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Homelanders #1
The Last Thing I Remember
Charlie West just woke up in someone else's nightmare.
He's strapped to a chair. He's covered in blood and bruises. He hurts all over. And a strange voice outside the door just ordered his death.
The last thing he can remember, he was a normal high-school kid doing normal things--working on his homework, practicing karate, daydreaming of becoming an air force pilot, writing a pretty girl's number on his hand. How long ago was that? Where is he now? Who is he really?
And more to the point . . . how is he going to get out of this room alive?
He's strapped to a chair. He's covered in blood and bruises. He hurts all over. And a strange voice outside the door just ordered his death.
The last thing he can remember, he was a normal high-school kid doing normal things--working on his homework, practicing karate, daydreaming of becoming an air force pilot, writing a pretty girl's number on his hand. How long ago was that? Where is he now? Who is he really?
And more to the point . . . how is he going to get out of this room alive?
336 pages, Hardcover
First published April 2, 2009
About the author
Andrew Klavan
109 books2,408 followersReference for now:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_K...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_K...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 987 reviews
June 3, 2012
This is one of the best books I've read this year! I not only loved that fact that it was an unpredictable mystery but that it dealt with moral issues.
Charlie's friend who is very disillusioned with life says to him 'You think, work hard, pray to God, respect your parents, love America, and everything'll be great .'
This is a key point. Things aren't great at all but Charlie has a moral compass and uses that along with the wise words of the people that have guided him in the past to navigate the challenges that face him throughout the book. He indicates profane expletives that other people say without actually telling you what the word is. This is so refreshing in a young adult book that it makes the book a good choice for a tween book group especially with the study questions in the back.
As an adult it kept me interested the whole way through--edge of the seat excitement with unexpected twists and turns. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
It isn't your typical sex, drugs and rock and roll YA book. Both guys and gals will find it a great adventure. There is some of the usual high school boy has a crush on a beautiful girl scenario as the book goes back and forth in time but this gives you a feel for how weird his situation is compared to how normal it was in the past.
There aren't enough authors out there that are willing to tackle the hard topic of listening to your inner voice when the going gets tough and having to make life and death decisions on faith. The book handles the religious and patriotic references in a way that kids should be able to relate to whether or not they are Jewish or Muslim or Christian or come from another country.
Charlie's friend who is very disillusioned with life says to him 'You think, work hard, pray to God, respect your parents, love America, and everything'll be great .'
This is a key point. Things aren't great at all but Charlie has a moral compass and uses that along with the wise words of the people that have guided him in the past to navigate the challenges that face him throughout the book. He indicates profane expletives that other people say without actually telling you what the word is. This is so refreshing in a young adult book that it makes the book a good choice for a tween book group especially with the study questions in the back.
As an adult it kept me interested the whole way through--edge of the seat excitement with unexpected twists and turns. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
It isn't your typical sex, drugs and rock and roll YA book. Both guys and gals will find it a great adventure. There is some of the usual high school boy has a crush on a beautiful girl scenario as the book goes back and forth in time but this gives you a feel for how weird his situation is compared to how normal it was in the past.
There aren't enough authors out there that are willing to tackle the hard topic of listening to your inner voice when the going gets tough and having to make life and death decisions on faith. The book handles the religious and patriotic references in a way that kids should be able to relate to whether or not they are Jewish or Muslim or Christian or come from another country.
February 23, 2017
SOMEONE GET ME THE NEXT BOOK STAT.
This was good. Really good. (I totally did not stay up till 1:45 am reading this. Noooooope.)
I actually started reading this a couple years ago...but I got distracted. *coughity cough* So when a friend of mine (you know who you are ;D) recommended this to me, I decided to give it another try.
It took me a while to get into this book. (A while being 180 pages. :P) But once I did, I was hooked. I tore through the rest of the book last night in record time.
Basically, if you enjoy thrillers--even if it's only on occasion, like me--then definitely try this book out. The teen lingo in spots is a bit...well, annoying. But if you can look past that, then you're in for a wild ride.
3.5 stars
This was good. Really good. (I totally did not stay up till 1:45 am reading this. Noooooope.)
I actually started reading this a couple years ago...but I got distracted. *coughity cough* So when a friend of mine (you know who you are ;D) recommended this to me, I decided to give it another try.
It took me a while to get into this book. (A while being 180 pages. :P) But once I did, I was hooked. I tore through the rest of the book last night in record time.
Basically, if you enjoy thrillers--even if it's only on occasion, like me--then definitely try this book out. The teen lingo in spots is a bit...well, annoying. But if you can look past that, then you're in for a wild ride.
3.5 stars
February 1, 2026
rtc, in the next week i PROMISE<33
pre-read 9/12/24
uhh soo i have to read this for school, but it sounds interesting?!
pre-read 9/12/24
uhh soo i have to read this for school, but it sounds interesting?!
Read
May 6, 2018AH THE ENDING. *is contemplating reading book two* Honestly I wasn't going to, but now...I'm curious. 😝 I enjoyed this, but there were moments I didn't. The writing bothered me a little and, although a lot happened, it wasn't very fast-paced (or just didn't feel like it was). I liked it, though! Charlie is a good MC and the plot is intriguing. I might even recommend this to my little bro.
