishes for a happy and healthy spring, Gaili
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