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The Good Father Audiobook
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(3.00) - 2,312 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
From the award-winning creator of the TV show Fargo and author of the bestseller Before the Fall, an intense, psychological novel about one doctor's suspense-filled quest to unlock the mind of a suspected political assassin: his twenty-year old son. As the Chief of Rheumatology at Columbia Presbyterian, Dr. Paul Allen's specialty is diagnosing patients with conflicting symptoms, patients other doctors have given up on. He lives a contented life in Westport with his second wife and their twin sons—hard won after a failed marriage earlier in his career that produced a son named Daniel. In the harrowing opening scene of this provocative and affecting novel, Dr. Allen is home with his family when a televised news report announces that the Democratic candidate for president has been shot at a rally, and Daniel is caught on video as the assassin. Daniel Allen has always been a good kid—a decent student, popular—but, as a child of divorce, used to shuttling back and forth between parents, he is also something of a drifter. Which may be why, at the age of nineteen, he quietly drops out of Vassar and begins an aimless journey across the United States, during which he sheds his former skin and eventually even changes his name to Carter Allen Cash. Told alternately from the point of view of the guilt-ridden, determined father and his meandering, ruminative son, The Good Father is a powerfully emotional page-turner that keeps one guessing until the very end. This is an absorbing and honest novel about the responsibilities—and limitations—of being a parent and our capacity to provide our children with unconditional love in the face of an unthinkable situation.
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"Unlike We Need to Talk about Kevin, this book keeps the "did he or didn't he?" question open until the end. However, this is not what makes it compelling, but rather the study of what might bring someone to a place where they can commit cold blooded murder and the possible role played by parenting in this process. Hawley's consideration of the cases of real life assassins, from John Wilkes Booth who shot Abraham Lincoln to John Hinckley who shot Ronald Regan adds depth to the narrative."
— Sue (4 out of 5 stars)
Awards
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Selected for the April 2012 Indie Next List
The Good Father Listener Reviews
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" best "
— zafar Mingboyev, 10/12/2020 -
" Interesting and disturbing. Makes you really question the American gun laws and why they don't reconsider. Very good historical background on actual events and by putting this side of the story running along those actual events it is really fascinating. Did not like some of the content of the book but could see why it was in there, giving a feel of the characters and the situation and circumstances. I found the end of the book extremely emotional. "
— Julie, 2/4/2014 -
" Thought provoking and gripping. Wonderful story of a family in crisis. "
— Seaclifflibrary, 2/2/2014 -
" Hooked from page 1. Heart wrenching story of what a parent goes through for a child. The inclusion of historical facts about Reagan and Hinckley made the story real. "
— Barb, 1/15/2014 -
" A familiar story told from a completely unfamiliar vantage point. Definitely worth reading. "
— Eitan, 1/11/2014 -
" I enjoyed the story but felt it built up to an ending that was disappointing. "
— Kimberly, 1/8/2014 -
" Didn't like this at all - story was all over the place - characters unlikeable and underdeveloped. "
— Patti, 1/6/2014 -
" Is it a family drama? Personal narrative? Mystery? Research project on high-profile killers? I got the feeling this book never really knew what it was supposed to be. I rushed through to the end, hoping something interesting would happen, but it never did. "
— Charlene, 12/26/2013 -
" I liked the book. I didn't necessarily like the Mom or Dad. Dad had his head in the clouds. I also liked the real life details of some killers mixed in. I listened to this in the car and it kept my attention. "
— Kim, 12/19/2013 -
" It's like a modern American Pastoral...quick read,heartbreaking... "
— Erin, 10/5/2013 -
" I did not like the father at all. No sympathy from me. "
— Ann, 9/27/2013 -
" Compelling beginning but for me it bogged down in the relentless accounts of famous serial killers and the father's worry about whether or not it was his fault. Read half, skimmed the rest. "
— Betty, 9/22/2013 -
" Meh if I had the 2 1/2 stars option this book would have gotten that rating. Alright but not great "
— Michael, 9/2/2013 -
" fantatstic read by Noah Hawley. Highly recomended! I truly enjoyed this book! "
— Loren, 5/3/2013 -
" I wish I could give half-star ratings. This is more of a three-and-a-half than a three-star book... "
— Matt, 4/27/2013 -
" Well written fascinating story. Would have given it five starts but towards the end it got too repetitive. "
— Carol, 3/21/2013 -
" This book was gripping - a very sad story but very well written and thought provoking "
— Astrid, 3/3/2013 -
" The audio version was exceptionally well done. The story is heart-wrenching. You will root for the father to be right the whole time, but the lessons are in the fact that he is not. Timely and important work. "
— Shari, 2/18/2013 -
" Didn't enjoy this book and only got half way through before skipping to the end just to see if he really did it or not. Couldn't relate to the characters or really care about what happened to them. Something about the way it was written was really irritating. "
— Marian, 9/17/2012 -
" This is an outstanding novel that explores what a father would do for his son who has been accused of assassinating an important political figure. "
— Tiffin-Seneca, 6/30/2012 -
" I would have given this 3.5 stars if I could. It was an interesting book...thought provoking. I did find the chapters devoted to different assassins distracting though. They disrupted the flow of the story for me. "
— Liz, 6/26/2012 -
" I thought the idea of the book was better than the book itself. I wasn't sure if the flashbacks of Daniel were real or his father's own imagination about what happened. As a parent, I thought I might identify more with the father, but never did. "
— Mary, 6/1/2012 -
" Interesting book - not necessarily my favorite but as a mother it really makes you wonder how you will react if your kids do something unimaginable. "
— Jennifer, 5/26/2012 -
" A very timely topic. So true to life, I often thought I was reading a nonfiction book. Very interesting. "
— Carolyn, 5/23/2012
About Noah Hawley
Noah Hawley is an Emmy, Golden Globe, PEN, Critics' Choice, and Peabody Award-winning author, screenwriter, and producer. He has published four novels and penned the script for the feature film Lies and Alibis. He created, executive produced, and served as showrunner for ABC's My Generation and The Unusuals and was a writer and producer on the hit series Bones. He is executive producer of the award-winning series Fargo.
About the Narrators
Bruce Turk is an actor who has appeared in television series such as Numb3rs, ER, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Third Watch. Also a narrator, he has read numerous audiobooks, including Easy Money by Jens Lapidus and The Good Father by Noah Hawley.
Arthur Morey has won three AudioFile Magazine “Best Of” Awards, and his work has garnered numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and placed him as a finalist for two Audie Awards. He has acted in a number of productions, both off Broadway in New York and off Loop in Chicago. He graduated from Harvard and did graduate work at the University of Chicago. He has won awards for his fiction and drama, worked as an editor with several book publishers, and taught literature and writing at Northwestern University. His plays and songs have been produced in New York, Chicago, and Milan, where he has also performed.
Ryan Gesell is a film, television, and voice actor, as well as an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator. His film credits include Crossing Over and A Perfect Getaway, and his television appearances include The Shield, Prison Break, Seventh Heaven, Passions, Boy Meets World, and numerous others. He has also appeared in a number of commercials and public service announcements, as well as Internet shorts and webisodes.