January 15, 2024
An excellent start to this series. A YA novel written by Andrew Klavan, a master of the mystery/thriller genre. Thoroughly enjoyed by this adult! Will start the next in the series immediately.
July 29, 2018
What a ride! This is the kind of story that grabs you and just doesn't let go! Glad I have the rest of the series on hand!
September 1, 2022
Overall Rating : D
"Never give in. Never, never, never."
Charlie West wakes up from a normal day to him beaten, strapped to a chair and about to be killed. And he can't remember a single thing that lead to this outcome. Can he make it out alive? Unfortunately, it looks like it.
I'm trying to read old books I got years and years ago to see if they hold up or not, sadly, this was a bust.
Guys, this was so corny, so cheesy, so cliche I could've made a brunch with it. How I ever read this and enjoyed it?? Something must have been in the air.
Definitely for the very young age group. Which is weird because Charlie is 18 and you'd think he'd, you know, act like an 18 year old. Very idealistic, naïve, and goody goody to the point it wasn't just unbelievable, he was just annoyingly self righteous .
Everything also had a black and white view of people and the world you wished that something terrible to happen.
Also very pro-America, God, and anti-anything not those. Like I said, very, very cheesy and stupid.
Just remember guys, not everything at the Scholastic Book Fair is a good read. Spend your parents money wisely! 😂
"Never give in. Never, never, never."
Charlie West wakes up from a normal day to him beaten, strapped to a chair and about to be killed. And he can't remember a single thing that lead to this outcome. Can he make it out alive? Unfortunately, it looks like it.
I'm trying to read old books I got years and years ago to see if they hold up or not, sadly, this was a bust.
Guys, this was so corny, so cheesy, so cliche I could've made a brunch with it. How I ever read this and enjoyed it?? Something must have been in the air.
Definitely for the very young age group. Which is weird because Charlie is 18 and you'd think he'd, you know, act like an 18 year old. Very idealistic, naïve, and goody goody to the point it wasn't just unbelievable, he was just annoyingly self righteous .
Everything also had a black and white view of people and the world you wished that something terrible to happen.
Also very pro-America, God, and anti-anything not those. Like I said, very, very cheesy and stupid.
Just remember guys, not everything at the Scholastic Book Fair is a good read. Spend your parents money wisely! 😂
January 3, 2018
I sat down and read this all in one day. I loved the suspense, and the spiritual content (even though there wasn't a ton).
I did get annoyed at how Charlie doesn't really like anyone. I mean, he pegs them all as annoying or shallow. Except, of coarse, Beth. Also, I am a U.S. patriot, but I think this book took it a bit far. The author made it sound like America could do no wrong, and we practically made sure the world turned. *Gag*
But, I did love how clean the book was. Charlie was a cool main character. The pace was kept really fast, which I loved. I look forward to reading the next book.
I did get annoyed at how Charlie doesn't really like anyone. I mean, he pegs them all as annoying or shallow. Except, of coarse, Beth. Also, I am a U.S. patriot, but I think this book took it a bit far. The author made it sound like America could do no wrong, and we practically made sure the world turned. *Gag*
But, I did love how clean the book was. Charlie was a cool main character. The pace was kept really fast, which I loved. I look forward to reading the next book.
February 5, 2010
Charlie West is the all-around good kid. At seventeen-years-old, he has achieved quite a lot in life and lives in a pretty good household. He has a black belt, acquires decent grades, and already knows what he wants to do when he grows up. Sure, his mom can be a little over-protective and his dad doesn't listen to him sometimes, but that's okay. That is until he wakes up in a torture room. Strapped to a chair. And with no recollection of an entire year. Later on, Charlie learns that in the past year alone he has been convicted for the murder of his best friend. He also has joined a group of terrorists called the Homelanders. Throughout the book Charlie struggles to remember what has happened to him and why he is going through such a terrible time of crisis.
The Last Thing I Remember was a decent novel, but definitely meant to be read by younger teenage males. The book is pretty much nonstop action, with almost no character development or plot development. I hope Klavan doesn't decide to drag this series out for too long, because there's only so much solid writing and action-packed suspense can do to hold a reader's attention. Regardless, I will stay tuned for the next book.
The Last Thing I Remember was a decent novel, but definitely meant to be read by younger teenage males. The book is pretty much nonstop action, with almost no character development or plot development. I hope Klavan doesn't decide to drag this series out for too long, because there's only so much solid writing and action-packed suspense can do to hold a reader's attention. Regardless, I will stay tuned for the next book.
December 23, 2020
THAT WAS SO GOOD.
Though plots with good-guy-on-the-run-from-the-police-cause-he's-been-set-up elements tend to spike my blood pressure.😂
Though plots with good-guy-on-the-run-from-the-police-cause-he's-been-set-up elements tend to spike my blood pressure.😂
December 29, 2012
Once I got past the first chapter or two, this book really took off--and I loved it! Quite the exciting page-turning thrill ride until the very last page. I loved the crazy-making sense of mystery. I loved Charlie's character, too. It was so refreshing to have an older teen boy protagonist who had such strong faith, morals, values, and love of his country and liberty. The karate was so fun, too! My son is currently taking karate and I really enjoyed all the details and the philosophies of a great karate teacher.
