The Need

By: Helen Phillips

Narrated by: Alex Allwine

Longlisted for the National Book Award in Fiction

"An extraordinary and dazzlingly original work from one of our most gifted and interesting writers" (Emily St. John Mandel, author of The Glass Hotel). The Need, which finds a mother of two young children grappling with the dualities of motherhood after confronting a masked intruder in her home, is "like nothing you’ve ever read before...in a good way" (People).

When Molly, home alone with her two young children, hears footsteps in the living room, she tries to convince herself it’s the sleep deprivation. She’s been hearing things these days. Startling at loud noises. Imagining the worst-case scenario. It’s what mothers do, she knows.

But then the footsteps come again, and she catches a glimpse of movement.

Suddenly Molly finds herself face-to-face with an intruder who knows far too much about her and her family. As she attempts to protect those she loves most, Molly must also acknowledge her own frailty. Molly slips down an existential rabbit hole where she must confront the dualities of motherhood: the ecstasy and the dread; the languor and the ferocity; the banality and the transcendence as the book hurtles toward a mind-bending conclusion.

In The Need, Helen Phillips has created a subversive, speculative thriller that comes to life through blazing, arresting prose and gorgeous, haunting imagery. "Brilliant" (Entertainment Weekly), "grotesque and lovely" (The New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice), and "wildly captivating" (O, the Oprah Magazine), The Need is a glorious celebration of the bizarre and beautiful nature of our everyday lives and "showcases an extraordinary writer at her electrifying best" (Publishers Weekly starred review).

©2019 Helen Phillips (P)2019 Simon & Schuster Audio

Bizarre

The story is bazaar and Clever at the same time. That being said I am still lost.

You have to follow…

Very closely or you will be lost…. Quite honestly I should give it another read through, not sure if it went over my head or if it simply the way the story was laid out.

If your a Mom — of 2 littles,,

The Need was a bit to much of Mommy, mommy,mommy - I get the message , but for me it was just to much about how exhausting being a Mom is . Anyone who has raised children know exactly how tiring it can be - and I guess if I were younger and in the midsts of doing that - this story may have held my attention more , or possibly less . Ok story line- not book I couldnt put down by any means....,,,

Couldn’t finish

Did not hold my interest. Perhaps a young mother solely focused on her children might enjoy this story

Wacky and fun

A strange read, refreshing in its novelty. A bit confusing, but I think mothers will appreciate it.

Unique & Intriguing

I don’t think I’ve ever read or listened to a story quite like this one. An archeologist and mother of toddlers, the two sides of her meeting in a psychological mystery with fringe science fiction elements. It’s about the paranoia over the safety of your kids while alone with them, single parenting while the husband’s away. How those might fears come to life in surreal ways. It’s about our very human dual natures and the opposing forces within us. And it’s told through characters that are so real they feel like your own family by the end. Molly is so much more patient and complex than she realizes and her daughter Viv is charmingly portrayed and delivers some of the most genius messages in the book. Although the ending is a little too subtle and leaves more questions about Molly’s reality almost than the beginning, I listened to it again because the world Phillips creates in the Need is mesmerizing.

The mess!

A story with no purpose. Useless waste of time, especially for those of us hoping that things will get better near the end, but it doesn’t. It is still a waste of time. Repetition is rampant. How many times can you have your character sit in the corner of the kitchen on the floor or under her desk hugging her children for some nonexistent intrusion. The narrator is the only positive part of this audible and I suggest she find another story to narrate the next time.

Horrible.

Do not waste your tome. No plot. No development of any character- and the obsession with leaking breasts and overall body moisture was disturbing, and frankly, pointless. So disappointed. I’d give it a zero if that was an option.

Intriguing and thought provoking

I enjoyed this book, I did not find it hard to follow. It may not be for everyone, but as a mom I found a lot of this similar to how I felt when my kids were younger. Motherhood is different for everyone and I think some of the negative reviews on this book reflect that. I found it to be an interesting story, a little disturbing, and made me think about what I would do in the same situation. A good read for Halloween!

Wow

Bizarre...otherworldly...but somehow familiar all at once. This is Helen Phliips’ skill: to blur reality with fantasy, and do so seamlessly, with elegance and shock. Each piece of her body of work is entrancing.