Mrs. Fletcher

By: Tom Perrotta

Narrated by: Finn Wittrock, Carrie Coon, Alex Allwine, JD Jackson, Nicky Maindiratta, Jen Richards, Sarah Steele, Aaron Tveit

Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's Summary

From one of the most popular and best-selling authors of our time, a penetrating and hilarious new novel about sex, love, and identity on the front lines of America's culture wars.

Eve Fletcher is trying to figure out what comes next. A 46-year-old divorcée whose beloved only child has just left for college, Eve is struggling to adjust to her empty nest when one night her phone lights up with a text message. Sent from an anonymous number, the mysterious sender tells Eve, "U R my MILF!" Over the months that follow, that message comes to obsess Eve. While leading her all-too-placid life - serving as executive director of the local senior center by day and taking a community college course on gender and society at night - Eve can't curtail her own interest in a porn website called MILFateria.com, which features the erotic exploits of ordinary middle-aged women like herself. Before long, Eve's online fixations begin to spill over into real life, revealing new romantic possibilities that threaten to upend her quiet suburban existence.

Meanwhile, miles away at the state college, Eve's son, Brendan - a jock and aspiring frat boy - discovers that his new campus isn't nearly as welcoming to his hard-partying lifestyle as he had imagined. Only a few weeks into his freshman year, Brendan is floundering in a college environment that challenges his white-dude privilege and shames him for his outmoded, chauvinistic ideas of sex. As the New England autumn turns cold, both mother and son find themselves enmeshed in morally fraught situations that come to a head on one fateful November night.

Sharp, witty, and provocative, Mrs. Fletcher is a timeless examination of sexuality, identity, parenthood, and the big clarifying mistakes people can make when they're no longer sure of who they are or where they belong.

©2017 Tom Perrotta (P)2017 Simon & Schuster Audio

Beautiful book

Beautiful book. So human, so believable. Wonderfully produced, with great performances from the two leads. And Perrotta's writing -- his diction, his humor, his pacing -- shine through yet again. I loved "The Leftovers," and "Mrs. Fletcher" isn't to be missed as well.

As usual for Tom Perrotta, very entertaining!

This novel is a bit cringe worthy since I’m a middle aged woman, but touches on many timely topics. Beautifully written, great narrators. Loved it.

Identity crisis

This book didn’t know what it wanted to be, a novel, a term paper for a class about gender, society and sex, or a journal of a lonely man spending evenings alone on Facebook and porn sites. Couldn’t sympathize or empathize with any of the characters. Not all bad, some good pieces but most made me cringe.

Fun and very interesting

Wasn't expecting much from this but it turns out it's one of my favorite books of the year!

Unconventional Character-driven Tale

I really enjoyed this story! I found the characters refreshing. I enjoyed the two storylines of a mother searching for new interests in her 40's while her son entered college. I thought the author had a fresh way of thinking about how people use technology, pornography, and classes to enhance their lives. I enjoyed so many of the characters in the story. The ending was a little bit of a let-down, but the author did a great job of tying everything together. I heard about this on NPR and thought their interview with the author was delightful.
My only negative comment was that in the recording, using a very gay man characterization for the transgender voice was misinformed. Maybe someone should have actually talked to some transgender women before casting it that way.

AGEISM

Tom Perrotta is a good story teller. One is unsure of his objectivity but "Mrs. Fletcher" is a young man's fantasy, with a personal view of ageism.

Perrota emasculates young men who demean women and sexually energizes women in their youth and mid-40s. All is well that ends well (which "Mrs. Fletcher" does) but the fecklessness of youth seems hyperbolic and women's desire seems overdrawn.

Still, Perrotta tells a fascinating story that peaks imagination and offers "happy" endings.

Mrs. Dalloway

Something about this calls to mind a modern Mrs. Dalloway, with other characters' perspectives thrown in. I liked it and listened compulsively, though I can't quite say why it grabbed me. Excellent voice performances. I'd give the story a 3.7. I haven't had time to digest fully, but I'm not sure if I'd recommend it, or to whom. This'll keep me thinking for a bit.

A very good book if you let it open up to you

This author has often skirted greatness, not always making it but coming very close. This was a heartwarming during a story that spoke to me on many levels although it's in the times the author was trying to be a little tongue-in-cheek I don't think he's really ready for that yet. Give the book time let her talk to you and at the end it's worth the reward you will receiveo

Excellent

As usual, this author presents everyday life as both hilarious and tragic. The performances were excellent as well. Loved it.

Smart, witty, feminist

Smart, witty, and feminist: Tom Perrota delivers again. Very entertaining and satisfying w killer narration