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Title: The Amateur

Author: David Gordon

Narrator: David de Vries

Format: Unabridged

Length: 51 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-02-14

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories & Anthologies

Publisher's Summary:

A young man fleeing heartbreak back home meets a mysterious expat at a café in Paris. What begins as a friendly conversation between two outsiders soon transforms into a heart-pounding confession that threatens to shake both men to their cores. In this darkly funny, Sopranos-meets-Sebald page-turner by acclaimed mystery writer David Gordon, people arent always what they seem, and digging for the truth could have fatal consequences.

Members Reviews:

Funny, Inventive Sopranos-Reminescent Story

I downloaded The Amateur as I have been a fan of David Gordon since The Serialist, and true to form, it is another darkly witty yet somehow warming (despite the bloodshed!) story, as if you are reading about old friends of yours that you haven't heard from in a while. I always seem to feel a bit saddened to see them go when I reach the last page, but as with any good book, I'm left thinking about them, Eddie and Doreen, and what they might be up to now. I am excited to see what is next for David Gordon and the company he keeps on paper.

Just okay

An interesting enough short story. Characters and writing were okay, but ultimately I was unsure what the point was, hence the relatively low rating. The story involves an English-speaking tourist being approached by an American man in a cafe in Paris. The stranger is looking for someone to talk to, as he doesn't speak French and finds the lack of conversation a bit trying. He proceeds to tell the tourist something of his life, recounting an ultimately bloody tale, which shows him as someone with a violent history but a strong sense of honour. The story wasn't hard to read, but it didn't seem to be anything new or different, or to be making any strong point about anything. I also found it a bit unrealistic that the American would unload such a tale on a complete stranger just to have a conversation.

Short but simple

The story the amateur is not amateurish,no no. It is brilliant and perfectly constructed. I loved the voice. Its sparse and sticks to the point. It leaves you wondering about all the rest of the characters and giggling at the ending. Thanks David Gordon I am going to look for more of your writing.

a quick and engaging escape to two worlds

In a few pages, we enjoy the romance of Paris, and indulge the romance we all have with "wise guys" - a great read!

Good Read

I liked it. There were some parts I thought were predictable, but some of the reveals were really good. I'd check out something else by this writer.