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Good Faith Audiobook
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(3.00) - 1,187 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Greed. Envy. Sex. Property. In her subversively funny and genuinely moving new novel, Jane Smiley nails down several American obsessions with the expertise of a master carpenter. Forthright, likable Joe Stratford is the kind of local businessman everybody trusts, for good reason. But it's 1982, and even in Joe's small town, values are in upheaval: not just property values, either. Enter Marcus Burns, a would-be master of the universe whose years with the IRS have taught him which rules are meant to be broken. Before long he and Joe are new best friends-and partners in an investment venture so complex that no one may ever understand it. Add to this Joe's roller coaster affair with his mentor's married daughter. The result is as suspenseful and entertaining as any of Jane Smiley's fiction
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"Novel - Recorded - Joe Stratford is a genial, well-liked realtor in a small New England town who's respected for his honesty; even his divorce was friendly. When smooth-talking Marcus Burns comes to town from working at the IRS where he's learned how to manipulate the law to avoid paying taxes, he convinces Joe and other decent but naive people that it's never been easier to get rich quick. Marcus envisions a multi-use golf club and housing development. The reader knows that the bubble will burst, but not how or when. Joe's having an affair with a married woman, Felicity Baldwin."
— Mysterious (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Smashing…Fascinating…Extremely subtle and nuanced…[It has the] power to beguile and enthrall.”
— New York Times Review of Books -
“Smiley's range as a writer is always surprising…Every character here is fresh and fully dimensional, and anybody who lived through the '80s will recognize them—and maybe themselves.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Smiley has never been more seductive… expertly crafted and subtly suspenseful.”
— Booklist -
“Only a writer of consummate craftsmanship and scope could write a novel about a series of real estate deals in a small town and make it so fully satisfying as to be thrilling. Jane Smiley has done it…[Her] range is broad, her technique masterful…[Good Faith is] a cautionary prequel just right for our times. And great fun, to boot.”
— Los Angeles Times -
“There seems to be nothing Smiley can’t write about fabulously well; her insights startle, dazzle.”
— San Francisco Chronicle -
“An irresistible novel of bad manners, a meditation on love and money that Jane Austen might have enjoyed, if she could have handled the sex.”
— Time -
“Since we live with the legacy of the self-serving 1980s, Smiley's novel seems as timely as if it were set in the present. Penetrating, readable fiction by one of our best writers and social critics.”
— Amazon.com, editorial review
Good Faith Listener Reviews
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" Loved it. Not for everyone (heavy on the real estate) but totally gripping. "
— Romany, 2/7/2014 -
" I agree with many of the other reviewers. Although I did like the protagonist, (even though I wanted him to wake up) I found the book much too long with an obvious result, due to the greed of those involved in the savings and loan debacle in the 80s. I finally skipped the last 200 pages to find out what happened in the end. "
— Carol, 2/1/2014 -
" Not anywhere as good as her best, but a charming story, with characters I believed in. "
— Maria, 1/29/2014 -
" A novel about greed and delusion set in the early 80s. Joe Stratford is an amiable trustworthy real estate agent, respected by those in the small town where he lives and works. When Marcus Burns comes to town, he charms people into believing big money can be made in a risky real estate development project so complex that no one can understand it. Joe gets sucked into this craziness and all of a sudden finds himself a partner and heavily invested in the project. A story about ordinary people caught up in financial game playing. "
— Paula, 1/27/2014 -
" It was an enjoyable book, even though I can't quite figure out why. The main character was naive and kind of annoying most of the time, and made some choices that I usually have a very hard time agreeing with. Thanks to the ending, I can accept that part of the plot though, I guess. The ending in general was good, because the main character had it coming for half the book :p "
— Kajsa, 1/23/2014 -
" I enjoy Jane Smiley's books - at least the three that I've read. "
— Rich, 1/20/2014 -
" A somewhat humorous tale of the 1980s and the power of money, friendship and reaching for the "American way of life." "
— Andrea, 1/12/2014 -
" Eh. I liked it, but I didn't love it like I usually love Smiley's work. I felt like she built things up to a point where I cared, and then let them dangle for so long I stopped caring. "
— Laura, 12/11/2013 -
