The Confessions of Max Tivoli

By: Andrew Sean Greer

Narrated by: Brian Keeler

Length: 10 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

From critically acclaimed, award-winning author Andrew Sean Greer comes a story like no other. The Confessions of Max Tivoli is an ambitious and imaginative novel that leaves an indelible impression on readers.

Max Tivoli is uniquely cursed. His mind ages normally, but he is born with the withered body of a 70-year-old man, and his body ages in reverse. Despite this torment, Max manages three times to cross paths with Alice, the woman who captures his heart. Because he appears to be a different person each time they meet, Max has three chances for true love.

A story of self-discovery and sacrifice, set against momentous historical events, including the Great San Francisco Earthquake and World War I, The Confessions of Max Tivoli is a spellbinding masterpiece.

©2004 Andrew Sean Greer (P)2004 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Greer's second novel plumbs the agonies of misdirected love and the pleasures of nostalgia with gratifying richness....Greer writes marvelously nuanced prose; with its turn-of-the-century lilt and poetic flashes, it is the perfect medium for this weird, mesmerizing and heartbreaking tale." (Publishers Weekly)
Greer pinpoints the 'tiny hidden madnesses in ordinary people' with unerring accuracy, and, in prose littered with sparks, makes palpable the longing for the celestial." (The New Yorker)
"Greer is a writer to watch." (Boston Globe)

Great narration, not a great book

If not for the excellent narration, I would not have finished this book. But it did have promise, which kept me hoping for more ? which never came.

Memorable character, moving story

This story, told in the first person, is of a character (Max Tivoli) who ages in reverse. As a baby he looks like a withered old man. He progressively grows younger looking, passing (in appearance) through adulthood, until finally he begins to look like a child. Despite the progression of his appearance from old to young, he matures mentally and emotionally in the normal sequence. The admonition given by his mother early in life is always to act the way he appears. Thus, as a child, Max has to feign the behaviors of an adult. In middle age, his apparent and real ages more or less coincide. In old age, he appears like a pre-adolescent and, tragically, must try to fit into the life of a pre-adolescent, despite having had a lifetime of experience. At first, as I started to listen to this book, I had some qualms about the premise of this book: aging in reverse. It simply seemed to contrived. Once into the story, I began to realize that this plot device served to develop a character who had to behave and live out an identity, not as he wanted, but as others expected. We all have the experience, at one point or another in our lives, of acting as others would have us act, rather than the way we trully feel. What if we had to live an entire life like that? That is the tragedy of Max's life, and the way that Greer brings it to light is palpable and moving. The narration by Brian Keeler is entertaining. Highly recommended.

Incredible

This is a great book, some of the best story-telling I've ever read. I'm not going to say as good as John Irving, but very worth the time.

The premise, which at first take seems a bit awkward, is handled very well and in a very engaging way.

The narration was flawless. What can I say...one of the best selections of fiction I've downloaded from Audible, a grand journey.

There's really nothing bad to say, except that perhaps that the take-away message is not exceptionally deep and profound.

Highly recommended!

Wonderful

The writing was prose. Every description came alive in my mind. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and will be seeking more by Greer.

The story was engaging and believable, even though the premise was sheer fantasy. You soon forgot the mechanics and just enjoyed the story.

Wow & Sad

I really felt for Max. This was a tear jerker. Impossible to stop listening to!

Highly Recommended

Superb narration! The story is tightly written and never slows down, maintaining its many layered suspense with well-timed rewards.

Great premise, well executed.

A good listen. A story of perhaps misdirected love that works on many levels. The period settings are richly described, characters are developed appropriately, and the novel is compelling, with enough surprises to keep you listening.

Enjoy.

Very engaging....great narration

I really enjoyed this book. The story kept me wanting more and the narration kept me listening. Excellent! Max's story is heartbreaking...but I highly recommend. BTW...this is not the story of Brad Pitt's movie Benjamin Buttons, it's 10Xs better... similar circumstance but entirely different storyline.

Still reeling....

Beautiful and achingly sad. Only recommended if you can appreciate a somewhat depressing story for the art.

Oh the Melodrama!

Hmmm...this book kept losing my attention, reclaiming it, and losing it again. Not boring, but meandering. Not a new concept either, Martin Amis handled the notion definetvely in Times Arrow.
I couldn't help thinking that the whiny, martyr-like Max was going to feel much more at home as a whiny, petulant child.
All of that said it passes afew hours, and the narration is engaging enough. For a story with such a definate direction, it really does feel like an entire lifetinme has passed by the end.
Good for impressing the kind of girls who require one to appear "sensitive". Maybe. Your granny would probably like it tho.