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A Home at the End of the World (Abridged): A Novel Audiobook
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Publisher Description
From Michael Cunningham, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Hours, comes the acclaimed novel of two boyhood friends A Home at the End of the World, now a feature film starring Colin Farrell and Dallas Roberts Jonathan. There's Jonathan, lonely, introspective, and unsure of himself; and Bobby, hip, dark, and inarticulate. In New York after college, Bobby moves in with Jonathan and his roommate, Clare, a veteran of the city's erotic wars. Bobby and Clare fall in love, scuttling the plans of Jonathan, who is gay, to father Clare's child. Then, when Clare and Bobby have a baby, the three move to a small house upstate to raise "their" child together and, with an odd friend, Alice, create a new kind of family. A Home at the End of the World masterfully depicts the charged, fragile relationships of urban life today.
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"I read this novel so long ago and had forgotten how beautiful it was.....The story is about two boyhood friends Bobby and Johnathan who are devoted to each other...Bobby, is kind -hearted, not very bright, living in a world where music is as important as breathing..Johnathan is intelligent, insecure, and gay. Johnathan had sex with Bobby when they were younger, but theirs is not a sexual relationship, they are in love with each other but think of each other as brothers..Johnathan moves away and goes to college and after graduating moves in with Clare in a NYC apartment.In Clare, Johnathan finds his other half, a sister, a friend, a lover (not in the sexual sense). Bobby, who has been living with Johnathan's parents and truly is an orphan (his parents and brother have died each in a tragic way) ask to move in with them after Jon's parents are forced to leave Cleveland to Phoenix because of his father's illness. Bobby, is so shy, so inarticulate, so soft -spoken, that he is ready to be taken by the hand and molded by Clare, who is 10 years older than both of these young men. I won't go into details, but I will say that I'm not fond of the character Clare, I find her wearing a mask thru out the novel, and when she does what she does in the end, it's not much of a shock. The novel in the end is about Bobby & Johnathan, a relationship that stands strong because of their love and devotion to each other..As I said before, I love this novel!"
— Neet (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Lyrical . . . Memorable and accomplished.
— The New York Times Book Review -
Novels don't come more deeply felt than Cunningham's extraordinary four-character study . . . The writing [is] a constant pleasure, flowing and yet dense with incisive images and psychological nuance.
— Matthew Gilbert, The Boston Globe -
The story of Jonathan, Clare, Bobby, and Alice is also the story of the 70's and 80's in America--and vice versa. It is destined to last.
— David Leavitt, author of The Marble Quilt -
Cunningham has written a novel that all but reads itself.
— The Washington Post Book World -
Once in a great while, there appears a novel so spellbinding in its beauty and sensitivity that the reader devours it nearly whole, in great greedy gulps, and feels stretched sore afterwards, having been expanded and filled. Such a book is [this one].
— Sherry Rosenthal, San Diego Tribune -
Luminous with the wonders and anxieties that make childhood mysterious . . . A Home at the End of the World is a remarkable accomplishment.
— Laura Frost, San Francisco Review -
Brilliant and satisfying . . . As good as anything I've read in years . . . Hope in the midst of tragedy is a fragile thing, and Cunningham carries it with masterful care.
— Gayle Kidder, San Diego Union -
Exquisitely written . . . Lyrical . . . An important book.
— Charleston Sunday News and Courier -
Cunningham writes with power and delicacy . . . We come to feel that we know Jonathan, Bobby, and Clare as if we lived with them; yet each one retains the mystery that in people is called soul, and in fiction is called art.
