The Last Girls - Hardcover

Smith, Lee

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1565123638 ISBN 13: 9781565123632

Publisher: Algonquin Books, 2002

Synopsis

Thirty-five years after a trip down the Mississippi on a raft with their classmates, four women are reunited to cruise the river once again, this time on a luxury steamboat, down to New Orleans, where they plan to release the ashes of a fellow rafter, Margaret "Baby" Ballou.

About this title

Review:

"Wise and insightful . . . "The Last Girls deserves to be shared, pondered, and treasured."
-"The "Dallas Morning News
"[A] GENIAL, THOUGHTFUL, FUNNY NOVEL, WRITTEN WITH THE WIT AND ASSURANCE OF A BORN STORYTELLER."
-"The Hartford Courant
"RICH AND DELICIOUS . . . THE STORY OF FOUR WOMEN . . .Years ago, they were girls, not women-the last generation of American females to be called 'girls'-who traveled down the Mississippi River . . . on a makeshift raft while they were on summer vacation . . . There were twelve of them on that trip; now there are these four, brought together by tragedy. One of their classmates . . . has died in an automobile wreck (was it really an accident?), and her husband has asked the old friends to re-create the river journey and scatter her ashes at the mouth of the Mississippi. . . . It's a reunion of classmates with all of the in-between revealed in intimate detail, as only a skilled and classy storyteller can do it."
-"The Boston Globe
"AN HONEST PORTRAIT OF INTELLIGENT, WELL-ROUNDED SOUTHERNERS is always refreshing, and "The Last Girls delivers. The book may be influenced by Twain, but Smith proves she has a voice all her own."
-"USA Today
"BREEZILY WRITTEN AND DISPLAYING SMITH'S TRADEMARK PITCH-PERFECT EAR FOR DIALOGUE, funny but with the dark touches of all good comedy, the novel charts the course by which the 'girls' . . . seek love and self-fulfillment during the three decades approaching the end of the century. Call it "Huckleberry Fin de Siecle."
-"Time Out New York
"SMITH'S COMIC GENIUS SPARKLES . . . Under Smith's deft hand, these woman bloom exceptionally authentic."
-"Winston-Salem Journal
BB/BallantineBooks
Visit the Ballantine Reader's Circle Web site at
www.ballantinebooks.com/BRC/

A 2002 "BOOKLIST EDITOR'S CHOICE PICK
"[SMITH IS] NOTHING LESS THAN MASTERLY."
-"The New York Times Book Review
"Rich, personal, charming, and compassionate . . . Using the premise that both a reunion and a riverboat provide good lookouts on the past, she details the passing terrain as she details each woman's emotional history, from child to adult, from dates to love affairs, from silly shenanigans to tragic accidents. And what details! The book is filled with memorable scenes. . . . Smith adds a purely feminine, deeply southern twist to the Mark Twain tradition of humor and precision applied generously to the subject of human weakness."
-"Richmond Times-Dispatch
"Lee Smith's genius is in her seamless weaving of the two stories, past and present, so that we realize what the stakes are for these women, and how they have arrived at the reunion as footsore pilgrims-a bit battered and bruised, but sailing on nevertheless. . . . Smith has that talent that all storytellers envy: the ability to dive deeply into the lives of her characters, to bring them to life in their rich fullness, warts and all. Each of these women could energize an entire book. Each brings something unique and captivating to a superb tale that will stay with you long after the reading is done. Together they compel each of us to ask what has brought us to the near shore, and how we set sail from here."
-"The Boston Globe

“Wise and insightful . . . "The Last Girls "deserves to be shared, pondered, and treasured.”
–"The" "Dallas Morning News"
“[A] GENIAL, THOUGHTFUL, FUNNY NOVEL, WRITTEN WITH THE WIT AND ASSURANCE OF A BORN STORYTELLER.”
–"The Hartford Courant"
“RICH AND DELICIOUS . . . THE STORY OF FOUR WOMEN . . .Years ago, they were girls, not women–the last generation of American females to be called ‘girls’–who traveled down the Mississippi River . . . on a makeshift raft while they were on summer vacation . . . There were twelve of them on that trip; now there are these four, brought together by tragedy. One of their classmates . . . has died in an automobile wreck (was it really an accident?), and her husband has asked the old friends to re-create the river journey and scatter her ashes at the mouth of the Mississippi. . . . It’s a reunion of classmates with all of the in-between revealed in intimate detail, as

