The Unnamed

Exemplary contemporary American fiction, the best book I've read in a long time. Heartbreakingly sad. Brilliant characterisation. I was fascinated by the idea of walking across America. Kept recalling something for me I couldn't quite catch. Kept being reminded of Walt Whitman, and the contemporary description of madness + homelessness is straight out of King Lear. An exquisite appropriation, complete with Shakespearian poetry. Pleased to hear at the end he did have Lear in mind. I must say I prefer this kind of delicate textual appropriation to that of, say, Jane Smiley's A Thousand Acres.

I haven't read And Then We Came to the End but since audible has only an abridged version, I'll be reading that through my eyes.

The author is an apt narrator for this novel, and his voice seemed perfectly suited to describe the experience of the main character. There is an easy flow to the narration that is nice to listen to. This novel explores illness and its effects on the arc of the characters' lives. While the actual illness suffered by the main character is a fictional, improbable one, the way in which his work, family and self must adapt is thought-provoking. Anyone who has dealt with chronic illness will find threads to identify with here, but there is much in this book about the human condition in general. A little slow to start - I enjoyed the second half more.

Ferris' book lays deep tracks into issues like mental illness, marriage, family, career--all while telling a (usually) compelling story. The book is very well written--almost sparse--and even though read by author, he does a great job. The book stumbles in a few places, where author resorts to writing tricks to keep the book moving along, and the storyline is a bit predictable, but it's a good read. My only other complaint is stupid, too-long music interludes between chapters, but minor issue.

Joshua Ferris does a stellar job narrating his own work. At once deeply disturbing and frightening yet beautifully wrought tale. In no way does JF "preach" but you cannot help coming away with a new found empathy for mentally ill as well as homeless people and their families. I look forward to more of JF's narrations.

I get the impression that I am supposed to like and be impressed by this book, but I just wasn't. If it wasn't the audiobook, I am sure I would have stopped reading out of boredom. The audiobook is read by the author which added a unique interest and spark. It isn't as if sucked... it was.... was. The story didn't really have a point it was leading to, and it was just very depressing. I suppose that was the point, but usually something depressing can be used to spur us on to something.. but this just left me bummed out.

This book is entirely different from the first novel ....it is unusual, it is sad...beautifully written.

I am so very disappointed in the ending, I don't understand the whole premise of what Josh Ferris was writing about at the end. Yes, the main character had to go through some life altering experiences, but to end it with what he did.....NOT A FAN!! I think I hated it.

That really was about the saddest thing, but beautifully written and well read by the author. Well worth my time.

Really lame.