Listen Legally to Popular Authors Full Audiobooks in Fiction, Contemporary

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Love's Long Journey

Author: Janette Oke

Narrator: Ruth Ann Phimister

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-22-05

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 140 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Newlyweds Missie and Willie share a dream. However, it means that Missie must leave her parents, family and friends behind to join a wagon train and claim land in the West with her new husband. Overcoming incredible hardships on the journey, she grows into a mature wife and mother. Her faith in God and love for her husband give Missie the strength to make a new life and home in an unknown territory.

©1989 Janette Oke (P)1989 Recorded Books, LLC

Members Reviews:

A Pleasurable Listen

I enjoyed all three audiobooks in this series (Love Comes Softly, Love's Enduring Promise and Love's Long Journey) and hope the same narrator will continue in this series. I found her voice quite easy to listen to and especially appreciated her differnt voices for different characters.

The best way I can describe this book (and the whole series for that matter) would be the feminine and Christian equivalent of many Louis L'Amour novels. With vivid descriptions of life on the frontier - I came away with a deep appreciation for women's contribution to frontier life survival and for the value of faith in each character's lives.

Great performance of a story.

Would you consider the audio edition of Love's Long Journey to be better than the print version?

Yes, it paints a very descriptive and clear picture of the events happening in the story.

What did you like best about this story?

It is a wonderful saga of conquering life's struggles by depending on the love of God to bring you through.

What about Ruth Ann Phimisters performance did you like?

She gives life and definition to her characters.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Another great one in this series

Another great one in this series! The narrator is very vivid and entertaining. Looking forward to the next one.

the reader sounds like she has a mouthful of spit.

The reader sounds like she has a mouthful of spit. And the characters voices sound horrible.

I luv this story

This is the sweetest story ... So easy to luv the characters...can't wait for next book

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: I Am Charlotte Simmons

Author: Tom Wolfe

Narrator: Dylan Baker

Format: Unabridged

Length: 31 hrs and 16 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-03-04

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 815 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

As Charlotte encounters Dupont's privileged elite, her roommate, Beverly, a fleshy, Groton-educated Brahmin in lusty pursuit of lacrosse players; Jojo Johanssen, the only white starting player on Dupont's god-like basketball team, whose position is threatened by a hotshot black freshman from the projects; the Young Turn of Saint Ray fraternity, Hoyt Thorpe, whose heady sense of entitlement and social domination is clinched by his accidental brawl with a bodyguard for the governor of California; and Adam Geller, one of the Millennial Mutants who run the university's "independent" newspaper and who consider themselves the last bastion of intellectual endeavor on the sex-crazed, jock-obsessed campus, she gains a new, revelatory sense of her own power, that of her difference and of her very innocence, but little does she realize that she will act as a catalyst in all of their lives.

With his signature eye for detail, Tom Wolfe draws on extensive observation of campuses across the country to immortalize college life in the '00s. I Am Charlotte Simmons is the much-anticipated triumph of America's master chronicler.

Critic Reviews:

"Like everything Wolfe writes, I Am Charlotte Simmons grabs your interest at the outset and saps the desire to do anything else until you finish." (The New York Times Book Review) "The book is brilliant, wicked, true, and, like everything Wolfe writes, thematically coherent, cunningly well plotted, and delightfully told." (Atlantic Monthly)

Members Reviews:

Decadence through the eyes of a ?good girl?

The account of college life in this book is as authentic as it can be. In order to be so true-to-life, though, it has to be very vulgar. Do not read this book if you intend on avoiding foul language and extreme sexual content?it is filled with both. The sex is not very steamy or erotic either; it is as unromantic as can be, just like it is on campus. ?Charlotte Simmons? is a thorough survey of the most self-destructive and immoral environment imaginable?the modern university.

If one can bear the vulgarity and decadence, one will be treated to superb story telling and a fine display of literary genius. Wolfe combines the bland, vulgar statements of the characters with his own witty and enlightening additions. His commentary makes the foolish characters somewhat coherent to the non-college student and provides some insight into the reasons for this dismal state of affairs.