— Richard Eder, The Los Angeles Times
A Home at the End of the World Listener Reviews
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" I don't think I'll ever like anything of his the way I like THE HOURS, but this is a beautiful sad story. "
— Alex, 2/20/2014 -
" Powerful reading. Beautiful and sad and hopeful all rolled into one. "
— Dottie, 2/12/2014 -
" A complex love story set in NYC. Did not move me the way Cunningham's other stories have. You can see his interest and thinking about "the hours" in this novel. "
— Anne-Marie, 2/8/2014 -
" Someone gave this book to my mom and I happened to pick it up over Christmas. Personally I hated it. In short it's a story of six miserable, selfish, and somewhat lazy people constantly whining about their lives. Or lack thereof. Don't bother reading it unless you have having a serious bout of insomnia. "
— Dawn, 2/1/2014 -
" Beautiful book about growing up and coming to terms with your sexuality. "
— Michael, 1/11/2014 -
" I read this gorgeously evocative novel 20 years ago, and can still remember indelible moments in the most vivid manner. "
— Anthony, 1/11/2014 -
" The movie version disappointed me. I was really upset when I learned Cunningham wrote the screen adaptation. I love the lightness of the story. It explores illogical themes, but it works. If you've seen the movie, read the book, too. It's much better. "
— GeoRG!e, 1/8/2014 -
" I'm a huge Michael Cunningham fan, and after I read the short story that inspired this book I felt compelled to read the novel. I saw the movie again on television over the weekend and, as usual, it doesn't do the book justice, particularly when it comes to Bobby's inner life. "
— Fiona, 1/7/2014 -
" The story, "White Angel" was so inspiring to me. Thank you Mr. Hutchinson for including it in our high school creative writing class! "
— Leemichael, 12/26/2013 -
" A gritty novel filled with characters you miss when you finish the book. One of my favorite lines comes from Bobby toward the end of the book, where he says something like, there's a lot of beauty in the world but it's harsher than you expect it to be. That pretty much sums the book up. "
— Syd, 12/15/2013 -
" depressing. thanks hannah. "
— M.darcy, 12/8/2013 -
" beautiful, insightful, heartbreaking, life-affirming "
— Kelly, 4/29/2012 -
" Great read- good story, liked the characters. Looking forward to reading more of his books. "
— Tracy, 3/13/2012 -
" Another in the vein of exploring the possibilities of relationships. I think I might've loved this one more had I read it before The Hours, which completely blew me away and set a very high standard for my expectations of Michael Cunningham's work. "
— Elizabeth, 2/22/2012 -
" I love New York stories, I love the '80s. The plot is captivating, and for someone coming from Eastern Europe, such a story taking place while they grew up, - in a different part of the world, of course - seems pretty unbelievable. "
— Lavinia, 11/17/2011 -
" Good book, great movie! "
— Meri, 7/25/2011 -
" I don't think I'll ever like anything of his the way I like THE HOURS, but this is a beautiful sad story. "
— Alex, 4/28/2011 -
" Controversial subject matter - but one of the most touching books I've ever read. "
— Shane, 4/25/2011 -
" another version of what makes a family. Says alot about people who think too much. "
— Maureen, 3/27/2011 -
" Incredible book! If you saw the movie and liked it, read the book and you'll love it! "
— Kevin, 3/20/2011 -
" I am loving this book! The characters are interesting and I want them to stay with me a long time! I really liked this book- the characters, the story and the writing style! I recommend it highly! I will remember it for a long time! "
— Jody, 3/11/2011 -
" This is an engaging book about some characters who find each other in odd ways and come together like family but also as lovers. I rated 4 of 5 stars because I found it a bit slow at times. But it is a good story. "
— Alicek, 3/5/2011 -
" I love Cunningham's honest voice, fluent prose, and punctuated truths about life, love and the passing of time. A fast, good read. "
— Liza, 2/25/2011 -
" Moving and unique, a good read. Really makes you think, though some of it stretches reality beyond what this type of fiction is meant to do. "
— Paul, 2/2/2011 -
" This book is incredible. "
— Michelle, 1/28/2011
About Michael Cunningham
Michael Cunningham is a novelist, screenwriter, and educator. His novel The Hours received the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1999. He has taught at Columbia University and Brooklyn College. He is a professor at Yale University.
About the Narrators
Dallas Roberts, who attended Juilliard, has lived in New York City for fourteen years. He was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for his role in the Off-Broadway play Nocturne by Adam Rapp. He is married to Christine Jones, who is the Set Designer for Spring Awakening and a professor at NYU. They have two sons, one of whom is named Ever Reverend Jones.
Blair Brown is an award-winning narrator and a Tony Award–winning actor. Besides earning several AudioFile Earphones Award, she received the prestigious Audie Award for Best Fiction Narration in 2020. She has appeared on Broadway, in film, and on television in numerous miniseries and TV movies and received five Emmy Award nominations for her starring role in The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd.
Jennifer Van Dyck has appeared on Broadway in Hedda Gabler, Dancing at Lughnasa, Two Shakespearean Actors, and The Secret Rapture. She has been in new plays by Keith Bunin, Ellen McLaughlin, Catherine Filloux, Douglas Post, A. R. Gurney, and Albert Innaurato. Her film and television credits include Series 7, States of Control, Bullets over Broadway, numerous Law & Order episodes, Ed, Spin City, and The Education of Max Bickford. Her audiobook narrations have won her three AudioFile Earphones Awards.