"Wise and insightful . . . "The Last Girls "deserves to be shared, pondered, and treasured."
-"The""Dallas Morning News"
"[A] GENIAL, THOUGHTFUL, FUNNY NOVEL, WRITTEN WITH THE WIT AND ASSURANCE OF A BORN STORYTELLER."
-"The Hartford Courant"
"RICH AND DELICIOUS . . . THE STORY OF FOUR WOMEN . . .Years ago, they were girls, not women-the last generation of American females to be called 'girls'-who traveled down the Mississippi River . . . on a makeshift raft while they were on summer vacation . . . There were twelve of them on that trip; now there are these four, brought together by tragedy. One of their classmates . . . has died in an automobile wreck (was it really an accident?), and her husband has asked the old friends to re-create the river journey and scatter her ashes at the mouth of the Mississippi. . . . It's a reunion of classmates with all of the in-between revealed in intimate detail, as only a skilled and classy storyteller can do it."
-"The Boston Globe"
"AN HONEST PORTRAIT OF INTELLIGENT, WELL-ROUNDED SOUTHERNERS is always refreshing, and "The Last Girls" delivers. The book may be influenced by Twain, but Smith proves she has a voice all her own."
-"USA Today"
"BREEZILY WRITTEN AND DISPLAYING SMITH'S TRADEMARK PITCH-PERFECT EAR FOR DIALOGUE, funny but with the dark touches of all good comedy, the novel charts the course by which the 'girls' . . . seek love and self-fulfillment during the three decades approaching the end of the century. Call it "Huckleberry Fin de Siecle.""
-"Time Out New York"
"SMITH'S COMIC GENIUS SPARKLES . . . Under Smith's deft hand, these woman bloom exceptionally authentic."
-"Winston-Salem Journal"
BB/Ballantine Books
Visit the Ballantine Reader's Circle Web site at
www.ballantinebooks.com/BRC/

A 2002 "BOOKLIST" EDITOR'S CHOICE PICK
"[SMITH IS] NOTHING LESS THAN MASTERLY."
-"The New York Times Book Review"
"Rich, personal, charming, and compassionate . . . Using the premise that both a reunion and a riverboat provide good lookouts on the past, she details the passing terrain as she details each woman's emotional history, from child to adult, from dates to love affairs, from silly shenanigans to tragic accidents. And what details! The book is filled with memorable scenes. . . . Smith adds a purely feminine, deeply southern twist to the Mark Twain tradition of humor and precision applied generously to the subject of human weakness."
-"Richmond Times-Dispatch"
"Lee Smith's genius is in her seamless weaving of the two stories, past and present, so that we realize what the stakes are for these women, and how they have arrived at the reunion as footsore pilgrims-a bit battered and bruised, but sailing on nevertheless. . . . Smith has that talent that all storytellers envy: the ability to dive deeply into the lives of her characters, to bring them to life in their rich fullness, warts and all. Each of these women could energize an entire book. Each brings something unique and captivating to a superb tale that will stay with you long after the reading is done. Together they compel each of us to ask what has brought us to the near shore, and how we set sail from here."
-"The Boston Globe"

Wise and insightful . . . "The Last Girls "deserves to be shared, pondered, and treasured.
"The" "Dallas Morning News"
[A] GENIAL, THOUGHTFUL, FUNNY NOVEL, WRITTEN WITH THE WIT AND ASSURANCE OF A BORN STORYTELLER.
"The Hartford Courant"
RICH AND DELICIOUS . . . THE STORY OF FOUR WOMEN . . .Years ago, they were girls, not women the last generation of American females to be called girls who traveled down the Mississippi River . . . on a makeshift raft while they were on summer vacation . . . There were twelve of them on that trip; now there are these four, brought together by tragedy. One of their classmates . . . has died in an automobile wreck (was it really an accident?), and her husband has asked the old friends to re-create the river journey and scatter her ashes at the mouth of the Mississippi. . . . It s a reunion of classmates with all of the in-between revealed in intimate detail, as only a skilled and classy storyteller can do it.
"The Boston Globe"
AN HONEST PORTRAIT OF INTELLIGENT, WELL-ROUNDED SOUTHERNERS is always refreshing, and "The Last Girls" delivers. The book may be influenced by Twain, but Smith proves she has a voice all her own.
"USA Today"
BREEZILY WRITTEN AND DISPLAYING SMITH S TRADEMARK PITCH-PERFECT EAR FOR DIALOGUE, funny but with the dark touches of all good comedy, the novel charts the course by which the girls . . . seek love and self-fulfillment during the three decades approaching the end of the century. Call it "Huckleberry Fin de Siecle."
"Time Out New York"
SMITH S COMIC GENIUS SPARKLES . . . Under Smith s deft hand, these woman bloom exceptionally authentic.
"Winston-Salem Journal"
BB/Ballantine Books
Visit the Ballantine Reader s Circle Web site at
www.ballantinebooks.com/BRC/

A 2002 "BOOKLIST" EDITOR S CHOICE PICK
[SMITH IS] NOTHING LESS THAN MASTERLY.
"The New York Times Book Review"
Rich, personal, charming, and compassionate . . . Using the premise that both a reunion and a riverboat provide good lookouts on the past, she details the passing terrain as she details each woman s emotional history, from child to adult, from dates to love affairs, from silly shenanigans to tragic accidents. And what details! The book is filled with memorable scenes. . . . Smith adds a purely feminine, deeply southern twist to the Mark Twain tradition of humor and precision applied generously to the subject of human weakness.
"Richmond Times-Dispatch"
Lee Smith s genius is in her seamless weaving of the two stories, past and present, so that we realize what the stakes are for these women, and how they have arrived at the reunion as footsore pilgrims a bit battered and bruised, but sailing on nevertheless. . . . Smith has that talent that all storytellers envy: the ability to dive deeply into the lives of her characters, to bring them to life in their rich fullness, warts and all. Each of these women could energize an entire book. Each brings something unique and captivating to a superb tale that will stay with you long after the reading is done. Together they compel each of us to ask what has brought us to the near shore, and how we set sail from here.
"The Boston Globe""