" Mildly engaging book that takes place in the early 80s boom in real estate. Lots of envy and greed. The main character Joe Is likable but when he hands over his life savings to an obvious con man I had to scratch my head. Saw it coming, but a bit farfetched. Definitely not Smiley's best work. "
— Teresa, 12/10/2013 -
" not half as good as her other books "
— Phyllis, 11/23/2013 -
" Needed abridgement "
— Dolly, 11/19/2013 -
" This novel is about the business swindlers of the early 1980's. It was interesting but not great. Did make me wonder if in 25 years there will be a novel about the swindlers of today. "
— Gyoungmd, 11/12/2013 -
" Jane Smiley's characters are so developed you really feel as though you know them. It was a pleasure to watch how they interacted and reacted in this story of greed and deceit during the go-go 80's real estate boom. "
— Jennifer, 8/23/2013 -
" This book offended me as a real estate agent and as a reader. Ms. Smiley is a far, far better writer than she shows herself to be in this book. "
— Matt, 7/12/2013 -
" Real estate + hot sex. What more could you want? "
— Roberta, 3/30/2013 -
" who'da thought a book about real estate agents would be good? i liked it...takes place in the 80's... "
— Steve, 3/15/2013 -
" A sad, wise tale about people finding their way in work and love. I enjoyed it. "
— Michael, 1/5/2013 -
" I hated this book! The characters are well developed but the story is not so interesting and there's some very graphic (and pointless) sex...maybe if it had something to do with the plot it would be okay but it seems like it's just dropped into the book for the naughtiness of it. "
— Bridget, 12/28/2012 -
" I completely fell in love with Joey. Even as I was watching the wheels falling off, I was hoping he wouldn't be badly hurt by the wreck. "
— Christine, 12/4/2012 -
" I had my hopes up HIGH. I was so glad to remember that I had read so many Jane Smiley books years ago and really enjoyed each and every one of them. Sad to say this was a huge let down! NOTHING ever happens - except a good twist at the end-. "
— Mary, 11/2/2012 -
" This was a pleasant-enough read, though it's pretty obvious from page one..... "
— Sue, 8/17/2012 -
" I asked myself about 10 times, "why am I still reading this 400-page novel about a real estate transaction?" Smiley's a great writer and I loved the characters in this book. But I annoyed to have invested so much time in what ultimately was kind of a boring story. "
— Elin, 8/8/2012 -
" What a disappointment after A Thousand Acres! I listened to the audio book and couldn't wait for it to end. I learned more about real estate than any of the characters. UGH. "
— Maryann, 7/21/2012 -
" Can't explain why I could not put this book down. Could be because I am Realtor and the main character is a Realtor. "
— Eileen, 11/12/2011 -
" Not my favorite Jane Smiley book though it was seemingly accurate description of the economic and real estate market climate of the time. I didn't really love the characters either. After reading the gripping book Duplicate Keys by Smiley, this was a letdown. "
— Ingrid, 9/21/2011 -
" I was riveted by this book, can't really defend it. But the tension was awesome to find out what was going to happen. I loved Joe and really rooted for him throughout. Big fat book that i would surely recommend. "
— Ellen, 8/21/2011 -
" The moral: if it sounds too good to be true, it'll turn around and bite you in the butt. "
— Jen, 7/9/2011 -
" Really enjoying this, very witty, and interesting what it says about the Reagan boom years, considering it was written just as the USproperty markets were really gearing up again for a much more spectacular crash! "
— Sarah, 4/29/2011 -
" Not anywhere as good as her best, but a charming story, with characters I believed in. "
— Maria, 4/23/2011 -
" As well written as all Smiley's work, but loses it's way plotwise. "
— Cath, 3/21/2011 -
" Maybe it took me too long to get through it. Or maybe I missed the character nuances that created depth (since I thought they were all shallow and simple). "
— Katie, 3/6/2011 -
" Very slow moving & ended in a whoosh, but I enjoyed the storyline. "
— Anna, 1/31/2011 -
" I was enthralled, but I can see how people might find it kind of slow. "
— Amanda, 1/15/2011 -
" Can't explain why I could not put this book down. Could be because I am Realtor and the main character is a Realtor. "
— Eileen, 9/14/2010 -
" This book is a good story but it's predictable. And it ends very abruptly. "
— Amber, 8/1/2010
About Jane Smiley
Jane Smiley is the author of numerous novels, including A Thousand Acres, which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, as well of works of nonfiction and books for young adults. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, she has also received the PEN Center USA Lifetime Achievement Award for Literature. In 2001 she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
About Richard Poe
Richard Poe, a professional actor for more than thirty years, has appeared in numerous Broadway shows, including 1776 and M. Butterfly. On television he has had recurring roles on Star Trek and Frasier. His films include Born on the Fourth of July and Presumed Innocent. Poe is a well-known and prolific audiobook performer and the winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards.