Banker's Holiday

A Novel of Fiscal Irregularity

De: Gary Clemenceau

Narrado por: Boyd Barrett

From the first puzzling sentence, Banker's Holiday—a euphemism for a federal bank closure—conjures the bleak and humorous world of Cincinnatus Stillman Fuller, a billionaire financier who suffers a breakdown in the middle of a Monday morning staff meeting.

Fuller comes to the sudden, disturbing realization that his "brooding, luxurious zombies, otherwise known as senior management" have become just that, and that he must either escape, or become one of them.

Fuller flees the discorporate horror, disguises himself as a janitor, and heads crosscountry in an old pick-up to an odd Shangri-la in Upstate NY. But will he escape the bizarre phantasms that continue to dog him? And can anyone dispel a thousand-foot Nixon?

Part satirical fantasia, part corporate fantasy and horror, Gary Clemenceau's singular debut novel—UNEXPURGATED FOR THE FIRST TIME—illustrates Capitalism's mid-life crisis, and offers a unique solution to the problem of being human in an increasingly inhuman world.

©2006, 2025 Gary Clemenceau (P)2025 Gary Clemenceau

A wild ride of a story ...

Two things that stand out so much they must be noted at the outset: 1) the author's absolutely delightful word play that I'm confident no AI program could ever come close to touching (I take great comfort in this as AI becomes more and more prevalent), and 2) an incredible narration that is perfect in timing and pitch ... one must give one's self over completely to the story because it's impossible to anticipate where it is going and enjoy the ride (this is a good thing!) ... guaranteed to be one of the more unusual stories you'll ever listen to!

Joyride in every way

This audio book takes you for a thoroughly engaging ride with an impressive narrative, language, and voice. Tone, wit, rhythm and story move this experience along in the most satisfying of ways. The narration is exacting but never stiff, intimate without ever begging your affection. It guides, pauses, pivots — and then, without warning, drops you through a trapdoor into some other register entirely. Delightful. What follows is strange, often very funny, yet also quite tender. The work is read by a very talented voice artist whose voice is at once appealing and distinct. Highly recommended and very timely to boot.

Super Underrated

Banker’s Holiday sneaks up on you. It doesn’t shout; it just kind of slides into your brain with these low-key gorgeous/flowy sentences and characters that feel like people you’ve maybe met at 2 a.m. in a diner. Clemenceau’s writing is tight, thoughtful, and weirdly comforting, even when it’s about burnout and spreadsheets. It’s got this almost magical vibe but not fantasy, more like a type of enchantment. And the narration? Incredible. The narrator nails every beat like they’ve lived it. It’s not flashy, but it hits deep. Strange, smart, warm. A total sleeper hit. 10/10 would and will recommend.

Just Awesome

This was just awesome. The language… playfully sharp in a way that feels entirely human, even a little mischievous. There’s a joy in the wordplay that’s rare in these soulless ‘machine days.' The narrator… flawless. It’s like he knows exactly how long to hold your hand before yanking you somewhere you absolutely didn’t expect. And that’s the whole vibe here: you can’t predict where this is going, so don’t even try. Just let go. It’s strange, smart, oddly hilarious, touching in a way I'd not expected, and unlike pretty much anything else I’ve listened to. You’ll come out the other side blinking, grinning, and maybe asking yourself what just happened — in the best possible way. Full marks.