The Last Word

Content Warning: This section of the guide describes and discusses the source text’s treatment of mental health conditions, suicidal ideation, child death, and substance use disorder.

The recurring motif of stars takes on multiple meanings throughout the novel. At the beginning of the story, the meaning is purely utilitarian, for Emma gives Kane’s book, Murder Mountain, a scathing one-star review—the lowest ranking she can assign. In this context, the single star represents her deep hatred for the book, and the negativity associated with this action comes back to haunt her when Kane/Howard seeks revenge in person. By contrast, because Emma loves astronomy, the vast star-spangled canopy of the night sky takes on a positive meaning, especially given that her husband pays a service to name a star after her. This specific star represents Shawn’s love for Emma, and her love of the stars in the sky becomes associated with the elements of her life that inspire her to keep on living. Significantly, as Emma struggles with her grief and suicidal ideation, the cloudy skies of the Pacific Northwest block her view of the stars, signifying that she is enduring her lowest spiritual moment. However, after she survives Deek’s attempt to murder her, she has a vision of her dead daughter and is once again able to see the stars when she resurfaces from her plunge into the ocean.