Most of all, however, Wolfe sticks to description of characters and events and draws the audience in with the most colorful word manipulation. The audience is compelled to root for the good girl even as her path takes her further into trouble. Indeed, the innocent protagonist does not figure out a way to avoid being contaminated by the dirty culture. But even through this painful fall, the audience receives a great tool in figuring out what goes on at college and perhaps that is all one needs to invent their own way of dealing with the challenges such an environment presents.

Charlotte Is Worth Getting To Know

Audible.com Read (Most Excellently) by Dylan Baker

Just finished Tom Wolfe's latest classic, I Am Charlotte Simmons two weeks ago. Again I listened to this one on an MP3 from Audible.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Ain't She Sweet?

Author: Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Narrator: Kate Flemming

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-11-04

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1119 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

The people of Parrish don't believe in forgive and forget. When the Seawillows, Sugar Beth's former girlfriends, get the chance to turn the tables on her, they don't hesitate. And Winnie Davis, Sugar Beth's most bitter enemy, intends to humiliate her in the worst possible way.

Then there's Colin Byrne...Fifteen years earlier, Sugar Beth had tried to ruin his career. Now he's rich, powerful, and the owner of her old home. Even worse, this modern-day dark prince is planning exactly the sort of revenge best designed to bring a beautiful princess to her knees.

But none of them have reckoned on the unexpected strength of a woman who's learned survival the hard way. Ain't She Sweet? is a story of courage and redemption...of friendship and laughter...of love and the possibility of happily-ever-after.

Critic Reviews:

"Sassy, sexy contemporary romance." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

Another winner from Susan Elizabeth Phillips

The only thing wrong with Susan Elizabeth Phillips' books is that they end. I normally don't even care for romance titles - but SEP writes stories that are so entertaining and so uplifting, there aren't enough of them. Ain't She Sweet is no exception - the characters, their relationships - it's all there. This isn't any "in-depth" fiction - it's just good old fashion entertainment that leaves you feeling great! Of course, Kate Flemming (A/K/A Anna Fields) makes it all come together. I wish she could read every audio book!

Sweet (& saucy) story, Slightly sour narration

The characters in this romanace are a little odd -- most of the men seem like buffoons, most of the women are catty, and the lead heroine is self-centered (albeit softened on the edges by some big-hearted actions -- after all it would be a difficult story if she wasn't somewhat sypathetic!).

You might wonder what could possibly make this a good romance with a character list like that, but after a strange start, it actually worked as a story for me. The romance was sweet and funny (and sometimes steamy) -- it had interesting story and characters that kept me enjoying the story from start to finish. The story paced nicely. I have to admit I preferred the secondary characters romance, as seemed much more compelling, but overall, a nice romantic book.

However, the narration could cause some listeners problems. The narrator had great pacing, but if you are sensitive to how you expect accents to sound, she had some problems. I am not Southern, so I cannot comment on the deep South accents, but I did live in England, and the lead hero's accent was downright laughable. It took me a couple chapters to just "go with it" and not get distracted by the hero's voice -- and you have to hear a lot of him, so if you have strong feelings about the way characters are read, and in particular if you have some idea of what to expect from a British accent, you might want to be a little careful on this title. Unfortunately in the whole 10 minute sample audio there is no example of the hero's voice.

If you are not too concerned about the accents, then this is a good romance. If you are distracted by such things, you might want to pass on this one and try another title.

Delightful. Fun story.

I usually don't like books if I don't like the heroine.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Dirty Work

Author: Larry Brown

Narrator: Peter Francis James, Ed Sala

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 37 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-05-04

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 32 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Walter James has no face. Braiden Chaney has no arms or legs. They lost them 22 years ago, in Vietnam. Now, in the course of one long night in a V.A. hospital, these two soldiers, one black, the other white, reveal how they came to be where they are and what they can only hope to become.

Critic Reviews:

"A novel of the first order....Gripping and virtually seamless." (Washington Post Book World)

"His prose has a dark, horrific urgency....A real knockout." (Newsday)

Members Reviews:

Dirty Work

Just as everything Larry Brown wrote Dirty Work is a rough ride, not for the faint of heart, but well worth the trip.

