the setup…
Lucas is a happy man. He lives alone, works from home and doesn’t have to consider anybody else’s opinions about dinner, plans for the evening or their feelings. Tonight his perfect evening will be video games, wine and pad Thai, all from his comfy chair. But then his doorbell rings and he opens it to three members from his HOA board who demand to see his frying pan. If he’d just said “no.”
the heart of the story…
Lucas decided to do something different…offer help…and he paid dearly for it. Here it is a homeowners association but what happens next could just as well occur in any office, work or social environment where people have to come together to solve a problem. It’s a brilliant parody of all that and is just as much an indictment on modern society’s need for pack mentality approaches to forming truths and opinions. It’s hilarious but you also want to cry as it’s clearly a hole we’re currently operating in.
the narration…
Stacy Gonzalez delivers a stellar performance in telling this story with a “straight face.” She adeptly embraces the absurdities as if they really makes sense, pulling me into the nonsense.
the bottom line…
I was shaking my head as Lucas stepped deeper into the quagmire of life outside his apartment door. So much of it rang true to life and being on the outside of it just made me feel more despair. I’ve been there and so have you. Yes, it’s really funny…it’s also a modern tragedy that I fear we may never dig out of thanks to social media’s dangerous influence. Backman effectively captures the human condition.
Book Info
- Release Date: December 1, 2024
- Narrator: Stacy Gonzalez
- Audio Length: 1 hour, 49 minutes
- Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Listen to a Sample!
Goodreads | Amazon | Audible
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Blue Mood Café 
This book sounds like classic Backman style! Great review Jonetta.
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Thank you, Jodie💜 That’s it exactly.
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I don’t think I could read this right now. Real life is tough enough.
Anne – Books of My Heart
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I promise you, it’s worth the moment.
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Sounds good Jo glad you enjoyed it!
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Thank you, Nicki💜
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A great short story! Humorous. Thoughtful. Poignant. Backman is the master of memorable characterization!
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That he is!
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Great review, Jonetta! I got this on Audible this afternoon, I’m even more pleased with my purchase now 😊
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Thank you, Kelly💜 I hope you enjoy it, too.
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I have this on my Kindle – will get to it sometime!
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It’s such a fast read.
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Wonderful review, Jo. I’m looking forward to this. 💖📚
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Thanks, Sandy💜 I hope you enjoy!
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Great review! I loved this story too.
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Thanks, Lisa💜 For a short story, it has a lot of punch.
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I love his writing!
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So do I!
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Great review, Jo. I love his writing and have this one to listen to some time this week.
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Thank you, Carla💜 Hope you enjoy, too!
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