I REALLY love the fact that this book is CLEAN. This is proof to anyone who thinks it can't be done that it's very possible to write a super-exciting, tense, action-packed YA book about a 17-year-old boy that has no bad language, no sex, virtually no blood and gore or any of that garbage. I loved finishing this book and knowing that I could hand it to my 12-year-old son or 14-year-old daughter with no qualms whatsoever. Thank you, Andrew Klavan, for writing a great, CLEAN book! I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
I REALLY love the fact that this book is CLEAN. This is proof to anyone who thinks it can't be done that it's very possible to write a super-exciting, tense, action-packed YA book about a 17-year-old boy that has no bad language, no sex, virtually no blood and gore or any of that garbage. I loved finishing this book and knowing that I could hand it to my 12-year-old son or 14-year-old daughter with no qualms whatsoever. Thank you, Andrew Klavan, for writing a great, CLEAN book! I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
February 12, 2022
My goodness. That was a crazy ride. XD
Review to come eventually.
Review to come eventually.
April 18, 2016
My three words of the day to describe this book;
Intense.
(of extreme force, degree, strength, feeling, passion, seriousness)
Taken back.
(Confused, astonished, surprised, going backwards)
Crazy.
(mad, mentally deranged, aggressive manner, infatuated, lunatic, extreme)
"A complete thrill ride with the throttle not letting up", is how I would describe this book in full.
A normal kid is thrown into a life threatening, life altering, life forever-never the same-situation. I loved how Andrew brought us back to the last thing Charlie West remembered and walked us through the day, through each moment. I loved the crazy twist! I can't tell you for spoiler's, but yah! Crazy.
Andrew's voice in this book reminds me a lot of another male writer I read before. It feels like you are living it with him, then being pulled back into the past and then, as if he is talking beside you, to you. It is an interesting voice. I had to get used to it, but it was good :P
There is violence in the book and talk about some martial arts (which can be spiritual) Though he did it tastefully and with a focus and relation on Godliness, which was nice. There was words like "stupid" in it and "cursing" under ones breathe but, no actual words used. I am always grateful for that. A clean read, in all!
Now, I have to wait to get the next book. Ugh! A cliff-hanger ending leaves me no other choice! I can't wait for the next adventure to begin :D
Intense.
(of extreme force, degree, strength, feeling, passion, seriousness)
Taken back.
(Confused, astonished, surprised, going backwards)
Crazy.
(mad, mentally deranged, aggressive manner, infatuated, lunatic, extreme)
"A complete thrill ride with the throttle not letting up", is how I would describe this book in full.
A normal kid is thrown into a life threatening, life altering, life forever-never the same-situation. I loved how Andrew brought us back to the last thing Charlie West remembered and walked us through the day, through each moment. I loved the crazy twist! I can't tell you for spoiler's, but yah! Crazy.
Andrew's voice in this book reminds me a lot of another male writer I read before. It feels like you are living it with him, then being pulled back into the past and then, as if he is talking beside you, to you. It is an interesting voice. I had to get used to it, but it was good :P
There is violence in the book and talk about some martial arts (which can be spiritual) Though he did it tastefully and with a focus and relation on Godliness, which was nice. There was words like "stupid" in it and "cursing" under ones breathe but, no actual words used. I am always grateful for that. A clean read, in all!
Now, I have to wait to get the next book. Ugh! A cliff-hanger ending leaves me no other choice! I can't wait for the next adventure to begin :D
July 25, 2011
"I don't know who these guys are, or what they want, but I'm going to stop them". Ok, so this quote is from the movie trailer of Abducted, but I think it really reflects the vibe of the first 50 pages of this book (which is all I could stomach). The main character is supposed to be some ass-kicking agent with top secret jobs and he's only 17 years old, though he's conveniently forgotten that. I thought it was annoying when every teen book I read is from a whiny self-described loser's perspective; imagine how much more ludicrous that ploy is when it comes from the high-school jock who just got the phone number of the second-most popular girl in school. Not that he can actually conceive of truly being outside the main stream- his only mode of thinking is mainstream thought, with absolutely no room whatsoever for questioning, nuance, or changes of perspective. If you like big, dumb, action movies (and hey, what's wrong with big, dumb, action movies?) featuring paragons of the mass-marketed American dream, you will probably love this book.
May 12, 2018
This is what I like to see. Fast-paced action, a twist or two to put us off balance just when we think we've figured everything out, and bold philosophical independence that infuses the text with purpose and character. Andrew Klavan's The Last Thing I Remember kicks off a series that could get even better as the author hones his writing for the young-adult set. No time is wasted before pushing us into the middle of the action as Charlie West wakes up alone in a room, tied to a chair, his torso bloodied from an assortment of torture tools on a nearby rack. With no idea how he got here, Charlie hears a discussion out in the hall. One of the voices orders Charlie killed, and just that fast, he has only seconds to live.
"And the truth is, there may come a time when even the most peaceful man alive has to fight or else something truly evil will happen."
—The Last Thing I Remember, P. 37
Straining at the ropes that bind him, Charlie tries to recall everything that happened yesterday. He finished a report for school and turned it in; gave a karate demonstration in front of his school, including Beth Summers, the girl he wanted to impress more than anyone; he went to karate class and conversed with Sensei Mike about his own ambition to be an Air Force pilot; then he had a heated exchange with Alex Hauser, who used to be his best friend before Alex changed. After going to bed, the next thing Charlie remembers is being in this chair. What happened? There's no time for further contemplation, only instinctive action in the face of death. Operating on adrenaline alone, Charlie evades the two brutish thugs come to administer a lethal injection. Bullets ricochet as he sprints toward a black square he hopes is a painted window, his only chance of escape.