Wow

What did you love best about Dirty Work?

I'm not often a fan of short stories but this one packed a helluva punch in a little package. Not a tear jerker, the ending left me with the sense a huge rock had been dumped in the pit of my stomach. Needless to say, it took days to digest.

Excellent narration only added to the story.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Lucia, Lucia

Author: Adriana Trigiani

Narrator: Cassandra Campbell

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-28-04

Publisher: Books on Tape

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 310 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Lucia Sartori is the beautiful 25-year-old daughter of a traditional Italian immigrant family in 1950s Greenwich Village. She boldly becomes an apprentice for a ready-to-wear clothing designer at B. Altman's famous department store. Though she is sought after as a potential wife by the best Italian families, she works hard and remains as devoted to her career as to her family. But when a handsome stranger comes to the store and catches her eye, it is love at first sight for both of them. First, though, he must win over her family and make a proper offer of marriage. Their love affair takes an unexpected turn as secrets are revealed, Lucia's family honor is tested, and Lucia's own reputation becomes the center of a sizzling scandal.

©2003 The Glory of Everything Company; (P)2003 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic Reviews:

"As comforting as a mug of chamomile tea on a rainy Sunday." (The New York Times Book Review)

"Trigiani is a wonderful storyteller." (USA Today)

Members Reviews:

What a wonderful book!

I so enjoyed listenting to this book!! The story is well written, and keeps you wanting more with every chapter. It reminds you that every elderly person was once your age and that they have stories to tell. Take time to talk with your elders, you just might be amazed by what they have to say!!

not as enamored as other reviewers

I didn't find this so predictable or superficial as to fail to complete it, but it did not grab me. I bought it based on other reviews, and want to suggest that it's not a hugely literary read, imho.

Brilliant writing - Lucia beautiful inside and out

Would you listen to Lucia, Lucia again? Why?

The character of Lucia was well developed,as were those of her family and friends, especially her boss Delmarr, who I particularly liked. Lucia, although very Italian was trying to cut off her "old world ties" and live in this wonderful New World she had been placed in. She is very talented and wants to take her life into her own hands, but.... The story keeps flowing and has some twists and unexpected happenings.

What did you like best about this story?

I felt that Lucia was a very real heroine. Her poise, loyalty and grace made her decisions understandable and it is so hard to understand her if one is self-centered. I felt I learned a heart warming lesson through Lucia. You will love the story.

Have you listened to any of Cassandra Campbells other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, I haven't, but her performance was good.

Any additional comments?

This book is worth a credit.

Not her best but an enjoyable read

What did you love best about Lucia, Lucia?

I liked the ending. Won;'t be a spoiler!

Who was your favorite character and why?

though I really enjoyed this story overall, I did not have a favourite character certainly not Lucia.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not really a moving book overall.

Any additional comments?

THis book was engaging and kept me listening though I did not particularly enjoy the characters. The ending redeemed the book to some extent but I did not enjoy it as much as The Shoemaker's Wife.

Very 1950's Italian American

A good read. Gives good details about 1940's and 50's Italian Americans. Most of the story was very predictable, but the end had a nice surprise.

I liked Roccoco better.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: The Queen of the Big Time

Author: Adriana Trigiani

Narrator: Cassandra Campbell

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 14 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-30-04

Publisher: Books on Tape

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 157 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

From the best-selling author of Lucia, Lucia comes a novel about an Italian family living in Roseto, Pennsylvania. The eldest daughter, Nella, is ambitious and determined to make a life for herself far away from the rigors of farm and factory life. But then she meets and falls in love with a handsome carefree poet, Renato Lanzara, the son of the town restaurateur. When he suddenly disappears without an explanation, rumors about a forced marriage to a girl in another town and criminal activity begin to circulate through the village grapevine. Returning after five years, and a week before Nella's wedding, Renato shakes up not only Nella's life but also the lives of Roseto's townspeople. The Queen of the Big Time is a story of one family's struggle to preserve their cultural identity and family unity, and of its matriarch, who cannot forget her first, and true, love.