Wise and insightful . . . The Last Girls deserves to be shared, pondered, and treasured.
The Dallas Morning News
[A] GENIAL, THOUGHTFUL, FUNNY NOVEL, WRITTEN WITH THE WIT AND ASSURANCE OF A BORN STORYTELLER.
The Hartford Courant

RICH AND DELICIOUS . . . THE STORY OF FOUR WOMEN . . .Years ago, they were girls, not women the last generation of American females to be called girls who traveled down the Mississippi River . . . on a makeshift raft while they were on summer vacation . . . There were twelve of them on that trip; now there are these four, brought together by tragedy. One of their classmates . . . has died in an automobile wreck (was it really an accident?), and her husband has asked the old friends to re-create the river journey and scatter her ashes at the mouth of the Mississippi. . . . It s a reunion of classmates with all of the in-between revealed in intimate detail, as only a skilled and classy storyteller can do it.
The Boston Globe
AN HONEST PORTRAIT OF INTELLIGENT, WELL-ROUNDED SOUTHERNERS is always refreshing, and The Last Girls delivers. The book may be influenced by Twain, but Smith proves she has a voice all her own.
USA Today
BREEZILY WRITTEN AND DISPLAYING SMITH S TRADEMARK PITCH-PERFECT EAR FOR DIALOGUE, funny but with the dark touches of all good comedy, the novel charts the course by which the girls . . . seek love and self-fulfillment during the three decades approaching the end of the century. Call it Huckleberry Fin de Siecle.
Time Out New York
SMITH S COMIC GENIUS SPARKLES . . . Under Smith s deft hand, these woman bloom exceptionally authentic.
Winston-Salem Journal

BB/Ballantine Books
Visit the Ballantine Reader s Circle Web site at
www.ballantinebooks.com/BRC/

A 2002 BOOKLIST EDITOR S CHOICE PICK
[SMITH IS] NOTHING LESS THAN MASTERLY.
The New York Times Book Review

Rich, personal, charming, and compassionate . . . Using the premise that both a reunion and a riverboat provide good lookouts on the past, she details the passing terrain as she details each woman s emotional history, from child to adult, from dates to love affairs, from silly shenanigans to tragic accidents. And what details! The book is filled with memorable scenes. . . . Smith adds a purely feminine, deeply southern twist to the Mark Twain tradition of humor and precision applied generously to the subject of human weakness.
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Lee Smith s genius is in her seamless weaving of the two stories, past and present, so that we realize what the stakes are for these women, and how they have arrived at the reunion as footsore pilgrims a bit battered and bruised, but sailing on nevertheless. . . . Smith has that talent that all storytellers envy: the ability to dive deeply into the lives of her characters, to bring them to life in their rich fullness, warts and all. Each of these women could energize an entire book. Each brings something unique and captivating to a superb tale that will stay with you long after the reading is done. Together they compel each of us to ask what has brought us to the near shore, and how we set sail from here.
The Boston Globe"

"Wise and insightful . . . The Last Girls deserves to be shared, pondered, and treasured."
-The Dallas Morning News
"[A] GENIAL, THOUGHTFUL, FUNNY NOVEL, WRITTEN WITH THE WIT AND ASSURANCE OF A BORN STORYTELLER."
-The Hartford Courant

"RICH AND DELICIOUS . . . THE STORY OF FOUR WOMEN . . .Years ago, they were girls, not women-the last generation of American females to be called 'girls'-who traveled down the Mississippi River . . . on a makeshift raft while they were on summer vacation . . . There were twelve of them on that trip; now there are these four, brought together by tragedy. One of their classmates . . . has died in an automobile wreck (was it really an accident?), and her husband has asked the old friends to re-create the river journey and scatter her ashes at the mouth of the Mississippi. . . . It's a reunion of classmates with all of the in-between revealed in intimate detail, as only a skilled and classy storyteller can do it."
-The Boston Globe

"AN HONEST PORTRAIT OF INTELLIGENT, WELL-ROUNDED SOUTHERNERS is always refreshing, and The Last Girls delivers. The book may be influenced by Twain, but Smith proves she has a voice all her own."
-USA Today
"BREEZILY WRITTEN AND DISPLAYING SMITH'S TRADEMARK PITCH-PERFECT EAR FOR DIALOGUE, funny but with the dark touches of all good comedy, the novel charts the course by which the 'girls' . . . ...

About the Author:

Lee Smith is a senior editor at The Weekly Standard. He has written for Slate, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the New Republic, as well as for a variety of major Arab media outlets. He is also a senior fellow of the Hudson Institute and the author of The Strong Horse: Power, Politics, and the Clash of Arab Civilizations. A native of New York, he currently resides in Washington, DC.

About this edition

• Publisher: Algonquin Books
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 1565123638
• ISBN 13: 9781565123632
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 400