Armed and vicious, Charlie's tormentors stalk him through the woods. He's weak from blood loss and hunger, but a few lucky breaks allow him to avoid immediate recapture. Now he wonders: can he contact his parents without placing them in jeopardy? Why did killers abduct him in the first place, and what reason could they have for exterminating him? If only Charlie could remember what happened between the ecstasy of the previous day—the first time he ever made headway getting close to Beth—and the chamber of horrors he awoke into today. It's the stuff of nightmares, but Charlie won't wake up from this safe and healthy in bed. One mistake on the lam from his cold-eyed pursuers and he, his family, and friends could all suffer.
"It's all right to have butterflies in your stomach...but you've got to make them fly in formation."
—Sensei Mike, The Last Thing I Remember, P. 44
There are people out there who know exactly what transpired during Charlie's memory gap. The truth is bleaker than Charlie realizes, and it's a matter of time before it catches up to him. How did a teenager who stays out of trouble and loves his country and God get in such a mess? Parts of the hidden story are revealed, but we'll have to wait for subsequent novels before the picture develops entirely. To survive that long, Charlie must act with uncommon courage to thwart an assassination he may have set in motion, knowing that if he succeeds in saving the man's life, Charlie's only reward will be a grimmer future than ever. Is there any reclaiming the good life that was his before everything imploded?
"Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy."
—Winston Churchill, quoted on P. 26 of The Last Thing I Remember
Forgetting what led him to the torture room at the start of this book is a bad sign, but Charlie has no idea how blighted his memory truly is. The more that comes to light, the worse his future looks. As crisis after crisis beats on his bones, it's tempting to give in to his accusers, who would love to persecute Charlie more. It takes a supreme act of will to even swim feebly against the current of everyone opposing him. "It can be crazy hard. To keep your faith, to keep going. It can be harder than I ever would have imagined. Sometimes things happen to you, really bad things that aren't fair, things that make you feel so terrible you're not even sure who you are anymore or whether you're right or wrong, good or bad. Sometimes you feel like there's no one to turn to, and you're all alone and so scared you can hardly move and so tired you just want to curl up in a ball and go to sleep forever." How do you transcend those who shout you down, putting yourself in position to win in the longterm? The voices speaking on your behalf may be few, but tuning out hateful people and listening to ones who truly know you is the only way to fend off destruction. Charlie has a few of those voices to bolster his wavering faith in himself, reminding him he may not be the monster his antagonists claim he is. "You're a better man than you know," a mysterious stranger whispers before providing a crucial assist. "I still believe in you. I still love you," someone much closer to Charlie says, in spite of the accusations against him. This spurs Charlie to keep running, to resist apprehension even though most of the world has no doubt he deserves every awful thing he has coming to him. "I knew that no matter how confusing things get, how many voices are shouting lies, how many wrong turns you take, how many dead ends you run into, there is always, always the truth to find, always the truth somewhere, burning, shining." If anything can reverse the course of Charlie's ordeal, it's the truth. But will Charlie like what he finds when he discovers that truth?
It takes time for The Last Thing I Remember to heat up, but once it does, the writing blurs into an exciting story that improves as it goes. I'll definitely read book two, The Long Way Home, to find out the truth behind Charlie's captivity and what led stone-cold killers to do that to him. It's scary to think a regular guy could be snatched out of his life and dropped into a hellhole with little hope that things will get better. Andrew Klavan is a skilled thinker and storyteller; I'd rate The Last Thing I Remember two and a half stars, but the decision to round up to three rather than down was fairly easy. I look forward to resuming the series soon.
"And the truth is, there may come a time when even the most peaceful man alive has to fight or else something truly evil will happen."
—The Last Thing I Remember, P. 37
Straining at the ropes that bind him, Charlie tries to recall everything that happened yesterday. He finished a report for school and turned it in; gave a karate demonstration in front of his school, including Beth Summers, the girl he wanted to impress more than anyone; he went to karate class and conversed with Sensei Mike about his own ambition to be an Air Force pilot; then he had a heated exchange with Alex Hauser, who used to be his best friend before Alex changed. After going to bed, the next thing Charlie remembers is being in this chair. What happened? There's no time for further contemplation, only instinctive action in the face of death. Operating on adrenaline alone, Charlie evades the two brutish thugs come to administer a lethal injection. Bullets ricochet as he sprints toward a black square he hopes is a painted window, his only chance of escape.
Armed and vicious, Charlie's tormentors stalk him through the woods. He's weak from blood loss and hunger, but a few lucky breaks allow him to avoid immediate recapture. Now he wonders: can he contact his parents without placing them in jeopardy? Why did killers abduct him in the first place, and what reason could they have for exterminating him? If only Charlie could remember what happened between the ecstasy of the previous day—the first time he ever made headway getting close to Beth—and the chamber of horrors he awoke into today. It's the stuff of nightmares, but Charlie won't wake up from this safe and healthy in bed. One mistake on the lam from his cold-eyed pursuers and he, his family, and friends could all suffer.
"It's all right to have butterflies in your stomach...but you've got to make them fly in formation."
—Sensei Mike, The Last Thing I Remember, P. 44
There are people out there who know exactly what transpired during Charlie's memory gap. The truth is bleaker than Charlie realizes, and it's a matter of time before it catches up to him. How did a teenager who stays out of trouble and loves his country and God get in such a mess? Parts of the hidden story are revealed, but we'll have to wait for subsequent novels before the picture develops entirely. To survive that long, Charlie must act with uncommon courage to thwart an assassination he may have set in motion, knowing that if he succeeds in saving the man's life, Charlie's only reward will be a grimmer future than ever. Is there any reclaiming the good life that was his before everything imploded?
"Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy."
—Winston Churchill, quoted on P. 26 of The Last Thing I Remember
Forgetting what led him to the torture room at the start of this book is a bad sign, but Charlie has no idea how blighted his memory truly is. The more that comes to light, the worse his future looks. As crisis after crisis beats on his bones, it's tempting to give in to his accusers, who would love to persecute Charlie more. It takes a supreme act of will to even swim feebly against the current of everyone opposing him. "It can be crazy hard. To keep your faith, to keep going. It can be harder than I ever would have imagined. Sometimes things happen to you, really bad things that aren't fair, things that make you feel so terrible you're not even sure who you are anymore or whether you're right or wrong, good or bad. Sometimes you feel like there's no one to turn to, and you're all alone and so scared you can hardly move and so tired you just want to curl up in a ball and go to sleep forever." How do you transcend those who shout you down, putting yourself in position to win in the longterm? The voices speaking on your behalf may be few, but tuning out hateful people and listening to ones who truly know you is the only way to fend off destruction. Charlie has a few of those voices to bolster his wavering faith in himself, reminding him he may not be the monster his antagonists claim he is. "You're a better man than you know," a mysterious stranger whispers before providing a crucial assist. "I still believe in you. I still love you," someone much closer to Charlie says, in spite of the accusations against him. This spurs Charlie to keep running, to resist apprehension even though most of the world has no doubt he deserves every awful thing he has coming to him. "I knew that no matter how confusing things get, how many voices are shouting lies, how many wrong turns you take, how many dead ends you run into, there is always, always the truth to find, always the truth somewhere, burning, shining." If anything can reverse the course of Charlie's ordeal, it's the truth. But will Charlie like what he finds when he discovers that truth?
It takes time for The Last Thing I Remember to heat up, but once it does, the writing blurs into an exciting story that improves as it goes. I'll definitely read book two, The Long Way Home, to find out the truth behind Charlie's captivity and what led stone-cold killers to do that to him. It's scary to think a regular guy could be snatched out of his life and dropped into a hellhole with little hope that things will get better. Andrew Klavan is a skilled thinker and storyteller; I'd rate The Last Thing I Remember two and a half stars, but the decision to round up to three rather than down was fairly easy. I look forward to resuming the series soon.
June 30, 2014
This book started off slow. It had a promising start-a gritty suspenseful adventure maybe.A kid tied to the chair, having been tortured and not having any idea about what was going on is a good start for any book. Sounds like a good read to me. WRONG.
The author all through the first 100 pages kept lamenting for the poor kid. Yeah, the scenario sucks and yes the kid would wish to be back in the life he took for granted, however with a start off that good and such a promise for action I wouldn’t think that throwing a pity party mid-action would be a good idea. That and the flashbacks are way too jarring. There is no way that a kid being shot at and needing to GET OUT would suddenly be thinking about the his life before and how he had showed off at some karate presentation in front of his entire school. No. Any sane kid would be getting the hell out of a prison like this kid was in. I would be. Who cares what happened yesterday, obviously that’s the past and it has no affect on the present so I would MOVE IT, and not waste time standing around feeling sorry for myself.
I picked up this book because I loved this idea of being on the run. The whole premise kind of had a Jason Bourne feeling to it... the only problem is that the premise might be quite mature with the whole being tortured and shot at and yet, the way this kid speaks is almost childish sometimes. I wouldn’t think a kid stuck in this situation whose 17 would be thinking and saying some of the stuff this kid does-its too immature to follow along the lines of the premise. It just doesn’t add up. He won't even swear a bit which hey I can respect in some instances of younger kids reading this book but you need to at least match up what the kid says with the kind of story your going with.
And the kid just keeps listing off morals to us THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE BOOK. I LOVE it when a book makes me think, NOT when it tells me outright what to think. The subtle way a story can intertwine examples and scenarios together to make you question what you know to be right or wrong - that’s how I like any moral in a story to be told. This kid in this story just lists off his morals to the reader like a rule book to live life by. Its okay for a book to outright mention a moral every once in a while-I”m fine with that, but NOT this many times, its almost nauseating.
This kid likes to state the obvious too. Its not enough to insinuate things; no were too dumb to make the connections so the kid keeps clarifying things after he’s said them. Its too annoying because I already knew what the kid meant and here I have whatever this kid is trying to explain to me practically spelt out for me. Not only that, but this kid has a NEED to reiterate what has happened throughout the story with every time we, as readers get flashed back to the present. I haven’t forgotten what’s happened in the time its taken me to read one chapter about the occurrences of this book.
And this kid is such a goody-two shoes. There’s so few people out there like him, actually because he’s TOO good. I keep rolling my eyes at this kid because there’s no flaws with him. He’s this perfect , respectable, Christian boy who doesn’t lose his temper. It drives me nuts because even my own sister is practically the sweetest, “goodest” and most godly person I know and she’s got more flaws than this kid sure does. It’s just not realistic. It pisses me off I guess to read about a kid I can’t associate with because I know that I would be reacting totally and completely differently in so many situations that this kid gets into. Sure, I want to be a good person, but there are times when I just lose it and to be honest I revel in it; just to let loose for once and not have to care about being good because I am being myself and letting people see who I am and just how frustrated I can get; that there’s some shit I’ve had to deal with and that doesn’t mean I’m a bad person I don’t think, it just means I’m human. This kid doesn’t do it for me. I just can’t connect with him. He's flat and there's no depth. He's all about poor me, and poor everyone who is good because its Sooooo blatantly obvious that in life there's always either a good guy or a bad guy-nothing in between. He's a naive child who pisses me off. I can't handle protagonists like this kid.
I swear I love Alex so much. He’s the one who’s broken and questioning everything, and I know so much about that. My parents split, and shit’s happened and I’ve got so many questions about christianity and it all being worth it. If only Alex were the protagonist, then maybe this book could actually go somewhere for me. He's the one character I could actually relate to and feel something for.
This story's main protagonist just doesn't do it for me. The plot had so much promise but it didn't even start moving until halfway into the book. Even then, it just got convoluted with all this weird shit this kid just happened to coincidently happen across that just happened to help him save the day. The reasons behind why he's doing all this is also really vague. I just didn't find that this story was well done at all. I rushed through this book so that I could be done and move onto the next book. I did not like this book. No Andrew Klavan.
In regards to Andrew Klavan, his writing does have potential, there were some great lines and descriptions where he really made me feel like I was there and a part of this story, its just that the characters and plot needs to be fleshed out more. In any case. I'm moving onto my next book atleast.
The author all through the first 100 pages kept lamenting for the poor kid. Yeah, the scenario sucks and yes the kid would wish to be back in the life he took for granted, however with a start off that good and such a promise for action I wouldn’t think that throwing a pity party mid-action would be a good idea. That and the flashbacks are way too jarring. There is no way that a kid being shot at and needing to GET OUT would suddenly be thinking about the his life before and how he had showed off at some karate presentation in front of his entire school. No. Any sane kid would be getting the hell out of a prison like this kid was in. I would be. Who cares what happened yesterday, obviously that’s the past and it has no affect on the present so I would MOVE IT, and not waste time standing around feeling sorry for myself.
I picked up this book because I loved this idea of being on the run. The whole premise kind of had a Jason Bourne feeling to it... the only problem is that the premise might be quite mature with the whole being tortured and shot at and yet, the way this kid speaks is almost childish sometimes. I wouldn’t think a kid stuck in this situation whose 17 would be thinking and saying some of the stuff this kid does-its too immature to follow along the lines of the premise. It just doesn’t add up. He won't even swear a bit which hey I can respect in some instances of younger kids reading this book but you need to at least match up what the kid says with the kind of story your going with.
And the kid just keeps listing off morals to us THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE BOOK. I LOVE it when a book makes me think, NOT when it tells me outright what to think. The subtle way a story can intertwine examples and scenarios together to make you question what you know to be right or wrong - that’s how I like any moral in a story to be told. This kid in this story just lists off his morals to the reader like a rule book to live life by. Its okay for a book to outright mention a moral every once in a while-I”m fine with that, but NOT this many times, its almost nauseating.
This kid likes to state the obvious too. Its not enough to insinuate things; no were too dumb to make the connections so the kid keeps clarifying things after he’s said them. Its too annoying because I already knew what the kid meant and here I have whatever this kid is trying to explain to me practically spelt out for me. Not only that, but this kid has a NEED to reiterate what has happened throughout the story with every time we, as readers get flashed back to the present. I haven’t forgotten what’s happened in the time its taken me to read one chapter about the occurrences of this book.
And this kid is such a goody-two shoes. There’s so few people out there like him, actually because he’s TOO good. I keep rolling my eyes at this kid because there’s no flaws with him. He’s this perfect , respectable, Christian boy who doesn’t lose his temper. It drives me nuts because even my own sister is practically the sweetest, “goodest” and most godly person I know and she’s got more flaws than this kid sure does. It’s just not realistic. It pisses me off I guess to read about a kid I can’t associate with because I know that I would be reacting totally and completely differently in so many situations that this kid gets into. Sure, I want to be a good person, but there are times when I just lose it and to be honest I revel in it; just to let loose for once and not have to care about being good because I am being myself and letting people see who I am and just how frustrated I can get; that there’s some shit I’ve had to deal with and that doesn’t mean I’m a bad person I don’t think, it just means I’m human. This kid doesn’t do it for me. I just can’t connect with him. He's flat and there's no depth. He's all about poor me, and poor everyone who is good because its Sooooo blatantly obvious that in life there's always either a good guy or a bad guy-nothing in between. He's a naive child who pisses me off. I can't handle protagonists like this kid.
