Foe

By: Iain Reid

Narrated by: Jacques Roy

Length: 5 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

A taut, psychological mind bender from the best-selling author of I’m Thinking of Ending Things.

We don’t get visitors. Not out here. We never have.

In Iain Reid’s second haunting, philosophical puzzle of a novel, set in the near future, Junior and Henrietta live a comfortable, solitary life on their farm, far from the city lights, but in close quarters with each other. One day, a stranger from the city arrives with alarming news: Junior has been randomly selected to travel far away from the farm...very far away. The most unusual part? Arrangements have already been made so that when he leaves, Henrietta won't have a chance to miss him, because she won't be left alone - not even for a moment. Henrietta will have company. Familiar company.

Told in Reid’s sharp and evocative style, Foe examines the nature of domestic relationships, self-determination, and what it means to be (or not to be) a person. An eerily entrancing pause-resister, it churns with unease and suspense from the first words to its shocking finale.

©2018 Iain Reid (P)2018 Simon & Schuster

An excellent, thought-provoking listen

I loved Reid's first novel so I approached Foe with a slight sense of trepidation and high expectations. My worries were unnecessary. Foe is superb, a tautly-written book in which the reader is always on slightly shaky ground. The novel's focus is narrow so the rules and reality of it's near-future setting are often implied but never crystal clear. That's entirely intentional and immensely effective. It's best to go into this story knowing next to nothing about the plot. Pay attention and you will be rewarded.

Reid is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. I can't wait for his next effort.

Pretty good.

I prefer Reid’s last novel, but this one toys with some very interesting concepts. It’s all about relationships, and communication.
Just don’t be like me and read it after getting dumped.

SKIP

I feel like I missed something because I read the glowing reviews but this was the most boring anti climactic thing I had ever experienced.

A real page turner

As with his first book, I could not put this Iain Reid page turner down. In his generally short novels (thus far), Iain provides incredibly intuitive insight into his central characters psyche. There is a constant tension and uncertainty as well as a remarkable sense of place, somehow conveyed without providing detailed specifics about exactly where or when we are. I savored every page. #addicting #pageturner #suspenseful #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

A mastery in “uncomfortable.”

Ian Reid is terrific at writing deeply uncomfortable works, particularly at highlighting something being wrong but you can’t put your finger on what exactly it is. This is a great thriller and worth a listen.

The suspense pulls you along

The suspense pulls you along, makes you eager to keep listening and then it wraps in quite the “ending without an ending” way. Not my favorite story telling technique. But a quick, engaging story to listen to. Could be a good transition book or book slump read.

A thoughtful masterpiece

I’m usually good at guessing book endings well before the end, but this one pulled me in so many different directions I just couldn’t pin it down. I love the setting, an old farmhouse in the midst of a futuristic world, and the characters felt like people I knew or could know. I love Reid’s books and this one has to be my favorite.

Foe

Let me start by saying i thoroughly enjoyed this book. it is slow paced by very well done. Its the story of junior and his wife Henrietta. A man named Terrence comes to they're house one night and tells Junior he's been selected to go on a space station. Also tells him he'll have a replication to replace him while hes gone. I figured out what was going on about 3/4 of the way through but then even delightfully surprised me in the end. I found the performance enjoyable and the voice somewhat soothing. I listen to books or podcast as I go to bed and dozed off a few times. which is credit to the smooth voice.

Loved it!

I saw some mixed reviews so I was hesitant to buy it but I ended up liking it a lot! The narrator did a fantastic job and the story was thought-provoking. Going to read more by this author.

Absurd and Predictable

The character seem to accept the absurdity around him unrealistic ease. The plot is outlandish but also predictable. You will see the twist and ending both a mile away. That said it wasn't terrible and the narrator was excellent.