©2004 Adriana Trigiani; (P)2004 Books on Tape, Inc.

Members Reviews:

Excellent book - bad synopsis on this site

This is a terrific book (as are all of Adriana Trigiani's books). She's a fabulous storyteller.

I wanted to make note here that the description of this book, as it appears here on audible.com, has a lot of errors in it. Nella is not the eldest (which is important to the story), she's the middle of 5 girls. And the so-called "rumors" of Lanzara's disappearance are also wrongly described here. I won't spoil it, but felt these errors should be noted.

What a lovely book

I enjoyed this book very much. The main character, Nella, gives the story of her life starting at the age of 14. Her feelings and relationships are well developed. The narrator has a very smooth voice and add an Italian accent when it is called for. She reads the book much the way I would have. This is definitely a book I plan to listen to again, from time to time.

Highly Recommend

Although I enjoyed "Lucia, Lucia" more than this book, it is still worth anyone's time and money to get this title. Probably what I found to be most significant is that a story can still be enjoyable without sex and vulgarity weaved in every other thought.

The characters have their difficulties and are not all lily-white. And that is the beauty of the story-telling. The narration parallels this well. This family does not always get along with each other. Events do not always go as planned. The main character is not the best mother there ever was. Yet their story is told for us to learn from and enjoy.

Make it an enjoyable listen by choosing this book. You won't regret it. I just wish audible would offer an unabridged version of The Stone Gap.

Excellent

I couldn't stop listening. The story made me feel as if I went back in time of my own family's upbringing, traditions and loyalties. Very touching.

Wonderful characters

I love Adriana's work. In all her books she developes her characters so well that they seem like they were your aunts or uncles! Real people living ordinary lives. Being of Italian heritage myself,her writing really does describe what it's like to be part of a big Italian family. Lucia Lucia was another favorite of mine.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Memento Mori

Author: Muriel Spark

Narrator: Nadia May

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-13-04

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 98 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

From the internationally acclaimed author of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie comes a provocative, disturbing, but hilarious tale of mortality, morality, and the phenomenon called old age.

Critic Reviews:

"A complex, beautiful, and terrifyingly insightful novel about old age.¿" (The New Yorker)

"Acidly funny tale of aging and death...a marvelously crafted, tautly written novel." (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Members Reviews:

Character study

I favor character studies and this one is fascinating. All of the major protagonists are well over 70, quirky, and possibly demented. The plot isn't very important and it's a little misleading to label this a mystery but it's well worth the listen. The prose is solid. The story is both funny and a little sad. The narration is outstanding.

The creative challenge for the author is how to get into the heads of the very old without being very old oneself. Somehow she seems to have done it.

More Spark, Please!

I recently discovered Muriel Spark and have been hustling through her wonderful books. Memento Mori is another winner, all the moreso because the main characters (who are really characters) ar over 70. Spark is a master at depicting a particularly brittle segment of English society, that of the upper class at the edge of the way down and the middle class at the edge of the way up. And she does it with such wit and dark humor. One moment I was laughing out loud, the next asking, shocked, "Did that really just happen?"

Dame Lettie Coulson is the victim of an anonymous phone caller who leaves a message especially for her: "Remember you must die." She and her brother Godfrey can never agree if the caller is young or old, definitely English or has an accent, but they do agree that he is quite polite. Soon a number of other elderly persons begin receiving similar calls, but the local police are ready to attribute the whole affair to senility.

As we learn more about the aged characters, their secrets begin to come out into the open. Spark reminds us that the elderly were not always elderly and in fact had lives as vital, as fallible, and often as wicked as our own. And she does it with such humor that we find ourselves laughing not only at them but at our own foibles.

Another winner from Spark, and I'm off to read another one.

