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jess_mango's review against another edition
3.0
I often find myself noticing themes and connections between books that I read close to each other. Recently, I went through an inadvertent “teenage girls having inappropriate relations with older men”- phase. I wasn’t seeking out books on this topic on purpose…it just happened. One of those books was Nabakov’s novel Laughter in the Dark and the other one was the memoir Her Last Death by Susanna Sonnenberg.
In her memoir, Sonnenberg recounts her life from her childhood through adulthood, focusing mostly on her relationship with her drug-addicted, promiscuous, name-dropping, boyfriend-stealing mother, Daphne. Daphne is constantly telling stories of her relationships and encounters with famous and important figures.
Daphne helps her daughter Susanna celebrate her sweet sixteen by giving her her first line of coke. She also tries to push her daughters into having sex. She constantly shares stories of her sexual exploits with her daughters. Daphne treats her daughters more like they are her friends than her offspring.
Her Last Death is reminiscent of other memoirs about children being raised by less than ideal parents. I’ve read several other memoirs that fall into this category including Running with Scissors and The Glass Castle. In my opinion, Her Last Deathdoesn’t quite measure up to either of those. Frankly the book irritated me in some parts. It came across as self-absorbed and Sonnenberg didn’t quite make her descriptions of her experiences engaging and believable in a way that completely draws the reader into her life. Part of this could have been all of the blind-item-style name dropping. The writing was very strong in parts but overall was uneven. Sonnenberg does show promise though, and I would pick up something else she wrote if I came across it.
In her memoir, Sonnenberg recounts her life from her childhood through adulthood, focusing mostly on her relationship with her drug-addicted, promiscuous, name-dropping, boyfriend-stealing mother, Daphne. Daphne is constantly telling stories of her relationships and encounters with famous and important figures.
Daphne helps her daughter Susanna celebrate her sweet sixteen by giving her her first line of coke. She also tries to push her daughters into having sex. She constantly shares stories of her sexual exploits with her daughters. Daphne treats her daughters more like they are her friends than her offspring.
Her Last Death is reminiscent of other memoirs about children being raised by less than ideal parents. I’ve read several other memoirs that fall into this category including Running with Scissors and The Glass Castle. In my opinion, Her Last Deathdoesn’t quite measure up to either of those. Frankly the book irritated me in some parts. It came across as self-absorbed and Sonnenberg didn’t quite make her descriptions of her experiences engaging and believable in a way that completely draws the reader into her life. Part of this could have been all of the blind-item-style name dropping. The writing was very strong in parts but overall was uneven. Sonnenberg does show promise though, and I would pick up something else she wrote if I came across it.
goodem9199's review against another edition
3.0
wow...i would call this the female equivalent of augusten burroughs childhood. parts of this were so outlandish that i question their authenticity...darn james frey for making me a memoir skeptic!
anniewill's review against another edition
1.0
I found this memoir to be very self-indulgent. I actually didn’t believe the majority of the “stories” that the author relayed about her life. I found myself rolling my eyes a lot while reading. The author complained (a LOT) about how her mother lied to her throughout her life. She complained about how her mother’s mania caused her to be choppy and hard to follow in conversations. I think both criticisms could be applied to the author herself.
The author had quite the high opinion of herself; very proud of her looks and her sexuality. I found myself wondering why she would write this memoir. And how believable is it that she suddenly transformed from a promiscuous, self-absorbed woman to a loving, indulgent mother who never would lie to her children? It would have been interesting to hear more about this transformation.
The author had quite the high opinion of herself; very proud of her looks and her sexuality. I found myself wondering why she would write this memoir. And how believable is it that she suddenly transformed from a promiscuous, self-absorbed woman to a loving, indulgent mother who never would lie to her children? It would have been interesting to hear more about this transformation.
soupysail's review against another edition
4.0
Susanna Sonnenberg’s Her Last Death tells about her own past with her mother, a woman who cheated, taught her daughter drugs, sex, and about to die with cancer. The ok starts in her early childhood when she was around the ages of 4-8, who witnessed her own mother and father’s divorce. Conflicting her inner emotions and care for the safety of her two sons, Suzanna aka Suzy, has to make a choice to see her mother or never see her again. Suzy avoids her mother or even anything to do with her mother, ends up breaking down at a slow pace, starting with old memories of her as a kid. The book converts to Suzy’s past, which was filled with innocents to a warped and pained girl.
When her father straight up asked,” Do you mastrubate?” I found that scene unimaginable. A father asking his own 8-year- old daughter if she has ever pleasure herself. Her father’s girlfriend had to show her how to have the first clueless orgasm in her life. This was memorable because of how I was raised, which was the complete opposite of any of this. An eight year old learning such thing to me is bewildering. Suzy was so young and so innocent to be asked such a question. During this scene, the father was also being irritated on how slow she reacted to the question, like he expects her to know mastrubation without any guidance.
