Simply The Best Audiobooks in Fiction, Contemporary to Listen Online

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 Shortest Way Home

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Juliette Fay

Narrator: Sean Runnette

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 43 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-30-12

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 16 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Sean Doran has spent twenty years in third-world war zones and natural disaster areas, fully embracing what hed always felt was his purpose: doing as much good as possible. But when burnout sets in, Sean finds himself reluctantly drawn home to Belham, Massachusetts, the setting of Juliette Fays much-loved Shelter Me. There, he discovers that his steely elderly aunt, dramatic sister, and quirky nephew are having a little natural disaster of their own and that midlife romance gets complicated fast when the high school queen bee is involved. But its an old friendthe class wallflowerwho has Sean wondering if his destiny is about to be rewritten all over again.

Another perfect slice of life from the irresistible Fay, this novel is full of humor, heart, and hope for finding yourself where you least expect to.

Juliette Fay earned her BA from Boston College and her MA from Harvard University. Shelter Me, her first novel, was a 2009 Massachusetts Book Award Book of the Year. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and four children.

Members Reviews:

A Clueless Main Character

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Yes

Would you recommend The Shortest Way Home to your friends? Why or why not?

I liked Juliette Fay's latest novel. Her characters were well developed and their experiences very realistic. I do appreciate her insight into the trials and tribulations of every day live and how she weaves a bit of the spiritual into an ordinary story. I did have trouble with the main character's cluelessness at many points in the book. It was hard to believe that he could be so aware and mature about some things and completely oblivious about others.

What didnt you like about Sean Runnettes performance?

He was monotone and truly lifeless. Another reader would have greatly improved the books.

Could you see The Shortest Way Home being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

yes

Pulls you in

There are always questions as to what road we should take on our journey in life and Shawn's questions haunted him daily. A wonderful story!

Coming to terms with your own family

Where does The Shortest Way Home rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

far up among the top

Who was your favorite character and why?

Rebecca took on her challenges and succeeded. She is the strongest character.

Which character as performed by Sean Runnette was your favorite?

The father. The narrator is excellent not only at speaking with an Irish accent but also at bringing to life this conflicted, remorseful character.

If you could take any character from The Shortest Way Home out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I'd take Kevin out to his favorite restaurant and tell him how I admire his strength at being able to relate to the people around him despite the fact that he is an orphan.

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 Old Neighborhood

Author: Avery Corman

Narrator: Traber Burns

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 33 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-19-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Moving from the corner office to the corner candy store, Steven Robbins is willing to forsake everything hes earned to get back a piece of his past

Growing up in the Bronx in the 1940s, Steven Robbins was raised on egg creams, baseball stats, and the camaraderie that kept his melting-pot Bronx neighborhood humming during World War II. Robbins aspired to escape his humble roots, and eventually worked his way to Madison Avenue, where he became a hotshot ad man with an enviable wife. But as he pushes 50 and his marriage falls apart, Robbins begins yearning for a deeper happiness. Returning to his old neighborhood in the Bronx, Robbins seeks the simplicity of the life he once fled in the one place where he may ultimately find contentment.

The Old Neighborhood is a warm-hearted novel that shows it is possible to go home again, or to take home with you wherever you go.

Members Reviews:

Avery Corman writes about my old neighborhood.

This held my attention from the first word to the last word. But to be fair I guess I should tell you that I was born in 1933 and

when I first got married in the mid 50s I lived on Morris Ave. having moved from where I lived prior to marriage at 199th Street between the Grand Concourse and Jerome Ave. So I was familiar with each and every word written in this book.. I, too, hung out at the same candy store, bought my fish from the same fish store, had my first taste of alcohol at the Poe Cozy Nook across the

street from Poe park and walked through the Poe house and went every Wednesday to the dances at Poe Park..

I, too, used to walk around Harris Field and watched the boys play ball there. I used to also enjoy St. James Park and shopped

at Alexanders.

