It definitely fits into what you might call the "middle-aged suburban comic nightmare" genre of fiction on the lines of Franzen's "The Corrections," Chabon's "Wonder Boys" or Clarke's "An Arsonist's Guide to Writer's Homes in New England." What makes this stand out in the field is that the story is small and controlled (none of the sprawl that often makes books like these wander too far), and absolutely every element pays off in larger meaning. (The fact that the first chapter takes place at a 7-11 becomes a parodic model for references to 9/11 later, and it works smartly.) In short, there is warm intelligence and compassion for ever character on every page, while at the same time Walter creates a tremendously important document about the human costs of the 2008 recession, and of the modern world in general. Just amazing, and well worth the visit. He had me at chapter one.

He has the delivery EXACTLY, as you might expect, so that even parenthetical comments sound perfectly parenthetical and don't stop the forward flow of a sentence. Best of all, and most important, is that he delivers all the jokes perfectly: not only in their timing, but in the voice of the appropriate characters. He's got a good ear for humanity, and it shows in his telling.

People who appreciate adult males who feel victimized.

HE was enjoyable to listen to.

I found the writing style enjoyable and will go read more by the author. But if the main character is representative of today's male, then we do belong living in low rent housing hoping our wives will pay attention to us and praying that our children don't recognize that we have failed in taking care of them the way children should be .

I loved Beautiful Ruis, so perhaps the stars I gave this one suffered by comparison. In reality, I found the novel both funny and tragic. The author's wit often had me laughing out loud -- like, really out loud...to the point that I am sure other drivers might have considered the woman in the car a tad suspect. The story is about a man who loses everything -- in a quite believable manner. He is in shock and, at the same time, simply accepting that this catastrophe is his fate. You are there for the ride.

I guess my problem was that the story, as a whole, was ultimately unsatisfying. Not heart-wrenching in the way of Beautiful Ruins. The story. Just. Ends. Perhaps it's more realistic than attempting to give it another spin, but, what can I say, it left me wanting.

I do recommend it. And, perhaps, if I had not read Beautiful Ruins first, I would have given this four stars overall. I certainly want to read more from Jess Walter.

I actually thought the author did a great job reading his own work. No, he was not the Amazing Narrator from Beautiful Ruins, but I do like hearing authors read.

My type of dry and always bad timing humor. Very well written and just a great book.

This book shouldn't be funny--unemployment, indiscretion, drugs, foreclosure, infidelity--none of these are funny topics. And yet in this honest journey through reality Jess Walter writes in a style so rich and poignant, so real, that I couldn't help but laugh out loud as our hero Matt reacts to problems he didn't create, but then creates even more. Matt is so hopelessly flawed, and so charmingly real that I was drawn to him in the same twisted way he was drawn into the drug world. I mean, why not go along for the ride and see what happens. Jess Walter is fast becoming one of my favorite authors.

One likes to have a reason to read/listen to a story. It was so depressing, that it was hard to find a reason to finish, but I storied on. If this is the "new" literature, give me the old.

First of all this story was horrifically under-researched. If you are going to write about a character stepping outside of their element you must learn and write accurately about the world they are entering and not just the element being stepped out of. Without spoiling anything I'll just state that the inaccuracies were appalling.

The lead in this book is a sorry sack of middle class America with a desperate need to hold onto the inflated financial status he believes he is entitled to. This goes for his wife as well who is forgiven every flaw because HE is broke. Value is placed more on money, material and status than on communication, love, or even achievement and this holds true throughout the entirety of the book despite the supposed catharsis the main character experiences before the end. It does a tolerable job examining the mindset of many in the US coming out of the late economic boom into the real-estate collapse but nothing is learned or gained by the experiences of this transition and the characters remain in this sad state of existence. If this was the author's point (which I really don't think it was) then I can only hope his finger is NOT on the pulse of America. If it is, he should have made a far more profound and dark statement--not a cheezy, half-humorous one full of bad poetry.

This story would have benefited greatly from a more skilled narrator. The author's reading was flat, lacked expression, and often turned the end of each sentence down as one unaccustomed to reading aloud. If anything he succeeded only in sounding a bit pretentious about a work that was anything but worthy of pomp.

Aside from a few funny one-liners and scenarios (some already exhausted by other books and media) this book was a shallow story about shallow people. Not my cup of tea.

I started with Jess Walter with “Beautiful Ruins” and decided to listen to ANYTHING he wrote. I have to say this is nothing like Beautiful Ruins – which took him 7 years (?) to write.

This story is reminiscent of youthful thoughts of getting out of a financial disaster with ‘easy’ money with a dash of danger (aka: excitement). Looking back I would say it was mildly juvenile.

I didn’t lose interest but I was definitely tossed back and forth from the 70’s to the present - how to make it in difficult situations. I don’t know how to recommend this book. It is bleak but not. It has its moments of humor, which would have been more humorous if the situations were not so bleak. Inevitability is another word that comes to mind. I will listen to anything else Jess Walter write. I doubt I will listen to this one again.

Nothing.

The negative aspect the character took. Depressing. It stunk.

None

ALL the characters. The book is bad.

Audible should never have built this book up in their advertising. Books like this are reasons why some customers may not order new books. Personally, I would like a refund.