The Lay of the Land Audiobook

" Perhaps it is more interesting when you read it, but listening to this audiobook puts me to sleep in daylight. "

" can you add a book that you just couldn't finish because it was simply to mundane? sorry mr. ford. "

" I had not read Ford before and was intrigued by the complexity of his Frank Bascombe. I somehow assumed that there would be more "action" in the novel but was perfectly happy to spend some time watching this man maneuver through his life and enjoyed Ford's skill as a writer. "

" Perhaps my favorite, although Sportswriter and Rock Springs collection are close "

" As Frank ages this hits a little too close to the bone, making it harder to finish than first two. "

" I did not think this was Ford's best book. (I have not read his latest yet.) It had its virtues - excellent dialogue, plenty of ideas, and well drawn characters. But it seemed bloated to me, overlong and sometimes tedious - too many details about New Jersey real estate, for one thing. The protagonist, Frank Bascombe, is not a very likeable person, which is a problem when you are inside his head for 485 pages. We have to know every single time the man pees, which is far too often, since he suffers from prostate problems. Some of the plot twists are melodramatic and extremely hard to believe (I won't be specific - no spoilers). A forthright, discerning editor could have made this book a better one. I will continue to read Ford because I think he's a terrific writer and enjoy his sense of humor and his candor. "

" Wow...third in the series, but I read it first. How did Richard Ford figure out what's going on in my head?!? "

" Once you get into it - this book is hard to put down. Frank Bascombe is a fascinating character...I can relate and although his experiences are horrifying on one level, they are also humanizing and understandable on another. This is the 3rd novel in a trilogy. "

" I must admit that I listened to this funny book to put me to sleep every night. Lots of funny ramblings. I'm sure I didn't miss much when I fell asleep. A good tonic. "

" fantastic read; he writes of the ennui and the challenges of a 55 year old with ex-wives, adult kid relationships, prostate cancer, work-issues, and unpredictable situations - always with a droll but hilarious sense. You don't need to have read the other 2 books in the trilogy. "

" Maybe a bit of a letdown after the first two masterpieces in the trilogy but still a great gift after an 11 year wait. (I guess there was a similar wait between the first two books but I hadn't read him then). Still many, many things to like and remind you how very very good Ford is. "

" Really long, but each page is a pure pleasure. Beautifully written. "

" the third part of the bascombe trilogy is more of the same, really. it's great, but it sorta wears you down. there are few writers who have such poignant insights into the workings of the world as ford. but this one lost compression for me half way through. "

" A very solid end to the trilogy. I'll miss you, Frank Bascombe! "

" The third and presumably final installment of the Frank Bascomb trilogy. Brilliant writing and insight into the mind of the modern American man "

" takes some time to get through - but really wonderful "

" This is the 3rd in a series about Frank Bascombe--starting with "The Sportswriter" and "Independence Day." I read Independence Day first, then went back to The Sportswriter and was pleased when this third book came out. Note to Barb: After quitting sportswriting, he became a successful realtor! "

" I love to enter Frank Bascombe ruminations on life. The "Permanent Period"--the last of Frank--I was sorry for it to end. "

" This is a great novel in which not much happens. It perfectly describes the issues confronting us baby boomers. I totally identified with the 50-something, financially successful, male cancer patient from New Jersey, although superficially we have nothing in common. I couldn't put it down. "

" Richard Ford is my favorite contemporary writer. All three books in the Frank Bascombe series are outstanding. "

" The weakest book in Richard Ford's trilogy. It seems that he really just doesn't know what to do with poor Frank Bascombe. "

" I love his books. I have read them all. I dont think this is his best work but I freakin love it anyway. You have to be a good writer to make a middle aged real estate agent from New Jersey intersting "

" The third book in the trilogy following Independence Day. Good read and the essence of how day-to day life takes over. "

" Still don't know if I liked this book or not. I kind of had to slog thru it, but then it felt so real that I very much appreciated the writing. Maybe I'm too used to easy reads these days. "

" I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first two. I didn't really get the whole sponsor thing. And I was finally bored by poor our Frank. "

" I love this trilogy. Frank Bascombe was like so many of the guys I have known and who are over 40: insecure, yet self-absorbed, unfocused, inability to think beyond next week. If you are a fan of the Rabbit series by John Updike, you should check out Richard Ford. "

" very good read. epitomizes mid-life male angst. "

" Another fine novel by Richard Ford. He packs an awful lot into three days of one man's life and it can get kinda slow. Patience pays off though as Ford is a sublime writer. Good stuff. "

" can you add a book that you just couldn't finish because it was simply to mundane? sorry mr. ford. "

" Continuation of the story of Frank Bascombe that gets a little tedious. The main character ends up nattering through out much of the book. "

" Still reading it. It's hard to get into, but I do like Ford's writing. I noticed another book has the same title, strange! (By Brent Olson. That one received a slightly higher review score than this one...) "

" Too thin on content, too lenghty a book. "

" For a book that chronicles the mundane aspects of the latter days of life, an awful lot of pretty significant events occur. This is by far the worst of the Bascombe trilogy. "

" A very solid end to the trilogy. I'll miss you, Frank Bascombe! "