It truly was the old neighborhood and I, too, went back there to see the changes and loved to sit and think about the old days

Kudos to Avery Corman.

For the nostalgic at heart

I didn't grow up in the Bronx, but my old neighborhood is dear to me, too. Reading this book was like seeing an old world come back to life. It seemed very real and also seemed to mirror a time in our culture that unfortunately seems to be farther and farther from our reality in 2017. Reading this book was great on a quiet rainy day.

Lots of memories

I grew up in the same neighborhood,. Although the author is older than I am, the nostalgia was potent. It's a quick read. I noted quite a few editing mistakes. I enjoyed it for the nostalgia.

New life in the old neighborhood

The beginning of the book grew boring and I almost gave up on it. However, when the main character turned his life upside down to escape his unfufilling though highly successful life, it was very interesting. Reading about the developing course of his life as he set new goals and worked hard to reach them was enjoyable.

an enjoyable read

Because the book is so honest about how people evolve, it is very difficult to read without identifying with the main character. His dreams, his frustrations, his disappointments all echo in my personal world. And anyone who loves the Bronx will identify with the author's old neighborhood which is drawn with great beauty.

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: Better Together

Author: Sheila O'Flanagan

Narrator: Aoife MacMahon

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 22 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-23-12

Publisher: Headline Review

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 8 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Sheridan Gray has discovered a secret. Sharing it would get her career back on track. But it would also hurt those she loves....

An enthralling novel from the best-selling author of The Missing Wife and What Happened That Night. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Marian Keyes.

When Sheridan loses her job as a journalist at Dublin's biggest newspaper, she's determined to come back fighting. Forced to take a position in a small country town, this seems impossible... until she discovers that the closer she gets to a certain handsome man in the town, the tougher it is to expose their secrets.

When it comes to love or success, will Sheridan go with her heart or her head?

Members Reviews:

Don't waste your credit

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

A better storyline

Has Better Together turned you off from other books in this genre?

No I love Sheila O'Flanagans books I buy everything she writes this one just did not do it.

What about Aoife MacMahons performance did you like?

Everything she was great.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Better Together?

The first few chapters were painful.

Any additional comments?

The book is certainly not addictive it was a struggle for the first half.

Great Book!

Another great story by Sheila O'flanagan. I would definitely recommend this. A great narrator really easy to listen too - she has a lovely Irish accent. 5*

Fabulous. I love this author.

Where does Better Together rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

Certainly one of th best in this genre. I suppose it is chic lit, but its so beautiful written. The characters have great depth. There are many intelligent threads and not a word is wasted. I not big on chic lit. Therefore, the cover and title of this book made me pass it over for a while. I finally purchased it after loving another of O'Flanagan's entitled He's Got to

Go. It was so good that I wanted more written by her. I realise now that I will buy, and probably love, everything she writes.

Any additional comments?

I have listened to this narrator before, but she was faultless.

A lovely listen - Wonderful Irish Narraror

Would you consider the audio edition of Better Together to be better than the print version?

As I don't get time to read, I always opt for the audio version so I can listen it it in the car when driving for work

What was one of the most memorable moments of Better Together?

Hearing the story unfold of Pauldy o'Malley and past events

What does Aoife MacMahon bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you had only read the book?

She was marvellous! Distinctive accents for each of the characters and told the story beautifully - a joy to listen too. She is on a par with Caroline Lennon whom is also superb

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

Nothing specifically without giving the plot away - well worth a listen though

Any additional comments?

I did find the first few chapters a little rambling and I could see myself drifting off in parts but then the main crux of the book kicked in and I was hooked. I listened to the whole book in a few days!

Annoying

A really annoying "heroine" spoilt a good yarn! Beautifully read and performed. Not one of her better stories.

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: Potboiler

Author: Jesse Kellerman

Narrator: Kirby Heyborne

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-12-12

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 8 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Arthur Pfefferkorn is a has-been, or perhaps a never-was: a middle-aged college professor with long-dead literary aspirations. When his oldest friend, bestselling thriller writer William de Vallèe, is lost at sea, Pfefferkorn is torn between envy and grief, for de Vallèe not only outshone Pfefferkorn professionally, but married the woman Pfefferkorn loved.

