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Less

Auteur(s): Andrew Sean Greer
Narrateur(s): Robert Petkoff
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Description

A breakout romantic comedy by the best-selling author of five critically acclaimed novels.

Who says you can't run away from your problems?

You are a failed novelist about to turn 50. A wedding invitation arrives in the mail: Your boyfriend of the past nine years is engaged to someone else. You can't say yes - it would be too awkward - and you can't say no - it would look like defeat. On your desk are a series of invitations to half-baked literary events around the world.

Question: How do you arrange to skip town?

Answer: You accept them all.

What would possibly go wrong?

Arthur Less will almost fall in love in Paris, almost fall to his death in Berlin, barely escape to a Moroccan ski chalet from a Saharan sandstorm, accidentally book himself as the (only) writer-in-residence at a Christian Retreat Center in Southern India, and encounter, on a desert island in the Arabian Sea, the last person on Earth he wants to face. Somewhere in there: He will turn 50. Through it all there is his first love. And there is his last.

Because despite all these mishaps, missteps, misunderstandings, and mistakes, Less is, above all, a love story.

A scintillating satire of the American abroad, a rumination on time and the human heart, a bittersweet romance of chances lost, by an author the New York Times has hailed as "inspired, lyrical", "elegiac", and "ingenious" as well as "too sappy by half", Less shows a writer at the peak of his talents raising the curtain on our shared human comedy.

©2017 Andrew Sean Greer (P)2017 Hachette Audio

Ce que les critiques en disent

"Andrew Sean Greer is one of the most talented writers around, feeling and funny, with a genuinely fine prose style and a sensibility to match." (Michael Chabon)
"Andy Sean Greer writes with an intelligent joy that encompasses a truly kaleidoscopic vision, reminding me of the work of Peter Carey and David Mitchell. This novel is beautifully sewn together." (Colum McCann)

Ce que les auditeurs disent de Less

Moyenne des évaluations de clients
Au global
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 étoiles
    175
  • 4 étoiles
    92
  • 3 étoiles
    58
  • 2 étoiles
    21
  • 1 étoile
    14
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 étoiles
    212
  • 4 étoiles
    56
  • 3 étoiles
    23
  • 2 étoiles
    8
  • 1 étoile
    11
Histoire
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 étoiles
    146
  • 4 étoiles
    78
  • 3 étoiles
    49
  • 2 étoiles
    22
  • 1 étoile
    15

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  • Au global
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Histoire
    5 out of 5 stars

I actually refunded my credit

I had gone about 2hours into this book and for some reasons did not want to continue it so I refunded my credit, but I still had it downloaded. I had finished my other audiobook and to kill time I ended up continuing this one. I
ended up loving it, laughing out loud at some parts and loving the side characters, it really took my imagination for a ride

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6 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

  • Au global
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Histoire
    2 out of 5 stars

Meh

Read/listened to this for girly book club. It's an existential narrative of a rich white man having an existential crisis. Unrelatable and unremarkable.

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3 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

  • Au global
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Histoire
    5 out of 5 stars

Fun and smart

Fun, easy to listen to book, with many laughing moments. Loved the ending and was surprised by the identity of the narrator. Positive notes throughout most of the book.

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2 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

  • Au global
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Histoire
    5 out of 5 stars

travel with Less

loved it. touching and laugh-out-loud funny. charming prose and a perfect globe trot at a timebwhenbthebworld seems far way.

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1 personne a trouvé cela utile

  • Au global
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Histoire
    2 out of 5 stars

less could have been more

I almost gave up on this book, but since I had the audiobook, I put it on in the background as I was doing some chores, just to get it over with. It wasn't until he was in Morocco that I finally found Arthur and his story mildly interesting. The misadventures at every turn seemed forced to give the story a plot. I didn't mind the later part of the book, but it really was nothing special. Sure, the author had a very eloquent way of describing everything, but all it did was create a literary painting without substance. Yes, the story is supposed to shine a light on coming to terms with middle age, but being exactly at that point in my life, I can't say I gained any insight. Big on imagery, limited in meaningful plot. Also, not really as funny (I didn't laugh, snicker or chuckle one) as some reviews suggest.