A Must

When Dame Lettie Colston receives another in a series of what appear to be crank callsthe caller always delivering the same message "Remember you must die"she is, of course, deeply disturbed. Is the caller a madman? Is it someone close to her trying to scare her to death in hopes of coming into a large inheritance? Eventually, most of her acquaintances, including her brother Godfrey and his wife, Charmiana once celebrated novelist well into her eighties sinking into dementiaalso receive the strange calls. Far from convincing the police to take the matter seriously, the victims each claiming that the caller is a different person and that a gang must therefore be behind the hoax, has the officials thinking the whole case is a perfect example of mass hysteria.

I had read some excellent reviews about this book, which, according to some sources, might be Spark's best novel, so did come to it with some expectations and was pleasantly surprised to find that it more than deserved the praise.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Now is the Time to Open Your Heart

Author: Alice Walker

Narrator: Alfre Woodard

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-15-04

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 69 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

In Now Is the Time to Open Your Heart, Alice Walker has created a work that ranks among her finest achievements: the story of a woman's spiritual adventure that becomes a passage through time, a quest for self, and a collision with love.

Kate has always been a wanderer. A well-published author, married many times, she has lived a life rich with explorations of the natural world and the human soul. Now, at 57, she leaves her lover, Yolo, to embark on a new excursion, one that begins on the Colorado River, proceeds through the past, and flows, inexorably, into the future. As Yolo begins his own parallel voyage, Kate encounters celibates and lovers, shamans and snakes, memories of family disaster and marital discord, and emerges at a place where nothing remains but love.

Told with the accessible style and deep feeling that are its author's hallmarks, Now Is the Time to Open Your Heart is Alice Walker's most surprising achievement.

Members Reviews:

Food for the intellect, heart, and soul

I find it rare that a book challenges and fulfills its readers on so many levels as this one. Strange as it sounds, listening to this book felt pleasantly like cleaning and re-energizing my mind. It was hypnotic. It challenged me on a mental, emotional, and spiritual level that I enjoyed thoroughly. The narrator did an excellent job, as well. I look forward to listening to it again. My only disappointment is that I can't find any other novels by Alice Walker on Audible.

Quite lovely to listen to.

Oh, Grandmother. What a lovely journey to listen to. I swayed with this story, the only story I've read this far by Alice Walker. I plan on reading/listening to more of her works in the near future.

interesting

I enjoyed it. An interesting perspective on stepping out on faith and discovering your self and the world around you. At the same time a relationship that was about to crumble had been rebuilt because their lives had changed after certain experience's.

Loved Alfie as the narrator.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: High Fidelity

Author: Nick Hornby

Narrator: David Cale

Format: Abridged

Length: 3 hrs and 31 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-14-04

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 230 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Rob is a pop music junkie who runs his own semi-failing record store in London. His girlfriend, Laura, has just left him for the guy upstairs, and Rob is both miserable and relieved. After all, could he have spent his life with someone who has a bad record collection? Rob seeks refuge in the company of the clerks at his store who endlessly review their top five films (Reservoir Dogs...), top five Elvis Costello songs (Alison...), and top five episodes of Cheers (the one where Woody sang his stupid song to Kelly...). Rob tries dating a singer whose rendition of "Baby, I Love Your Way" makes him cry. But maybe its just that he's always wanted to sleep with someone who has a record contract. Then he sees Laura again. And Rob begins to think (awful as it sounds) that a life as an episode of thirtysomething, with all the kids and marriages and barbecues and k.d. lang CDs that this implies, might not be so bad.

©1995 Nick Hornby; (P)1998 Putnam Berkley Audio

Critic Reviews:

"Told in an engaging first-person voice that blends sarcasm with self-deprecating humor, High Fidelity presents a painfully funny take on love, music, and growing up." (Library Journal)

"Hornby's amazingly accomplished debut should definitely appeal to music fans (and snobs), but it's his literate, painfully honest riffs on romantic humiliation and heartbreak that make the book so special. A rare, touching glimpse of the masculine view of affairs of the heart." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

Why abridged?

Why on gods green earth would you abridge a book? totally senseless thing to do....the remaining part was good. love hornby.

This is only about half the novel

I am a Nick Hornby fan. I love this novel. unfortunately this audio book only contains about half the book.