Pfefferkorns decision to reconnect with de Vallèes widow sets in motion a surreal chain of events, plunging him into a shadowy realm of double crosses and intrigue, a world where no one can be trusted--and nothing can be taken seriously.

Members Reviews:

A Real Disappointment

What would have made Potboiler better?

The story started off strong and had my interest, but then took a turn into the absurd. It's not often that I can't find some redeeming quality in a story line, something that can hold my interest until the end. Not so with this story. I couldn't make it through to the end. It spiraled into the ridiculous.

Has Potboiler turned you off from other books in this genre?

Not necessarily to this genre but certainly to this author.

Have you listened to any of Kirby Heybornes other performances before? How does this one compare?

Not sure that I had heard other Heyborne narrations. I thought he did a fine job, in fact, his performance kept me listening long past the story itself deserved.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Potboiler?

I would have cut the last half of the entire story.

Any additional comments?

Really bad.

Écoutez ce livre audio dans son intégralité gratuitement sur https://hotaudiobook.com

Titre: La liste de mes envies

Auteur: Grégoire Delacourt

Narrateur: Odile Cohen

Format: Unabridged

Durée: 3 hrs and 36 mins

Langue: Français

Date de publication: 07-10-12

Éditeur: Audiolib

Evaluation: 3.5 sur 5 sur 3 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Résumé de l'éditeur:

Jocelyne se rêvait styliste à Paris, elle est mercière à Arras. Elle attendait "l'amour toujours", son mariage se banalise dans le quotidien. Mais un jour, entraînée par deux amies à "tenter sa chance", elle gagne une petite fortune au Loto. Mille possibilités s'offrent désormais à elle... Et si c'était beaucoup trop ? Si, à avoir tant gagné, elle risquait de perdre plus encore ? A faire, lucidement, la liste de ses envies, comment ne pas se rendre compte qu'elles peuvent être contradictoires ?

Avec beaucoup de vivacité, une réévaluation subtile du "bonheur de vivre". Odile Cohen donne exactement ce qu'il convient de tendresse et de profondeur à ce récit doux-amer de la quête de l'accomplissement de soi.

L'auteur

Publicitaire et écrivain,

est né en 1960 à Valenciennes. Très remarqué pour

, son premier roman qui a été couronné par cinq prix littéraires, dont le Prix Marcel Pagnol et le Prix Camuzet du premier roman.

La narratrice

Après le Conservatoire national de Paris,

a joué avec Daniel Mesguich. A la télévision, on l'a vue dans l'Instit et Julie Lescaut. Au cinéma, elle prête sa voix à beaucoup d'héroïnes -et en particulier à Bridget Jones.

©2012 Editions Jean-Claude Lattès (P)2012 Audiolib

Revues par les critiques:

La presse en parle

"Une merveille !"

Gérard Collard, France 5

"Un bijou littéraire."

Karine Papillaud, Le Point

"Quelque chose qui ressemble à la grâce..."

Pierre Vavasseur, Le Parisien

Avis des membres:

Great novel with a woman as protagonist, written by a man

I am a native English speaker, but was pleasantly surprised that the French vocabulary was not beyond my level of comprehension. A rich and wonderful story, about a married woman, her husband and friends, and most of all, the things she dreams of having, though she is realistic enough to be happy with what she has. Not to give away too much of the plot, it's charming, and at times rather sad, always showing an amazing understanding of women on the part of the male author. For those who don't read French, there's an English translation titled, "My Wishlist." I highly recommend it.

Make sure you know it is MP3

I was looking forward to listening this audio book in my car as I do all the others I have, but because it is an MP3 version, I can only listen to it on my computer. Totally my bad for not noticing it said MP3 when I ordered it. I immensely enjoyed the book by Gregoire Delacourt,, as it it very well written, but I would have preferred not to have to sit at my desk to listen to it.

