The Last Odd Day: A Remarkable Story of Infidelity and Loss―and the Path to Forgiveness

by Lynne Hinton

From the Bestselling Author of Friendship Cake Comes a Remarkable Story of Love, Loss, Infidelity, and Forgiveness

Genres: Fiction, Book Club

186 pages, Paperback

First published May 25, 2004

About the author

Lynne Hinton is the pastor of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. The author of numerous novels including Friendship Cake, Hope Springs, Forever Friends, Christmas Cake, and Wedding Cake, she lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Reviews

[Faith Rens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy and fast read. Just a story-- no surprises, no profound truths, no poetry or remarkability in my opinion. Honestly happier to have finished it so quick to get it off my shelf after many moons of waiting for me than happy with the story. From the bottom of my heart, it was probably one of the okayest books I've ever read.

[Keshia Burchette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't love this book or hate it. It was a pretty good read but sort of boring.

[D.R. Oestreicher · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Odd Day by Lynne Hinton is a story of loss and love. Jean Witherspoon’s life is full of death and disappointments until she is left all alone. Like the others in her life, she perseveres, mourning and grieving, but never quitting. Acceptance.

If you are in the mood for a quiet love story without passion or joy, but with care and tolerance, this is your book.

For my detailed report: http://1book42day.blogspot.com/2018/0...
Check out https://amazon.com/shop/influencer-20... for book recommendations.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is like reliving the life of your grandmother. They don't want to talk about the hard parts, but when you witness them and they finally open up, the pieces fall exactly where they should to give that person clarity. We don't spend enough time talking to our grandparents. Or asking our parents some of the hard questions. But do we really know the life they've lived? Or only the life they've portrayed? This is a book about the hard things in life. Couldn't put it down. Just wish there was more to the story.

[LInda L · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in 2011 and didn't much like it. I just re-read it and kind of loved it -- from 2 stars to 4. Jean's life was filled with death - parents, child, husband. And perhaps some I've forgotten. It was nice that she took in Lilly and shared her father's life with her. Jean was amazingly resilient -- just kept bouncing back. And is it true that the next odd day won't be until 3111??

[Lisa Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of lessons here about life and dealing w/ one’s own pain, how the effort to protect oneself has impact on those who would love you. Not a happy tale but lots of redemption and reminders.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is hard to describe this book, except that it is about grief, family, and what might have been. It is a quiet book - bittersweet, but satisfying.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

the Last Odd Day...is an odd book! Introspective as it unfolds.

[Terri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Different

[Carol Siders · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much food for thought. I really liked the book

[Grace Woodard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m rating this four stars only because I wish it was a bit longer and in depth, the plot was good but seemed a bit shallow because of the length of the book.

[Melissa (Always Behind) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jean Witherspoon is content with her life. She's not exactly happy, but being happy would mean she would also have to suffer pain. And Jean put her painful experiences away a long time ago, closing herself off to deeper emotions.

Jean was born to a Cherokee mother and a blind father, both of whom died before she was fifteen. She carries that grief inside, but chooses to focus on her nearly fifty year marriage to her husband O.T. It is not without heartache. For the past seventeen months, O.T. has been living in a nursing home, after a stroke and broken hip. Jean visits daily, helping O.T. with eating, and savoring the moments of clarity when they can converse. One day however, Jean's tidy world is turned upside down when she finds out that a woman has been visiting O.T., claiming to be his daughter. After O.T. dies, Jean learns more than she ever imagined possible about this woman, about herself, and about the missing pieces of her relationship with her husband.

This is a true gem. It's difficult to convey the depth of raw emotion conveyed in the writing without making it seem too maudlin, which it definitely is not. Lynne Hinton has a beautiful way of communicating exactly what her characters are thinking and feeling, without wasting a single word. The reader feels a part of the story, experiencing everything along with the protagonists. Most readers will relate to Jean on some level. The grief and loss she has undergone has caused her to close herself off. When she finally makes a breakthrough, she handles herself with a surprising grace. What takes place in the novel will resonate with readers and cause them to examine their own lives.

I have read most of Lynne Hinton's other books and found The Last Odd Day her best to date. She has a gift for depicting female friendships in a realistic way, and showing their growth and development even in light of hardship. Although this is a fairly short novel, it's not one to be consumed in a quick gulp, but rather to be savored and pondered.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lynn Hinton presents a bittersweet story of a woman who looks back and examine her life and her marriage when her husband of many years dies and a surprising young woman appears who opens doors from the past. I always am inspired by this author's writing. She has a quote in this book that sticks with me. I have heard it before and it is so true.

"In the end, it isn't how you count things that matters, it's how the things that matter count."
"There isn't any keeping score or way to make things even, in love or in suffering, in life."

[mom2wah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Never heard of author read because of referral
Jeans husband is very sick and us in a facility.
He pAsses away and jean is forced to reflect on her life. The good and the bad. Then she finds secrets. How she deals with them is unbelievable. Great outlook on life and looking back and within.

[Kristi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was just ok- I kind of liked the premise, but it didn't really go anywhere. I didn't really care too much about the characters or the story. There were, however, some interesting side stories interspersed throughout.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad book at all. Liked the main character very much. She a very resilient soul - and I loved the idea that some things don't have to be some one else's fault - some things just are the way the are.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character of this book comes from several generations that have had extremely hard lives. When her husband dies, the protective walls that she has spent her lifetime creating begin to crumble.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my favorite book by this author. Good characters and plot.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a endearing but very mundane book. I wish that there had been more plot and character development.

[LInda L · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very good -- disappointing after one of hers which was excellent. This one dragged along, and not very interestingly.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok...not bad...not awesome.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing Special - having the hardest time getting into a book right now so ---
I re-reading the Hunger Games series again. Love those!!!!!

[Shannon The Co-Captain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite Lynne Hinton book but it's still worth a read. I really appreciate the strength of the heroine in the story.

[Kim Faires · Rating 2 out of 5]

Odd little book.

[Cathy Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's an okay book.

[Sandra Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this quiet story of loss, contemplation, and forgiveness.

[Kristi Brendle · Rating 3 out of 5]

easy, quick read of sadness, loss and redemption.

[Georgia Herod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again Hinton showcases the significance of women's friendships as Jean Clover rebuilds her life after OT Witherspoon dies. Faith and forgiveness are also important themes.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an easy read about relationships and life's lessons.
I enjoyed it. it was easy to feel the emotions of Jean and the struggles of her relationship with O.T.

[Anne Oswald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written--I liked it a lot.