The Answer Is No

A Short Story

De: Fredrik Backman, Elizabeth DeNoma - translator

Narrado por: Stacy Gonzalez

In a hilarious short story from New York Times bestselling author Fredrik Backman, the absurdities of modern life cause one man’s solitary world to spin suddenly, and comically, out of control.

Lucas knows the perfect night entails just three things: video games, wine, and pad thai. Peanuts are a must! Other people? Not so much. Why complicate things when he’s happy alone?

Then one day the apartment board, a vexing trio of authority, rings his doorbell. And Lucas’s solitude takes a startling hike. They demand to see his frying pan. Someone left one next to the recycling room overnight, and instead of removing the errant object, as Lucas suggests, they insist on finding the guilty party. But their plan backfires. Colossally.

Told in Fredrik Backman’s singular witty style with sharply drawn characters and relatable antics, The Answer Is No is a laugh-out-loud portrait of a man struggling to keep to himself in a world that won’t leave him alone.

©2024 by Vecka 16 AB (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Translation © 2024 by Elizabeth DeNoma.

Read, don’t listen.

Typical Backman, funny and ironic, an illustration of human frailty and strength. Love the story but the narrator did tend to gild the lily. It would be even better read with more subtly. I almost quit listening a few times because narration was getting on my nerves.

Wow, what a story

This was an emotional roller coaster for sure. I mean I was happy, sad, annoyed and frustrated. It was also thought-provoking and insightful.

I can't with the voice

The narrator is really annoying. Couldn't finish this. I want my $1 back ): lol

stunning

Totally changed the way I viewed this familiar tale. At times it literally made me stop in my tracks

yes

one of the most delightful books I read in a long time you got to be patient by reading it because you'll love the ending have a great day and a great life

The narrative style doesn’t fit the story/writing

Backman is brilliant as usual. But this narrator does not do this story or Backman’s writing justice at all. Her narrative style doesn’t suit the tone of the story. She sounds like she’s narrating a children’s book (very over the top) and it was really annoying to listen to. I’d recommend reading it for yourself rather than listening to this audiobook!

Lucas is hilarious

I loved the story, nice and short packed with meaning. performance was a bit exaggerated but not enough to not listen

Classic Backman themes

A fun short listen, a little predictable but still warm and amusing, with a sense that these characters, while not fully three dimensional, still offer a peek into the desire for human connection

Fredrick is Backman

If all you of heard or listen to of Backman was the Beartown, boy will you been in for a surprised. More farce than anything, so no dark 90 degree turn.

Not up to author standards

I love this author and his quirky characters, however this didn’t sound like his clever curmudgeon character development. It didn’t sound like the author’s voice but more like a watered down wanna be. Disappointing.