Short and compelling. It is kind of in the ...

Short and compelling. It is kind of in the vein of the Elegance of the Hedgehog book--the not attractive woman with the deep thoughts.

Perfect

Absolutely loved the book & it was in perfect condition!

Five Stars

Vous devez lire le livre jusqu'à la fin et entre les lignes.

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: One Breath Away

Author: Heather Gudenkauf

Narrator: Susan Ericksen

Format: Abridged

Length: 4 hrs and 54 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-26-12

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 11 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

In the midst of a sudden spring snowstorm, an unknown man armed with a gun walks into an elementary school classroom. Outside the school, the town of Broken Branch watches and waits.

Officer Meg Barrett holds the responsibility for the towns children in her hands. Will Thwaite, reluctantly entrusted with the care of his two grandchildren by the daughter who left home years earlier, stands by helplessly and wonders if he has failed his child again. Trapped in her classroom, Evelyn Oliver watches for an opportunity to rescue the children in her care. And thirteen-year-old Augie Baker, already struggling with the aftermath of a terrible accident that has brought her to Broken Branch, will risk her own safety to protect her little brother.

As tension mounts with each passing minute, the hidden fears and grudges of the small town are revealed as the people of Broken Branch race to uncover the identity of the stranger who holds their children hostage.

Members Reviews:

Very gripping

Heather Gudenkauf is a brilliant writer, I've read most her work. Weight of silence is by far her best, though this was very good

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: Sole Survivor

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Derek Hansen

Narrator: Christopher Cazenove

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 59 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-17-12

Publisher: Phoenix Books

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Have you ever wanted to escape to a distant island? When Rosie Trethewey, a disillusioned doctor turned market researcher, unexpectedly inherits a shack on the remote northern tip of Great Barrier Island, she decides it's time to begin a new life. Arriving at her new home, Rosie finds she has two neighbors sharing the wilderness: Red O'Hara, a refugee from horrific wartime experiences on the Burma Railway, and Angus McLeod, a retired policeman who's abandoned a society he sees as soft and contemptible. Rosie's appearance panics Red and Angus, both fearing she'll disrupt their ordered lives...and they're right.

Members Reviews:

sole survivor

Pretty good 'till the ending. Did the author just get decide to quit writing? It leaves you hanging as to what interesting other things could have happened during her accumulation to the island. I spent an hour trying to find out whether or not I had the entire download, because it just stopped with no indication as to what else could be. A definite thumbs down with this ending.

Is it me?

Is it me or was that a really abrupt ending???

Hansen

Would you listen to Sole Survivor again? Why?

Yes. I get completely lost in the story, and between sessions, I can't wait to get back to the Island.

I have read it before, the audible version is really great.

What other book might you compare Sole Survivor to and why?

Not really, I have not often found a book so very absorbing.But I would like to.( A fine balance ,perhaps.)

Have you listened to any of Christopher Cazenoves other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not heard him before. But he is very good indeed.

If you could rename Sole Survivor, what would you call it?

Great Barrier.

Any additional comments?

This really must be filmed.he wrote it with filming in mind. What a pity that so many stories, so much less worthy , are made into forgetable and trashy pieces of celluloid, when this is just crying out for three great actors and a screenwriter. Hansen himself , of course.

Where's the rest?

Any additional comments?

I've read this book a number of times and was very excited to see it on here. Imagine my disappointment to find that whoever recorded this didn't finish it. There is a lot more story to this and I am gutted that it's not here.

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: In One Person

Author: John Irving

Narrator: John Benjamin Hickey

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 19 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-10-12

Publisher: Random House AudioBooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 17 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

A compelling novel of desire, secrecy, and sexual identity, In One Person is a story of unfulfilled love - tormented, funny, and affecting - and an impassioned embrace of our sexual differences. Billy, the bisexual narrator and main character of the novel, tells the tragicomic story (lasting more than half a century) of his life as a "sexual suspect," a phrase first used by John Irving in 1978 in his landmark novel of "terminal cases", The World According to Garp.

