Await Your Reply

A Novel

By: Dan Chaon

Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne

Length: 10 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

From the award-winning author of Among the Missing, Fitting Ends, and You Remind Me of Me, comes an ambitious, gripping, and beautifully written new novel about identity in the tradition of The Talented Mr. Ripley and Case Histories.

Three strangers who are trying to find their way in the wake of loss become entwined in an identity theft scheme, which has a resounding impact on them all.

Longing to get on with his life, Miles Cheshire nevertheless can't stop searching for his troubled twin brother, Hayden, who has been missing for ten years.

A few days after graduating from high school, Lucy Lattimore sneaks away from the small town of Pompey, Ohio, with her charismatic former history teacher. They arrive in Nebraska, in the middle of nowhere, at a long-deserted motel next to a dried-up reservoir, to figure out the next move on their path to a new life.

My whole life is a lie, thinks Ryan Schuyler, who has recently learned some shocking news. In response, he walks off the Northwestern University campus, hops on a bus, and breaks loose from his existence, which suddenly seems abstract and tenuous.

A gorgeously written psychological study, and a meditation on identity in the modern world, this is a literary novel with the haunting momentum of a thriller.

©2009 Dan Chaon (P)2009 Phoenix

Critic reviews

"This novel's structure echoes that of his well-received debut - also a book of threes - even as it bests that book's elegant prose, haunting plot and knockout literary excellence." ( Publishers Weekly)

Compelling and fascinating

This book kept my attention until the very last word. As other reviews have said, it reads like a thriller, although it's not. It's a powerful, thoughtful study of the psychology of identity and identity theft, and the people who perpetrate it. As the story weaves in and out of the lives of a handful of characters, including the relatives of the con artists, it raises issues of how each of us defines who we are -- as human beings and within the context of our family and society. It's also a study in deception - of others and of ourselves. It's one of those books that I'm almost sorry I 'read', because now I've lost the ability to experience it for the first time. I'll probably listen to it again anyway. I hope this author's other books are as good as this one. I just can't say enough good things about this book - and several professional reviewers have had a similar opinion. What an extremely satisfying read!

Very good and realistic story but...

What did you love best about Await Your Reply?

It is unfortunately all too real today

What was one of the most memorable moments of Await Your Reply?

The hand...

What does Kirby Heyborne bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His fluency in different languages and how he can relate the characters just by the type of voice he uses...

Who was the most memorable character of Await Your Reply and why?

Lucy. Silly, silly girl.

Any additional comments?

Way too abrupt of an ending. Just as I was linking all the character, the story was over. I envisions at least another 2 events further for each group of characters. Hayden had so much more to do.

Interesting book

I found myself tuning out sometimes in this book because of I would forget who the minor characters were. Part of this was because I would take long pauses between listening. But the story of the main characters and the mystery of how they intertwine was suspenseful and entertaining.

Hard going, but worth it in the end

This is an often depressing story--I would get to work after listening on my morning commute and just feel anxious all day. I could hardly go on at one point, but the thriller-style plot made me want to finish, and by the end I was very glad I'd persevered.
The narrator is only fair--he may have been picked because he could read the short passages in a Slavic language.

Clever

Good choice if you want a psychological ride while peeking at an unfamiliar side of life. The pace is established from the very beginning and this is a book that could be listened to more than once.
Narration was good but not perfect.

very original

I have not read any Chaon books so did not know his style, but I enjoyed the way he told this story. It is not about "identity-theft" but rather the personalities of those who find themselves entwined in the lives of these identity thieves. They could have just as well been common criminals, but the fact they are identity thieves makes it more interesting and relevant to our time. The three main characters are involved, in one way or another, with these thieves in some dysfunctional manner because of a character flaw of his or her own.

It is a book that could studied, and essays written, about the characters and all of the symbolic references and so forth, upbringing, and what have you, about their lives and what leads them to become what they are. It is close to a five star on my scale.

Unique storyline

What did you love best about Await Your Reply?

What a unique story with so many twists/turns. Have to pay attention to the story lines - This book is not just a passive read

Read, Don't Listen

Await Your Reply tells the story of three strangers and how their lives interconnect in mysterious ways. Miles Cheshire knows he should get on with his life and live it. Yet, he can't help but long to find his brother, Hayden. He searches endlessly to find Hayden. Lucy Lattimore runs away from her hometown in Ohio with her high school teacher. Then, days later, amid discussions of changing identities, Lucy starts to think twice about her decision. Finally, Ryan can't help but believe his whole life is a lie after learning during his sophomore year of college that his dad isn't really his dad. He walks off his college campus and begins a new life.

This book came highly recommended to me from numerous sources so I was quite anxious to read it. I ended up listening to it (it's narrated by Kirby Heyborne). The author does an excellent job of keeping the reader guessing how the stories are going to tie together. I figured out most of the big twist at the end about an hour from the end of the story. But there were pieces that still surprised me. When I was finished listening, I kept thinking about the book and all the little ties and I wanted to actually sit down with a paper copy of the book and see if I could find some of the little clues that may have been hidden in the book. There are books that a reader gets more out of by reading and I think this is one of them. No offense to Kirby Heyborne because he did an excellent job reading. I just think the storyline was a little too complicated to listen to during my daily commute.

I do recommend the book though - just read it, don't listen to it.

Beautifully Written, Beautifully Read

I found the story and characters engrossing, and could not have been more delighted with the way Kirby Heyborne performed it. As he spoke for each of the characters, there were subtle, but noticeable changes in voicing and "melody." His reading supported and enhanced the text for me.

Chaon makes a main character, who is essentially a sociopath, human, which is to say never fully understandable, but utterly recognizable. The other characters, touched and often injured by this man seem as real as if I had actually met them. A nice blend of interior monologue, exterior interaction and beautiful writing. Reminded me of Michael Cunningham, whose work I also admire. Five stars.

This is not for everyone, but what a treat

This is my second novel by Dan Chaon, read back to back. It is even better than Ill Will but, like Ill Will, it is not for the faint of heart. The characters are dark and often despicable. I can see how many would find the outcome depressing. And yet...the WRITING. And the STORIES. Quite original and coming together in ways that will surprise you even if you expected half of it. Hope he writes a third novel soon.