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1 personne a trouvé cela utile

  • Au global
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Histoire
    4 out of 5 stars

Very well written prose

Sometimes you just have to tip your hat to good writing. The story was better than I had expected from most plot summaries and the narration was very well-done.

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1 personne a trouvé cela utile

  • Au global
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Histoire
    4 out of 5 stars

narration

a very good story but narrator's imitation of different accents gets really annoying towards the end.

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1 personne a trouvé cela utile

  • Au global
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Histoire
    5 out of 5 stars

Clever, funny and heart-warming

This book is beautifully written with clever and funny imagery and a lovely romantic twist. It’s a smart, realistic look on life and love. I deeply enjoyed it and will miss Arthur now my book is done.

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1 personne a trouvé cela utile

  • Au global
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Histoire
    3 out of 5 stars

It was okay-ish

This was one of those books that I went back and forth on. I like it, I thought it was boring, I liked it, I thought it was boring. Robert Petkoff is an excellent narrator though so that keeps the listener engaged but the story was just.....okay...ish.

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1 personne a trouvé cela utile

  • Au global
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Histoire
    5 out of 5 stars

Great writing. Great character. Great story.

I was sad when this book was done, and then happy to find the sequel!!

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  • Au global
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Histoire
    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Lili
  • 2017-07-30

Endearing, funny, but sometimes overly clever


Essentially a love story this novel has some sweet moments. But as an audio book it can be confusing. The protagonist is both traveling around the world, as well as constantly reviewing his life, and his loves, through the years, in his head.

One great love began in 1987 and lasts I believe 15 years. Another began 9 years ago and ends right before he begins his travels. At any given moment he may be reliving either of those relationships, or any of his many dalliances on the side. So if you listen to half of one of the hour plus long chapters one day, and the remainder of the chapter the next, you will find yourself trying to remember...where is he now? Who is he "talking" about?

The author also has bouts of very clever metaphors and wordplay. Which can be brilliant and paint a vivid image in your head, or sometimes he will come up with something and you will be like...what did he say? Is that a real word? So maybe audio isn't the best medium to enjoy this book, unless you are ok with the occasional "rewind" here and there to get your bearings.

The main character takes awhile to warm up to, what with all his issues and quirks. One thing that really stands out though is the author's descriptive abilities to paint a picture of the world the main character is traveling through. Especially thru Morocco and India, those images will linger in your mind.

Overall the book was entertaining, clever, sometimes funny, sometimes quite touching. At other times it felt a bit over written, like the author was trying too hard. The professional narrator does an excellent job with all the characters, male and female, as well as various accents from Japanese to Italian.





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188 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

  • Au global
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Histoire
    1 out of 5 stars
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  • Khosch
  • 2018-05-19

sigh

Ho boy - I must be in the minority here, but I don't get the hype about this book. I did keep thinking as I was listening, that it might be much better in print than via the spoken word. The chapters end abruptly in a way that might be amusing in print, but
not when narrated. The narrator is terrific - for some books I am sure. But not, in my opinion, for this one. He was just too calm and comforting, and made Arthur Less's foibles seem like so much simple bad judgement. I think this book needed someone a lot more manic and maybe a bit hysterical.

Honestly, I was so eager to get this book - the last comedic novel to win the Pulitzer was the incomparable Confederacy of Dunces. How is this thinly veiled autobiography (I could be wrong about this of course!) in the same league? In the end I was simply bored with Less's acute self-involvement and ridiculous preoccupation with aging. I am happy for the author but I really don't agree with the Pulitzer committee here.

If only Less were not so deserving of its title.

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120 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

  • Au global
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Histoire
    3 out of 5 stars
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  • Kelly
  • 2018-05-01

It should not have won.

