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Less

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction 2018

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Less

By: Andrew Sean Greer
Narrated by: Robert Petkoff
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About this listen

Arthur Less is a failed novelist about to turn fifty. A wedding invitation arrives in the post: it is from an ex-boyfriend of nine years who is engaged to someone else. Arthur can't say yes - it would be too awkward; he can't say no - it would look like defeat. So, he begins to accept the invitations on his desk to half-baked literary events around the world.

From France to India, Germany to Japan, Arthur almost falls in love, almost falls to his death, and puts miles between him and the plight he refuses to face. Less is a novel about mishaps, misunderstandings and the depths of the human heart.

2018, Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, Winner

2019, Australian Book Industry Awards International Book of the Year, Long-listed

©2017 Andrew Sean Greer (P)2017 Little, Brown Book Group Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Heartfelt

Critic Reviews

"Bedazzling, bewitching and be-wonderful." (New York Times)

"You will sob little tears of joy." (Nell Zink)

"A fast and rocketing read...a wonderful, wonderful book!" (Karen Joy Fowler)
All stars
Most relevant  
Everything, every moment, every word of this book is so beautifully crafted. The narration by Robert Petkoff couldn’t be more perfect. Day after day I would stop reading and quietly reflect on this exquisite work. Usually a greedy reader, I took my time and soaked in every emotional glorious moment.

My Book Of The Year

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I admired and enjoyed this book immensely, a take on middle age that’s a funny, sunny, California, gay (and much shorter) version of Karl Ove Knausgaard’s “My Struggle”. What prompted me to write the review, however, is the absolutely brilliant reading by Robert Petkoff, in particular his mastery of a range of accents, including mixed accents and, almost miraculously, differing versions of one of the secondary characters, one of them middle-aged and the other stroke-afflicted and elderly. Bravo!

A great book read absolutely brilliantly

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I am not white or middle aged or gay (all these attributes pertain to the main character). I'm straight and asian and 19 (not that it matters). At the beginning I thought it was completely unrelatable and to be honest found myself borderline hating it, but turns out I was playing right into Greer's hands the entire time. What absolute genius. Without spoiling anything, the moment where the story purposefully turned my distate for it upside down and started making it seemingly universally relatable was simply amazing. The narration is so self-aware and humourous but also very authentic and satisfying. It's about 9 hours (about half the length of audiobooks i usually buy) but Greer doesnt mince his words but he also makes the story progress so smoothly and naturally. It feels fleshed out to just the right amount. Completely worthwhile as ive listened to 17-hour audiobooks that cant even hold a candle to Greer's execution and storybuilding. Do give it a try if you believe in no pain no gain.

Thought it was bad but then it turned out amazing

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This is a book for when you need a break from the books about the confronting, the traumatic, the heartbreaking. Its not light - there's much to chew on - getting older, self-image, loneliness, the nature of relationships. It won 'the big prize' for a reason. ENJOY this book.

Charming, relaxing, modern

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Much has been said about 'Less' - so I will only add to it by saying that the narration was brilliant. I felt like I was in a play or watching a movie so perfectly were the characters given life and realised. Despite myself I found my heart going out to Less and despite myself developed a stake in his life and hope for the outcome. I loved it!

Narrator and novel wonderful

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I loved this book, so well written it sneaks up on you how good it is. Got me right where it hurts - the heart.

Arthur Less is a good gay after all...

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A great story, empathy ❤️ and comedy abound. A nice narrative twist at the end as well

Excellent audio performance and story 👏

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Wildly funny in places. Also precise and original about the mysteries/miseries of love.
And the audio version holds up very well to the beauty of the text.

Genuine greatness

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Very enjoyable book from the beginning to the end. It’s thoughtful, enjoyable, laugh out loud funny and yet by the end you become self reflective. Masterfully written full of lyrical prose, can be read on a number of levels.
This is well worth the time.

A Great Holiday read

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I listened to this book and, as a performance piece, I loved every minute of it. Even though I have pretty much nothing at all in common with Arthur Less or the narrator, this book made me feel seen. Writing by metaphor and simile reflects so much how I experience and describe the world to myself, that the narrative often made me laugh or sigh with its gorgeous insight.
Anyone who is bored by Less’s outer journey has failed to follow his inner journey, which is the perfect mix of profound and hapless, just like life.
I do wonder how much of the pleasure was the excellent performance of the narrator, Robert Petkoff, and how much the author. They are inextricably linked now in my mind. I highly recommend the audio book and I’ll definitely be checking out Andrew Sean Greer’s prior works.

Gorgeous writing - fantastic performance

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