His most political novel since The Cider House Rules and A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving's In One Person is a poignant tribute to Billy's friends and lovers, a theatrical cast of characters who defy category and convention. Not least, In One Person is an intimate and unforgettable portrait of the solitariness of a bisexual man who is dedicated to making himself "worthwhile".

Members Reviews:

Irving at his best!

Any additional comments?

John Irving has returned to his earlier form with his favourite themes. Reminiscent of Garp and Hotel New Hampshire there are complex characters, wrestling, sexual ambiguity and wretched mothers. If you like Irving's earlier work and aren't concerned about profanity you'll love it.

John Irving - Tormentor

Would you consider the audio edition of In One Person to be better than the print version?

I have text recognition issues so yes, the audiobook is better for me.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Grandpa.

What about John Benjamin Hickeys performance did you like?

He's a great reader and characterises really well. He's a great actor too.

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

Irving manages always to skirt sentimentality (for me, anyway) yet draws sentiment in the most matter-of-fact way when announcing the premature deaths. Without wishing to spoil this story for those who've not read it, (self) deceit and death feature and the reader not spared.

Any additional comments?

I started to listen to this book when I bought it over a year ago. I really didn't like it. Listened for about 20 minutes. When I started it again a few days ago, it consumed me. I hugely enjoy Irving as a writer and story teller. I rate this among his best.

Irving has lost his magic

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Irving's earlier books drew one into a surreal reality that was simultaneously wickedly funny and disquietingly wise - Garp, Cider House Rules, Hotel New Hampshire come to mind, and Owen Meany, and Son of the Circus. In fact, all of them, the earlier ones.

Somewhere between then and now he seems to have lost that magical edge. "Last Night in Snowy River" was a little better than "Until I find you", but this last offering is probably the last I'll read. Which is seriously sad.

Wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.

What could John Irving have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

He should stop trying to be controversial and just tell us a story.

What does John Benjamin Hickey bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

JBH is a great reader. His pace, inflections and voices always work. If it wasn't for his reading I wouldn't have finished the book.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Not a chance!

Pointless ramble

Any additional comments?

A very well narrated (apart from the German) but sadly mediocre 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: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Author: Deborah Moggach

Narrator: Nina Wadia

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-04-12

Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 44 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

When Ravi Kapoor, an overworked London doctor, is driven beyond endurance by his disgusting and difficult father-in-law, he asks his wife: "Can't we just send him away somewhere? Somewhere far, far away."

His prayer seems to have been answered when his entrepreneurial cousin, Sonny, sets up a retirement home, recreating a lost corner of England in a converted guesthouse in Bangalore. Travel and set-up are inexpensive, staff willing and plentiful - and the British pensioners can enjoy the hot weather and take mango juice with their gin.

Members Reviews:

Don't expect the same story as the movie

When I went to look for this book I looked for These Foolish Things, but the title was changed to the movie's title. The publishers should have kept the first title as the movie was only LOOSLY based on the book, with the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel hardly getting a mention. I LOVED the movie, but I had difficulty staying focused with the book. Lots more characters with stories different from the movie. Maybe if I had read the book first, I would have it enjoyed it more as the reader got to know the background of the residents and their families. So, if you haven't seen the movie or can separate the two if you have, have a go and enjoy an interesting book about what it means to grown old in the 21st Century. And by the way, Nina Wadia did a fantastic job of reading the story, with lots of interesting voices.

Witty, Satisfying, Affectionate - Highly Enjoyable

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved all the characters, and enjoyed the different points of view the book offered, from the exhausted Dr. Ravi Kapoor and his conflicted wife Pauline, to the sometimes scary and confidence crushing view of life and society and filial expectations from Norman, the obnoxious, farting & somewhat self deluding father/father in law. Each character has an interesting background story which is explored in the course of the book. I have not watched the film (but looking at the trailers this appears to be a much more detailed and satisfying novel, and seems quite different) .