I was excited to listen to this book for several reasons. The primary ones being the fact that it just won the Pulitzer Prize and that I kept hearing it was very funny. Unfortunately I wasn't swept away. There is no plot. It is really more of a character portrait which is often perfect for me because I love character-driven stories. There were moments when I smiled at the unique and quick humor.
And there were other times when I thought the book was quite charming. But then whole sections also bored me to tears and frustrated me. In the end I couldn't decide if the charm I found in the pages of the book was actually owed to the book or if it was due to my personal memories of a vacation I took to Morocco. And even though I only finished the book yesterday, I already feel it is mostly forgotten.

Side note: I really don't understand what it was that made this book merit the Pulitzer Prize.

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119 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

  • Au global
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Histoire
    1 out of 5 stars
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  • mhb
  • 2018-06-16

Not interesting

I did not think the story was interesting. I did not find the characters interesting.
I can’t understand the high ratings by many. I ran into a friend in my book group midway though who told me to stick with it, that it would get better. I stuck with it but it did not get better.
The guy that read it did a nice job and I think it was well written technically. Just not a good story.

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51 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

  • Au global
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Histoire
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • rosalinda lam
  • 2017-08-24

One of the few books I will read again

I just finished it and I LOVED IT!!! It is the best book I've listen to this year! It has everything I like: Humor, sarcasm, self deprecation, travel, middle age crisis, a mysterious narrator, a love story, San Francisco, Texas, great characters, and a great ending! I highly recommend it 👍

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45 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

  • Au global
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Histoire
    3 out of 5 stars
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  • ibillinsly@gmail
  • 2018-05-09

3.55 stars........Less of a Winner

Less is an average audiobook in my opinion. I've read and/or listened to quite a few Pulitzer winners, and Less comes in low on the list. Andrew Sean Greer's meandering protagonist is a gay, middle-aged white male dreading the day he turns 50. This is no spoiler, as all of this is revealed in the beginning. Less is far from a page turner and a bit tedious at times. It's not a bad novel at all, though I expected more from a Pulitzer Prize winner. Petkoff does a nice job with the narration. If you find my review dull, then it's a perfect fit for this audiobook.

3.55 stars.

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39 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

  • Au global
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Histoire
    1 out of 5 stars
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  • Brenda
  • 2018-05-05

Less is Definately NOT More

This has got to be one of the most boring books I've had the displeasure of forcing myself to listen to until the very end.
I found myself wondering when it was going to become funny! Sadly never did and I could not make a connection to any of the characters. They were flat. The story was flat and I was left flat.
I am Less for having purchased this inane book based on ratings.

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27 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

  • Au global
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Histoire
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Eliav
  • 2017-10-17

Less is so much more!!

What a delightful book! A great love story spooled along a round-the-world trip, each chapter a funny, self-deprecating, insightful snapshot. Original, sweet, smart, wry.

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24 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

  • Au global
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Histoire
    1 out of 5 stars
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  • Heather M.
  • 2018-07-14

How did this win a Pulitzer?

A friend recommended this book, saying it was funny and had a good storyline. So I was inclined to find it likable. However, I could barely finish it. The plot and character development were both so flat that I could hardly even connect with the protagonist. The beginning was good enough, but after a while, I kept wondering when some kind of engaging development would take place, or even just for some kind of awakening in Arthur...but it was not to be. I was so disappointed. I would not recommend this book at all. The narrator gave a good performance, but that's the only really good thing about the book.

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21 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

  • Au global
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Histoire
    1 out of 5 stars
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  • Edward Harris
  • 2018-01-07

Slower than a slow burn.

I kept listening to this audio book hoping something would turn around. Perhaps it was a slow burn? But no...it was just slow. And honestly, there was no reward at the end. The main character is self absorbed and the language is too aware of itself...like Arthur Less. If this hadn't been part of my book club reading, I would have given up on it within the first chapter.

Do yourself a favor and skip this book. Save yourself the 8 hours and literally do anything else with your time.

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20 les gens ont trouvé cela utile