Ultimately, the story of a woman going through her lift against her mom, cringing at the times when her boyfriend cheated on herewith her mom, lusting with envy with envy when her midgets the limelight, and writing in a diary that conceals all her wildest dreams and thoughts. It all adds up to a tale of a girl’s transforming into a woman with an abusive mother, a painful realization that her mother who feast her eyes on any man, wasn’t the ideal mother for any child. Her Last Death tells that story very well, showing all the crimes her mother committed to law and reveal that not all mothers know how to care for her children in the healthy way.
Despite how the book was entertaining to read, I wouldn’t recomend the book because it didn’t capture my highest peak of curiosity. It wasn’t the book were you would expect to turn to turn every page in awe, reading nonstop. The book gives a disturbing story that will make you cringe at the thought that it is a real story. Everyone is so blunt about their sexual perfercances and how “good” the guy is/was. There was no huge excitement and drama was filled in every page. This isn the book I would recomend to read if you aren’t into those things like drama, sex, and most of all, lies. Overall, it was a good read but not a great one to givea recommendation to read.
From what I have learned about the book wasn’t a very pleasant thing. It opened my eyes that there are families like Suzy’s, who are messed up in a particular way to make themselves swear to ever go the same path as their parents did. They would alway deal with excuses as to why their parents aren’t there for them or even give the proper care. I learned that there’s two types of family, the healthy one and the corrupted one. Both have their flaws but the one with the corrupted one has to face with reality and the strength to make it or break it, hoping to never cross that path ever again.
This book gave me the feeling of chills running down my spine. Each time I begin to read a part that was disturbing, I would quickly set the book down and control my thoughts to mentally prepare for the image the scene would give me. The experience of being able to read this book gave me the feeling of the terrible butterflies in the stomach process. “ Oh my god, she really did it?!” was me on almost every page. I, who could not resemble with her situation, would ball my eyes out, trying to absorb all the story into my head, feeling so frustrated that she could’be done something different and let go of those feeling of envy and jealousy.
When her father straight up asked,” Do you mastrubate?” I found that scene unimaginable. A father asking his own 8-year- old daughter if she has ever pleasure herself. Her father’s girlfriend had to show her how to have the first clueless orgasm in her life. This was memorable because of how I was raised, which was the complete opposite of any of this. An eight year old learning such thing to me is bewildering. Suzy was so young and so innocent to be asked such a question. During this scene, the father was also being irritated on how slow she reacted to the question, like he expects her to know mastrubation without any guidance.
Ultimately, the story of a woman going through her lift against her mom, cringing at the times when her boyfriend cheated on herewith her mom, lusting with envy with envy when her midgets the limelight, and writing in a diary that conceals all her wildest dreams and thoughts. It all adds up to a tale of a girl’s transforming into a woman with an abusive mother, a painful realization that her mother who feast her eyes on any man, wasn’t the ideal mother for any child. Her Last Death tells that story very well, showing all the crimes her mother committed to law and reveal that not all mothers know how to care for her children in the healthy way.
Despite how the book was entertaining to read, I wouldn’t recomend the book because it didn’t capture my highest peak of curiosity. It wasn’t the book were you would expect to turn to turn every page in awe, reading nonstop. The book gives a disturbing story that will make you cringe at the thought that it is a real story. Everyone is so blunt about their sexual perfercances and how “good” the guy is/was. There was no huge excitement and drama was filled in every page. This isn the book I would recomend to read if you aren’t into those things like drama, sex, and most of all, lies. Overall, it was a good read but not a great one to givea recommendation to read.
From what I have learned about the book wasn’t a very pleasant thing. It opened my eyes that there are families like Suzy’s, who are messed up in a particular way to make themselves swear to ever go the same path as their parents did. They would alway deal with excuses as to why their parents aren’t there for them or even give the proper care. I learned that there’s two types of family, the healthy one and the corrupted one. Both have their flaws but the one with the corrupted one has to face with reality and the strength to make it or break it, hoping to never cross that path ever again.
This book gave me the feeling of chills running down my spine. Each time I begin to read a part that was disturbing, I would quickly set the book down and control my thoughts to mentally prepare for the image the scene would give me. The experience of being able to read this book gave me the feeling of the terrible butterflies in the stomach process. “ Oh my god, she really did it?!” was me on almost every page. I, who could not resemble with her situation, would ball my eyes out, trying to absorb all the story into my head, feeling so frustrated that she could’be done something different and let go of those feeling of envy and jealousy.
darastar's review against another edition
1.0
I'm sure that there are people out there that like this kind of book. Mostly to me, it just seemed terrible. Not terrible in the way that it was written badly, but terrible in that 90% of the book feels like the author is showing off - "See how edgy and rebellious, and daring I was as a teenager? See how difficult my life was? Isn't it amazing that I turned into this fairly normal woman after years and years of being a terrible?"