The characters find plenty of adventure (these are septuagenarians, but as one said "70 is the new 40") against the backdrop of the modern bustling Hi Tech Bangalore, juxtaposed with legless beggars and rag pickers, and the dilapidated Dunroaming Hotel where the staff are older and more infirm than the residents.

I want to relate things that made me chuckle out loud (or whip the Ipod out of the Dock least young ears hear the graphic story of ... oh but that would give away an unexpected subplot). This novel has humour and colour in abundance, it has the unloved finding love, the unwanted finding respect, the meek finding confidence.

I did think one bit of the ending a tad contrived, and not sure why it was included, but on the whole this was an excellent fast paced novel. Definitely a keeper.

The narration is superb. Nina Wadia invokes the humour with a slight lift of tone, or the bewildering (like poor Evelyn's confusion about the call centre) with just the right deft touch.

Very engrossing story

India as a location for such novelty and adventure unrivalled. Well done and a good read on this subject great.

A delight

This is an "easy read", but that doesn't mean it loses any points for a quality storyline, enjoyability & worthiness.

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: Larry's Party

Author: Carol Shields

Narrator: William Roberts

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 48 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-01-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Larry's Party covers the life of Larry Weller, a modern man in the 20th century. Following Larry between the ages of 27 and 47, from 1977 to 1997, the novel illustrates what its like to be a man in Larrys era, and how men have had to change; exploring how masculinity is defined in the post-feminist world. Read by William Roberts.

Members Reviews:

So and so

After reading the marvelous Stone Diaries I was looking for more of the dame from this talented and smart writer. This book was in many ways disappointing despite the intelligent and at times clear eyed and at the same time poetic writing. Simply I would say that the author is better writing about women than about men. I have gotten a much more clear feeling about the women in the book than about Larry. The only truly great chapter was for me Larry's Party. Tough the women were coming through clear and loud with Larry just a blob hanging on.

Larry's Party - NOT

had to finally get to the end to enjoy it. The end should have been the beginning. I personally would have started with the party. The characters were a little dull.

A splendid read. I cannot imagine that those who ...

A splendid read. I cannot imagine that those who have read the book have not found at least one (probably more) situations with which they could relate to Larry's. Talk about the folly of life!

Larry's labyrinth...

A decent book, which loosely suggests a maze-like labyrinthine feel during the story evolution; but this is more implied than actively structured, unlike the way Emily Bronte consciously used structure in Wuthering Heights.

Just as when men try to write about female characters, there are some shallow and stereotypical touches, especially regarding Larry's sexuality. His instantly responsive penis is the stuff of fantasy, as many men experience erection loss the first time or two with a new woman, and often during the very first time having sex.

While he shows a number of stereotypical reactions to the onset of middle age and the theatrical trauma of hitting forty, there is no recognition of the fact that a man with Larry's quasi-morbidity would be experiencing levels of erectile dysfunction from his late twenties onwards.

As with The Stone Diaries, Carol tends to write epics about people who simply do not lead epic lives, even in their own heads, and Larry's Party is such a novel.

Despite the inherent flaws and the tendency towards over-writing, I still consider it worth a read.

A story of a life lived and observed

Carol Shields has a way of writing about the ordinary that elevates it to the sublime. We follow Larry, an ordinary guy, through his life through jumps in time of several years at a leap. Through the chapters, we follow him through a callow youth, through a first marriage and parenthood, divorce, his parents and sister's relationships with him and each other, remarriage and re-divorce, and most central to the book, his mundane job and rise to stellar status in his field of maze designer, of all things. But of course the maze is a metaphor for the complexities of life, trying to find ones way in the world. The dinner party at the end is clearly meant to represent the 'goal,' the center of the maze, but it's left to the readers to decide if Larry is likely to find his way out again.

A lovely tour de force.