I used a free credit to download it so I discrimination loses any money or anything but had I spent money on it I would have been mad.

movie is better than this as its abridged.

This is a little over three hours, very little changes from the movie which I love, but Jack Blacks performance really brings the Barry character to life.

A G

Although I read this title in print, I absolutely loved it. Nick Hornby is one of the best contemporary authors out there and high fidelity is what launched his career. Great book!

What They Said...

I loved this BOOK in its entirety. The whole book and story is a five star story. I have read the book and was ready to revisit it. Why is there only an abridged version? Why, if you are going to abridge it would you take out so much of what made the character what he was? Weird things dropped in with no context! This was my first go at an abridged book, so maybe that is how it works.

The narrator should NOT try other accents or voices. And, if he is going to do them, do them all and do them well or do none. Why do one female Southern American accent and not do any other female voices for example? He uses several male voices and accents.

I think he recorded this book once and didnt like it and recorded it again over the same file. You hear his own voice echo his words often. Other times he sounds like he is reading in the car.

I read all of these reviews before I downloaded the book and thought to myself, Self, many books and movies that have received bad reviews turned out being good, just go for it!

But... What they said, really.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: The Pleasure of My Company

Author: Steve Martin

Narrator: Steve Martin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 54 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-31-03

Publisher: Hyperion AudioBooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 772 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

In The Pleasure of My Company, Steve Martin's second novel, all of the enjoyments of the critically acclaimed best seller Shopgirl are present: the tender portrayal of loneliness and love; a character's quest to reach out and engage the world; as well as laugh-out-loud humor and language that is brilliantly inventive. But in the story of Daniel Pecan Cambridge and the people who inhabit the insular universe he is seeking to expand (if only one small square at a time) Steve Martin has achieved something extraordinary: the chronicle of a modern-day neurotic yearning to break free.

Critic Reviews:

"This novella is a delight....A complex mix of wit, poignancy, and Martin's clear, great affection for his characters." (Publishers Weekly) "A genuinely funny and surprisingly touching tale. As compassionate as it is funny." (Kirkus Reviews) "A few of the episodes build to moments of hilarity, and Martin's gift for comedic metaphor is uniquely his own." (The New York Times Book Review)

Members Reviews:

An Odd, Compelling Story

Listening to Steve Martin read his own work on this audiobook brings a depth to it that it might lack on the written page. Don't listen to this for it's tight, intricate plot or you will be disappointed. Instead, listen to it for the way it draws you into the main character's mind. There is a rhythm and logic to the way he reasons things out that is compelling. You grow to genuinely like this man and care what happens to him. I laughed aloud on at least three occasions while I was listening to this book - something I rarely do when I am alone.

A Walk in a Strange World

I can't put my finger on it, but Martins style reminds me a lot of Douglas Copeland (GenX, Shampoo Planet, Microserfs). I read the reviews before purchasing it and had more than a few misgivings, but decided to purchase it anyway.

It's better than Shopgirl. He's managed to put in more (perhaps predictable) plot twists to speed up the book. It isn't the Steve Martin that we watched in The Jerk or SNL, but it's different and it's good. Martin has ripened, matured and cut down on drugs since his older books (Cruel Shoes) where he waxed on about the Indian Giftgiving Magi and is standing at a different place with deeper characters(but if you like the old stuff try to find a copy of Cruel Shoes and you won't be dissapointed). Martin can build a great neurotic character you can't help but love. Daniel Pecan Cambridge swirling in his over controlled world that is sliding into a happy chaos is one such character. If you liked As Good As It Gets, Shopgirl or Woody Allen you'll probably love this. Try it, you'll like it.

Just how do troubled minds work?

Not being a fan of Steve Martin, I decided to give this book a try based purely on the description; and was more than pleasantly surprised. The book manages to be funny, heartbreaking and remarkably illumintating all at once.

The story is deliberately slow to start, but manages to draw you in to such an extent I found myself sitting in the parking lot for half-an-hour just to get to the end.

Daniel Pecan Cambidge is a seriously troubled individual, with several harmless but disconcerting disorders.