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How to Be Good (Abridged) Audiobook
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(3.00) - 29,436 listener ratings
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Katie Carr is a good person. She recycles. She’s against racism. She’s a good doctor, a good mom, a good wife…well, maybe not that last one, considering she’s having an affair and has just requested a divorce via cell phone. But who could blame her? For years her husband’s been selfish, sarcastic, and underemployed, writing the “Angriest Man in Holloway” column for their local paper.
But now David’s changed. He’s become a good person, too, really good. He’s found a spiritual leader. He has become kind, soft-spoken, and earnest. He’s even got a homeless kid set up in the spare room. Katie isn’t sure if this is a deeply-felt conversion, a brain tumor, or David’s most brilliantly vicious manipulation yet. Because she’s finding it more and more difficult to live with David, and with herself.
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"This was the first Hornby novel I read, and I frankly didn't know what to do with it. The ambiguity of the situations and the confusing characters (who simply defy simple classifications, which is sort of the point) was both maddening and intriguing. Watching the crazy interplay between the guru street guy and the middle class family self-destructing is sort of like watching a train wreck: horrifying and riveting at the same time. I ended up quite liking the book. It challenged me as a piece of literature and as a human being."
— Don (4 out of 5 stars)
How to Be Good Listener Reviews
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" As always, Nick Hornby is funny and slyly insightful. I love how his books don't wrap things up nicely, they just end ambiguously, like life. "
— Labmom, 2/6/2014 -
" Hornby introduces us to a marriage in trouble but uses it to explore a more interesting topic. Just how do the lefties (including myself) manage to preach 'how to be good' in so many ways and yet fail to be perfect ourselves? I liked it! "
— Nat, 2/6/2014 -
" I just couldn't grow to love the main character. It was an interesting read, but I wasn't happy with the ending...or lack thereof. "
— Tiffany, 1/29/2014 -
" I liked this a lot more than I expected. It had an honest voice in a seemingly absurd situation. None of the characters are especially sympathetic but story was compelling. "
— Natasha, 1/27/2014 -
" He's a clever writer...but not really my cuppa tea. "
— Daria, 1/13/2014 -
" I picked this up wanting to read more Nick Hornby after reading High Fidelity. My response...eh. While the book had me laughing at moments it just led up to a whole lotta nothing. I felt like the ending just kinda dropped me. But I'm not ready to give up on Mr. Hornby just yet. It kept me interested enough to try a few more. "
— Bre, 1/7/2014 -
" Strong start, fizzling middle, fades all the way to the end. Would not recommend. "
— beth, 1/6/2014 -
" Unh, not as fun as I hoped. "
— Aleithea, 1/6/2014 -
" Kind of odd...but a quick read. "
— Jen, 12/20/2013 -
" I really liked High Fidelity and About a Boy, but couldn't stay with this beyond the first few chapters. "
— Susan, 11/29/2013 -
" I hated the main character in this one so much that it became a chore to finish. "
— Heather, 11/8/2013 -
" If you have any fears about marriage and children, this book won't help. "
— Lindsay, 10/23/2013 -
" Pretty depressing for Mr. Hornby "
— Richard, 10/16/2013 -
" I liked that this book made you really think about the difference between "talking the talk and walking the walk". I sometimes have trouble with characters that are not that likable so I think the book was only OK, not great. "
— Gina, 8/29/2013 -
" easy, entertaining read... one of Hornby's better novels. "
— Cassandra, 3/4/2013 -
" This was a horrible book, don't waste your time! "
— Sarah, 2/28/2013 -
" Very easy book to read; the natural tone makes it engaging and even addicting. Great characters, and a funny but really insightful storyline. Every line could be a great quote in and of itself. "
— Caroline, 11/16/2012 -
" As usual, Nick Hornby is one of the most insightful authors writing now, but is also hilarious. "
— Sabrina, 7/20/2012 -
" Good in the beginning, then bogged down at the end. Offered some interesting philosophical thoughts. "
— Charlie, 7/10/2012 -
" I love anything written by Nick Hornby! "
— Nicole, 6/30/2012 -
" Very British, lots of internal dialogue, a man writing from a woman's perspective, which he did well. Funny story, sad and real at times, good writing. "
— Stagey, 12/24/2011 -
" I read half of this book for a book club, but I couldn't finish it. None of the characters were believable (or likable), and the plot was going nowhere. The two people I know who finished it, said it wasn't worth it. Definitely not Hornby's best work. "
— Rach, 9/24/2011 -
" This fellow can write! I don't usually read my fiction this quickly. Very enjoyable read with a reasonable conclusion. Hornby is a very witty humorist. It's fun just taking in that wit. "
— Rocky, 9/17/2011 -
" I usually enjoy Nick Hornby books, but this was a depressing, glum read about a failing marriage, with no real solution. Didn't really care about the characters, felt bad for the kids, & everyone got to be a little irritating. "
— Kris, 8/12/2011 -
" my favorite of all of nick hornby's books. as i was reading it, i kept thinking, oh, this is where it will lead in the story, and then it didn't! he totally took it somewhere else. made your feel connected to the story, even though it doesn't resemble your own life. "
— Virginia, 5/29/2011 -
" I don't recommend this book. Go read "About a Boy" instead. "
— Emily, 5/4/2011 -
" This was a fascinating book to listen to, and I suspect it would have been almost as good to read. A fresh (for me), funny, and ultimately thought-provoking take on the question of how to live. Makes me want to read (and listen to) more of Mr. Hornby's work. "
— Michelle, 4/23/2011 -
" I'm not sure this is my favorite Nick Hornby book... but I have to say, it has made me think about things in a different way, which I guess is the point. "
— Nini, 4/20/2011 -
" White guilt is funny<br/>validation for cynics<br/>fix your small world first "
— Merissa, 4/11/2011 -
" I liked that this book made you really think about the difference between "talking the talk and walking the walk". I sometimes have trouble with characters that are not that likable so I think the book was only OK, not great. <br/> "
— Gina, 4/8/2011 -
" My first Nick Hornby and in all honesty I forgot whether I liked this book about 10 minutes after finishing it. I read it quickly and would probably recommend it as airport/travel reading. "
— kenneth, 4/5/2011 -
" This book started out slow. It then hooked me with it's hilarious adventures of Good News the spiritual healer and the Grant family. Then--it disappointed me again with it's ending. I need closure! "
— Elizabeth, 4/5/2011 -
" My all-time favorite Nick Hornby novel. "
— Sebastiano, 3/25/2011 -
" my pick for book club. it makes me feel better about not being goog. "
— Cheri, 3/24/2011 -
" 2.5/5 stars. Hornby is definitely weaker here when writing from a female perspective. "
— Jennifer, 3/20/2011
About Nick Hornby
Nick Hornby is the author of the internationally bestselling novels High Fidelity, About a Boy, A Long Way Down, Slam, Juliet, Naked, and Funny Girl, as well as several works of nonfiction. He lives in London.
About Frances Barber
Frances Barber, in addition to her outstanding narration, has appeared in Inspector Morse, The Ice House, Love in a Cold Climate, and Miss Marple: A Murder Is Announced.