I swear I love Alex so much. He’s the one who’s broken and questioning everything, and I know so much about that. My parents split, and shit’s happened and I’ve got so many questions about christianity and it all being worth it. If only Alex were the protagonist, then maybe this book could actually go somewhere for me. He's the one character I could actually relate to and feel something for.
This story's main protagonist just doesn't do it for me. The plot had so much promise but it didn't even start moving until halfway into the book. Even then, it just got convoluted with all this weird shit this kid just happened to coincidently happen across that just happened to help him save the day. The reasons behind why he's doing all this is also really vague. I just didn't find that this story was well done at all. I rushed through this book so that I could be done and move onto the next book. I did not like this book. No Andrew Klavan.
In regards to Andrew Klavan, his writing does have potential, there were some great lines and descriptions where he really made me feel like I was there and a part of this story, its just that the characters and plot needs to be fleshed out more. In any case. I'm moving onto my next book atleast.
August 17, 2011
Charlie went to bed with a grin, staring at the phone number Beth had written on the back of his hand that afternoon at school. Charlie woke up beaten, burned and cut, strapped to a chair in a room filled with torture devices....a year later. What happened in that year? The police say Charlie killed his best friend, was tried and went to prison only to escape a few months into his sentence. A stranger with a familiar face says Charlie's a Homelander, an American terrorist recruited by Islamic extremists. But Charlie knows he'd never murder anyone, nor would he do anything to hurt the country he loves. But even as he tries to uncover his memories he has to also evade capture long enough to uncover - and stop - an assassination plot. Can he make it on time? Or will there be another death on his conscious?
This excellently paced book is a full-on action adventure mystery. Charlie is a likable character and readers will believe him and believe in him, even when the police don't. They'll also be clamoring for the next title, because the plot doesn't end when you turn the last page.
This excellently paced book is a full-on action adventure mystery. Charlie is a likable character and readers will believe him and believe in him, even when the police don't. They'll also be clamoring for the next title, because the plot doesn't end when you turn the last page.
April 2, 2021
Boy do I need the next one. Quick! I'm realizing my favorite books are those written in first person point of view.
May 14, 2017
This book was non-stop action. Hard to put down. I liked it and I'm definitely gonna be reading the next one.
March 14, 2019
The book was amazing, I loved how there was a preview before the beginning of the book started and there was so much action and fighting.
June 9, 2019
The last thing I remember ⭐️
He was a normal kid. Going to school to do a karate 🥋 demo but then he wakes up beaten and bloody strapped down to a table. He has to use his skills to fight his way out and figure out why these people want him dead.
Although the writing was simply put it was still enjoyable and I read this years ago and forgot everything so it was like reading it for the first time again which was nice but also disappointing. It dragged on and besides Charlie the characters were bland and lifeless.
He was a normal kid. Going to school to do a karate 🥋 demo but then he wakes up beaten and bloody strapped down to a table. He has to use his skills to fight his way out and figure out why these people want him dead.
Although the writing was simply put it was still enjoyable and I read this years ago and forgot everything so it was like reading it for the first time again which was nice but also disappointing. It dragged on and besides Charlie the characters were bland and lifeless.
April 9, 2026
The Last Thing I Remember by Andrew Klavan is the 1st in a four book series called The Homelanders. I quite enjoyed it in spite of being written for a teen/YA audience.
September 11, 2010
I read The Last Thing I Remember to see if I could recommend this book to some of the boys in my sixth grade class. The back cover makes it sound more horrific than it is, and the action will definitely grab them. I think that students will really enjoy the pace of the plot, and the main character. Charlie West is a martial arts black belt who wakes up one day strapped down to a chair where he had clearly been tortured. The rest of the plot is something like The Fugitive, where he has to clear his name while figuring out what really happened. The police are after him for a murder that he doesn't think he committed (he can't remember anything that happened to him in the previous year), and the "bad guys" want him too. The book has definite conservative overtones that will resonate for some kids more than others. I kept thinking of students that I've taught through the years who would have loved this book. I don't think that it is a particularly complicated book, but it is a page-turner and a quick read. I won't be surprised to see this made into a movie at some point. I'll add it to my classroom book shelf, and I may even steer a few current students toward it this year.
August 12, 2015
This is a great series! The story never slowed down, never got boring and it kept my full attention from start to finish.
I highly recommend this series to anyone who likes these kinds of books -- Christian Young Adult, Action, Suspense, Mystery. But then, I'm not a big fan of YA books and I absolutely loved these!
I highly recommend this series to anyone who likes these kinds of books -- Christian Young Adult, Action, Suspense, Mystery. But then, I'm not a big fan of YA books and I absolutely loved these!
Did Not Finish
March 29, 2016Sorry guys, but I couldn't finish this one. I think that I stopped at about page 180ish. I was just very annoyed with the characters, I didn't like the writing, I found it very boring, and everything was very cliche. So I may finish at some other point, but not soon.
And this is my first DNF in six years, and I've only had one other DNF before that.
And this is my first DNF in six years, and I've only had one other DNF before that.
October 16, 2013
It. Was. GREAT!!!!! Crazy story and non-stop twists!
July 6, 2017
Action packed and full of suspense! Andrew Klavan definitely knows how to write a page turner.
Charlie West ends up beaten and bloody strapped to a chair and doesn't know how he got there. Every few chapters are flashes of the last things he remembers. I can't wait to read the next book and see how the rest of his story plays out!
