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The Imperfectionists Audiobook
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(3.00) - 25,964 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Set against the gorgeous backdrop of Rome, Tom Rachman's wry, vibrant debut follows the topsy-turvy private lives of the reporters, editors, and executives of an international English-language newspaper as they struggle to keep it-and themselves-afloat. Many changes have ensued since an enigmatic millionaire founded the paper 50 years ago, and now the staff's personal dramas seem more important than the headlines. Kathleen, the imperious editor in chief, is smarting from a betrayal in her open marriage. Arthur, the lazy obituary writer, is transformed by a personal tragedy. Abby, the embattled financial officer, discovers that her job cuts and her love life are intertwined in a most unexpected way. And in the shadows is the isolated young publisher who pays more attention to his prized basset hound, Schopenhauer, than to the fate of his family's quirky newspaper. As the era of print news gives way to the Internet age and this imperfect crew stumbles toward an uncertain future, the paper's rich history is revealed, including the surprising truth about its founder's intentions. Spirited, moving, and highly original, The Imperfectionists will establish Tom Rachman as one of our most perceptive, assured literary talents.
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"A book full of many characters whose lives intertwine at odd angles. Many have bashed this book because it reads more like a series of short stories. However, I think that is the author's triumph. He has created unity out of all the diverse characters in this book. There is some contrivance in the characters, but that is often necessary to tie so many together across so wide a storyscape."
— Heidi (4 out of 5 stars)
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“This first novel by Tom Rachman, a London-born journalist who has lived and worked all over the world, is so good I had to read it twice simply to figure out how he pulled it off. I still haven’t answered that question, nor do I know how someone so young…could have acquired such a precocious grasp of human foibles. The novel is alternately hilarious and heart-wrenching, and it’s assembled like a Rubik’s Cube. I almost feel sorry for Rachman, because a debut of this order sets the bar so high.”
— Christopher Buckley, New York Times bestselling author -
“The Imperfectionists is a splendid original, filled with wit and structured so ingeniously that figuring out where the author is headed is half the reader’s fun. The other half comes from his sparkling descriptions not only of newspaper office denizens but of the tricks of their trade, presented in language that is smartly satirical yet brimming with affection.”
— New York Times -
“[An] acute debut…Rachman, a former editor for the International Herald Tribune, paints the characters’ small dramas and private disappointments with humanity and humor.”
— New Yorker -
“The Imperfectionists is about what happens when professionals realize that their craft no longer has meaning in the world’s eyes…and that the only people who really understand them are on the same foundering ship, and that, come to think of it, they really loved that damn ship for all it made their lives hell…Rachman is a fine observer and a funny writer—and a writer who knows how to be funny in character.”
— Washington Post -
“There are no wasted words in this book, every scene and detail move the characters and story forward. The Imperfectionists will make you laugh and cry. It’s the rare novel that can shift emotional tone effortlessly…The Imperfectionists is magnificent.”
— Seattle Post-Intelligencer -
“Immensely readable…this book is filled with gorgeous writing, jolts of insight, and narrative surprises that feel both unexpected and inevitable. One finishes reading The Imperfectionists with the sense that Rachman not only knows his way around a newsroom, but is also well acquainted with storytelling masters such as Anton Chekhov and William Trevor…A near-flawless debut.”
— Globe and Mail (Toronto) -
“In his zinger of a debut, Rachman deftly applies his experience as foreign correspondent and editor to chart the goings-on at a scrappy English-language newspaper in Rome…Chapters read like exquisite short stories…There are more than enough sublime moments [and] unexpected turns.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
“Welch’s character portrayals—marked by changes in vocalization and timbre—keep listeners oriented in place and time. Although the characters can be painfully flawed or naïve, Welch concentrates on creating personalities, not drama, allowing listeners to make their own emotional connections and judgments. The buzz created by this novel is well deserved.”
