Spoonbenders

A Novel

By: Daryl Gregory

Narrated by: Ari Fliakos

Length: 14 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's Summary

Teddy Telemachus is a charming con man with a gift for sleight of hand and some shady underground associates. In need of cash, he tricks his way into a classified government study about telekinesis and its possible role in intelligence gathering. There he meets Maureen McKinnon, and it's not just her piercing blue eyes that leave Teddy forever charmed but her mind - Maureen is a genuine psychic of immense and mysterious power. After a whirlwind courtship, they marry, have three gifted children, and become the Amazing Telemachus Family, performing astounding feats across the country. Irene is a human lie detector. Frankie can move objects with his mind. And Buddy, the youngest, can see the future. Then one night tragedy leaves the family shattered.

Decades later the Telemachuses are not so amazing. Irene is a single mom whose ear for truth makes it hard to hold down a job, much less hold together a relationship. Frankie's in serious debt to his dad's old mob associates. Buddy has completely withdrawn into himself and inexplicably begun digging a hole in the backyard. To make matters worse, the CIA has come knocking, looking to see if there's any magic left in the Telemachus clan. And there is: Irene's son Matty has just had his first out-of-body experience. But he hasn't told anyone, even though his newfound talent might just be what his family needs to save themselves - if it doesn't tear them apart in the process.

Harnessing the imaginative powers that have made him a master storyteller, Daryl Gregory delivers a stunning, laugh-out-loud new novel about a family of gifted dreamers and the invisible forces that bind us all.

©2017 Daryl Gregory (P)2017 Random House Audio

Critic Reviews

"Hilarious, heartfelt and brimming with humanity." (Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, author of The Nest)

"Masterful...gracefully balances the outrageous melodrama of Chicago mobsters and shadowy government agencies with the ordinary mysteries of family dynamics.... Readers will emerge from the fray sure they know each Telemachus down to the smudges on their hearts. A skillfully written family drama that employs quirk and magic with grace." ( Kirkus Reviews)

" Spoonbenders is brilliant. With the Telemachus clan, Daryl Gregory has created a family that is part J.D. Salinger and part David Foster Wallace. But the most impressive trick in the novel isn't how they read minds. Gregory's real gift is how he uses them to show the depths of the human heart." (Christopher Farnsworth, author of Killfile and Blood Oath)

Shades of Koontz

I found this in humor. No real smiles (no laughs), but a light-hearted story. Nice use of flashbacks to develop characters. The narrator did a good job of creating separate voices for the characters. The supernatural element and easy style are reminiscent of Dean Koontz. I especially appreciate the untold secret, kept 'til the end (and beyond).

Slow start, but patience is your friend here.

What did you love best about Spoonbenders?

Gregory does a great job of weaving storylines and really nails the voice of each character. I just also appreciated the good old fashioned storytelling aspect to this book. He deftly combines realism and magic all while maintaining a sense of humor.

What does Ari Fliakos bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Ari Fliakos is a ridiculously good narrator, the best I've heard. Not only are his voice masks on point, his inflection in every sentence is perfection - it's as though he spends hours prepping each page. I would listen to anything he reads.

If you could take any character from Spoonbenders out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Teddy Telemachus ... I'd like to see some up close sleight-of-hand while sipping my g&t.

Any additional comments?

The first third of the book did not grab me; I couldn't figure out if I liked it. Eventually as the storylines converged and the drama ratcheted I looked forward to listening during my commute home. By the time the denoument hit I was definitely along for the ride. It's a slow burn but worth it.

Hilarious!

Any additional comments?

What a crazy book! Each chapter of this book is told from the point of view of a different family member. Mattie, the grandson, starts it off with his first out-of-body experience. From Buddy, who can see the future, to Irene, who is a human lie detector, to the little granddaughters who have surprising gifts, too, we get to know each member of this quirky psychic family. I wish there hadn't been so much profanity from some of the characters. I couldn't listen to this book with any of my family members around. Ari Fliakos did a fabulous job of narrating. His tone of voice, sense of timing, and use of different voices was outstanding. I'll be looking for more books read by him.

Great story! Well told!

Kept me interested and laughing all the way through! All the characters are fully formed but human...and 3 dimensional...each one a superhero, each struggling with the remarkable and the ordinary world that makes the ride a fun obstacle course. The narrator completely nails the voices of the characters...so that all of them became fully formed in my minds eye. Somebody is going to make a movie....or a TV series out of this! It's a brilliant concept that could find lots of interesting plot points! I'm really happy I stumbled on to this character driven story!

Just the Right Amount of Everything!

What made the experience of listening to Spoonbenders the most enjoyable?

Spoonbenders is a great, silly, feel good book. As someone who listens to a lot crime and suspense novels it's nice to take a break and laugh. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Have you listened to any of Ari Fliakos’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I first heard Ari Fliako's narration in The Nix. He is was one of the reasons why I purchased this book. I like Ari because he's not over dramatic like some narrators. Ari Fliakos is one of my favorites.

Any additional comments?

This is a great summer read/listen!

ESP: Extraordinary, Satisfying, Paradoxical

Very original concept, great layering of motives and pay-offs. Wish there was a more ominous/unusual villain than the over-played mob. The final twist was an awesome trick- wasn't expecting another surprise during the resolution. Great "slight of hand" until the very end. Bravo to the writer and the narrator. Will be looking forward to the next one!

surprisingly great at the end

author was finally able to bring the pieces together at the end. I kept thinking to my self what in the world is going on! disjointed experiences for members of the family that seemed to have no relevance to each other was driving me crazy. but thinking back now that it's finished, I rather enjoyed it.

All signs say you will love this story

This is a great story of a very unique family. It was compelling & detailed. The story didn’t drag & really kept my attention throughout. I highly suggest this book.

Very slow start

I wanted to like the book, I liked the premise. But after 3 hours it seemed like it was still back story and I couldn't figure out the what the plot was, looking into the past maybe. It's just not for me.

Original and Entertaining; Superb narration

This is an interesting and engaging listen. Daryl Gregory writes an original story, and the characters come alive because of the narrator. Ari Fliakos is definitely one of the best narrators on Audible, if not the best. This is the third book narrated by Ari that I've listened to. Spoonbenders has it all, and it is worth your time and a credit. It will one of the first titles I think of when recommending a book to a friend.