On the Occasion of My Last Afternoon
On the Occasion of My Last Afternoon
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1998
Book Brief
286
Novel • Fiction
Virginia • 1840s
1998
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
On the Occasion of My Last Afternoon by Kaye Gibbons, narrated by the elderly Emma Garnet Tate Lowell, recounts Emma's life from her childhood on a Southern plantation with an abusive father, through her marriage to a Northern doctor and their combined efforts to care for Civil War wounded. Sensitive topics such as violence and slavery are depicted.
Melancholic
Contemplative
Nostalgic
Emotional
Dark
Reviews & Readership
3,038 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Kaye Gibbons' On the Occasion of My Last Afternoon receives praise for its lyrical prose and deeply emotional narrative, set against the backdrop of the Civil War. Reviewers appreciate the strong character development, especially the protagonist's resilience. However, some find the pacing uneven. Overall, it's an evocative exploration of personal and historical turmoil.
Who Should Read On the Occasion of My Last Afternoon?
Readers who relish richly detailed historical fiction, such as those who admire Toni Morrison’s Beloved or Geraldine Brooks’s March, will be captivated by Kaye Gibbons’s On the Occasion of My Last Afternoon. The novel is perfect for those drawn to complex characters and reflective narratives set against the Civil War backdrop.
3,038 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
286
Novel • Fiction
Virginia • 1840s
1998
Adult
18+ years
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