Another thing that will tell you something - I thought this was fiction until about 2/3 of the way through I realized it was an actual memoir. Whoops.
Another thing that will tell you something - I thought this was fiction until about 2/3 of the way through I realized it was an actual memoir. Whoops.
lennofspades's review against another edition
3.0
This is a memoir about a daughter's struggle to understand her own feelings about her mother. In a way, this is relatable. But her mother's actions is something I can't really comprehend and something that's so unmother-like.
This was honestly so hard to read and even more hard to believe that someone can do such things to their own child.
This was honestly so hard to read and even more hard to believe that someone can do such things to their own child.
kimmyannie's review against another edition
4.0
wow. surprising book. Really liked it. Disturbing, yet inspirational and sad. Amy- you've got to read this one!!
bookishblond's review against another edition
3.0
Watch out, this review might contain spoilers!
Her Last Death is a shocking tell-all memoir, and it was obviously written to shock. As other reviewers have noted, Susanne repeatedly writes that she is a liar like her mother and I find many of her stories to be hard to believe. Most of those doubtful episodes starred her mother. That being said, there was a lot of honesty in this memoir as well. Susanna doesn't always cast herself in a positive light and that makes the story more believable.
There was a lot about this memoir that I found disturbing, like the lengthy and unneeded chapter about Susanna's decision to have an abortion and her previous decision to put down an unruly puppy.
Susanna had an exotic childhood followed by an exciting life in New York and she never elaborated on her choice to live a vastly different kind of life in rural Montana. She somehow ditched her mother and her past life without much reflection.
Her Last Death is a shocking tell-all memoir, and it was obviously written to shock. As other reviewers have noted, Susanne repeatedly writes that she is a liar like her mother and I find many of her stories to be hard to believe. Most of those doubtful episodes starred her mother. That being said, there was a lot of honesty in this memoir as well. Susanna doesn't always cast herself in a positive light and that makes the story more believable.
There was a lot about this memoir that I found disturbing, like the lengthy and unneeded chapter about Susanna's decision to have an abortion and her previous decision to put down an unruly puppy.
Susanna had an exotic childhood followed by an exciting life in New York and she never elaborated on her choice to live a vastly different kind of life in rural Montana. She somehow ditched her mother and her past life without much reflection.
lindsayharmon's review against another edition
1.0
I'm officially done with memoirs about people who had crazy parents who screwed them up for life. I thought Augusten Burroughs had a messed-up childhood, but Sonnenberg's--dominated by a mom who gave her cocaine, lied about having terminal illnesses, and slept with her boyfriends and classmates--may actually top his. I'm embarrassed to have inadvertently included myself in either of their reading audiences, although at least I can say I didn't buy either one's book and only read them because well-meaning friends handed them to me.
albiesays's review against another edition
Didnt finish it, don't plan on finishing it, NEXT BOOK :D
Story : So I read up to page 106 and that was more than enough to figure out that I didn't like this book. I couldn't relate to the characters, I didn't feel bad for anyone and I thought it pretty poor written memoir.
Characters : What can I say about the characters...they're not very likable, even if the mom is meant to be unlikable , you still dont really hate her either. She's just a crappy mom but there isn't really that feeling of hate or dislike that you just feel bad for the people, it's more of a...meh, these people suck feeling.
Final Words : Maybe if I hadn't read another memoir about actual human struggles instead of a memoir about a girl who had too much coke and too much dick and has mommy issues. Yeah, I didn't like this XD
I can't give it a numbered rating because I didn't finish it, but I cant recommend this book.
Story : So I read up to page 106 and that was more than enough to figure out that I didn't like this book. I couldn't relate to the characters, I didn't feel bad for anyone and I thought it pretty poor written memoir.
Characters : What can I say about the characters...they're not very likable, even if the mom is meant to be unlikable , you still dont really hate her either. She's just a crappy mom but there isn't really that feeling of hate or dislike that you just feel bad for the people, it's more of a...meh, these people suck feeling.
Final Words : Maybe if I hadn't read another memoir about actual human struggles instead of a memoir about a girl who had too much coke and too much dick and has mommy issues. Yeah, I didn't like this XD
I can't give it a numbered rating because I didn't finish it, but I cant recommend this book.