— AudioFile
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
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A 2010 San Francisco Chronicle Best Book for Fiction
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A USA Today bestseller
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A Los Angeles Times bestseller
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An Amazon Best Book of the Month, April 2010
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A 2010 Washington Post Best Book for Fiction
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One of the 2010 New York Times Book Review 100 Notable Books for Fiction
The Imperfectionists Listener Reviews
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" favorite of the year. i'm still clinging on to every word, including the interview with the author at the end. very much worth reading and highly recommended. "
— Tammie, 2/12/2014 -
" Great debut - an author to follow "
— Tiziana, 2/8/2014 -
" I had to read this book as a former journalist. I know these characters (and if I'm honest, I will admit that I see part of myself in them). This is a collection of sad tales about the characters in a newsroom in an English language newspaper in Rome that is failing in the same ways that newspapers all over the country are. I liked some of the stories better than others, but I would recommend it, especially to my friends who have experience in the newsroom. "
— Emily, 2/6/2014 -
" Totally different, and well written. "
— Trishaladd, 2/5/2014 -
" I enjoyed the individual stories but expected them as a whole to be a little more connected to one another than they were. "
— Lannie, 1/21/2014 -
" Very enjoyable linked story collection. Feels like it could have been written 50 years ago, in a good way. (That's a 3 and a half star rating really.) "
— Robert, 1/17/2014 -
" One chapter (about two old friends) was so much better than the others -- so sweet and sad. The rest is good too, though. "
— Robin, 1/17/2014 -
" More of a collection of interconnected short stories than a novel, but a great debut. "
— Joseph, 1/11/2014 -
" I might have liked it more if I hadn't just read a Visit from the Good Squad. "
— Kate, 11/15/2013 -
" Well drawn characters make this very readable. "
— Kjjp, 11/13/2013 -
" A quirky and funny novel about the lives of a diverse group of interesting characters who are the reporters and editors of an English language newspaper based in Rome. Each chapter is from the viewpoint of a different character and eventually we see how their lives interconnect. I really enjoyed it. "
— Frmaselli, 11/5/2013 -
" Refreshingly honest- I appreciated that every single character was flawed in some way! A clever way to tell a story about the life of a newspaper! "
— Monica, 9/26/2013 -
" Amazing!! very innovative way of writing a novel... "
— Shwetha, 8/19/2013 -
" A flawlessly written novel about flawed journalists. Tom Rachman's "The Imperfectionists" weaves a heartrending, heartbreaking tale around the writers, editors, workers and readers of a crumbling international newspaper. Must read. "
— Amirul, 8/2/2013 -
" A story about sociopaths who work at a newspaper that doesn't have a website in 2007. Really annoying. "
— Shani, 7/31/2013 -
" A great and surprising read. Highly recommend. "
— Rebecca, 3/27/2013 -
" A book of character study enveloped in a story about a Rome-based newspaper employed by an international collection of imperfect human beings. I very much enjoyed this book. "
— Barb, 11/9/2012 -
" This is an intricately woven and smart collection of short stories, whose characters weave in and out of each others' lives. I was initially frustrated at the lack of closure on several counts, but now after awhile have decided it was good. "
— Christine, 10/19/2011 -
" Good compilation of stories. For some reason it didn't satisfy me as much as I thought it should. Many stories ended inconclusively and I don't like reading short stories that feel like they're not fully resolved... "
— Sarah, 9/17/2011 -
" What a fun collection of quirky characters all coming together in an interesting setting. So full of human frailty. Nice writing and worthy of discussion as the delivery of "news" is changing so rapidly in our society today. "
— Susan, 7/19/2011 -
" I'm sorry but this book just wasn't for me. It didn't hold my interest and had a hard time getting past the depressed characters. "
— Donele, 7/17/2011 -
" Funny & clever: Read it! "
— Malin, 5/25/2011 -
" Reminded me of Olive Kitteridge. The writing and the construction of the book are good, and the stories definitely achieved the goal set forth by the title. But I was frustrated with many of the characters. It's a book I appreciated, but didn't exactly enjoy. "
— Nancy, 5/25/2011 -
" Thought @ 1st this was a short story collection.......it is a collection of viewpoints from staff/others connected to an Italian newspaper. Rachman managed to make you understand each character even when the person was not particularly likeable. "
— Jan, 5/24/2011 -
" The writing is wonderful and the structure clever and overall the novel is very readable. The structure of individual vignettes based on different characters creates a situation where no one character leaves any kind of lasting impression. "
— David, 5/23/2011 -
" Each chapter reads like a short story about one of the employees at a failing international English language paper. As the paper folds, each of the character's lives also fall apart. So, the book was pretty dreary in a lot of places. It was well written, though, with a few poignant scenes. "
— Jenn, 5/22/2011 -
" I am enjoying this book. Worth reading. "
— Harriet, 5/22/2011 -
" It took me a few chapters to get into this, but the story of the personalities behind the life and demise of a small American newspaper in Rome really built into a great collage of personalities. "
— lynn, 5/21/2011 -
" Lovely book, rich and often surprising characters. Almost wish each character had their own spin off book, because I was in the delightful state of wanting to learn more, more, more. "
— Jeska, 5/19/2011 -
" Didn't get the point of this one. Was there one? A couple of interesting characters though. "
— Margaret, 5/19/2011 -
" Reads more like a collection of short stories than a novel, but mostly works. "
— Ilya, 5/16/2011
About Tom Rachman
Tom Rachman is the author of three novels, The Italian Teacher, The Rise and Fall of Great Powers, and the New York Times bestseller The Imperfectionists. His work has been translated into more than twenty-five languages. Born in London and raised in Vancouver, he worked at the Associated Press as a foreign-news editor in Manhattan and Rome before becoming a novelist. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, London Guardian, Slate, and the New Statesman, among other publications.