Charlie West ends up beaten and bloody strapped to a chair and doesn't know how he got there. Every few chapters are flashes of the last things he remembers. I can't wait to read the next book and see how the rest of his story plays out!
July 29, 2020
First reread: July 2020
The last thing he remembers, Charlie West is your typical seventeen-year-old. Then he wakes up strapped to a chair, and the man outside the door says: Kill him.
Things I Loved:
-Amnesia (with a twist)!! It’s one of my favorite tropes, and I think it’s used to its full advantage here. We learn about what happened to Charlie along with him, which makes for some really good plot twists.
-Solid pacing- we have both action-packed present day and flashbacks of Charlie’s old life, which makes it nice and balanced.
-I’m pretty sure I’m going to have the Churchill quote memorized by the time I finish rereading this series...
-I really like Charlie. He’s a down-to-earth kind of guy who loves his country. He genuinely cares about others and he wants to do the right thing. But, as the plot thickens, his beliefs and the core of his identity are challenged to the max.
-The messages woven in. There are some amazing quotes, but unfortunately they’re all too long for me to insert in here. Although I don’t think it’s explicitly Christian, the morals clearly are, and Charlie mentions about “the truth shall set you free.” This book isn’t afraid to confront tough questions, and I loved that.
Things I Didn’t Like:
-*crickets chirp* Was there anything I disliked? I don’t remember... (amnesia pun? get it? never mind...)
-Wait! There was something I didn’t like, and that is that I don’t have the entire series residing on my bookshelves. Yet.
At any rate, regardless of whether or not you typically read this genre, you HAVE to get this book. Don’t take my word for it.
The last thing he remembers, Charlie West is your typical seventeen-year-old. Then he wakes up strapped to a chair, and the man outside the door says: Kill him.
Things I Loved:
-Amnesia (with a twist)!! It’s one of my favorite tropes, and I think it’s used to its full advantage here. We learn about what happened to Charlie along with him, which makes for some really good plot twists.
-Solid pacing- we have both action-packed present day and flashbacks of Charlie’s old life, which makes it nice and balanced.
-I’m pretty sure I’m going to have the Churchill quote memorized by the time I finish rereading this series...
-I really like Charlie. He’s a down-to-earth kind of guy who loves his country. He genuinely cares about others and he wants to do the right thing. But, as the plot thickens, his beliefs and the core of his identity are challenged to the max.
-The messages woven in. There are some amazing quotes, but unfortunately they’re all too long for me to insert in here. Although I don’t think it’s explicitly Christian, the morals clearly are, and Charlie mentions about “the truth shall set you free.” This book isn’t afraid to confront tough questions, and I loved that.
Things I Didn’t Like:
-*crickets chirp* Was there anything I disliked? I don’t remember... (amnesia pun? get it? never mind...)
-Wait! There was something I didn’t like, and that is that I don’t have the entire series residing on my bookshelves. Yet.
At any rate, regardless of whether or not you typically read this genre, you HAVE to get this book. Don’t take my word for it.
June 18, 2009
First in a new series, THE LAST THING I REMEMBER will be like candy for the YA crowd that loves an easy reading, high interest plot boiler. This is Book One of the new "Homelanders Series" and you'll know it when you reach "the end" (quotes with emphasis). Yes, author Andrew Klavan's last chapter might as well be a chapter in the middle of the book. Don't like it? Maybe you'll forgive him in February 2010 when Book Two comes out.
Much like LITTLE BROTHER, the premise hangs on an America gone wild thanks to Homeland security. A "Homelander" is actually a white American drafted by evil Islamo-fascists (accent-on-Dick Cheney would be proud) to bring this great country of ours (insert: "God bless America!" in Texas drawl) down.
Enter our amnesiac protagonist, Charlie West. He's an 18-year-old black belt with one big problem -- he cannot remember the entire past year of his life and, in chapter one, he gains consciousness strapped to a metal chair with burns and cuts and bruises all over his body. Meanwhile, just outside the door, voices are discussing how to kill him. (This is what's known in the business as a "hook.")
The 340 pages will go down in a day (if you're not working and the weather is Pope Inclement IV). What's more, the cover is certifiably cool. This means my new 8th graders will be eager customers come September (no, just kidding -- take your time, September!). Recommended for the kiddies and as the ultimate James Bond Jr. slumming fare for adults.
Much like LITTLE BROTHER, the premise hangs on an America gone wild thanks to Homeland security. A "Homelander" is actually a white American drafted by evil Islamo-fascists (accent-on-Dick Cheney would be proud) to bring this great country of ours (insert: "God bless America!" in Texas drawl) down.
Enter our amnesiac protagonist, Charlie West. He's an 18-year-old black belt with one big problem -- he cannot remember the entire past year of his life and, in chapter one, he gains consciousness strapped to a metal chair with burns and cuts and bruises all over his body. Meanwhile, just outside the door, voices are discussing how to kill him. (This is what's known in the business as a "hook.")
The 340 pages will go down in a day (if you're not working and the weather is Pope Inclement IV). What's more, the cover is certifiably cool. This means my new 8th graders will be eager customers come September (no, just kidding -- take your time, September!). Recommended for the kiddies and as the ultimate James Bond Jr. slumming fare for adults.
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